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Today marks the winter solstice — the longest night (and the shortest day) of the year. For thousands of years, humans have observed this season with festival, celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of the next. At the winter solstice, humans celebrate the return of the sun.

Five thousand years of human history–maybe more–have enfolded this season in rich garb–many layers of celebration, folklore and tradition.

Candlegrove’s Ancient Origins of the Holidays

The winter solstice was greeted with festival long before anyone called it Christmas.

It is now the month of December, when the greatest part of the city is in a bustle. Loose reins are given to public dissipation; everywhere you may hear the sound of great preparations, as if there were some real difference between the days devoted to Saturn and those for transacting business….Were you here, I would willingly confer with you as to the plan of our conduct; whether we should eve in our usual way, or, to avoid singularity, both take a better supper and throw off the toga.

Seneca the younger., writing about Rome during Saturnalia, circa 50 A.D

The rise of Christianity had a dampening effect on the celebrations, at least in the more puritan “New World”.

The pilgrims’s second governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out “pagan mockery” of the observance, penalizing any frivolity. The influential Oliver Cromwell preached against “the heathen traditions” of Christmas carols, decorated trees, and any joyful expression that desecrated “that sacred event.” In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts enacted a law making any observance of December 25 (other than a church service) a penal offense; people were fined for hanging decorations.

The History of Christmas

Things were not as severe in parts of Europe. Germany is credited with beginning the tradition of the Christmas tree with its decorations and twinkling lights. The addition of the latter are attributed to 16th century Protestant reformer, Martin Luther.

Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles.

The Germans brought Christmas trees to America and England in the late 19th century. The 20th century saw the addition of electric lights and more ornaments.

Over time, the ages-old celebration of an ancient festival was reborn.
Perhaps the celebration of this season, whatever its name, is instinctive?

I, personally, consider our modern “Christmas season” to be composed of two overlapping holidays. One is, of course, a holyday: the Christian religious observance of the birth of Jesus Christ (an event that historians believe actually occurred in July). The other is a secular holiday featuring pine boughs, holly, mistletoe, and lights; singing, dancing, and the exchanging of gifts; eating, drinking, and merrymaking. The latter represents the modern version of the milllenia-old winter celebration.

I’ve read the essays by people who want to “put the Christ back into Christmas”. The problem I see with these is that the only “Christ” that has ever been part of the secular celebration is the first six letters of its name. Unfortunately, names have power; the reaction to two overlapping holidays with the same name is often confusion.

Fox News, Jerry Falwell, the American Family Association, and others have now declared that Christmas is “under seige”. Part of their complaint appears to be based on the fact that department stores, such as Target, have been wishing customers “Happy Holidays” and “Season’s Greetings” instead of “Merry Christmas”.

According to the New York Times

It is a manufactured crisis. Christmas is a holiday that is primarily celebrated in churches and in the home, and by all accounts it is thriving. The reason conservative media outlets have to keep pounding away at the theme, clearly, is that most Americans who are busy celebrating Christmas with family and friends are probably under the impression that the holiday is doing just fine.

The Christmas defenders’ real enemy is not secularism, but inclusiveness. Department stores have been using phrases like “Happy Holidays” and “Season’s Greetings” because they want to make themselves appealing to as many customers as possible — including the nearly one-quarter of Americans who do not call themselves Christians — not because they hate Christmas. Governments walk a careful line regarding holidays because they don’t want to fall afoul of the First Amendment, and because they want to make all of their constituents feel included in holiday celebrations.

Despite all of the attention the conservative media have given the “War on Christmas,” it does not appear to be catching on with the general public. The reason Christmas defenders are unlikely to win in the long run is not because they are up against a liberal plot, but because they are on the side of intolerance.

Talking Points, The New York Times, December 14, 2005

The percentage of the US population that defines itself as Christian has been declining. Nearly one quarter of the US population is not Christian. The number of people who do not identify themselves with any established religion has more than doubled in size in the past fifteen years. Many of these non-Christians nevertheless recognize some form of the winter celebration.

Not everyone is Christian. The winter festival need not discriminate on the basis of religion. All are equally welcome to celebrate the season as they see fit.

Whatever your religion or reason, this is a time for festival and celebration. Decorate with pine and holly. Share this time with family and friends. Wrap your home in lights to drive back the darkness. Greet the return of the sun.