Wacky Anne's Christmas Family Room: Christmas Dictionary

Christmas Bells

Bells have been ringing in Christmas for centuries. Like many Christmas traditions, it has several origins. Egyptians already used bells at the Feast of Osiris, and most great civilizations thereafter included bells in their religious rituals. The Christian Church first used bells to call worshipers to Mass around 400 A.D. in Campania, Italy. From there the custom spread across Europe. The tradition blended in with the pagan mid-winter celebrations. When the earth was cold and the sun was dying, evil spirits were very powerful; and one way to drive them off was to make a great deal of noise. Bells were a very useful part of this, you could play a bell and shout or sing at the same time. Today the church bells ring throughout the world on Christmas Eve, not to drive evil spirits away, but to welcome in the spirit of Christmas with joyful noise. In Scandinavia, bells signal the end of work and the beginning of festivity. In England, the tolling of Devil's Knell welcomes the birth of Christ. In Italy and Spain, it signals the Midnight Mass.

Christmas Candles

St. Jerome said candles were a way to express Christian joy. Many see them as a symbol of Christ, the Light of the World. Legends tell us that candles in windows guide the Christ Child as he wanders from house to house on Christmas Eve. They have also been used to symbolized the stars in the sky, particularly the Sun in the pagan tradition, and the "Star of Wonder" in the Christian. Candles, as well as bonfires, helped to drive away the forces of cold and darkness, since this was the time when the sun ceased to wane and began to grow stronger and brighter. Wax tapers were given as gifts at the Roman festival of Saturnalia. the Advent candles reflect the dawning season and remind us of the coming Light. The addition of lighted candles to the paradise tree marked the birth of our most beloved Christmas tree. In Sweden, St. Lucia appears wearing acrown of candles. In Victorian England, tradesmen made annual gifts of candles to their loyal customers. (often scented as balsam and evergreen.candles shining from windows is practiced in Europe) We still use candles, but electric lights on trees and around town have modernized the tradition, and made it safer.

Christmas Cards

Christmas-time is the busiest time for the post office; millions of cards are mailed every year. The custom likely began in England, where school-children away from home would send greetings to their parents in their very best handwriting, creating elaborate, handmade cards. This was to assure them of progress in school, and remind them (subtly) that gift-giving time was soon at hand. Adults also wrote Christmas letters to each other, but this could be very time-consuming. The printed Christmas card solved the problem. In 1843, Sir Henry Colein, not having enough time to write letters to each of his relatives, asked an artist, John Calcott Horsley, to design a card for him. About 1,000 of these cards were printed, and those Sir Henry didn't use were sold by the printer for a shilling. This was not cheap, which may be why they did not sell very well. With the introduction of the "penny post" in 1840, it became cheaper to send mail, and as a result of colour printing and the invention of printing machines, cards could be printed faster and cheaper. The first company to print and sell Christmas cards on a large scale was Charles Goodall and Sons of London in 1862. Richard H. Pease, a printer from Albany, New York, is credited with sending the first specially printed Christmas card in America, in 1851. It managed to make the first mistake in Christmas card history. The card showed a building on which was hung a banner proclaming "Pease's Great Varety Store."

Christmas Carols

The Catholic Church valued music greatly; early Christmas songs date from 4th century (the earliest known is Jesus refulsit omnium by St.Hilary of Poitiers). medieval Christmas music followed Gregorian tradition. In Renaissance Italy there emerged a lighter and more joyous kind of Christmas songs, more like true carols (from the French word caroler, meaning to dance in a ring). These songs continued to be religious and in Latin, though.

Luther wrote and composed his song "From Heaven above I come to You". Music by Handel and Mendelssohn was adapted and used as Christmas carols. The old Finnish/Swedish collection Piae Cantiones was translated and published in English in mid-19th century. 19th century and later many popular songs were written by composers (e.g. Adam, Sibelius).

Crèche

A crèche (pronounced KRESH), or Christmas crib, is a replica of the Nativity scene; the stable where Jesus was born in Bethlehem. It usually includes a manger, with figures of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the Magi, shepherds, sheep, and other animals. The custom was popularized by St. Francis of Assisi on Christmas Eve in 1224 outside his church in Greccio, Italy. He used real people and animals to re-create the manger scene. This practice soon spread all over Europe, being adapted differently by each culture. Some countries developed a fine art of wood carving to create beautiful scenes. Some cities to this day create large spectacles, dramatizing that holy time and place in Bethlehem. The custom of the crèche was brought to the United States by Moravian settlers. It is found mainly in Catholic countries (the Pope has his own in Rome), but has spread to more Protestant countries.

Christmas Gifts

Yet another merging of pagan and Christian tradition is the giving of gifts. There are many roots of this custom: St. Nicholas the anonymous benefactor, the Magi's gifts to Jesus (the first true Christmas gifts), the Roman exchange of gifts during Saturnalia. By the 12th century, gift-giving was common practice throughout Europe. By the 16thC the focus was on children (thanks to St. Nicholas), who would receive three kinds of gifts: a pleasing gift (such as chocolate), a practical gift (such as a writing implement), and a disciplinary gift (such as a birch rod for an occasional spanking). The day of gift giving varies greatly in different Christian cultures and times:

6th December - in memory of St. Nicholas
24th December - Christmas Eve
25th December - Birthday of Jesus
1st of January - the New year
6th of January - The Epiphany, day of the Three Wise men, the Magi

Lord of Misrule

In medieval and Elizabethan days, a "Lord of Misrule" was chosen in every household to lead in the games, sports and general revelry of the "Feast of Fools", held usually on the fourth day of Christmas. Practical jokers were usually best at the job, especially in colleges and inns. The Lord of Misrule originated with the Roman Saturnalia, in which the tables were turned, and the poorest slave could become the greatest monarch for a short time. By 1435, the Feast of Fools had become so controversial that it was prohibited by the Church, yet continued nevertheless, in the colleges and courts of the nobility.

Reindeer

Reindeer pull Santa's sleigh to deliver presents around the world every Christmas Eve. Santa originally rode a horse when he was St. Nicholas. When he migrated to the colder climes of Scandinavia, he was given a sleigh. When C.C. Moore wrote that famous poem that begins, "Twas the night before Christmas," the reindeer became a permanent fixture of many American households. Here we finally had an official "Who's Who of Reindeer" when Mr. Moore listed them all by name. In 1949 a song at the top of the Hit Parade brought instant fame to "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer". The author was Robert L. May, of the Advertising Department of Montgomery Ward.

Christmas Seals

Christmas seals were first placed on envelopes in 1904 by Elinar Holboell, a Danish postal clerk. The money made from the sale of the stamps was used for a charitable cause. In the United States, this custom has been applied to helping cure tuberculosis. This was the idea of the great American philanthropist, Jacob Riis. The cross on these seals is called the "Cross of Lorraine," which was the symbol of Godfrey of Lorraine, a leader in the First Crusade.

Christmas Star

The star is one of the great symbols of Christmas, because it was a star that heralded the birth of Christ. The astrological/astronomical phenomenon which triggered the seeking of Christ by the Magi. Variously described as a supernova or a conjunction of planets it supposedly happened around the year 7 BC - the most probable true birth year of Christ. It has been praised in countless songs, and has appeared on Christmas cards since they were first produced. Planetariums have special programs about the Christmas star every December. Stars appear on the tops of Christmas trees, and electric versions enhance stores, houses and streets across the land. Even the winter sky on a calm, clear Christmas Eve will present a glorious galaxy of them, to remind us of that special light that pointed the way to the Saviour.

Wassail

The custom originated as a pagan agricultural festival. To help increase the yield of apple orchards, the trees must be saluted in the dead of winter. So at varying times during the festival, a procession would visit selected trees from the various orchards and either sprinkle the wassail mixture or break a bottle of it against the trunk. The mixture used on the trees was not exact. It could be mulled ale or cider or wine with apples or eggs in it. Just so, the wassail bowl has never turned into a recipe, but is usually left ot the inspiration of the mixer. "WAES-HAEL," shouted the Anglo-Saxons as they toasted each other at holiday-time feasts. This meant "Be in good health " and no doubt their spirits were high as they drank a potent brew out of the wassail bowl. "Lambswool" or "Wassail brew"

The custom evolved from this to "wassailing," in which villagers carried the brew door to door, drinking to the good health of their neighbours. One of the more popular carols to accompany this tradition was "Here we come A-Wassailing"