The Christmas season is upon us, as is Hanukka and Ramadan. If anyone would like to contribute an article about the history of Hanukka or Ramadan, please send it to me via my email at Patguth@aol.com.
Can't promise I'll use all, but will choose one.
Here's a poem/article from Micki Peluso, friend and colleague.
Christmas; Past and Present
By Micki Peluso
Rated "PG" by the Author.
Last edited: Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Posted: Wednesday, December 01, 2010
This is a reflection of the Christmases of today as compared with the past.
Christmas; Past and Present
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Mall, last minute
shoppers scurried from store to store; short on patience and with little
evidence of the holiday spirit of love. The only ones smiling were the store
owners and the costumed Santa, who gets paid to be jolly.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of talking
dolls, video games, bicycles and other expensive toys, danced in their heads.
Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap had just settled down to tackle the
mountain of Christmas bills, which was larger than the national debt.
The moon on the crest of the new fallen snow, reflected the concern of
families awaiting the arrival of loved ones traveling on icy roads.
Years ago, Christmas seemed easier, less commercial and more enjoyable.
Many families lived near each other, and most of the decorations, foodstuffs and
presents were homemade. While there was stress and haste to accomplish the
needed tasks by Christmas Eve, the stress was different than what is
experienced today. Generations past did not seem to lose sight of the reason
for Christmas; a birthday celebration of sharing and love.
The nostalgia of horse-drawn sleigh rides through wooded country roads is
sorely missed. Bells jingling accompaniment to carols sung off key by bundled-up
children in the back of the sleigh, is a thing of the past. Yet Christmas
retains an aura of magic, nonetheless.
Originally, the Christian church did not acknowledge Christmas at all, as
such observance was considered a heathen rite. The earliest records of any
Christmas celebration dates back to the early part of the third century.
Gift giving, as a custom, may have originated with the Romans, relating to
their worship of Dionysus at Delphi.
The Christmas tree comes from the Germans, although its origin has been
traced as far back as ancient Egypt. The tree replaces a former customary
pyramid of candles, part of the pagan festivals. There is a legend that Martin
Luther brought an evergreen home to his children and decorated it for Christmas.
German immigrants carried this custom with them to the New World, but it did not
gain popularity until 1860, when John C. Bushmann, a German, decorated a tree in
Massachusets and invited people to see it. Evergreens, a symbol of survival,
date to the 18th century when St. Boniface, honoring the Christianization of
Germany, dedicated a fir tree to the Holy Child to replace the sacred oak of
Odin. The "Nation's Christmas Tree," was the General Grant tree in General
Grant National Park in California, dedicated May 1, 1926,by the town mayor. The
tree was 267 feet high and 3500-4000 years old.
Mistletoe, burned on the alter of the Druid gods, was regarded as a symbol
of love and peace. The Celtic custom of kissing under the mistletoe comes from
the practice of enemies meeting under the plant, dropping their weapons and
embracing in peace. Some parts of England decorated with mistletoe and holly,
but other parts banned its use due to association with Druid rites. Mistletoe
was considered a cure for sterility, a remedy for poisons, and kissing under it
would surely lead to marriage.
The 4th century German St. Nicholas, shortened through the years to Santa
Claus, has become the epitomy of today's Christmas spirit. St. Nicholas, taking
pity upon three young maidens with no dowry and no hope, tossed a bag of gold
through each of their windows, and granted them a future. Other anonymous gifts
being credited to him were emulated and the tradition grew. The Norsemen
enhanced the legend of Santa Claus coming down the chimney with their goddess,
Hertha, known to appear in fireplaces, bringing happiness and good luck.
Sir Henry Cole, impressed by a lithograph drawing, made by J.C. Horsley,
instigated the idea of Christmas cards. It took eighteen years for the custom
to gain popularity, and then it was adopted mainly by gentry.
Christmas was banned in England in 1644, during the Puritan ascendency. A
law was passed ordering December 25th a market day and shops were forced to
open. Even the making of plum pudding and mincemeat pies was forbidden. This
law was repealed after the Restoration, but the Dissenters still referred to
Yuletide as "Fooltide."
The General Court of Massachusets passed a law in 1657 making the
celebration of Christmas a penal offense. This law, too, was repealed, but many
years would pass before New England celebrated Christmas. >br>
When Washington crossed the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War, it
was the observance of Christmas that made his conquest of the British a
success. The enemy was sleeping off the affects of the celebration.
Befana, or Epiphany, is the Italian female counterpart of Santa Claus. On
Epiphany, or Twelth Night, she is said to fill children's stockings with
presents. According to legend, Befana was too busy to see the Wise Men during
their visit to the Christ Child, saying that she would see them on their way
back to the East. The Magi, however, chose a different route home, and now
Befana must search for them throughout eternity. The sacred song traditionally
sung on her yearly visit is the Befanata.
The number of Magi visiting the stable on that first Christmas Eve could be
anywhere from two to twenty. The number three was chosen because of the three
gifts; gold, frankencense and myrrh. Western tradition calls the Magi, Gaspar,
Melchior, and Balthasar, but they have different names and numbers in different
parts of the world.
Though distinctly Christian, the social aspect of Christmas is observed and
enjoyed by many religious and ethnic groups. Rabbi Eichler, during a sermon in
Boston in 1910 explains why: "...Christmas has a double aspect, a social and
theological side. The Jew can and does heartily join in the social Christmas.
Gladly, does he contribute to the spirit of good will and peace, characteristic
of the season. It was from the light of Israel's sanctuary that Christianity
lit its torch. The Hanukka lights, therefore, justly typify civilization and
universal religion."
Dr. Clement Clarke Moore, a professor at the General Theological Seminary
in New York, penned the famous poem, "Twas the Night before Christmas." Dr.
Moore never intended for the poem to be published. Miss Harriet Butler,
daughter of the rector of St. Paul's Church in Troy, New York, accompanied her
father on a visit to Dr. Moore. She asked for a copy of the poem and sent it
anonymously to the editor of The Troy Sentinel. A copy of the newspaper
carrying his poem was sent to Dr. Moore, who was greatly annoyed that something
he composed for the amusement of his children should be printed. It was not
until eight years later, that Dr. Moore publicly admitted that he wrote the
poem.
Christmas is the favorite Holiday of children, who unquestionably accept
the myth of Santa Claus. In 1897, one little girl began to have doubts as to
the reality of Santa Claus, and wrote to the New York Sun, asking for
confirmation. Her letter read: Dear editor, I am eight years old. Some of my
little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says,"If you see it in The
Sun, it's so. Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?" Virginia
D'Hanlon.
Francis P. Church's editorial answer to the little girl became almost as
famous as Dr. Moore's poem. In part, this is what he wrote: "Virginia, your
little friends are so wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a
skeptical age. They do not believe, except they see... Yes Virginia, there is a
Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion
exists....Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It
would be as if there were no Virginias...No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives
and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten
thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."
It is sentiments like this that warm the heart of child and adult alike,
as Christmas nears. It is not the gifts, soon forgotten, that make Christmas a
time of wonder and magic. It is the love within all people for God, for
children, for each other.
During this hectic holiday season, take a moment or
two to savor the true meaning of Christmas.
"And I heard him exclaim
As he drove out of sight,
Happy Christmas to all,
And to all a Goodnight!"
Dr. Clement Clarke Moore
Web Site: A Writer's Journey
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