History of Christmas

The Roman Church calendar records a nativity celebration on the 25th December as early as 336AD, and this widely became the accepted holiday.

Historically Christmas is a time of family and tradition and it is important to many families that these traditions are upheld.

Children today still look forward to opening the first window in their Advent calendar on the 1st of December and the excitement continues to build right up to Christmas Eve when the last window is opened

It was the Victorians who started off the popular tradition of kissing under the mistletoe. They hung mistletoe from doorways and ceilings and a mistletoe myth states that if a woman stands under the mistletoe does not receive a kiss, she will not marry in the following year.

Tday many carollers sing traditonal Christmas Carols to raise money for various charities. However,carol singing began in England when travelling musicians would visit wealthy homes and perform in the hope of receiving money or food.

History of Christmas Crackers

Christmas Crackers were first made and marketted by Tom Smith a confectioner from London.

Looking for a novel idea to sell his already popular wrapped sweets with a motto (or in his time a love note) he hit upon the idea of making it “bang” when pulled apart. After many attempts and quite a few burned fingers Tom Smith launched his “Bangs of Expectation” in 1860.

Many variations of the cracker were made Crossword puzzle crackers, birthday crackers and many more.

Today no Christmas table is complete without a cracker to pull and a silly hat to wear as we laugh at the mottos and jokes they contain.

History of the Christmas Tree

Prince Albert was first(in 1841) to bring a Christmas Tree to Britain, which he put up in Windsor Castle for Queen Victoria.It has since then become a Christmas Tradition to put up and decorate a tree at Christmas.

In Queen Victoria's time decorations were all handmade by the family and included strings of sweets and small trinkets that they had made as Christmas gifts for girls and boys were hung on the tree with ribbon. The tree was lit by many small candles.

Tinsel, which was invented in Germany and was originall made from genuine silver was added to the Christmas tree. However, tinsel made from genuine silver tarnished and lost its shine through time and eventually artificial tinsel was invented.

Tinsel became a popular Christmas tree adornment after a mythical spider created sprawling webs from branch to branch. It is believe the Christ Child changed the webs to a silver colour.

Although tinsel is available in many different colour,red, purple, gold etc, silver still remains the most popular.

History of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus)

Where did the tradition of hanging our stockings over the fireplace for Santa to fill with Christmas gifts for girls and boys come from?

The story comes from St. Nicholas who when he discovered that a wealthy man who had lost his money could no longer give his 3 daughters a dowry and therefore they could not be married.

On the first night when St. Nicholas visited, the window was open and so he left a bag of coins for the 1st daughter so that she might marry

He returned on a second night and found easy entry to the house and again left a bag of coins for the 2nd daughter who could then also marry.

St.Nicholas returned for his third and final visit, however, all entry to the house had been locked and he could not leave the gold coins.

The only way to leave the coins was to put them down the chimney.

The following morning when the 3 daughters went to collect their stockings they had set to dry on the mantelpiece - one of them was filled with gold coins and so began the tradition that children today still follow.

Children all over the world have sent letters to Santa Claus informing him of the gifts they want this Christmas. Originally this was done simply to let parents know what their children wanted. Not only is this tradition still alive and well, but it has advanced as well. Not only can children send letters to Santa they can also receive a response.

Traditionally children from all around the world send Santa Claus a letter to tell him that they have been good and what gifts they would like to receive for Christmas. The tradition goes that each child goes into the “naughty” or “nice” pile and only the good children get gifts, the naughty ones get an empty stocking or a piece of coal.

Most families have their own Christmas traditions and many involve leaving a glass of milk and a cookie for Santa, and carrots for the reindeer.

If the milk is not drunk, the mince pie/cookie eaten and the carrot had a reindeer bite taken from it the disappointment shows on a child's face. Our Christmas Traditions help us hold lots of memories of our young children, in whose faces the spirit of christmas lives on.

Did you know?

Some Interesting Christmas Facts you many not know:-

On Christmas Eve Santa has 31 hours to deliver Christmas gifts to girls and boys all around the world - thanks to the different time zones and the earth’s rotation, assuming that he travels from east to west.

The Best Selling Christmas Song of all time is Bing Crosby’s Christmas classic “White Christmas”

The first Christmas card was designed in 1843 by J.C. Horsley

The 26th of December is better known as Boxing Day because this was the day that servants received boxes of gifts from their employers.

The Queen's Christmas speech was first televised in 1957.

The Three Wise Men’s names are not actually mentioned in the Bible

If you received all of the gifts listed in "The Twelve Days of Christmas" song, you would receive 364 presents!

Hanging a Christmas wreath on your front door is a sign of welcome and long life for all who enter!

To read more on the History of Christmas in the UK try the BBC: BBC History of Christmas

Why not send us your interesting Christmas facts and we will add as many as we can to this page.

Just click this link CONTACT US to send us your interesting facts about Christmas, or perhaps the traditions you hold in your home.

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