Toward the end of the 18th century the practice of giving gifts to family members became well established. Theologically, the feast day reminded Christians of God’s gift of Jesus to humankind even as the coming of the Wise Men, or Magi, to Bethlehem suggested that Christmas was somehow related to giving gifts. The practice of giving gifts, which goes back to the 15th century, contributed to the view that Christmas was a secular holiday focused on family and friends. This was one reason why Puritans in Old and New England opposed the celebration of Christmas and in both England and America succeeded in banning its observance.
Several English "Christmas" carols, such "Here We Come A-Wassailing" and "Deck the Halls," are excellent examples of the practise of celebrating Christmas as a secular family event. The custom of sending Christmas cards, which got its start in England in the 19th century, is another example of it. The relationship between the Christian festival and the family holiday is further established in nations like Austria and Germany by designating the Christ Child as the provider of presents to the family. On December 6, St. Nicholas's feast day, he makes an appearance in certain European nations, bringing children small gifts of candy and other items.Under the influence of the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (also known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"), the pre-Christmas role of the Christian saint Nicholas was changed in North America into the more prominent position of Santa Claus as the provider of Christmas gifts for the family. Santa Claus is viewed as a secular figure, despite the fact that his name and costume, a variation of the traditional bishop's garb, betray his Christian beginnings and that his job of asking kids about their previous behaviour is akin to St. Nicholas'. Santa Claus dons red swimming trunks and a white beard in Australia, where people attend free outdoor concerts of Christmas carols and have their Christmas supper on the beach.In order to honour the belief that the infant Jesus was born on the night of December 24, gifts are traditionally exchanged on Christmas Eve, which falls on December 24. However, in North America, the period for gift-exchanging has moved to the morning of December 25. When the family arrived home from Christmas service in the early hours of December 25th, a small gift exchange took place in 17th and 18th century Europe. The Christmas liturgy was moved into the late afternoon of that day when the evening of December 24 became the time for gift-giving. The morning of December 25 has become quite important in North America as a time for the family to open presents,A noteworthy example of how societal conventions influence liturgical practises is the virtual cessation of having church services on that day, with the exception of Catholic, some Lutheran, and some Episcopal congregations.
Given the significance of Christmas as one of the main Christian feast days, December 26 is observed as a second Christmas holiday in the majority of European nations. This custom harkens back to the early Christian liturgical idea that the entire week should be devoted to the celebration of Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. However, the extended celebration was gradually scaled back to only Christmas Day and one more holiday on December 26.
December 25 is observed as Christmas in Eastern Orthodox churches. This day, however, corresponds to January 7 on the Gregorian calendar for individuals who still observe their religious rituals according to the Julian calendar. Christmas is observed differently in each of the Oriental Orthodox communion's churches. For instance, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Christmas on January 6 in Armenia, the first nation to adopt Christianity as its official religion. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church celebrates Christmas on January 7 in Ethiopia, where Christianity has been practised since the fourth century. Christmas is observed on December 25 in the majority of the churches of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East; However, on January 6 at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Syriac Orthodox celebrate Christmas together. The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria adheres to the Julian calendar date of December 25, which corresponds to Khiak 29 on the pre-Christian Coptic calendar.
You'll learn exactly how different these international holiday customs are, from Christmas by the beach with fresh seafood in New Zealand to heated porridge that keeps families warm during the chilly Finnish winter.
Iceland celebrates Christmas in a similar manner to Americans, with 13 days. The 13 Yule Lads pay Icelandic children a visit every evening before Christmas. The kids will put their shoes by the window and then go upstairs to bed. If they were good the night before, they would have received candy; if they were naughty, they would have been met with shoes filled with rotten potatoes. And you considered coal to be a horrible gift!
Without a rum cake, a baked ham with pineapple and sorrel glazes, and Jug Jug, a dish made with pigeon peas, guinea corn flour, herbs, and salt meat and inspired by the Scottish influence on the island, a Barbados Christmas table is incomplete.
The practise of celebrating Christmas was adopted by cultures all throughout the non-Western world when Christianity grew outside of Europe and North America. Because Christians do not constitute the majority in many of these nations, the religious holiday has not evolved into a national holiday. Because the people in these civilizations were exposed to Christianity as a religion and a cultural artefact of the West, Christmas festivities in these societies frequently reflect Western traditions.
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