December 25th is celebrated as both a religious holiday and a global cultural and commercial event. Around the world, people have observed this holiday through a variety of traditions and practices that are both religious and secular.
Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. December 25th —Christmas Day—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.
Christmas is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God. The name ‘Christmas’ comes from the Mass of Christ (or Jesus). A Mass service (which is sometimes called Communion or Eucharist) is where Christians remember that Jesus died and then came back to life. The ‘Christ-Mass’ service was the only one that was allowed to take place after sunset (and before sunrise the next day), so people had it at Midnight. The name Christ-Mass was shortened to what we know today as Christmas.
Today Christmas is now celebrated by people around the world, whether they are Christians or not. It’s a time when family and friends come together, reflect on the past and remember the good things they have. And no matter your age…most people, and especially children, also like Christmas as it’s a time when you give and receive presents.
Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance — a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.
Augusta E. Randel
Christmas Traditions & Facts
- Each year, 25-30 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States. There are about 15,000 farms and trees usually grow for between four and fifteen years before they are sold. The tradition of Christmas trees goes all the way back to the ancient Egyptians and Romans, who decorated with evergreens during the winter solstice to signify that spring would return.
- Poinsettia plants are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister to Mexico, who brought the red and green plant from Mexico to America in 1828.
- The custom of bringing evergreens into the home began in the 16th century among northern and eastern Europeans, primarily Germans, as a means of cleaning up the Christmas tree and making it more uniform. Instead of throwing out cut-off greens, people wove the excess into wreaths. The religious significance is that the circular shape and evergreen material of the wreath represent eternal life. The circle, which has no beginning or end, “symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul and the everlasting life we find in Christ.”
- We all know the same few handfuls of Christmas songs play at stores and on the radio in a loop all season long. But one of them has been adapted more than others. “Silent Night” is actually the most-recorded Christmas song in history. It’s had more than 733 different versions copyrighted since 1978.
- Candy Canes originated in Germany. The National Confectioners Association says a choirmaster originally gave the red-and-white-striped candies to young children to keep them quiet during marathon church services back in 1670. It wasn’t until a German-Swedish immigrant decorated his tree with candy canes in 1847 that they became popular as a Christmas candy. Today, they’re available in a wide variety of colors and flavors like cherry, green apple and watermelon.
- The first Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center looked more like Charlie Brown’s than the resplendent one today. The iconic tree dates back to the Depression era. Construction workers first placed a small, undecorated tree while working there in 1931. Two years later, another tree appeared in its place, this time draped in lights. It just kept getting bigger every year. Today, the majestic tree bears more than 25,000 twinkling lights and sees millions of selfie-takers each season.
St. Louis Christmas Events
