Adoration of the shepherds (1535-40), by Florentine Mannerist painter Agnolo Bronzino

Origin of holiday

Although no one knows on which date Jesus was born, Christians have favored December 25 since ancient times. It is the date on which the Romans marked the winter solstice and it is nine months following the Festival of Annunciation (March 25). In ancient and early Medieval times, Christmas was either a minor feast, or not celebrated at all.

Around 220, the theologian Tertullian declared that Jesus died on March 25, AD 29, but was resurrected 3 days later. Although this is not a plausible date for the crucifixion, it does suggest that March 25 had significance for the church even before it was used as a basis to calculate Christmas. Modern scholars favor a crucifixion date of April 3, AD 33 (also the date of a partial lunar eclipse).[2] (These are Julian calendar dates. Subtract two days for a Gregorian date.)

By 240, a list of significant events was being assigned to March 25, partly because it was believed to be the date of the vernal equinox. These events include creation, the fall of Adam, and, most relevantly, the Incarnation. The view that the Incarnation occurred on the same date as crucifixion is consistent with a Jewish belief that prophets died at an "integral age," either an anniversary of their birth or of their conception.

Aside from being nine months later than Annunciation, December 25 is also the date the Romans marked the winter solstice, which they referred to as bruma. For this reason, some have suggested the opposite of the theory outlined above, i.e. that the date of Christmas was chosen to be the same as that of the solstice and that the date of Annunciation was calculated on this basis. (The Julian calendar was originally only one day off, with the solstice falling on December 24 in 45 BC. Due to calendar slippage, the date of the astronomical solstice has moved back so that it now falls on either December 21 or December 22).

The idea that December 25 is Jesus' birthday was popularized by Sextus Julius Africanus in Chronographiai (AD 221), an early reference book for Christians. This identification did not at first inspire feasting or celebration. In 245, the theologian Origen denounced the idea of celebrating the birthday of Jesus "as if he were a king pharaoh." Only sinners, not saints, celebrate their birthdays, Origen contended.

In 274, Emperor Aurelian designated December 25 as the festival of Sol Invictus (the "unconquered sun"). Aurelian may have chosen this date because the solstice was considered the birthday of Mithras, a syncretic god of Persian origin. Mithras is often identified with Sol Invictus, although Sol was originally a separate Syrian god.

Mural painting of Jesus from the catacombs of Rome, late 4th century.

Mithras was a god of light and a child of the earth who sprang up next to a sacred stream. He was born bearing a torch and armed with a knife. Sundays were dedicated to Mithras and caves were often used for his worship. A series of emperors promoted Mithraism beginning with Commodus. The cult emphasized loyalty to the emperor and Roman soldiers were expected to participate. Mithraism collapsed rapidly after Constantine I withdrew imperial favor (312), despite being at the peak of its popularity only a few years earlier.

As Constantine ended persecution, Christians began to debate the nature of Christ. The Alexandrian school argued that he was the divine word made flesh (see John 1:14), while the Antioch school held that he was born human and infused with the Holy Spirit at the time of his baptism (see Mark 1:9-11). A feast celebrating Christ's birth gave the church an opportunity to promote the intermediate view that Christ was divine from the time of his incarnation. Mary, a minor figure for early Christians, gained prominence as the theotokos, or god-bearer. There were Christmas celebrations in Rome as early as 336. December 25 was added to the calendar as a feast day in 350.

Medieval Christmas and related winter festivals

Christmas soon outgrew the Christological controversy that created it and came to dominate the medieval calendar. The forty days before Christmas became the "forty days of St. Martin," now Advent. The fortieth day after Christmas was Candlemas. The Egyptian Christmas celebration on January 6 was adopted as Epiphany, one of the most prominent holidays of the year during Early Middle Ages. Christmas Day itself was a relatively minor holiday, although its prominence gradually increased after Charlemagne was crowned on Christmas Day, 800.

Although the nativity narrative is among the most compelling stories in the Bible, other Christian holidays such as Easter are more significant from a strictly religious point of view. The popularity of Christmas can be better understood if it is viewed as a form of winter celebration. Agricultural societies typically hold their most important festival in winter since there is less need of farm work at this time.

The Romans had a winter celebration known as Saturnalia. This festival was originally held on December 17 and honored Saturn, a god of agriculture. It recalled the "golden age" when Saturn ruled. In imperial times, Saturnalia was extended to seven days (December 17-23). Combined with festivals both before and after, the result was an extended winter holiday season. Business was postponed and even slaves feasted. There was drinking, gambling and singing naked. It was the "best of days," according to the poet Catullus. With the coming of Christianity, Italy's Saturnalian traditions were attached to Advent (the forty days before Christmas). Around the 12th century, these traditions transferred again to the "twelve days of Christmas" (i.e. Christmas to Epiphany).

Northern Europe was the last part to Christianize, and its pagan celebrations had a major influence on Christmas. Scandinavians still call Christmas Jul (Yule), originally the name of a twelve-day pre-Christian winter festival. Logs were lit to honor Thor, the god of thunder, hence the "Yule log." In Germany, the equivalent holiday is called Mitwinternacht (mid-winter night). There are also twelve Rauhnächte (harsh or wild nights).

By the High Middle Ages, Christmas had become so prominent that chroniclers routinely note where various magnates "celebrated Christmas." King Richard II of England hosted a Christmas feast in 1377 at which twenty-eight oxen and three hundred sheep were eaten. The "Yule boar" was a common feature of medieval Christmas feasts. Aside from feasting, there was also caroling. This was originally a group of dancers who sang. There was a lead singer and a ring of dancers that provided the chorus. Various writers of the time condemn caroling as lewd, the dancing may have got out of hand now and then (harking back to the traditions of Saturnalia and Yule). "Misrule" — drunkenness, promiscuity, gambling — was an important aspect of the festival. In England, gifts were exchanged on New Year's Day, and there was special Christmas ale.

The Reformation and modern times

Santa Claus hands out gifts to Union soldiers during the US Civil War in Thomas Nast's first Santa Claus cartoon, Harper's Weekly, 1863.

During the Reformation, Protestants condemned Christmas celebration as "trappings of popery" and the "rags of the Beast". The Catholic Church responded by promoting the festival in a more religiously oriented form. When a Puritan parliament triumphed over the King Charles I of England (1644), Christmas was officially banned (1647). Pro-Christmas rioting broke out in several cities. For several weeks, Canterbury was controlled by the rioters, who decorated doorways with holly and shouted royalist slogans. The Restoration (1660) ended the ban, but Christmas celebration was still disapproved of by the Anglican clergy (and, therefore, more thoroughly enjoyed by Catholics and Dissenters).

By the 1820s, sectarian tension had eased and British writers began to worry that Christmas was dying out. They imagined Tudor Christmas as a time of heartfelt celebration, and efforts were made to revive the holiday. The book A Christmas Carol (1843) by Charles Dickens played a major role in reinventing Christmas as a holiday emphasizing family, goodwill, and compassion (as opposed to communal celebration and hedonistic excess). The phrase "Christmas tree" is first recorded in 1835 and represents the importation of a tradition from Germany, where such trees became popular in the late 18th century. Queen Victoria and her German-born husband Prince Albert enthusiastically promoted Christmas trees, as well as the idea of placing gifts under them. The royal family's tree of 1848 was widely publicized and imitated. Christmas cards were first designed in 1843 and became popular in the 1860s. The commercial calendar, created to answer children's questions concerning when Christmas would come, dates from 1851.

Father Christmas persuades the jury of his innocence in The Examination and Tryal of Father Christmas (1686) by Josiah King

The Puritans of New England disapproved of Christmas and celebration was outlawed in Boston (1659-81). Virginia and New York, meanwhile, celebrated freely. Christmas fell out of favor after the American Revolution, when it was considered an "English custom". Interest was revived by several short stories by Washington Irving in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon (1819) and by "Old Christmas" (1850) which depict harmonous warm-hearted holiday traditions Irving claimed to have observed in England. Although some argue that Irving invented the traditions he describes, they were imitated by his American readers.[2] German immigrants and the homecomings of the Civil War helped promote the holiday. Christmas was declared a federal holiday in 1870.

Santa Claus is derived from Saint Nicholas, or Sinterklaas, who gave candy to the Dutch children on December 6. Dutch settlers in New York brought this tradition with them. Irving writes of Saint Nicholas "riding over the tops of the trees, in that selfsame waggon wherein he brings his yearly presents to children." The connection between Santa Claus and Christmas was popularized by the poem "A Visit from Saint Nicholas" (1822) by Clement Clarke Moore, which depicts Santa driving a sleigh pulled by reindeer and distributing gifts to children. His image was created by German-American cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840-1902), who drew a new image annually beginning in 1863. By the 1880s, Nast's Santa had evolved into the form we now recognize. The image was standardized by advertisers in the 1920s. Father Christmas is first recorded in the 15th century, but was associated with holiday merrymaking and drunkenness until Victorian Britain remade his image to match that of Santa.

In the midst of World War I, there was a Christmas truce between German and British troops in France (1914). Soldiers on both sides spontaneously began to sing Christmas carols and stopped fighting. The truce began on Christmas Day and continued for some time afterward. There was even a soccer game between the trench lines in which Germany's 133rd Royal Saxon Regiment is said to have bested Britain's Seaforth Highlanders 3-2.

Some muslims celebrate Christmas because the religion of Islam regards Jesus as a prophet, messenger and one of the top five human servants of God (Allah).

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The nativity narratives in the Gospel of Luke and the Gospel of Matthew focus on quite different aspects of the event. The Gospel of Mark, considered the earliest and most historical gospel according to the doctrine of Markan priority, does not include a nativity narrative.

In Luke, Mary learns from an angel that the Holy Spirit has caused her to be with child. Mary points out that she is a virgin and the angel responds that "with God nothing shall be impossible." Shortly thereafter, she and her husband Joseph leave their home in Nazareth to travel about 150 kilometres (90 miles) to Joseph's ancestral home, Bethlehem, in order to register for a census ordered by Emperor Augustus. Finding no room at the inns, they lodge in a stable. There Mary gives birth to Jesus. An angel of the lord goes to the fields and tells the shepherds the "tidings of joy." A heavenly host proclaims, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests." The shepherds come to the manger to adore the infant Jesus (Luke 1:5-2:20).

In Matthew, magi arrive at the court of King Herod in Jerusalem and ask, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? We have observed the rising of his star, and we have come to pay him homage." (Compare to Numbers 24:17.) The word magi is traditionally translated as "wise men." The word connects them to the magi of Babylon who select Daniel their chief in the Book of Daniel. Daniel's magi interpret dreams and other portents. The book was well-known in ancient times for its prophecy concerning the messiah (Daniel 9:24-27), a man who will be sent by God to lead the Jewish people.

Neither the names of the magi nor their number are specified in the Bible, but tradition tells us there were three: Balthassar, Melchior, and Caspar. Balthassar is a Greek version of the Babylonian name Belshazzar. This is the name of a king in Daniel. Melchior means "The king is my light" in Aramaic. Caspar is a Latinized version of Gondophares, a Parthian (i.e. Persian) name. The magi are sometimes called kings because of prophecies that kings will do homage to the messiah (Isaiah 60:3, Psalms 72:11).

Herod is disturbed by the magi's words and questions them closely, attempting to determine when the star first appeared and when the child was born. The king asks his advisors where the messiah will be born. They answer Bethlehem, birthplace of King David, and quote Micah 5:2-4. "When you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage," a deceitful Herod tells the magi.

As they travel to Bethlehem, the magi follow the star of Bethlehem, which leads them to a house where they find Jesus. Jesus is no longer in the manger described by Luke. He is a child (paidion), not an infant (brephos). The magi present Jesus with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (If these gifts were chosen in view of Isaiah 60:1-7, it may explain the magi's earlier trip to Jerusalem.) In a dream, the magi received a divine warning of Herod's intent to kill the child, who he sees as a rival. Consequently, they return to their own country without telling Herod the result of their mission. An angel tells Joseph to flee with his family to Egypt. Meanwhile, Herod orders that all male children of Bethlehem under the age of 2 be killed. After Herod's death, the family settles in Nazareth (Matthew 2:1-23).

Adoration of the Child (1439-43), a mural by Florentine painter Fra Angelico.

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Although Christmas may be celebrated on December 25 -31 in historically Catholic and Protestant nations, in eastern Europe it is often celebrated on January 7. This is because the Orthodox church continues to use the Julian calendar for determining feast days.

The Orthodox churches fast during the forty days before Christmas. Christmas is dubbed the "Feast of the Nativity of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ." Armenian Christians celebrate Christmas on January 6.

Dates for the secular aspects of the Christmas celebration also vary. In the United Kingdom, the Christmas season traditionally runs for twelve days beginning on Christmas Day. These twelve days of Christmas, a period of feasting and merrymaking, end on Twelfth Night, the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany. In medieval times, Swedish law provided for a Christmas peace (julefrid) of twenty days during which fines for robbery and manslaughter were doubled. On Knut's Day, the twentieth day after Christmas (January 13), Swedish children celebrate and throw out the family Christmas tree (julgransplundring).

Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas present, by John Leech. Made for Charles Dickens's novel A Christmas Carol (1843).

The Christmas festive period has grown longer in some countries. In the U.S., the pre-Christmas shopping season begins on the day after Thanksgiving. In the Philippines, radio stations usually start playing Christmas music during what is called the "-ber months" (September, October, etc.).

Countries that celebrate Christmas on December 25 recognize the previous day as Christmas Eve and have various names for the day after Christmas. In the Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia, Lithuania and Poland, Christmas Day and the following day are called First and Second Christmas Day. In many European and Commonwealth countries, the first non-Sunday after Christmas is referred to as Boxing Day. In Finland, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Austria, and Catalonia (Spain), the day is known as St. Stephen's Day. In Quebec, the December 26 holiday is referred to as Lendemain de Noël ("the day after Christmas").

Regional customs and celebrations

Many Christmas practices originate in Germanic countries, including the Christmas tree, the Christmas ham, the Yule log, holly, mistletoe, and the giving of presents. The prominence of Christmas in Germanic nations may be a form of carryover from the pagan midwinter holiday of Yule.

Many nations distribute stamps each year to commemorate Christmas. Austria, 1999

Russia banned Christmas celebration from 1917 until 1992. Several Christian denominations, notably the Jehovah's Witnesses, Puritans, and some fundamentalists, view Christmas as a pagan holiday not sanctioned by the Bible.

In the southern hemisphere, Christmas is during the summer. This clashes with the traditional winter iconography, resulting in oddities such as a red fur-coated Santa Claus surfing in for a turkey barbecue on Australia's Bondi Beach. Japan has adopted Santa Claus for its secular Christmas celebration, but New Year's Day is a far more important holiday. In India, Christmas is often called bada din ("the big day"), and celebration revolves around Santa Claus and shopping. In South Korea, Christmas is celebrated as an official holiday.

Santa Claus and other bringers of gifts

Gift-giving is a near-universal part of Christmas celebrations. The concept of a mythical figure who brings gifts to children derives from Saint Nicholas, a bishop of Myra in fourth century Lycia, Asia Minor. He made a pilgrimage to Egypt and Palestine in his youth and soon thereafter became Bishop of Myra. He was imprisoned during the persecution of Diocletian and released after the accession of Constantine. He may have been present at the Council of Nicaea, though there is no record of his attendance. He died on December 6 in 345 or 352. In 1087, Italian merchants stole his body at Myra and brought it to Bari in Italy. His relics are preserved in the church of San Nicola in Bari. An oily substance known as Manna di S. Nicola, which is highly valued for its medicinal powers, is said to flow from his relics.

The Dutch recognized a Saint Nicholas, or Sinterklaas, who gave gifts on the eve of his feast day of December 6. He became associated with Christmas in 19th century America and was renamed Santa Claus or Saint Nick. In the Anglo-American tradition, this jovial fellow arrives on Christmas Eve on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, and lands on the roofs of houses. He then climbs down the chimney, leaves gifts for the children, and eats the food they leave for him. He spends the rest of the year making toys and keeping lists on the behaviour of the children.

Saint Nicholas

One belief in the United Kingdom, United States, and other countries passed down through the generations is the idea of lists of good children and bad children. Throughout the year, Santa supposedly adds names of children to either the good or bad list depending on their behaviour. When it gets closer to Christmas time, parents use the belief to encourage children to behave well. Those who are on the bad list receive a booby prize, such as a piece of coal or a switch with which their parents beat them, rather than presents.

The French equivalent of Santa, Père Noël, evolved along similar lines, eventually adopting the Santa image. In some cultures Santa Claus is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht, or Black Peter. In other versions, elves make the holiday toys. His wife is referred to as Mrs. Claus. Many shopping malls in North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia have a Santa Claus children can visit to ask for presents.

The current tradition in several Latin American countries (such as Venezuela) holds that while Santa makes the toys, he then gives them to the Baby Jesus, who is the one who actually delivers them to the children's homes. This story is meant to be a reconciliation between traditional religious beliefs and modern day globalization, most notably the iconography of Santa Claus imported from the United States.

In many countries, children leave empty containers for Santa to fill with small gifts such as toys, candy, or fruit. In the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada children hang a Christmas stocking by the fireplace on Christmas Eve because Santa is said to come down the chimney the night before Christmas to fill them. In other countries, children put their empty shoes out for Santa to fill on the night before Christmas, or for Saint Nicholas to fill on December 5, the eve of his saint's day. Family members and friends also bestow gifts on each other.

Timing of gifts

Gifts under a Christmas tree.

In the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas's Day remains the principal day for gift giving while Christmas Day is a more religious holiday. In much of Germany, children put shoes out on window sills on the night of December 5, and find them filled with candy and small gifts the next morning. In Hungary, Santa Claus (Hungarian: Mikulás) or for non-religious people Father Winter (Hungarian: Télapó) is often accompanied by a black creature called Krampusz. The main day for gift giving in Germany is December 24, when gifts are brought by Santa Claus or are placed under the Christmas tree. It is the same in Hungary, except that the Christmas gifts are usually brought by little (child) Jesus (Hungarian: Jézuska), not by Santa Claus. In Spain, gifts are brought by the magi on Epiphany (January 6), although the tradition of leaving gifts under the Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve (December 24) for the children to find and open the following morning has been widely adopted as well. In Poland, Santa Claus (Polish: Święty Mikołaj) gives gifts on two occasions: on the night of December 5 (so that children find them on the morning of December 6) and on Christmas Eve, (so that children find gifts that same day). In Finland, Joulupukki personally meets children and gives gifts on December 24. In Russia, Grandfather Frost brings presents on New Year's Eve, and these are opened on the same night. In Scotland, presents were traditionally given on Hogmanay, which is New Year's Eve, but many Scots - especially since the establishment of Christmas Day as a legal holiday in 1967 - have adopted the English tradition of exchanging gifts on Christmas morning.

The song "Twelve Days of Christmas", celebrates an old English tradition of gifts each day from Christmas to Epiphany. In most of the world, Christmas gifts are given at night on Christmas Eve or in the morning of Christmas Day. Until recently, the British gave gifts to non-family members on Boxing Day. Seriously.

Declaration of Christmas Peace

The Declaration of Christmas Peace has been a tradition in Finland from the Middle Ages every year, except in 1939 due to the war. The declaration takes place on the Old Great Square of Turku, Finland's official Christmas City and former capital, at noon on Christmas Eve. It is broadcast on Finnish radio and television.

Christmas tree in a Danish home, 2004.

The declaration ceremony begins with the hymn Jumala ompi linnamme (a translation of Martin Luther's Ein` feste Burg ist unser Gott) and continues as the Declaration of Christmas Peace is read from a parchment.

Decorations

In the Western world, rolls of paper with secular or religious Christmas motifs are manufactured for the purpose of wrapping gifts. Common motifs include Christmas trees, holly, poinsettias, mistletoe, swags, wreaths, Santa Claus, the Nativity, angels, carolers, nutcrackers, toy soldiers, sleighs, sleds, drums, drummer boys, bows, reindeer, Christmas tree ornaments, gingerbread people and gingerbread houses, candies, stars, snowflakes, snowmen, snow babies, and penguins.

Christmas trees may be decorated with lights and ornaments. The interior of a home may be decorated with garlands and evergreen foliage, particularly holly and mistletoe. In Australia, North and South America and to a lesser extent Europe, it is traditional to decorate the outside of houses with lights and sometimes with illuminated sleighs, snowmen, and other Christmas figures.

Since the 19th century, the poinsettia has been associated with Christmas. Other popular holiday plants include holly, mistletoe, red amaryllis, and Christmas cactus.

Municipalities often sponsor decorations as well. Christmas banners may be hung from street lights and Christmas trees placed in the town square. In the U.S., decorations once commonly included religious themes. This practice has led to many lawsuits, as some say it amounts to the government endorsing a religion. In 1984, the US Supreme Court ruled that a city-owned Christmas display, even one with a Nativity scene, does not violate the First Amendment.

Although Christmas decorations, such as a tree, are considered secular in many parts of the world, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia bans such displays as symbols of Christianity.

Social aspects and entertainment

In many countries, businesses, schools, and communities have Christmas parties and dances in the weeks before Christmas. Christmas pageants may include a retelling of the story of the birth of Christ. Groups may visit neighborhood homes to sing Christmas carols. Others do volunteer work or hold fundraising drives for charities.

On Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, a special meal of Christmas dishes is usually served. In some regions, particularly in Eastern Europe, these family feasts are preceded by a period of fasting. Candy and treats are also part of Christmas celebration in many countries.

Many people also send Christmas cards to their friends and family members. Many cards are also produced with messages such as "season's greetings" or "happy holidays", so as to including senders and recipients who may not celebrate Christmas .

Because of the focus on celebration, friends, and family, people who lead more isolated lives, or who have recently suffered losses, are more likely to suffer from depression during Christmas. This increases the demand for counseling services. It is widely believed that suicides and murders spike during the holiday season. However, the peak months for suicide are May and June. Because of holiday celebrations, alcohol and drunk driving-related fatalities increase.

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Many fictional Christmas stories capture the spirit of Christmas in a modern-day fairy tale, often with heart-touching stories of a Christmas miracle. Several have become part of the Christmas tradition in their countries of origin.

Among the most popular are Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker and Charles Dickens's novel A Christmas Carol. The Nutcracker tells of a nutcracker that comes to life in a young German girl's dream. Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is the tale of curmudgeonly miser Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge rejects compassion, philanthropy, and Christmas until he is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, who show him the consequences of his ways.

Some Scandinavian Christmas stories are less cheery than Dickens's. In H. C. Andersen's The Little Match Girl, a destitute little slum girl walks barefoot through snow-covered streets on Christmas Eve, trying in vain to sell her matches, and peeking in at the celebrations in the homes of the more fortunate. She dares not go home because her father is drunk. Unlike the principals of Anglophone Christmas lore, she meets a tragic end.

In 1881, the Swedish magazine Ny Illustrerad Tidning published Viktor Rydberg's poem Tomten featuring the first painting by Jenny Nyström of the traditional Swedish mythical character tomte, which she turned into the friendly white-bearded figure and associated with Christmas.

Unlike many films, which date rapidly, Christmas movies are the reliable annuals of the movie business.

Many Christmas stories have been popularized as movies and TV specials. Since the 1980s, many video editions are sold and resold every year during the holiday season. A notable example is the film It's a Wonderful Life, which turns the theme of A Christmas Carol on its head. Its hero, George Bailey, is a businessman who sacrificed his dreams to help his community. On Christmas Eve, a guardian angel finds him in despair and prevents him from committing suicide by magically showing him how much he meant to the world around him. Perhaps the most famous animated production is A Charlie Brown Christmas wherein Charlie Brown tries to address his feelings of dissatisfaction with the holidays by trying to find a deeper meaning in them. The humorous A Christmas Story (1983) has become a holiday classic.

A few true stories have also become enduring Christmas tales themselves. The story behind the Christmas carol Silent Night and the story Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus is among the most well-known of these.

Radio and television programs aggressively pursue entertainment and ratings through their cultivation of Christmas themes. Radio stations broadcast Christmas carols and Christmas songs, including classical music such as the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah. Among other classical pieces inspired by Christmas are the Nutcracker Suite, adapted from Tchaikovsky's ballet score, and Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248). Television networks add Christmas themes to their standard programming, run traditional holiday movies, and produce a variety of Christmas specials.

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Christmas is typically the largest annual stimulus for many nations. Sales increase dramatically in almost all retail areas and shops introduce new products as people purchase gifts, decorations, and supplies. In the U.S., the Christmas shopping season now begins on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. The economic impact of Christmas continues after the holiday. During Christmas sales and New Year's sales, stores sell off excess inventories.

More businesses and stores close on Christmas Day than any other day of the year. In the United Kingdom, the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 prevents all large shops from trading on Christmas Day.

Many Christians, as well as anti-consumerists, decry the commercialization of Christmas. They accuse the Christmas season of being dominated by money and greed at the expense of the holiday's more important values. Frustrations over these issues and others can lead to a rise in Christmastime social problems. Detractors of this school of thought argue that the idea of a grand winter holiday existed in our society long before Christianity.

Most economists agree, however, that Christmas produces a deadweight loss under orthodox microeconomic theory, due to the surge in gift-giving. This loss is calculated as the difference between what the gift giver spent on the item and what the gift receiver would have paid for the item. It is estimated that in 2001 Christmas resulted in a $4 billion deadweight loss in the U.S. alone. Because of complicating factors, this analysis is sometimes used to discuss possible flaws in current microeconomic theory.

In North America, film studios release many high-budget movies in the holiday season, including Christmas films, fantasy movies or high-tone dramas with rich production values. This helps the studio capture holiday crowds and position themselves for the Academy Awards. Christmas is the most lucrative season for the industry aside from summer. Christmas-specific movies generally open in late November or early December as their themes and images are not nearly as popular once the season is over. Home video release is often delayed until the following Christmas season.

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The Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that prevents shops over 280 m²/3,000 sq ft from opening on Christmas Day. The Act only applies in England and Wales. Shops smaller than the limit are not affected.

The Act was introduced to the House of Commons by Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham as a Private Member's Bill on 7 January, 2004. The Act was passed by both the Commons and the House of Lords, and received Royal Assent on 28 October, coming into force on 9 December 2004.

The aim of the Act was to keep Christmas Day a "special" day, whereby all major retailers would be closed. Although it was traditional for major retailers to close on the 25 December, some retailers, such as Woolworths began to open some stores in the late 1990s. Both religious groups and shop worker unions were against the idea of Christmas openings, leading to pressure on Government to pass legislation to prevent the practice.

Links

• Text of the Act
• Department of Trade and Industry Factsheet

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The US Christmas seal of 1925 features holly and mistletoe behind the candles.

Christmas Seals are adhesive labels placed on envelopes during the Christmas season to raise funds and awareness for tuberculosis programs.

In 1904, Einar Holboell, a Danish postal clerk developed the idea of a seal on envelopes during Christmas to raise money for tuberculosis. The plan was approved by the Postmaster and the King of Denmark, and the first seal bore the likeness of the Queen and the word Julen (Christmas). Over 4 million were sold in the first year.

They were introduced to the United States by Emily Bissell in 1907, after she had read about the program in an article by Danish-born Jacob Riis, a muckraking journalist and photographer. Bissell hoped to raise money for a sanitarium on the Brandywine River in Delaware.

It grew to a national program in 1908 by the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis (NASPT) and the American National Red Cross. The seals were sold at post offices, initially in Delaware at 1 cent each. Net proceeds from the sales would be divided equally between the two organizations. By 1920, the Red Cross withdrew from the arrangement and sales were conducted exclusively by the NASPT, then known as the National Tuberculosis Association (NTA). To reflect the expanding scope of the organization's goals, the name was changed to the National Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease Association in the late 1960's. The NTRDA became the American Lung Association in 1973, though the 1974 seals continue to show the NTRDA inscription on the sheet margin.

Today the Christmas Seals benefit the American Lung Association and other lung related issues. Tuberculosis was declining, but recently has been on the rise. TB is still the most common major infectious disease in the world.

Links

• American Lung Association
  
  • www.christmasseals.org - click on scrolling links at top
  • History of Christmas Seals
• Canadian Lung Association Christmas Seals history
  • Gallery of stamps since 1927
• Christmas Seal and Charity Stamp Society
• John Denune, The Christmas Seal Specialist commercial site with some pictures of old stamps and lots of information
• Betsy & Chuck - Christmas Seal Information commercial site with picture of first 1904 Christmas Seal Denmark

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Video: Genealogy Gems: The History of Christmas Seals

Christmas creep is the commercial phenomenon of merchants and retailers exploiting the commercialized status of Christmas earlier and earlier every year. It is most often attributed to the desire of many merchants to take advantage of particularly heavy holiday-related shopping well before Black Friday.

Links

• Christmas Creep: The Shopping Season Is Longer, but Is It Better?

Christmas themes have long been an inspiration to artists, writers, and weavers of folklore. Moviemakers have picked up on this wealth of material, with both adaptations of literary classics and new stories. Radio and television have also aggressively pursued entertainment and ratings through their cultivation of Christmas themes.

Christmas movies and videos

Many Christmas stories have been adapted to movies and TV specials, and have been broadcast and repeated many times on TV. Since the popularization of home video in the 1980s, their many editions are sold and re-sold every year during the holiday shopping season. Notable examples are the film It's a Wonderful Life, and the similarly themed film versions of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Dickens' Ebenezer Scrooge is an elderly miser who is visited by ghosts and learns the errors of his ways. The hero of the former, George Bailey, is a businessman who sacrificed his dreams to help his community. On Christmas Eve, a guardian angel finds him in despair and prevents him from committing suicide, by magically showing him how much he meant to the world around him.

A few true stories have become enduring Christmas tales themselves. The story behind the Christmas carol "Silent Night" and the story of "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" are among the most well-known of these true tales of Christmas.

In North America, the holiday movie season often includes release of studios' most prestigious pictures, in an effort both to capture holiday crowds and to position themselves for Oscar consideration. Next to summer, this is the second-most lucrative season for the industry. Christmas movies generally open no later than Thanksgiving, as their themes are not so popular once the season is over.

Television and Christmas

TV programming in the United Kingdom also includes an expanding holiday season. Perhaps aiming for the establishment of new Christmas institutions are the UK's seasonal specials, most notably with shows like Morecambe and Wise, The Two Ronnies, Only Fools and Horses and Top of the Pops. The animated tale The Snowman has been screened for many years during the Christmas period, and a new story, The Bear, by the same artist and company, is usually broadcast around the same time. In addition, HM Queen Elizabeth II annually broadcasts a 10-minute speech on Christmas Day at 3 p.m., charting her views of the past year and giving her own reflections and advice.

In the United States, most family-oriented TV series produce a Christmas special. Stand-alone Christmas specials are also popular, from newly created animated shorts and movies to repeats of those that were popular in previous years, such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Some local affiliates provide the Yule Log, a block of time on Christmas morning showing footage of a fireplace, coupled with popular Christmas music. Many long-running American and UK soap operas have Christmas specials, usually involving a dramatic storyline developed over several weeks which culminates at Christmas. Often these stories are tragic, involving a death, divorce, a dramatic revelation or similar event.

Christmas on the radio

Many radio stations begin to add Christmas songs to their rotation in late November, and often switch to all-Christmas programming for December 25th. Some do for part of or all of December 24th as well. A few stations switch to all-Christmas music for the entire season (some beginning as early as mid-November); In Detroit, 100.3 WNIC in 2005 started Christmas music day and night on midnight of October 31 because programmers believed that at least some listeners who are attracted by the Christmas music will remain loyal listeners when the station reverts to its standard format on Boxing Day. Radio stations also broadcast classical music, such as the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah. Among other classical pieces inspired by Christmas are the Nutcracker Suite, adapted from Tchaikovsky's ballet score, and Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248). Some radio stations play Christmas music commercial-free the entire day on Christmas Day, others on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The UK music industry features the battle of the bands and artists to make it to the 'Christmas No. 1' spot, recognised on the first Sunday before, or on, Christmas Day. Many of these songs are festive, while others are novelty songs that remain but briefly at the top of the chart. Gospel singer Cliff Richard is a fixture of Christmas charts, appearing nearly every year, and subsequently being mocked for doing so.

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: It's A Wonderful Life - Trailer

The Christmas season is a phrase that covers the time when two interconnected periods of celebration are held.

In many countries, Christmas season refers to the period of the year approaching Christmas when businesses (particularly those who sell and manufacture things that could be given as gifts) prepare for the massive buying rush that the holiday generates. Although there is no official beginning to the Christmas season, some people consider this period to last between the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) and the Sunday after New Year's Day. In some countries it is marked by annual Christmas parades and the arrival of Santa Claus such as at the end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the U.S. The day after Thanksgiving, retailers generally have sales and special events encouraging people to start buying their gifts. Others simply consider it the month of December.

In North America, the Christmas season is also punctuated by continued screenings of theme-based movies (such as It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street) and television specials (such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas). The season continues through the New Year's weekend, with its college football bowl games and more parades.

Christmas season is also known as Christmastide, one of six seasons of the year in the liturgical year of some Christian churches; namely, the period which runs from Christmas Day to January 6, the start of the octave of Epiphany. This period is also commonly known as the Twelve days of Christmas, as referred to in the Christmas carol "Twelve Days of Christmas" or Yuletide as in "Deck the Halls". During the season various festivities are traditionally enjoyed and buildings decorated. In some countries, by superstition it is bad luck to leave the decorations up after Twelfth Night.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the Christmas season begins at the Christmas Vigil Mass and runs until the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, which falls on the Sunday after Epiphany (and on Jan. 13 in the pre-Vatican II calendar).

Links

• Weeks of Advent
• Christmas

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Video: Disneyland Resort Paris Christmas Season

Festive ecology explores the relationships between the symbolism and the ecology of the plants, fungi and animals associated with cultural events such as festivals, processions and special occasions. Examples of topics are given below.

Christmas

The plants traditionally associated with Christmas – holly, ivy, mistletoe, common yew - have had special roles in earlier religions and past cultures. Some early religions in Europe had midwinter festivals to celebrate the return of the sun from the shortest day. In the 4th and 5th centuries, 25 December was gradually adopted as the date for Christmas in Europe in order to superimpose on the existing mid-winter festivals. The winter solstice, on what is now 17 December, was the start of the Roman festival of Saturnalia. This was a week of public feasting, dancing, singing and gambling. Houses were decorated with evergreens and bunches of holly were given as tokens of friendship. When this festival was absorbed into the Christian calendar, holly and the other evergreens were absorbed as well.

Holly is palatable to livestock despite its spines and was extensively used as a winter fodder for livestock in medieval times in England and Wales, particularly in Cumbria, the Pennines and the Welsh borders.^[1] Hay and grains for wintering stock would often have run short in these upland areas. This would mean that the livestock would eventually have to be slaughtered, causing real problems to medieval economies in the following years. Thus, a supply of fresh browse would have been extremely valuable. Written records of payments and agreements involving the use of holly for livestock cover a wide period from the late 12th century to the mid-18th century, by which time the practice had been largely abandoned.^[1] An early reference to the practice occurs in “The Dream of Rhonabwy”, a Welsh story from the Mabinogion, a remarkable collection of medieval literature.^[2] Written before the 14th century, The Dream of Rhonabwy refers to the mid-12th century in Powys. The floor of the old black house of Heilyn Goch is described as being covered in the urine and dung of cows together with branches of holly whose tips had been eaten by the cattle.

Ivy was used in garlands by the ancient Greeks and the Romans for religious ceremonies and for celebrating at other, more secular, occasions. It was strongly associated with Bacchus (Dionysus), the Greco-Roman god of wine. Since Roman times, ivy has been associated with wine and wine-making. Branches of evergreen ivy tied to a pole was often used as the “sign of the bush” indicating a place where wine or alcohol was for sale. Hence, the proverb “Good wine needs no bush” meaning that it is not necessary to advertise well-made goods. Ivy is less commonly seen in houses in Britain at Christmas compared to holly and mistletoe and it may be that established religions opposed its use in Christmas wreaths because of its association with drunkenness.

Mistletoe is an evergreen plant well-known for its association with oak trees and Druids first documented by Pliny the Elder who wrote about the ceremonies of the Celtic Druids in Gaul in his Naturalis Historia.^[3] These Druids held the oak in particular veneration, used oak leaves in their ceremonies, and regarded anything growing on oak trees as having been sent from heaven. On the rare occasions when mistletoe was found growing on an oak, it would be gathered with great ceremony. A priest in white clothing would cut the mistletoe with a golden sickle and allow it to fall onto a white cloak; two white bulls would then be sacrificed. According to Pliny, it was believed that mistletoe in a drink would make any barren animal fertile and that it was a remedy for all poisons. Special powers are attributed to mistletoe by a wide range of cultures, both within Europe and further afield.^[4] The use of mistletoe as an all-heal and a cure for barrenness is reputed to have a very ancient history.^[5] The link between mistletoe and fertility persists to this day in Britain in the tradition of kissing underneath bunches of mistletoe at Christmas. In the early 19th century, it was traditional for each man who kissed under the mistletoe to remove one berry. Once all the berries are gone, so has the potency.

Yew trees continually put out new stems which coalesce with the existing trunk resulting in trees of great age. The merging of old and decaying wood with vibrant young shoots has led to the yew being traditionally associated with reincarnation and immortality.^[6]

References

1. ^ ^a b Spray, M (1981). Holly as a fodder in England. Agricultural History Review 29, 97-110.
2. ^ Jones, Gwyn & Jones, Thomas (1949). The Mabinogion. Revised edition 1989. JM Dent & Sons, London.
3. ^ Rackham, H (1952). Pliny: Natural History, Book XVI, para xcv. Heinemann, London.
4. ^ Frazer, J G (1922). The Golden Bough. Macmillan, London.
5. ^ Graves, R (1955). The Greek Myths. Penguin, Harmondsworth.
6. ^ Cornish, V (1946). The Churchyard Yew and Immortality. Frederick Muller, London.

Further reading

• Box, John (1995). The festive ecology of holly, ivy and mistletoe. British Wildlife 7, 69-74.

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Happy Holidays is a seasonal greeting common in the United States and Canada, and is typically used during the holiday season. "Holiday" is derived from Middle English holidai meaning "holy day"[1]. It is used as an inclusive greeting during the holiday season around Christmas to those who do not celebrate it, but instead other winter holidays like Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

In the United States, it can have several variations and meanings:

• As "Happy Holiday," an English translation of the Hebrew Hag Sameach greeting on Passover, Sukkot and Shavuot
• As "Happy Holiday," a substitution for "Merry Christmas"
• As "Happy Holidays," a collective wish for the period encompassing Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year
• As "Happy Holidays," an inclusive wish for those who celebrate other winter religious holidays, such as Hanukkah, or Winter Solstice
• As "Happy Holidays," a secular alternative for those who do not celebrate any religious holidays during the season

In the United States, "Happy Holidays" (along with the similarly generalized "Season's Greetings") has become the common greeting in the public sphere within the past decade, such as department stores, public schools and greeting cards.

Advocates of the phrase view it as an inclusive and inoffensive phrase that does not give precedence to one religion or occasion. Critics view it as an insipid alternative to "Merry Christmas," and view it as diminishing the role of Christianity in Christmas, or part of an alleged secular "War on Christmas". Opposition to the phrase is not limited to Christians; many non-religious people and atheists also roundly denounce the phrase as an example of "political correctness gone mad".

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The Three Young Men in the Fiery Furnace, celebrated during the Nativity Fast as a reminder of the grace acquired through fasting (15th century icon of the Novgorod school).

The Nativity Fast, practiced by the Eastern Orthodox Church and other churches such as the Eastern Catholic churches, is believed to enable participants to draw closer to God by denying the body of worldly pleasure in preparation for celebration of the birth (or Nativity) of Jesus, which is held on December 25 (Julian Calendar). Although the fast influences the body, the emphasis is placed on the spiritual facet of the fast rather than physical deprivation. Sometimes the fast is called the Philippian fast, as it traditionally follows the Feast of St. Philip the Apostle on November 14.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the fast goes from November 15 to December 24 and is traditionally from red meat, poultry, meat products, eggs, dairy products, fish, oil, and wine; where fish is allowed on Saturdays and Sundays, and oil and wine are allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There has been some ambiguity about the restriction of fish, whether it means the allowance of invertebrate fish or all fish. More detailed guidelines vary, but the rules strictly state that from the 20th of December to the 24th of December, no fish may be eaten. On December 25, the Afterfeast of the Nativity of Christ to Theophany Eve begins, which declares the time period from December 25 to January 4 fast-free.

Some churches have abbreviated the fast to start on December 10, following the Feast of the Conception of Saint Anne.

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The Adoration of the Magi (1634) by Peter Paul Rubens, which hangs behind the altar in King's College Chapel, Cambridge.

The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

is a format of Christian worship service celebrating the birth of Jesus and traditionally followed at Christmas. The story of the fall of man, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols and hymns.

The format was based on an Order drawn up by E.W. Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury, for Christmas Eve 1880 in Truro. It has since been adapted and used by other churches all over the world. In the UK, the service has become the standard format for schools' Christmas carol services.

The most famous version is broadcast annually from King's College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve featuring carols by the famous Choir.

King's College, Cambridge

The first Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in King's College, Cambridge was conceived by Eric Milner-White and held on Christmas Eve in 1918. The format did not differ substantially from the one known today. The service was first broadcast on the British Broadcasting Corporation in 1928, and since the early 1930s has been broadcast live to many parts of the world on the BBC Overseas Service, as well as domestically on the Radio 4. It is estimated that each year there are millions of listeners worldwide. There is also a television broadcast in the UK (on BBC channels Two and Four), although that is pre-recorded in early or mid-December.

The service traditionally begins with the hymn Once in Royal David's City, with the first verse sung unaccompanied by a solo boy chorister, and ends with the hymn Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. The lessons are read by representatives of the college and of the City of Cambridge. The singing is divided into "carols", which are sung by the choir, and "hymns", sung by choir and congregation. Since 1982 the current Director of Music, Stephen Cleobury, has commissioned a new carol on behalf of the College for the Choir.

Order of Service

The Order of Service at King's College is always the same—the only thing that changes are which carols the choir sings, although some music is repeated from year to year. The following is from the service in 2005.

Organ Prelude
Processional Hymn: Once in Royal David's City
Bidding Prayer
Carol: "What sweeter music" John Rutter
First Lesson from Genesis 3
Carol: Remember, O thou man Thomas Ravenscroft
Carol: Adam lay ybounden Boris Ord
Second Lesson from Genesis 22
Anthem: God so loved the world John Stainer
Carol: In dulci jubilo arr. Robert Lucas de Pearsall
Third Lesson from Isaiah 9
Carol: Sussex Carol arr. Phillip Ledger
Hymn: Unto us is born a son
Fourth Lesson from Isaiah 11
Carol: A tender shoot Otto Goldschmidt
Carol: A spotless rose Herbert Howells
Fifth Lesson from Luke 1
Carol: Edi beo thu, Heuene Quene 13th century traditional
Carol: Benedicamus Domino Peter Warlock
Sixth Lesson from Luke 2
Carol: Sweet was the song the Virgin sang Richard Blackford
Carol: Tomorrow shall be my dancing day John Gardner
Seventh Lesson from Luke 2
Carol: Away in a manger John Tavener
Hymn: While shepherds watched their flocks by night
Eighth Lesson from Matthew 2
Carol: Riu, riu, Chiu Mateo Fletcher the elder
Carol: Be merry Stephen Cleobury
Ninth Lesson from John 1
Chorale: Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her Johann Sebastian Bach
Hymn: O Come, All Ye Faithful
Collect & Blessing
Hymn: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Organ Postlude

Link

• King's Chapel's page about the service

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SantaCon is a mass gathering of people dressed in cheap Santa Claus costumes, performing publicly on streets and in bars. The focus is on spontaneity, creativity, and the improvisational nature of human interaction while having a good time. Variously known as Santarchy, Santa Rampages and the Red Menace, SantaCon events are noted for bawdy and harmless behavior, including the singing of naughty Christmas carols, and the giving of gifts. Some participants see SantaCon as a postmodern revival of Saturnalia, while others see the event as a precursor of the flash mob.

In 1994, the Cacophony Society staged the first SantaCon in San Francisco. Influenced by the surrealist movement, Discordianism, and other subversive art currents, the Cacophonists decided to celebrate the Yule season in a distinctly anti-commercial manner, by mixing guerrilla street theatre, pranksterism, and public intoxication. In subsequent years, SantaCon evolved, spawning many different versions of the event throughout the world.

Santarchy around the world

Local Cacaphony Societies have staged SantaCons in Los Angeles, Portland, New York, Seattle, Washington DC, Denver, Austin Texas, Vancouver, London, Tokyo, and McMurdo Station in Antarctica. By 2003, the idea had spread to almost 30 cities in four countries. In 2004, nearly 500 people participated in SantaCon in New York City, and, in 2005, enough Santas participated in the Washington DC Santarchy to circle the Washington Monument.

Santa events are now planned and put on by a many groups for a variety of purposes. Some groups participate only for a night out bar hopping, while others parade through the cities in the daytime singing Christmas Carols, giving out candy and gifts to children, and raising money for charity.

Santarchy and the law

Most participants of Santarchy adhere to a set of Santa's Suggestions. Most importantly, it includes "not messing with children, police, security, or Santa". Despite this, in 2005, a more violent version of the event occurred when on December 18, participants in Auckland, New Zealand, proceeded to start a small riot, with such criminal acts as looting stores, throwing bottles at passing cars, and assaulting security guards. At least two bystanders were lightly injured and three arrests were made. Alex Dyer, spokesman for the group, stated that Santarchy in Auckland was part of a worldwide phenomenon designed to protest against the commercialization of Christmas.[1]

An update on the recent "Bad Santa" behavior is available on the website santarchy.com [2]. The New Zealand group claims the media exaggerated the incident and many participants of other SantaCon and Santarchy events were very shocked and disappointed by the incident. Most participants follow the set of "Santa's Suggestions" and do not break any laws. Unlike the statement from Alex Dyer, most santa groups are not protesting anything; the only purpose is to have fun and spread holiday cheer.

Another incident occurred earlier in the month on December 5, when a horde of Santas riding bicycles into traffic in Tulsa, Oklahoma during morning rush hour. Eyewitness, police scanner, and radio traffic reports indicate Santas were spotted across Tulsa. The Tulsa Indy Gazetteer later reported that at least one of the Santas was later apprehended and charged with violations of city ordinances. [3]

Despite these stories, most SantaCon events still maintain Christmas cheer. According to Reuters News, a Santa in Great Britain in 2005 paid off parking tickets. The Santa left money on the windshields of drivers who have received parking tickets with the message "Don't let this ticket spoil your Christmas, Here's £30 to pay it off. Merry Christmas - Parking Ticket Santa."

In popular culture

• The Santa Rampage is mentioned in Chuck Palahniuk's book Fugitives and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, Oregon and in his short story "My Life as a Dog" (featured in the book Stranger Than Fiction: True Stories).
• The parody artist Bob Rivers touched on the idea of Santarchy in his song "There's Another Santa Claus," a parody of "Here Comes Santa Claus". Lyrics include:

"That Christmas cheer / Smells a lot like beer / On Santa Claus' account tonight" and "Just saw Santa Claus / Just saw Santa Claus / Just gave a Santa Claus change / Drove downtown and a bell-ringing Santa Claus / Hit me up again!"

Links

• Official Santarchy Site
• SantaRampage - Austin
• SantaCon - London
• SantaCon - New York
• SantaCon - NYC
• Santa rampage in New Zealand
• Santarchy Toronto
• Santarchy - Washington DC
• Rebels Without a Claus U.S. public radio show 'Marketplace' feature about L.A. SantaCon 2006
• SantaCon - Vancouver, BC

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Christmas television special

In Christian tradition the Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men, The Three Kings, or Kings from the east, are Zoroastrian judicial astrologers or magi from Ancient Persia who according to the Gospel of Matthew came "from the east to Jerusalem", to worship the Infant Jesus, whom they describe as the Christ "born King of the Jews". According to Matthew, they followed a star, and as they approached Jerusalem, Herod tried to trick them into revealing where Jesus was, but once they had found Jesus they left by a different route. According to Matthew, upon finding Jesus, the magi gave him an unspecified number of gifts, amongst which are three highly symbolic ones.

Cultural References

• In the video game Chrono Trigger, the three wise men: Belthasar, Gaspar, and Melchior help the main characters in various ways throughout their journey through time in order to stop the destruction caused by Lavos.
• In the TV Anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, the names of the three supercomputers in NERV correspond to the three Magi.

References

• Albright, W.F. and C.S. Mann. "Matthew." The Anchor Bible Series. New York: Doubleday & Company, 1971.
• Alfred Becker: “Franks Casket. Zu den Bildern und Inschriften des Runenkästchens von Auzon (Regensburg, 1973) pp. 125 – 142, Ikonographie der Magierbilder, Inschriften
• Brown, Raymond E. The Birth of the Messiah: A Commentary on the Infancy Narratives in Matthew and Luke. London: G. Chapman, 1977.
• Clarke, Howard W. The Gospel of Matthew and its Readers: A Historical Introduction to the First Gospel. Bloomington: *Chrysostom, John "Homilies on Matthew: Homily VI". circa fourth century.
• France, R.T. The Gospel According to Matthew: an Introduction and Commentary. Leicester: Inter-Varsity, 1985.
• Gundry, Robert H. Matthew a Commentary on his Literary and Theological Art. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1982.
• Hill, David. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1981
• Levine, Amy-Jill. "Matthew." Women's Bible Commentary. Carol A. Newsom and Sharon H. Ringe, eds. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998.
• Powell, Mark Allan. "The Magi as Wise Men: Re-examining a Basic Supposition." New Testament Studies. Vol. 46, 2000.
• Schweizer, Eduard. The Good News According to Matthew. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1975

Links

• Mark Rose, "The Three Kings & the Star": the Cologne reliquary and the BBC popular documentary
• John of Hildesheim, "History of the three Kings" modernized in English by H. S. Morris
• Alfred Becker, Franks Casket
• Caroline Stone, "We Three Kings of Orient Were"
• Catholic Encyclopedia article
• Documentary proofs: The census of Augustus and the first census (and taxes) of Publius Sulpicius Quirinius in the year 8 BC (in german)

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: The Three Kings - Cornelius

Bishop of Myra, Defender of Orthodoxy, Miracle Worker, Holy Hierarch
Born: 3rd century in Patara
Died: 6 December 343 in Myra
Venerated in: All Christianity
Major shrine: St. Nicholas’ relics are held in a crypt in Bari, Italy, but his great work was done in Myra.
Feast: December 6
Attributes: St Nicholas is usually portrayed as a Bishop, in whatever manner is appropriate for a Bishop in that particular Church’s practices.
Patronage: In the West, St. Nicholas is a patron of sailors and thieves, because his relics were stolen by sailors from his tomb and transported to Bari, Italy. In the East, he is more remembered for his defense against the Arian heresy.

Saint Nicholas (Greek: Νικόλαος, "Victory of the people") is the common name for Saint Nicholas of Myra, who had a reputation for secret gift-giving, but is now commonly known as Santa Claus. He lived in 4th century Myra in the Byzantine Empire's Lycia, the modern day Demre in the Antalya province of Turkey. This is as much as is generally known about him in the West.

This historical character was the inspiration for a mythical figure known as Nikolaus in Germany and Sinterklaas in the Netherlands and Flanders, which in turn was the inspiration for Santa Claus. Sinterklaas (a contracted form of Sint Nicolaas) is a major celebration in the Netherlands and in Flanders. Among Orthodox Christians, the historical Saint Nicholas is remembered and revered. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, children, and students in both Greece and Russia. He is also the patron saint of Barranquilla, Colombia and of Amsterdam.

Links

• Encounter with a celebrity saint by Khaled Diab
• St. Nicholas site
• Saint Nicholas history
• St. Nicholas of Myra
• St. Nicholas, the man and the Russian icon
• A timeline of St. Nicholas's life and legend
• More about Holland's Sinterklaas Celebration
• Statues in Demre
• Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Santa Claus

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Santy, or simply Santa is a gift-giving figure in various cultures who distributes presents to children, traditionally on Christmas Eve. The popular American form Santa Claus originated as a mispronounciation of Dutch Sinterklaas, which is a contracted form of Sint Nicolaas (Saint Nicholas).

Father Christmas is a well-loved figure in many countries and predates the "Santa Claus" character. "Father Christmas" is similar in many ways, though the two have quite different origins. Using 'Santa' in places that predominantly call him 'Father Christmas' is often viewed as an Americanism and is quite rare, although they are generally regarded as the same character. Father Christmas is also present instead of "Santa" in Albania ("Babadimri"), Armenia ("Gaghant Baba"), Denmark ("Julemanden"), Italy ("Babbo Natale"), Lithuania ("Kalėdų Senelis"), Brazil ("Papai Noel"), Czech Republic ("Ježíšek"), Poland ("Święty Mikołaj"), Portugal ("Pai Natal"), Romania ("Moş Crăciun"), Germany ("Weihnachtsmann" or "Nikolaus"), Greece ("Άγιος Βασίλης") Scottish Highlands ("Daidaín na Nollaig"), France and French Canada ("Le Père Noël"), Ireland ("Daidí na Nollaig"), Finland ("Joulupukki"), Norway ("Julenissen"), Sweden ("Jultomten"), Bulgaria ("Dyado Koleda"), Turkey ("Noel Baba"), Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina ("Deda Mraz"), Spain and Latin America ("Papá Noel"), Afghanistan ("Baba Chaghaloo"), Iraq and South Africa ("Vader Kersfees"), Chile (Viejo Pascuero), Egypt ("Papa Noël") ,Iran ("Baba Noel").

In October of 2006 USA Today listed Santa Claus (St. Nick) as #4 on their list of Imaginary Luminaries: the 101 most influential people who never lived.[1]

Links

• "Official" Santa Claus site: Santa Claus
• Santa's Journal
• Santa Claus DVD Christmas Card from Santa Claus Main Post Office, Arctic Circle, Lapland, Finland Santa Claus Lapland
• The real Santa, St. Nicholas, with information, art, & fun activities: Saint Nicholas
• Christmas and Santa Claus by Santa Club
• The Original 1860s Thomas Nast Santa Claus Illustrations
• CLAIM: The modern image of Santa Claus was created by Coca-Cola. what do you think?
• Jenny Nyström, the artist whose Christmas cards inspired Haddon Sundblom when he designed Coca-Cola's Santa.
• Norman Rockwell's Santa and Expense Book
• Santa Post, A personal letter from Santa himself.
• SantaLand.com, one of the Internet's oldest Santa-related website, founded in 1991 by former Library of Congress archivist Jeff Guide
• Fortean Times magazine pieces together the Santa myth in Lappland
• NORAD Tracks Santa
• Santa Claus Plaza
• Santa Television, originating out of Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland
• KringleQuest.com: The Unofficial Santa Claus: The Movie Website
• Santa Claus Pictures
• Santa Claus Vintage Postcards
• This American Life story about the history and stories of Santa Claus
• Santas Around the World Santa Claus Around the World Gallery at PPG Wintergarden
• Santa Claus Casino

References

• "Bad Disney". Washington Times. November 21, 2003.
• Barnard, Eunice Fuller. "Santa Claus Claimed as a Real New Yorker." New York Times. December, 19, 1926.
• Baum, L. Frank. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. 1902; reprint, New York: Penguin, 1986. ISBN 0-451-52064-5
• Belk, Russel W. "A Child's Christmas in America: Santa Claus as Deity, Consumption as Religion." Journal of American Culture, 10, no. 1 (Spring 1987), pp. 87-100.
• "Christmas Customs; Are They Christian?". The Watchtower (New York). December 15, 2000.
• Clar, Mimi. "Attack on Santa Claus." Western Folklore, 18, no. 4 (October 1959), p. 337.
• Clark, Cindy Dell. Flights of Fancy, Leaps of Faith: Children's Myths in Contemporary America. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995. ISBN 0-226-10778-7
• "The Claus That Refreshes" at Snopes.com.
• "Letter from Santa Clause" at santabymail.com.
• "The Devil Is In Your Chimney!" at Landoverbaptist.org.
• Dini, Paul. Jingle Belle various issues [6]
• Flynn, Tom. The Trouble with Christmas. Buffalo, N.Y.: Prometheus Books, 1993. ISBN 0-87975-848-1
• Horowitz, Joseph. Classical Music in America: A History of Its Rise and Fall. New York: W. W. Norton, 2005. ISBN 0-393-05717-8
• "Is There a Santa Claus?" New York Sun. September 21, 1897.
• King, Josiah. The Examination and Tryal of Old Father Christmas; Together with his Clearing by the Jury . . . London: Charles Brome, 1686. Full text available here
• Lalumia, Christine. "The restrained restoration of Christmas". In the Ten Ages of Christmas at BBC.co.uk.
• [Moore, Clement Clarke]. "A Visit from St. Nicholas." Troy (N.Y.) Sentinel. December 23, 1823.
• Nissenbaum, Stephen. The Battle for Christmas. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996. ISBN 0-649-41223-9
• Otnes, Cele, Kyungseung Kim, and Young Chan Kim. "Yes, Virginia, There is a Gender Difference: Analyzing Children's Requests to Santa Claus." Journal of Popular Culture, 28, no. 1 (Summer 1994), pp. 17-29.
• Ott, Jonathan. Pharmacotheon: Entheogenic Drugs, Their Plant Sources and History. Kennewick, Wash.: Natural Products Company, 1993. ISBN 0-9614234-9-8
• Plath, David W. "The Japanese Popular Christmas: Coping with Modernity." American Journal of Folklore, 76, no. 302 (October-December 1963), pp. 309-317.
• Potter, Alicia. "Celluloid Santas" at Factmonster.com.
• Quinn, Seabury. Roads. 1948; facsimile reprint, Mohegan Lake, N.Y.: Red Jacket Press, 2005. ISBN 0-9748895-8-X
• Romain Sardou's One Second before Christmas, 2005. ISBN 2-84563-262-2 (French original version)
• "St. Nicholas of Myra" in the Catholic Encyclopedia at NewAdvent.org.
• Sedaris, David. The Santaland Diaries and Seasons Greetings: Two Plays. New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1998. ISBN 0-8222-1631-0
• Shenkman, Richard. Legends, Lies, and Cherished Myths of American History. New York: HarperCollins, 1988. ISBN 0-06-097261-0
• Siefker, Phyllis. Santa Claus, Last of the Wild Men: The Origins and Evolution of Saint Nicholas, Spanning 50,000 Years. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 1996. ISBN 0-7864-0246-6
• Twitchell, James B. Twenty Ads that Shook the World. New York: Crown Publishers, 2000. ISBN 0-609-60563-1
• "Why Track Him?" at NORADsanta.org.

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Bebinca is a dessert from Goa, India. The ingredients include eggs and coconut milk. The dish is prepared and consumed during Christmas time. Traditionally this desert is baked over a slow fire and one turns the Bebinca upside down before eating.

This food is also popular in the Philippines, spelled "bibingka." In the Philippine style, sliced salted duck eggs are added into the batter before cooking (the cooking process is similar to the bebinca). Before being served, butter or margarine is spread and sugar is sprinkled over the bibingka.

"Bebinca" was also adopted by the International Weather System as a typhoon name.

Bebinca from Goa (served with ice cream)

Link

• Recipe at MassRecipes.com

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Bethmännchen (German for "a little Bethmann") is a pastry made from marzipan with almond, powdered sugar, rosewater, flour and egg which is usually specially baked for Christmas.

The name is given from the family of Simon Moritz von Bethmann in Frankfurt am Main (Germany).

Legend has it that Parisian pastry chef Jean Jacques Gautenier developed the recipe at his home in 1838.

Links

• German Embassy in Washington DC: A recipe for Bethmännchen

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Brandy butter is a sweet, rich sauce, usually consumed with traditional desserts during the Christmas and New Year period in the UK.

Description

Brandy butter is a blend of soft dark brown sugar, unsalted butter and brandy. Refrigerated until it is relatively hard, it is typically served cold to provide a contrast with hot desserts such as:

• Christmas pudding (alternatively known as plum pudding).

• Freshly baked or microwaved Mince pies.

As such, it is a seasonal alternative to cream, ice cream or custard.

Trivia

 

In 1998 a number of newspapers carried a story regarding European Union rules that the labelling of dairy products as butter required a minimum of 75% milk fat, and that brandy butter, falling below this requirement was to be renamed 'brandy spreadable fat'. The Sun newspaper erroneously reported, "That great British Christmas treat, brandy butter, is to be outlawed by the order of the EU. Brussels says it doesn't have enough butter in it." The Sun, 22 June 1998, p. 8.

This interpretation of the regulations could be classified as a Euromyth. In actual fact the legislation contained an exemption specifically to accommodate brandy butter and similar alcoholic sauces.

Links

• Euromyth:Brandy Butter The European Commission Representation in the United Kingdom

 

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

 

Video: Norman's Brandy Butter

 

Bredela (also referred to as Bredele, Bredle or Winachtsbredele) are biscuits or small cakes traditionally baked in Alsace (France) especially during the Christmas period. Many varieties can be found, including new ones, so that assortments can be created. They can include anisbredela (cake with egg white and aniseed) butterbredle, schwowebredle (orange and cinnamon), spritzbredle, small pain d'épices and spice cakes that are made with sugar rather than honey.

Links

• Recipes

Buñuelos (alternatively spelled bimuelos, birmuelos, bermuelos, burmuelos, bunyols) are fritters of a mainly Mexican origin and are traditionally eaten at Christmas. To make buñelos, a yeasted dough with a hint of anise is deep-fried, then drenched in a syrup of brown sugar, cinnamon, and guava.

There are references to buñelos in Mallorca; there also exist bunelos in Turkey, India, and Cuba; bunuelos are in Russia.

Southwestern buñuelos are coated with sugar and cinnamon and are similar to malasadas).

Popular types of breads in Mijas include buñuelos and homazos. The Spanish have an appetite for mixing the sweet and savoury, a tradition which has its origins in Arabic culture, as the Moorish invaders also combined different types of food in one meal.

Buñelos are commonly served in Mexico with powdered sugar or hot sugar cane syrup (piloncillo) and are sold in fairs, carnivals, and Christmas events such as posadas or pastorellas.

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: Bunuelos Recipe with Zulka Sugar

A traditional Bûche de Noël, made with a Génoise cake and chocolate buttercream, and garnished with powdered sugar, raspberries, and spruce boughs.

Bûche de Noël ("Yule Log") is a traditional French dessert served during the Christmas holidays. As the name indicates, the cake is generally prepared, presented, and garnished so as to look like a log ready for the fire. The traditional bûche is made from a Génoise or other sponge cake, generally baked in a large, shallow jelly roll pan, frosted, rolled to form a cylinder, and frosted again on the outside. The most common combination is a basic yellow sponge cake, frosted and filled with chocolate buttercream, however, many variations on the traditional recipe exist, possibly including chocolate cakes and espresso or otherwise-flavored frostings and fillings. Bûches are often served with a portion of one end of the cake cut off and set on top of the cake to resemble a chopped off branch, and bark-like texture is often produced in the buttercream for further realism. They are commonly decorated with powdered sugar to resemble snow, tree branches, fresh berries, and mushrooms made of meringue.

One popular story behind the creation of this dessert is that Napoleon I of France issued a proclamation requiring households in Paris to keep their chimneys closed during the winter, based on the notion that cold air caused medical problems. This prevented Parisians from being able to use their fireplaces, and, thus, prevented them from engaging in many of the traditions surrounding and involving the hearth in French Christmas tradition. French bakers, according to the theory, invented this dessert as a symbolic replacement around which the family could gather for story-telling and other holiday merriment.

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: Bûche de Noël

A candy cane is a hard cane-shaped candy stick. It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavored with peppermint; however, it is also made in a variety of other flavors and colored stripes. The candy cane is a traditional candy surrounding the Christmas holiday, although it is possible to find them throughout the year.

The candy cane was originally a straight, hard, and all-white candy stick. The cane shape is traditionally credited to a choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral in Germany, who, legend has it, in 1670 bent straight sugar sticks into canes to represent a shepherd's staff, and gave them to children at church services. Whether the choirmaster had the "Good Shepherd" in mind is unknown. Peppermint candy with red stripes first appeared in the mid-19th century in the Swedish town of Gränna [1], and striped candy canes in the early 20th century.

Urban legends about the origin of candy canes

Apocryphal tales suggesting the candy cane was created wholecloth (usually by an American Protestant, usually described as being an unnamed candy maker in 1870s Indiana) to represent Jesus (white for his purity, red for the blood he shed, and the general shape for the J in his name and the cane of the shepards) have become popular in recent years. These are recently created stories with no factual basis.

Other uses

Candy canes are sometimes ground up and used as a topping for foods such as ice cream or as an additive to drinks such as hot chocolate. They are also hung as decorations on Christmas trees.

The British confectionery called "seaside rock" is manufactured in a similar fashion.

Links

• About.com: History of the candy cane
• Candy Cane: Candy Cane history, recipes, facts, links, and more
• The Tradition of the Candy Cane
• Urban Legends Reference Pages debunking of candy canes' religious origins

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: How to Make Candy Cane Cookies : How to Beat Butter for Candy Cane Cookie Recipe

Christmas cake is a type of fruitcake served at Christmas time in the UK, Ireland and many Commonwealth countries.

A Christmas cake may be light or dark, crumbly-moist to sticky-wet, spongy to heavy, leavened or unleavened, shaped round, square or oblong as whole cakes, cupcakes ("fairy cakes" in England), or petit fours, with frosting, icing, glazing, dusting with confectioner's sugar, or plain, etc.

A particular favourite of many is the traditional Scottish Christmas cake, the Whisky Dundee. As the name implies, the cake originated in Dundee and is made with Scotch whisky. It is a light and crumbly cake, and light on fruit and candied peel—only currants, raisins (sultanas) and cherries. This Christmas cake is particularly good for people who don't like very rich and moist cakes. As with all fruitcakes, the almonds (or other nuts) can be omitted by people who don't like them.

At the other end of the Christmas cake continuum, the apple creme Christmas cake is a rich mix of finely sliced apples, raisins and other fruit, with eggs, cream cheese, and heavy whipping cream.

In the middle of the spectrum is the mincemeat Christmas cake, which is simply any traditional or vegetarian mincemeat mixed with flour, eggs, etc., to transform it into a cake batter; or it can also be steamed as a Christmas pudding.

Christmas cake in other countries

In Japan, Christmas cake, traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve, is simply a sponge cake, frosted with whipped cream, decorated with strawberries, and usually topped with Christmas chocolates or other seasonal fruit. By extension, Japanese women over the age of 25 have occasionally been called "Christmas cake" to express the traditional Japanese idea that women over 25 are undesirable as marriage partners. This is a play on the idea that Christmas cake is no longer desirable after the 25th. However, as the age at marriage has increased, this metaphor has begun to be replaced with toshikoshi-soba, a noodle dish traditionally eaten on the 31st.

In the Philippines, Christmas cakes are rich yellow pound cakes with macerated nuts or fruitcakes of the British fashion. Either way, both are soaked in copious amounts of brandy or rum mixed with a simple syrup of palm sugar and water. Traditionally, civet or ambergris musk flavoring is added, but rosewater or orange flower water is more common now, as civet musk and ambergris have become very expensive. These liquor-laden cakes can usually stay fresh for many months provided it is handled and made properly. Because of its long shelf life, it is a very popular type of gift for Christmas and one cake made the previous year is sometimes saved for the next Christmas to symbolize union with "Christmases past", or may be consumed for the following Easter.

References

1. Hendry, Joy (2003). Understanding Japanese Society, Third Edition. London: Routledge.

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: Christmas Cake Recipe - Christmas Recipes Cakes - Indian Food Recipes

Christmas Cookies (Left to right, top to bottom : Eggnog Cookie, Candy Cane Cookie, Snowman Cookie, Vanilla Santa, Shortbread Wreath, Pfeffernusse, Cherry Snowflake and Holiday Pretzel) from the cookie outlet

Christmas cookies are traditionally sugar cookies (though other flavors may be used based on family traditions and individual preferences) cut into various shapes related to Christmas. In the United States, since the 1930s, children have left cookies and milk on a table for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, though many people simply consume the cookies themselves. The cookies are often cut into such shapes as those of candy canes, reindeer, and holly leaves. Oreos are also popular.

Links

• Ginger Cookies Recipe
• Christmas cookie recipes
• Origin of Christmas Traditions by Sarah Lane
• Christmas Cookies lists some popular recipes.
• Snowflakes Recipe Traditional cookies in the shape of snowflakes.

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: Kelly Ripa & kids make Christmas cookies!

The Christmas Ham is an ancient traditional ingredient in the Swedish Christmas celebration and remains as important there as the Christmas tree.

Before the arrival of Christianity to Scandinavia, a pig was sacrificed to the god Freyr at the Yule celebrations and eaten. This tradition of butchering a pig at Christmas continued after the Christianization and survives as several dishes (sausages and bread dipped in pork fat) of which the Christmas ham is the most central.

Among commoners, the Christmas ham was usually saved for the summer, whereas more wealthy people ate it at Christmas.

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: Classic Christmas Recipes : Traditional Holiday Ham Recipe

Christmas puddings are often dried out on hooks for weeks prior to serving in order to enhance the flavour. This pudding has been prepared with a traditional cloth rather than a basin.

Christmas pudding is the dessert traditionally served on Christmas day in Britain and Ireland, as well as in some Commonwealth countries. It has its origins in England, and is sometimes known as plum pudding, though this can also refer to other kinds of boiled pudding involving a lot of dried fruit.

Basics

Many households have their own recipe for Christmas pudding, often handed down the family.

Christmas pudding is a boiled, or rather steamed, pudding, massively heavy with dried fruit and nuts, and usually made with suet. It should be very dark in appearance - effectively black - and moist with brandy and other alcohol (some recipes call for dark beers such as mild, stout or porter). In Peru, some families use Pisco.

Traditionally, Christmas puddings were boiled in a pudding cloth, and they are often represented as round, but at least since the beginning of the twentieth century they have usually been prepared in basins.

The wish and other traditions

Traditionally, every member of the household stirs the pudding, while making a wish.

Traditionally puddings were made on or immediately after the Sunday "next before Advent", i.e. five weeks before Christmas. The Collect for that Sunday in the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England, as it was used from the sixteenth century (and still is in traditional churches), reads:

"Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen"

The day became known as "Stir-up Sunday". Traditionally everyone in the household, or at least every child, gave the mixture a stir, and made a wish while doing so.

It was common practice to include small silver coins in the pudding mixture, which could be kept by the person whose serving included them. The usual choice was a silver 3d piece, or a sixpence. The coin was believed to bring wealth in the coming year. However this practice fell away once real silver coins were not available, as it was believed that alloy coins would taint the pudding. The practice has largely stopped for reasons of safety and liability.

Other tokens are also known to have been included, such as a tiny wishbone (to bring good luck), a silver thimble (for thrift), or an anchor (to symbolise safe harbour).

Once turned out of its basin, the Christmas pudding is traditionally decorated with a spray of holly, and it may be doused in brandy, flamed (or 'fired'), and brought to the table ceremonially - where it may be greeted with a round of applause. In some houses the lights are turned out as the pudding is brought in amid a halo of purple brandy flames (this is related to the Christmas tradition of snap-dragons). It can be eaten with hard sauce, brandy butter, rum butter, cream (lemon cream is excellent) or custard and is often sprinkled with caster sugar (the fall of the sugar on triangular slices resembling the fall of snow on a pitched roof, or snowy mountain tops).

A traditional bag-boiled Christmas Pudding still showing the "skin".

After Christmas

Christmas puddings have very good keeping properties and many families keep one back from Christmas to be eaten at another celebration later in the year, often at Easter. Some take the practice so far as to make each year's pudding the previous Christmas. Others claim that this impairs the flavour, but admit that a well-made pudding will keep at least adequately for a year.

Christmas puddings can be bought ready made and cooked, but unless they come from a luxury shop these are likely to be a poor substitute for a home-cooked pudding. Nowadays, many people find the Christmas pudding too rich and heavy (especially after lots of rich food on the morning of Christmas, then a starter and a large main course for the main meal), but most families have at least one member who will demand that a "proper" Christmas pudding be cooked.

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: Christmas Pudding Recipe : Adding Molasses for Making Christmas Pudding

Cranberry sauce is a sauce or relish made out of cranberries.

The cranberries are boiled with sugar and often other ingredients such as orange juice or zest. Cranberry sauce may be condensed or jellied and thus shaped like a cylinder due to the shape of steel cans that often contain the sauce, or may be loose and uncondensed. Cranberry sauce is often eaten in conjunction with turkey for Christmas dinner in the UK and for Thanksgiving dinner in the US, and it is only rarely eaten in other contexts.

In the U.S., most cranberry sauce (and cranberry products in general) is produced by the company Ocean Spray.

Some varieties of cranberry sauce may not be appropriate for vegetarians as it may contain gelatin.

Cranberry Trivia

John Lennon repeated the words Cranberry sauce at the end of the song Strawberry Fields Forever, a fact that Lennon confirmed in a 1980 Playboy interview. He stated it was a kind of icing on the cake of the weirdness of song, where anything he might have imagined saying would have been appropriate.

Links

• The strength of cranberry sauce

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: Cranberry Sauce Video Recipe

Eggnog (or egg nog) is a type of milk-based beverage popular in North America during the winter. Historically, it likely belongs to the posset family. But its actual origins, significance and, most importantly, ingredients are subject to dispute and conjecture. The name is a concatenation of egg and nog, where nog derives either from noggin (ale or a small wooden cup) or from grog (an alcoholic beverage made with rum). Most likely, eggnog originated in Europe. Another origin story has it that it was an occasional fortifying drink in the American colonies, who adapted it with cheap rum to make it a more formidable winter treat.

Modern eggnog typically consists of milk, eggs, and sugar mixed together and may be served with or without added spirits. Other ingredients include spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, or allspice, and frequently the substitution of cream for some portion of the milk, making a much richer drink. Other toppings are vanilla ice cream, eggnog flavored ice cream, and whipped cream.

Eggnog is typically served as a Christmas drink or during New Year's eve. Historically, however, it is a winter beverage, not a holiday-specific one. Although eggnog can be produced from "homemade" recipes, ready-made eggnog containing alcohol and "just-add-alcohol" versions are available for purchase in a variety of stores. Whisky, rum, brandy, or cognac can be added to eggnog. Since the 1960s, eggnog has been served cold and without alcohol, both of which are significant departures from its historical origins. In North America, a few soymilk manufacturers offer seasonally-available, soy-based alternatives for vegans and those with dairy or milk allergies. Eggnog also can be added as a flavouring to food or other drinks.

Links

• Eggnog recipe collection

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: Classic Christmas Recipes : Traditional Eggnog Recipe

Fruitcake is a heavy cake made of dried or candied fruits and nuts that are soaked in brandy or rum, often used in the celebration of weddings and Christmas.

History

The earliest recipe from ancient Rome lists pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins that were mixed into barley mash.

In the Middle Ages, honey, spices, and preserved fruits were added and the name fruitcake was first used. Robert Sietsema finds that inexpensive sugar from the American Colonies and the discovery that high concentrations of sugar could preserve fruits created an excess of candied fruit. The fruitcake was the way to use them.

In the 18th century, Europeans were baking fruitcakes using nuts from the harvest for good luck in the following year. The cake was saved and eaten before the next harvest. Fruitcakes proliferated until a law in Europe restricted them to Christmas, weddings, and a few other holidays. Even so, the fruitcake remained popular at Victorian Teas in England throughout the 19th century.

Mail-order fruitcakes began in 1913. The management of Ringling Brothers Circus liked the fruitcake from Collin Street Bakery, a local bakery in Corsicana, Texas. They ordered them as gifts to be mailed to friends around the country. Collin Street Bakery, using the old European recipe of baker Gus Weidmann and salesman Tom McElwee, grew quickly, and have shipped their fruitcakes to nearly 200 countries worldwide and numerous multi-national corporations and famous individuals.

The modern fruitcakes are fundamentally butter cakes with just enough dough to bind the fruit. The cakes are saturated with liqueurs or brandy, and covered in powdered sugar, both of which prevent mold. Brandy or wine-soaked linens are used to store the fruitcakes. Many people feel fruitcakes improve with age. Some cakes have been eaten 25 years after baking.

Recently, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, a man discovered a 43 year old fruitcake in his mother's attic that his aunts had sent to him in 1962, while stationed at an Army base in Alaska. The cake arrived wrapped in brown paper with a red "fragile, handle with care" sticker on it, and the label "Old Fashioned Fruitcake". The man who found this treasure says "Now it's just old".

Fruitcake in popular culture

In the United States of America, the fruitcake has become one of the most ridiculed desserts and the butt of many jokes centered on its heaviness and long shelf life.

Former Tonight Show host Johnny Carson joked that there really is only one fruitcake in the world. It is passed from family to family -- a joke also frequently attributed to the writer Calvin Trillin, who denies being the source. Trillin says he was just passing along a theory he "had heard from someone in Denver". He continues, "There is nothing dangerous about fruitcakes as long as people send them along without eating them." The Fruitcake Lady makes appearances with current host Jay Leno and offers her "fruitcake" opinions.

Comedian Jim Gaffigan has used fruitcake in his bit to question its relation to regular cakes with the line, "Fruit, good; cake, great; fruitcake, nasty crap."

For the last nine years about 500 people have shown up in Manitou Springs, Colorado each January for the Great Fruitcake Toss. "We encourage the use of recycled fruitcakes", says Leslie Lewis of the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce. The all-time Great Fruitcake Toss record is 420 feet.

In the UK, fruitcakes are far moister and richer than their American counterparts, and remain extremely popular. The traditional Christmas cake is a fruitcake covered in marzipan, and then in white satin or royal icing. They are often further decorated with snow scenes, holly leaves and berries (real or artificial), or tiny decorative robins or snowmen.

Fruitcakes have been banned on airplanes. Because they are difficult to identify using x-ray equipment at security checkpoints, they could exacerbate security delays created by recently increased security.

Fruitcake is also used, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States, as insulting slang for a 'crazy person' (e.g. "he's a complete fruitcake"). It is derived from the expression "nutty as a fruitcake", which was first recorded in 1935. [1] It is also used to suggest that someone is a homosexual.

Fruitcake recipe

Preparation Time:	10 minutes
Cooking Time:	2 hours
Time Until Ready:	3 hours
Serves:	12

Ingredients

1/2 pound of butter
1/2 pound of sugar
1/2 pound of sultanas or currants
1/2 pound of candied peel
1/2 pound of flour
1/2 a grated nutmeg (or use ground nutmeg)
A few chopped almonds
Juice and chopped rind (all) of 1 lemon
2 eggs
A little milk

Directions

• Beat the butter to a cream and add the eggs one by one and then add the other ingredients.
• Bake in a greased and paper-lined tin in a medium oven for about 2 hours.
• Turn out on a cake rack to cool.

Delicious with a cup of tea after you've been out working in the garden.

Source: Mrs. Beeton's Family Cookery

Links

• Many fruitcake recipes
• Easy to follow fruitcake recipe
• Mrs Beeton's Fruit Cake Recipe

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video recipe

Scandinavian-style gingerbread cookies

Gingerbread in cake form

Gingerbread is a sweet that can take the form of a cake or a cookie in which the predominant flavor is ginger.

As a cookie, gingerbread can be made into a thin, crisp cookie (often called a ginger snap) or a softer cookie similar to the German Lebkuchen. Gingerbread cookies are often cut into shapes, particularly gingerbread men.

A variant dough is used to make gingerbread houses à la the "witch's house" encountered by Hansel and Gretel. These, covered with a variety of candies and icing, are a common Christmas decoration.

Another variant uses a boiled dough that can be molded like clay to form inedible statuettes or other decorations. A significant form of popular art in Europe, major centers of gingerbread mould carving included Lyon, Nürnberg, Pest, Prague, Pardubice, Ulm, and Toruń (ger.: Thorner Kathrinchen). Gingerbread moulds often displayed the "news", showing carved portraits of new kings, emperors, and queens, for example. Substantial mould collections are held at the Ethnographic Museum in Toruń, Poland and the Bread Museum in Ulm, Germany.

The cake form tends to be a dense, treaclely (molasses-based) spice cake. Some recipes add mustard, pepper, raisins, nuts, and/or other spices/ingredients to the batter. In the U.S. state of Vermont gingerbread cake rarely includes raisins or nuts. The Vermont style of cake is flavored with powdered ginger and ground black pepper for intensity. Rather than being iced or frosted, the cake is served with warm lemon sauce. Until recent years it was a common Vermont 4th of July dessert, but today is more often served in the winter, particularly at Christmastime.

Originally, the term gingerbread (from Latin zingiber via Old French gingebras) referred to preserved ginger, then to a confection made with honey and spices.

Gingerbread is often translated into French as pain d'épices. Pain d'épices is a French pastry also made with honey and spices, but not crispy.

Gingerbread is also an architectural term for highly decorated Victorian houses.

A Lebkuchen house

Traditional Toruń gingerbread

Links

• Godecookery.com recipes
• Historical gingerbread recipes
• Nürnberg Gingerbread history and folklore

A Gingerbread House

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: Gingerbread Men Recipe

Glogg (Swedish: Glögg, Norwegian: Gløgg, Danish: Gløg, Finnish: Glögi) is the Scandinavian version of vin chaud or mulled wine. The main ingredients are (usually red) wine, spices such as cinnamon and cloves, and optionally also stronger spirits such as vodka, akvavit or even cognac. The mixture is prepared by heating, but it is not allowed to boil in order for the alcohol not to evaporate. Glögg is generally served with raisins and almonds, and is a popular warm drink during the Christmas season.

In Denmark gløgg is traditionally served during the Christmas season with æbleskiver (apple dumplings) sprinkled with powdered sugar and accompanied with strawberry marmalade.

Glogg recipes vary widely, and variations with sweet wines such as Madeira or spirits such as Cognac, Armagnac or Brandy are also very popular. Glogg can also be made alcohol-free by using juices (usually blackcurrant) or by boiling the Glogg for a few minutes to evaporate the alcohol.

Links

• Swedish Glögg Recipe in U.S. units
• Swedish Glögg Recipe with serving tips
• Danish gløgg recipe in English with U.S. measures from Andrea Fisker's "A Northwoman´s cookbook"
• Danish Christmas Gløgg from Diana's Desserts

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Recipe

Ingredients:
2 quarts dry red wine
2 quarts muscatel
1 pint sweet vermouth
2 tablespoons Angostura Bitters
2 cups raisins
1 orange peel (without white part)
12 whole cardamoms, bruised in mortar & pestle
10 whole cloves
1 piece (about 2-inches in size) fresh ginger
1 stick cinnamon
12 ounces Aquavit
1 1/2 cups granulated or superfine sugar
2 cups whole blanched peeled almonds

Garnish:
Cinnamon stick
Orange slices

Instructions:
Mix all the ingredients up to and including the 1 stick of cinnamon in a 6 to 8-quart enamel pot. Let stand, tightly covered, at room temperature for at least 12 hours.

Shortly before serving, add Aquavit and sugar. Mix well. Heat rapidly to full boil. Remove from heat as soon as mixture boils. Add almonds.

Serve hot, in small cups. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and orange slices.

Makes approximately 18-20 (1/2 cup) servings.

Source: Brown, D. Foods of the World: The Cooking of Scandinavia, Time-Life Books, New York, 1968.

Source: The Cooking of Scandinavia

In Venezuelan cuisine, an hallaca (alt. spelling, "hayaca") is a mixture of beef, pork, capers, raisins, and olives wrapped in maize (cornmeal dough) bound within plantain leaves with string and steamed afterwards. It is typically served during the Christmas holiday. Hallacas are also known in the eastern part of Colombia with a similar recipe.

Origins

A little bit European, a little bit indigenous, and a little bit African, the unique and tasty hallaca is said to have its origins in the plantation days of colonial Venezuela when there was still slave ownership. Popular myth has it that it was common practice for the plantation owners to donate leftover Christmas food scraps such as bits of pork and beef to their slaves, who would wrap them in cornmeal and plaintain leaves for subsequent preparation and cooking. A more likely history of the origins of this food, however, may point to ancestors from abroad.

An alternate theory of its origins denotes the similarity of the hallaca to the Spanish empanada gallega (Galician pastry), emphasizing the fact that the filling of the hallaca is almost identical — with the substitution of the plain flour with maize, and the plantain leaf for the expensive iron casts not readily available to the new world at the time. However, the most likely ancestor of the maize body and plantain envelope of the hallaca is the tamale. In fact, some people from western Venezuela (primarily in Zulia, Falcón and Lara states) use the terms "tamar" and "tamare" to refer to what is basically a bollo — the closest version of the tamale in Venezuela — with a simple meat filling.^[1]

Tradition

The hallaca is the staple Venezuelan Christmas dinner dish and its preparation is practically limited to that time of the year. It is still prepared in a similar fashion to colonial times with some modern refinements. The hallaca is also considered one of the most representative icons of Venezuelan multicultural heritage, as its preparation includes European ingredients (such as raisins, nuts and olives), indigenous ingredients (corn meal colored with annatto seeds), and African ingredients (smoked banana or plantain leaves used for wrapping).

Preparation

The traditional hallaca is made by extending a plantain leaf, greasing it with a spoonful of annatto-colored cooking oil and spreading on it a round portion of corn dough (roughly 30 cm), which is then sprinkled with pieces of stewed meat (pork, poultry, beef, lard, crisp or pork rind), raisins, nuts, pepper filled olives and occasionally boiled eggs. Then it is skillfully wrapped in an oblong fashion and tied with string in a typical square mesh before its cooking in boiling water. Afterwards, it is picked from the pail with a fork, unwrapped and served on its own plaintain leaves with chicken salad, pan de jamón (ham filled bread) or plain bread.

After making a number of hallacas, the remaining portion of ingredients is occasionally mixed together in order to obtain a uniform dough. The dough undergoes the same hallaca wrap and cooking preparation, although typically smaller in size and much fewer in number. The result is the bollo, which may be offered as a lighter option to the hallaca at lunch or dinner.

After cooking, hallacas can be frozen for several weeks with no changes in flavor. It is common for families to eat hallacas as late as early February.

Culture

Hallacas require many laborious hours of preparation and are made in large quantities (varying from a few dozen to several hundred). It is a job joyfully done by whole families, which engage in its preparation as a celebration and also as a reason for reuniting family members at Christmas time. The hallaca making party is matriarchal, having grandmothers and/or mothers in the lead roles. Traditional music and drinks contribute up the festive atmosphere, and images of mothers nagging children as they steal bits of fillings from the table and of men complaining of being left to clean leaves and to do last minute shoppings are typical during the party.

It is customary between families, neighbors and friends to share several hallacas as a way to evaluate the skills of the other party in their making. Another tradition is to offer them to any visitor.

Links

• http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=24061
• http://www.recipegoldmine.com/worldsoutham/southam62.html
• http://www.lapaella.co.uk/culture/hallaca.html
• http://www.analitica.com/bitblioteca/rosenblat/hallaca.asp

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Joulupöytä (translated "Christmas table") is the name of the traditional food board served at Christmas in Finland. It contains many different dishes, most of them typical for the season. The main dish is usually a large Christmas ham, which is eaten with mustard or bread along with the other dishes. Fish is also served (often lutefisk and gravlax), and with the ham there are also so-called "laatikot", casseroles with liver and raisins or potatoes or rice and carrots. The traditional Christmas beverage is either alcoholic or non-alcoholic mulled wine ("glögi" in Finnish).

The traditional dishes of joulupöytä contain:

Ham
Boiled potatoes
Lutefisk and white sauce
Gravlax
Liver and raisin casserole
Potato casserole
Carrot casserole
Turnip casserole
Rosolli (salad from boiled beetroots, carrots, potatoes and cucumber. If served with herring, it becomes sillisalaatti)
Liver pudding
Various sashimi, usually from salmon, whitefish and pikeperch
Pickled herring in various forms (tomato, mustard, matjes or onion sauces)
Mustard
Various sauces

Beverages most often served are:

Akvavit as appetizer
Mulled wine
Beer, usually special Christmas brands. Most Finnish breweries have seasonal beers for Christmas.
Milk
Wine is uncommon, but not rare

The usual desserts are:

Plum soup
Rice porridge
Ice cream with jam
Confectioneries and other sweets, especially chocolate

Usually the rice porridge is served from a large, common kettle and an almond has been hidden in it. The one who gets the almond gets his or her Christmas presents first.

Links

• Santa´s Lapland and Christmas Club - Christmas Recipes
• Finnish Christmas recipes

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Marzipan is a confection consisting primarily of ground almonds and sugar that derives its characteristic flavor from bitter almonds, which constitute 4% to 6% of total almond content by weight. Some marzipan is also flavored with rosewater.

Marzipan is often made into sweets: common uses are marzipan-filled chocolate and small marzipan imitations of fruits and vegetables. It is also rolled into thin sheets and glazed for icing cakes and is traditionally used in wedding cakes, Christmas cakes, and stollen. In some countries marzipan is shaped into small figures of animals, such as pigs, as a traditional treat for New Year's Day. Marzipan is also used in Tortell, and in some versions of king cake eaten during the Carnival season.

In Italy, particularly in Palermo, marzipan (marzapane) is often shaped and painted with food colorings to resemble fruit — Frutta martorana — especially during the Christmas season. In Portugal, traditional marzipan (maçapão) fruit shaped sweets made in the Algarve region are called morgadinhos.

Recipe

While there are various subtlely different ways of making marzipan, below is a typical recipe:

Ingredients:

16oz Ground Almonds

8oz Icing Sugar

8oz Castor Sugar

2 Eggs

1 tablespoon of Lemon Juice

1 teaspoon of Almond Essence

What to do:

1) Whisk the eggs, almond essence and lemon juice in a bowl.

2) Stir in the sugars and ground almonds.

3) Use your hands to mould the mixture into a ball.

4) Knead well to produce a pliable dough.

5) Wrap in grease-proof paper and refrigerate until needed.

History

Although it is believed to have originated in Persia (present-day Iran) and to have been introduced to Europe through the Turks, there is some dispute between Hungary and Italy over its origin. Marzipan became a specialty of the Baltic Sea region of Germany. In particular, the city of Lübeck has a proud tradition of marzipan manufacture (Lübecker Marzipan). The city's manufacturers like Niederegger still guarantee their Marzipan to contain two thirds almonds by weight, which results in a juicy, bright yellow product.

Historically, the city of Königsberg in East Prussia was renowned for its Marzipan production. Today, the term Königsberger Marzipan refers to a special type of Marzipan in Germany.

Under EU law, marzipan must have a minimum almond oil content of 14% and a maximum moisture content of 8.5%. Optional additional ingredients are rosewater, honey, pistachios and preservatives. In the U.S., marzipan must include at least a quarter almonds by weight, otherwise it is considered to be almond paste. However, in Sweden and Finland "almond paste" refers to a marzipan that contains 50% ground almonds, i.e. a much higher quality than regular marzipan.

Etymology

The German name has largely ousted the original English name marchpane with the same apparent derivation: "March bread." Marzapane is documented earlier in Italian than in any other language, and the sense "bread" for pan is Romance. However, the ultimate etymology is unclear; for example, the Italian word derives from a Middle Latin word meaning "small box" and originally having the meaning of a coin on which a figure of a seated Christ was imprinted. Among the other possible etymologies set forth in the Oxford English Dictionary, one theory posits that the word "marzipan" may however be a corruption of Martaban, a Burmese city famous for its jars.

Trivia

In business, the "marzipan layer" refers to the group of managers just below the highest level of directors or partners. This phrase refers to the fact that in some cakes, a layer of marzipan lies just below the icing.

Links

• Niederegger: The History of Marzipan

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video recipe

Mulled wine, similar to the German Glühwein, the French vin chaud, the Italian vin brulè, the Slovak Verené vino, is wine, usually red wine, combined with spices and is usually served hot. In the old times wine often went bad, but by adding spices and honey it could be made drinkable again. Nowadays it is a traditional drink during winter, and especially around Christmas, to warm up. In Italy, this beverage is typically drunk in the northern, more Germanic part of the country.

In the United Kingdom, Mulled wine is generally made to a different (sweeter) recipe than the German Glühwein. Sometimes Glühwein (or Gluehwein) is offered as an alternative to Mulled wine in the United Kingdom.

Glogg (Swedish: Glögg, Norwegian: Gløgg, Danish: Gløgg, Finnish: Glögi) is the Scandinavian form of mulled wine, similar to Glühwein in German-speaking countries. Glühwein is usually prepared from (not too expensive, sometimes outright cheap) red wine, which is heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, cloves and sugar. In Romania it is called vin fiert [1], literaly meaning hot wine, and comes in both white wines and red wines. The main ingredients are (usually red) wine, spices such as cinnamon and cloves, and optionally also stronger spirits such as vodka, akvavit or even cognac. The mixture is prepared by heating, but it is not allowed to boil in order for the alcohol not to evaporate. Glögg is generally served with raisins and almonds, and is a popular warm drink during the Christmas season.

In Denmark gløgg is traditionally served during the Christmas season with æbleskiver (apple dumplings) sprinkled with powdered sugar and accompanied with strawberry marmalade.

Glogg recipes vary widely, and variations with sweet wines such as Madeira or spirits such as Cognac, Armagnac or Brandy are also very popular. Glogg can also be made alcohol-free by using juices (usually blackcurrant) or by boiling the Glogg for a few minutes to evaporate the alcohol.

If orange juice is added, it becomes a form of punch.

Links

• Webtender Recipe on Gluehwein
• The Finnish Recipe of Christmas Glogg
• Mulle Wine Recipes
• Swedish Glögg Recipe in U.S. units
• Swedish Glögg Recipe with serving tips
• Danish gløgg recipe in English with U.S. measures from Andrea Fisker's "A Northwoman´s cookbook"
• Danish Christmas Gløgg from Diana's Desserts

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: How to make delicious mulled wine for Christmas parties

Česnica is a kind of soda bread made on Christmas morning, in Serbian tradition. A solid silver coin along with wood and a bean for health and good luck is placed into the bread. During the Christmas Breakfast (being the most important meal of Christmas in Serbian tradition) family members break the česnica and the one who finds the coin in the piece of bread is considered to be most fortunate that year; however, the head of the family has to buy the coin so it stays in the house. Sometimes, there are other things put in česnica, like piece of badnjak, also called the Yule Log – good luck, hazelnut – health, plum – traveling, etc.

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

A Christmas carol (also called a noël) is a carol (song or hymn) whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas, or the winter season in general. They are traditionally sung in the period before and during Christmas. The tradition of Christmas carols hails back as far as the thirteenth century, although carols were originally communal songs sung during celebrations like harvest tide as well as Christmas. It was only later that carols began to be sung in church, and to be specifically associated with Christmas. It is also a book which Charles Dickens wrote in 1843.

A popular urban legend was that they were named after a little girl named Carol Poles who disappeared in 1888 in the Whitechaple district of London. According to the legend, the little girl was reported missing around Christmas and many people went searching for her at night. Due to fears concerning Jack the Ripper, the group would sing Christmas carols upon knocking in order to declare their good intentions.

Traditional carols have a strong tune and consist of a verse and/or chorus for group singing. They are often based on medieval chord patterns, and it is this that gives them their uniquely characteristic musical sound. Some carols like 'Personent hodie' and 'Angels from the Realms of Glory' can be traced directly back to the Middle Ages, and are amongst the oldest musical compositions still regularly sung. Carols suffered a decline in popularity after the Reformation in the countries where Reformation settled, but survived in their rural communities until the revival of interest in Carols in the 19th century. Composers like Arthur Sullivan helped to repopularise the carol, and it is this period that gave rise to such favorites as "Good King Wenceslas" and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear."

Today carols are regularly sung at religious services. Some compositions have words which are clearly not of a religious theme, but are often still referred to as carols.

Secular songs such as "White Christmas" and "Blue Christmas" are not true Christmas carols, though they are also popular in the period before Christmas, and should therefore be considered to be Christmas songs.

Carols can be sung by individual singers, but are also often sung by larger groups, including professionally trained choirs. Most churches have special services at which carols are sung, generally combined with readings from scripture about the birth of Christ, often this is based on the famous Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge. Some of these services also include other music written for Christmas, such as Benjamin Britten's "Ceremony of Carols" (for choir and harp), or excerpts from Handel's "Messiah."

There is also a tradition of performances of serious music relating to Christmas in the period around Christmas, including Handel's "Messiah," the "Christmas Oratorio" by J. S. Bach, "Messe de Minuit pour Noël" by Charpentier, and "L'Enfance du Christ" by Berlioz.

In England, and some other countries (i.e. Poland (kolędowanie) and Bulgaria (koledari)), there is a tradition of Christmas carolling (earlier known as wassailing), in which groups of singers travel from house to house, singing carols, for which they are often rewarded with money, mince pies, or a glass of an appropriate drink. Money collected in this way is normally given to charity.

In Australia, where it is the middle of summer at Christmas, there is a tradition of Carols by Candlelight concerts which are held outdoors at night in cities and towns during the weeks leading up to Christmas. In Melbourne, "Carols by Candlelight" is held each Christmas Eve. Performers at the concerts including opera singers and musical theatre performers and popular music singers. People in the audience hold lit candles and join in singing some of the carols in accompaniment with the celebrities.

Christmas carols can also be played on musical instruments, and another tradition is for brass bands, such as the Salvation Army brass bands, to play carols before Christmas.

Media

• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (file info) — play in browser (beta)
  • Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147, by J. S. Bach
• Deck the Halls (file info) — play in browser (beta)
  • Deck the Halls
• Oh Holy Night (file info) — play in browser (beta)
  • Oh Holy Night
• Jingle Bells (file info) — play in browser (beta)
  • Jingle Bells, performed by Piano, flute, clarinet, French horn
• Jingle Bells (file info) — play in browser (beta)
  • Jingle Bells, performed by Celesta and Violin
• Oh Christmas Tree (file info) — play in browser (beta)
  • O Tannenbaum
• It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (file info) — play in browser (beta)
  • It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
• Angels We Have Heard On High (file info) — play in browser (beta)
  • Angels We Have Heard On High, performed by Clarinet and French Horn
• Angels We Have Heard On High (file info) — play in browser (beta)
  • Angels We Have Heard On High, Piano solo

Links

• The Hymns and Carols of Christmas a comprehensive and scholarly site
• Christmas Tunes Information on Christmas Carols
• ChristmasCarolMusic.org free SATB sheet music for voices and all instruments
• Christmas Carols and Singing Greeting Tags
• Scandinavian Yuletide Voices Christmas Carols from Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark
• Favorite Christmas Carols (lyrics and scores)
• Easybyte - free easy piano arrangements of many Christmas carols
• Some traditional Christmas carols from county of Nice, France.
• Jingle bell's fantasy (harp and flute)

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: Mickey's Christmas Carol

General Christmas songs

The following songs are well known for being performed by more than one different artists:

• "Blue Christmas" – Introduced by Ernest Tubb in 1949, though most famously recorded by Elvis Presley. 
  "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" (1946) (composed by Mel Torme and first performed by Nat King Cole) 
  "The First Noel" 
  "Frosty the Snowman" (1950) – popularized by Gene Autry. Countless artists have recorded it in the years since, perhaps the most famous likely being being Jimmy Durante, who recorded the version for the television special of the same name. 
  "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" – introduced by Judy Garland in the film Meet Me In St. Louis; covered by many, including Luther Vandross, James Taylor and Vince Gill. 
  "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" 
  "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" covered by many including Daryl Hall & John Oates 
  "Jingle Bells" 
  "Jingle Bell Rock" – best-known version is by Bobby Helms, released in 1957. Hall and Oates also did a version. 
  "Joy to the World" – covered by various artists which include Mariah Carey. 
  "Let it Snow" 
  "Little Drummer Boy" – The 1958 version by the Harry Simeone Chorale is the standard. 
  "Mary's Boy Child" – Harry Belafonte in 1957, Boney M in 1978 and re-released in 2005 by G4/Robin Gibb as "Mary's Boy Child/First of May". 
  "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" – introduced by Andy Williams in 1963 
  "Merry Christmas Darling" – Introduced by The Carpenters in 1978 (on their album, A Christmas Portrait). 
  "Mistletoe and Holly" – co-written and popularised by Frank Sinatra 
  "O Holy Night" – covered by several artists including Kelly Clarkson and Christina Aguilera 
  "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1949). 
  "Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy" – Introduced by Buck Owens in 1965; re-popularized by Garth Brooks in 1992. 
  "Silent Night" – popularised by Frank Sinatra 
  "Twelve Days of Christmas" 
  "Up On the House Top" by Benjamin Hanby and Kimberley Locke 
  "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" 
  "White Christmas" (first performed by Bing Crosby in the 1942 musical Holiday Inn)

Best known by one particular artist

Below is an incomplete list of songs that are best known for being created and/or performed by one particular artist:

• "2000 Miles" – The Pretenders 
  "25th December" – Everything But The Girl (1994) 
  "8 Days of Christmas" – Destiny's Child 2001 
  "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" – Spike Jones and the City Slickers (1948) 
  "All I Want for Christmas Is You" – Mariah Carey (1994) 
  "All Alone On Christmas" – Darlene Love (1963, 1992 and 1994) 
  "Alone on Christmas Day" – Travis 
  "A Minnesota Snowfall" – Christmas Around the World – Bradley Joseph (2000) 
  "Another Lonely Christmas" – Prince (1984) 
  "Another Rock And Roll Christmas" – Gary Glitter (1984) 
  "Candy Cane Children" – The White Stripes (2002) 
  "Cashing In on Christmas" – Bad News (1992) 
  "The Chanukah Song (Parts I and II)" – Adam Sandler (1994-2002) 
  "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" – Alvin and the Chipmunks (1958) 
  "Christmas" – King Diamond (2003) 
  "Christmas" – The Who (1969) 
  "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Darlene Love 
  "Christmas Blues" – Dean Martin 
  "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" (aka "Carol of the Bells") – Trans-Siberian Orchestra (1996) 
  "A Christmas Kiss" – Daniel O'Donnell (1999) 
  "Christmas in Dixie" – Alabama, introduced in 1982. Lead singer Randy Owen re-recorded the song with Kenny Chesney in 2003 
  "Christmas in Hollis" – Run-DMC 
  "Christmas in My Hometown" – Charley Pride, issued in 1970. A different song of the same name was recorded by Sonny James in the late-1960s, and covered by Travis Tritt in 1992 
  "Christmas is All Around" – Bill Nighy (2003) 
  "Christmas Is Now Drawing Near" – Coil (1998) 
  "Christmas Must be Tonight" – The Band (1977) 
  "Christmas on 45" – Holly and the Ivys (1981) 
  "Christmas Round At Ours" – Girls Aloud (2005) 
  "Christmas Shoes" – NewSong (2002) 
  "Christmas Time" – Bryan Adams (1985) 
  "Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)" – The Darkness (2003) 
  "Christmas with the Devil" – Spinal Tap (1992) 
  "Christmas Wrapping" – The Waitresses (1981) 
  "Christmastime" – Billy Corgan 
  "Cruise into Christmas Medley" – Jane McDonald (1998) 
  "December Will Be Magic Again" – Kate Bush 
  "Do They Know It's Christmas?" – released three times by Band Aid (1984), Band Aid II (1989) and Band Aid 20 (2004) 
  "Do You Hear What I Hear?" Bing Crosby (1963) – Whitney Houston 
  "Driving Home For Christmas (EP)" – Chris Rea 
  "Fairytale of New York" – The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl (1987) 
  "Far Away on Christmas Day" – Christmas Around the World – Bradley Joseph (2000) 
  "Father Christmas" – The Kinks (1977) 
  "Feliz Navidad" – Jose Feliciano (1968) 
  "Fifty Grand for Christmas" – Paul Holt (2004) 
  "Give Love On Christmas Day" – Jackson 5 and Solid Harmonie 
  "Give U One 4 Christmas" – Hot Pantz (2005) 
  "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" Elmo and Patsy (1983) 
  "Grown-Up Christmas List" Amy Grant in 1992, Monica in 2000, and Kelly Clarkson in 2002 
  "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" – John Lennon & Yoko Ono (1972), later covered by Melissa Etheridge, and most recently by The Idols in 2003 
  "Hard Candy Christmas" – Dolly Parton (1982) 
  "Have a Cheeky Christmas" – The Cheeky Girls (2003) 
  "Have a Funky, Funky Christmas" – New Kids On the Block 
  "A Heart To Hold You" – Keane (2004) 
  "Here Comes Santa Claus" – Gene Autry (1947) (famously remade by Elvis Presley) 
  "Hey Santa" – Carnie Wilson & Wendy Wilson 
  "Holly Jolly Christmas" – Burl Ives (1964) 
  "Home For Christmas" – Daryl Hall & John Oates (2006) 
  "(There's No Place Like) Home For the Holidays" – Perry Como (1954) 
  "I Believe in Father Christmas" – Emerson, Lake & Palmer 
  "I Celebrate the Day" – Relient K (2003) 
  "I Hate Christmas Parties" – Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes (2003) 
  "I Hate Fuckin' Christmas" The Rugburns (1995) 
  "I Hope I Sell a Lot of Records at Christmastime" – Princess Superstar (2000) 
  "I Only Want You For Christmas" – Alan Jackson (1991) 
  "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" – Jimmy Boyd (1952) 
  "I Wish It Could Be A Wombling Merry Christmas Everyday" – The Wombles with Roy Wood (2000) 
  "I Won't Be Home For Christmas" – Blink-182 (2001) 
  "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day" – Wizzard (1973), A*Teens & Girls Aloud 
  "I'll Be Home for Christmas" – Bing Crosby (1943) 
  "It doesn't often snow at Christmas" – Pet Shop Boys (1997) 
  "It's Christmas All Over the World" – Sheena Easton (1987) 
  "It's Christmas Time All Over the World" Sammy Davis Jr.(1963) 
  "Itz The Holidaze" Westside Connection 
  "Kentucky Homemade Christmas" – Kenny Rogers (1981) 
  "Last Christmas" – Wham! (1984), later covered by Whigfield in 1995 and Jimmy Eat World in 2003. 
  "Leroy the Redneck Reindeer" – Joe Diffie 
  "Let it Snow" – Vaughn Monroe (1945), Dean Martin 
  "Let's Light the Christmas Tree" – Ruby Wright (1957) 
  "Light of the Stable" – Emmylou Harris, introduced in 1976; includes backing vocals by Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt 
  "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth" – David Bowie & Bing Crosby 
  "Little Saint Nick" – The Beach Boys (covered by Sugar Ray) 
  "Lonely Christmas" Bobby Vee (1963) 
  "Lonely This Christmas" – Mud (1974) 
  "Marshmellow World" Brenda Lee(1964); later popularized by Dean Martin (1966) 
  "Merry Merry Christmas Baby" Dodie Stevens (1960) 
  "Merry Christmas Baby" Chuck Berry(1958), Bruce Springsteen also has a popular version. 
  "Merry Christmas Darling" – Carpenters (1978) 
  "Merry Christmas Everyone" – Shakin' Stevens (1985) 
  "Merry Christmas Santa Claus (You're a Lovely Guy)" – Max Headroom (1986) 
  "Merry Fucking Christmas" – Denis Leary 
  "Merry Mothafuckin' Christmas" – Eazy E 
  "Merry Twistmas" Marcels (1961) 
  "Merry Xmas Everybody" – Slade (1973), Dexy's Midnight Runners in (1982), Steps and then Tony Christie in (2005) 
  "Mistletoe and Holly" – co-written and popularised by Frank Sinatra 
  "Mistletoe & Wine" – Cliff Richard (1988) 
  "Mistress For Christmas" AC/DC 
  "Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo" – South Park (1999) 
  "My Only Wish (This Year)" – Britney Spears (2000) 
  "Naughty Christmas (Goblin in the Office)" – Fat Les (1998) 
  "New Kids Got Run Over By A Reindeer" – Z100 Portland (Oregon) (1990) 
  "Nuttin' For Christmas" – Art Mooney & His Orchestra (1955) 
  "No Child Should Ever Cry on Christmas" – Daryl Hall & John Oates (2006) 
  "No Presents for Christmas" – King Diamond (1986) 
  "Oi to the World" – The Vandals (1996) and No Doubt 
  "An Old Christmas Card" – Jim Reeves (1963) 
  "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy" - David Bowie And Bing Crosby 
  "Perfect Christmas" – S Club 7 
  "Please Come Home for Christmas" – Jon Bon Jovi (1994) 
  "Pretty Paper" – Roy Orbison (1963) 
  "Proper Crimbo" – Bo' Selecta! (2003) 
  "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" – Brenda Lee (1958) 
  "Rudi the Red Nose Reindeer" – Musical Youth 
  "Run Run Rudolph" – Chuck Berry (1958) 
  "Santa Baby" – Eartha Kitt (1953), later covered by Kylie Minogue and Madonna, among others 
  "Santa Claus and Popcorn" – Merle Haggard, introduced in 1973 
  "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" – Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, Perry Como and later by Jackson 5 (1970), Bruce Springsteen 
  "Santa Claus is Thumbing to Town" – Relient K (2001) 
  "Saviour's Day" – Cliff Richard (1990) 
  "Senor Santa Claus" – Jim Reeves(1964) 
  "Silver Bells" Bing Crosby & Carole Richards (1950) 
  "Six White Boomers" – Rolf Harris 
  "Sleigh Ride" – written & popularized by Leroy Anderson & His Orchestra (1948), Johnny Mathis w/ Percy Faith & His Orchestra (1958), S Club Juniors & Hilary Duff 
  "The Sound Of Christmas" Ramsey Lewis Trio 
  "Step Into Christmas" – Elton John (1973) 
  "Snoopy's Christmas" – The Royal Guardsmen (1967) 
  "Someday at Christmas" – Stevie Wonder 
  "Thank God For Kids" – The Oak Ridge Boys (1982) 
  "Thank God It's Christmas" – Queen 
  "Thanks For Christmas" – Three Wise Men (AKA XTC) 
  "That Holiday Feeling" – Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme 
  "The Greatest Gift Of All" – Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton (1984) 
  "The Lights And Buzz" – Jack's Mannequin (2005) 
  "The Man Who Would Be Santa" – Matt Scannell, Vertical Horizon 
  "The Night Before Christmas" – Carly Simon (1994) 
  "The Old Man's Back In Town" – Garth Brooks (1992) 
  "'Til Santa's Gone (Milk and Cookies)" – Clint Black (1991) 
  "Twistin' Bells" Santo & Johnny (1959) 
  "Under the Tree" – The Waterbabies (2005) 
  "Upon a Christmas Night" – Michael Learns To Rock 
  "What Christmas Means to Me" – Stevie Wonder 
  "White Christmas" – Bing Crosby(1942) 
  "Who Would Imagine A King" – Whitney Houston (1996) 
  "Winter Wonderland" – Perry Como (1946), The Andrews Sisters (1946), Johnny Mathis (1958) 
  "Winter Wonderland/Sleigh Ride" – a medley of the two Christmas favorites by Dolly Parton (1984) 
  "Wombling Merry Christmas" – The Wombles (1974) 
  "Wonderful Christmas Time" – Paul McCartney (1982) 
  "Xmas At K-Mart" – Root Boy Slim And The Sex Change Band With The Rootettes 
  "Xmas Ketchup Song" – Las Ketchup 
  "Yule Shoot Your Eye Out" –Fall Out Boy 
  Radio personality Bob Rivers has written countless Christmas parodies, most notably The Chimney Song and The Twelve Pains of Christmas, for his line of albums entitled Twisted Christmas.

Not intended as a Christmas song

Some songs are frequently associated with Christmas because of the time they were released rather than explicit references to the holiday. They are sometimes given a Christmas feel by adding sleigh bells or by recording a Christmas video.

• "Can we Fix it?" – Bob the Builder (2000)

• "Dear Mr. Jesus" – PowerSource from their Shelter From The Storm album. It is sung by a 9 year old girl named Sharon Batts. Richard Klender wrote it in 1985. The song is about child abuse awareness and it has nothing to do with Christmas. Connie Bradley, Director, ASCAP, on April 11, 1988 said that this song was one of the, "most requested songs in the history of radio," (it is still highly requested every holiday season).

• "If We Make it Through December," Merle Haggard (1973). The song is a lament of a father who loses his job at the factory just as the holidays are approaching. Depressed over his predicament during what normally should be a "happy time of year," he observes that his little girl "don't understand why Daddy can't afford no Christmas cheer." The song reached No. 1 on Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles chart on December 22, 1973 ... just in time for Christmas.

• "Last Christmas" – Wham! (1984) (reached no. 2 in the UK christmas charts, beaten by Band Aid- Feed the World) George Michael originally wrote the song "Last Easter", the record company asked him to change it to Christmas as it would catch a larger audience

• "Mad World" – Michael Andrews featuring Gary Jules (2003) (this Tears for Fears cover is included on several Christmas compilation albums. It was Christmas Number One in the UK in 2003, ahead of the livelier "Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)" by British rock band The Darkness.)

• "My Favorite Things" from the Rodgers and Hammerstein The Sound of Music. US radio stations that played Christmas music played various versions of this show tune, relating "favorite things" to Christmas gifts.

• "The Power of Love" – Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1984) (was released close to Christmas 1984, and was thus given a Nativity themed video and album cover. The song could be argued to be more suited to Halloween, with its references to vampires.)

• "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" by Annie Lennox with Al Green was on the soundtrack for the movie Scrooged, a modernized retelling of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The promotional video for the song featured scenes from the movie and Christmas-related visuals.

• "Somethin' Stupid" – Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman (2001) (reached no. 1 in the UK christmas charts, therefore commonly associated with christmas)

• "Sound of the Underground" – Girls Aloud (2002) (reached no. 1 in the UK christmas charts, therefore commonly associated with christmas)

• "Stay Another Day" – East 17 (1994) (added sleigh bells)

• "Stop The Cavalry" – Jona Lewie (1980) (released in late November when the record company spotted the line "Wish I was at home for Christmas")

Christmas albums

Some artists record albums dedicated to Christmas or winter. These collections often contain covers of well-known Christmas songs or carols.

• Christmas Favorites – Nat King Cole 
  8 Days of Christmas – Destiny's Child 
  A Christmas Gift To You From Phil Spector 
  A Very Special Christmas compilation series – Various Artists 
  A Toolbox Christmas-Woody Phillips Your favorite carols performed on your favorite hand and power tools. 
  A Victorian Christmas-Robin Petrie Instrumental carols for harp, hammered dulcimer and strings. 
  A Victorian No�l-Robin Petrie European arranged for dulcimer, harp, piano and strings. 
  Ashanti's Christmas – Ashanti 
  Barenaked for the Holidays – Barenaked Ladies 
  The Beach Boys' Christmas Album – The Beach Boys 
  A Charlie Brown Christmas - soundtrack album of the classic TV special. 
  Chemistry – Girls Aloud (An special limited edition version of the album released contained a Xmas album) 
  Chicago 25: The Christmas Album – Chicago 
  Christmas Around the World – Bradley Joseph 
  Christmas Eve and Other Stories, The Christmas Attic, and The Lost Christmas Eve – Trans-Siberian Orchestra (containing traditional and original Christmas songs) 
  Christmas Is Almost Here Again – Carly Simon (2003) 
  Christmas Island (album) – Jimmy Buffett (1996) 
  Christmas Lullaby-Kim Robertson Solo celtic harp 
  Christmas Peace (along with other variations) – Elvis Presley 
  Cliff at Christmas – Cliff Richard 
  Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand – Relient K 
  Ding! Dong! Songs for Christmas - Vol. III – Sufjan Stevens 
  Hark! Songs for Christmas - Vol. II – Sufjan Stevens 
  Ho, Ho, Ho – RuPaul 
  Holy Night – Kevin Max 
  Iceland – All About Eve 
  The Jethro Tull Christmas Album – Jethro Tull 
  The John Legend Collection – John Legend 
  Jingle All The Way – Crash Test Dummies 
  Joy - A Holiday Collection – Jewel 
  Merry Christmas – Mariah Carey 
  My Kind of Christmas – Christina Aguilera 
  "Naughty Or Nice" – 3LW 
  Noel! Songs for Christmas - Vol. I – Sufjan Stevens 
  One Wish: The Holiday Album – Whitney Houston 
  Rejoyce: The Christmas Album – Jessica Simpson 
  Strings of Christmas – Russell Shead 
  Taste Of Christmas – Various Artists 
  When My Heart Finds Christmas – Harry Connick, Jr.

Some bands produce Christmas albums exclusively for their fan clubs, including The Beatles who first released such an album in 1963 [1]. Also popular are the Various Artists collections such as The Best Christmas Album in the World...Ever! & Now That's What I Call Christmas!.

Christmas songs introduced in movies and other popular media

• "Star of Bethlehem" and "Somewhere in My Memory" – John Williams from the Home Alone soundtrack. 
  "White Christmas" – Irving Berlin from Holiday Inn 
  "Happy Holidays" - also from Holiday Inn 
  "We Need a Little Christmas" - by Jerry Herman, from the Broadway play, Mame 
  "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" – from Meet Me in St. Louis 
  "What's This?"- Danny Elfman, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas 
  "Where Are You, Christmas?"- Faith Hill, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! 
  James Brown's Funky Christmas

French language Christmas songs

• "Entre le bœuf et l'âne gris" 
  "Douce nuit, sainte nuit" (Silent Night) 
  "Il est né le divin enfant" 
  "La Marche des rois" 
  "Les Anges dans nos campagnes" 
  "Minuit chrétien" 
  "Noël nouvelet" 
  "Venez divin Messie" 
  "Peuple fidèle" (Adeste fideles) 
  "Dans une étable obscure" 
  "C'est le jour de la Noël" 
  "Bergers, l'enfant sommeille" 
  "Noël de la paix" (Ô divin enfançon)

German language Christmas songs

German language Christmas carols tend to be less blitheful and more ceremonious than English ones:

• "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen" (Lo How a Rose 'Ere Blooming) 
  "Heiligste Nacht" (Dutch song!) 
  "Ihr Kinderlein kommet" 
  "Menschen, die ihr wart verloren" 
  "O du fröhliche" 
  "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht" (Silent Night) 
  "Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her" 
  "Zu Bethlehem geboren" 
  "Alle Jahre wieder" 
  "Kling Glöckchen" 
  "Lasst uns froh und munter sein" 
  "Leise rieselt der Schnee" 
  "Morgen, Kinder, wird's was geben" 
  "O Tannenbaum" (O Christmas Tree) 
  "Süßer die Glocken nie klingen" 
  "Wir sagen euch an" 
  "Es wird scho glei dumper" 
  "Es hat sich heut' eröffnet"

Occitan language Christmas songs

• La Cambo mi fa mau 
  Guihaume, Tòni, Pèire (William, Tony, Peter), tune attributed to Nicolas Saboly. Frédéric Mistral composed the provençal anthem Coupo santo (The Holy Cup) according to this Christmas carol. Lyrics, Midi file and music sheet. 
  Nouvé dòu pastre (Christmas carol for the shepherd). Lyrics, Midi file and music sheet. 
  L'Ouferta de Calèna (The Christmas' offering). Lyrics, Midi file and music sheet. 
  Pastre dei mountagno (Shepherd from the mountains).

Swedish language Christmas songs

December is the darkest month of the year in Sweden, so candles are often the theme in Swedish Christmas songs. Ljus is the Swedish word for candle.

• "Nu tändas tusen juleljus" 
  "När ljusen tändas därhemma" 
  "Ser du stjärnan i det blå"

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: Elvis Presley

An Advent calendar is a symbol of the holy season of Advent, celebrated in December near Christmas, another holiday season.

The traditional calendar consists of two pieces of cardboard on top of each other. Twenty four doors are cut out in the top layer, with one door being opened every day, from December 1 to December 24 (Christmas Eve). Each compartment can either show a part of the Nativity story and the birth of Jesus, or can simply display a piece of paraphernalia to do with Christmas (e.g. Bells, holly). Advent Calendars can also consist of cloth sheets with small pockets to be filled with candy or other small items. Many calendars have been adapted by merchandisers and manufacturers to include a piece of chocolate or a sweet behind each compartment, aimed at children. These have often been criticised for not relating to the Nativity and simply cashing in on Christmas sales. These are aimed at small children who are counting down to Christmas, because that is when Santa Claus comes.

The number of doors can also increase to twenty five or twenty six to cover Christmas Day, Hanukkah and Boxing Day, and further to thirty one or thirty two to include New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. This latter act was particularly evident over December 1999, counting down to January 1, 2000 and what was largely perceived as the start of the third millennium (although the same thing did not happen a year later in the lead up to what was technically the real third millennium on January 1, 2001).

The Advent calendar is normally of standard dimensions, but can be found in other shapes, such as a model of a house. There are alternative forms of Advent calendar, such as those made from felt or other material, or a chain of candles that can be lit day by day. The German city of Dresden has a giant calendar built into a fairytale castle on its Christmas market, the Striezelmarkt. The world's biggest Advent Calendar is in Gengenbach (Germany) at the front of the city hall. Nowadays there are also digital Advent calendars.

In Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland there is also a tradition of having a so-called 'Julekalender' in the form of a television show starting on the first of December, and ending on the 24th - Christmas Eve. Over the years, there have been several different kinds of 'Julekalender'; some directed at children, some at both children and adults, and even some directed at adults alone. A classic example of a 'Julekalender' enjoyed by children (as well as adults, if purely for nostalgic reasons) is the show 'Jul i Skomakergata'. A more modern version of the 'Julekalender' is the show 'The 24th', which is obviously something of a parody on the popular series '24' starring Kiefer Sutherland. The julekalender often leads to controversy, there always being someone regarding it as too dirty, too boring for older children, too little connection with Christmas, etc. The only stories which don't get these complaints are adventure stories that are not too exciting and who regularly mention Christmas, like Mysteriet på Greveholm.

Links

• History of the Advent Calendar
• Digital advent calendars
• Online Advent Calendars
• Pages with origami advent calendar

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: Make a 3-D Advent Calendar 

An advent wreath is a ring or set of four candles, usually made with evergreen cuttings and used for household devotion by some Christians during the season of Advent. Many churches illuminate these candles in succession through the four weeks leading up to Christmas as part of their Sunday services for Advent.

Typically, three of the candles are violet-coloured, and one is rose-coloured. Increasingly, due to changes in the Church's lectionary in the United States, all four candles may be violet. When used in household devotion, one violet candle is lit on the first evening of Advent (a Saturday). On successive Saturdays, the second violet candle is added, then the rose candle, and finally, the third violet candle. Some Anglicans and Lutherans use blue candles rather than violet. Some wreaths have a larger, central fifth candle (generally white), which is lit on Christmas Day to signify Christ's birth.

The wreath is meant to represent God's eternity. The violet candles symbolize faithful expectation, and the rose candle joy and hope. In earlier times the season of Advent had stronger penitential and ascetic aspects, and a relaxation of disciplines was offered on the third Sunday of Advent, also called Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin for "rejoice." This turn is reflected in the theme of rejoicing and the shift from violet to rose.

The first candle is often called the prophet's candle, and is meant to signify the hope of Jesus' arrival. The second is generally called the Bethlehem candle, reminding Christians that God appeared to them in a humble manner; Bethlehem was located in the territory of one of the least powerful tribes of Israel. The third candle is the shepherds' candle, representing the joy that more than half of Advent is over. The final candle is the angels' candle, symbolising their peace and the message of good news that they offer.

The first Advent wreath was invented by Johann Hinrich Wichern, a Protestant parson in Hamburg, Germany (sources differ about the year: 1839 or 1848.) He was leading an orphanage. The children first made a wooden ring (another source says it was a chandelier) of 2m in diameter with 28 candles affixed on one side: Four white ones, which were bigger to indicate the advent sundays, and 24 smaller red-coloured candles. During each service of daily prayer a child would light one candle, until on Christmas Eve all of them would be illuminated. It is thought that children liked this ring so much that they decorated it with evergreen twigs, mainly from fir trees. Later the number of candles was reduced to the four main ones.

It took about 100 years until home decoration with advent wreaths became a custom in Germany. It has now spread to other countries as well.

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: Advent Wreath How-to

American Christmas tree

American Christmas traditions range from religious symbols to the mythos of Santa Claus. Their origins are both Christian and pagan.

Christmas traditions in the United States encompass the customs, history, folklore, family practices, interior and exterior decorations, religious and secular symbols, and perennial television shows and movies connected with this holiday. Many American Christmas traditions originated as Germanic Christmas traditions.

Christmas tree

The Christmas tree, or Tannenbaum, has its roots in pre-Christian Germany. Religious rites were held in the forests and trees were decorated with candles. Like the Druids, the oak was sacred to the ancient Germans, in particular to the god Odin, so it was often the oaks that were lit and not the pines. The use of evergreens can be traced back to the 8th century, which is when St. Boniface engaged in the common practice of adopting local pagan customs to help Christianize the indigenous peoples. He substituted the fir tree (Tannenbaum) for the oak of Odin and then he dedicated it to Christ, making it the Christbaum. The creation of the modern Christmas tree is often attributed to the founder of the Lutheran movement, Martin Luther (1483-1546). This is questionable but there are "Tannenbaum" songs that date back to the middle of the 16th century. By the 19th century the Christmas tree had become popular in Europe and America, having been introduced by German immigrants.

Santa Claus

Traditional American Santa Claus

Santa Claus also has his origins in Germany. When Germany was being Christianized in the early Middle Ages, St. Nicholas, a 4th century bishop of Asia Minor, became popular there. St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children and his feast day is December 6th. Gradually a custom grew up where on the eve of St. Nicholas' feast day children would place their shoes or boots out for St. Nicholas to fill with candy and fruit, with the bad children getting twigs. St. Nicholas carried with him a book of sins with which he determined whether the child warranted the goodies or the twigs. Historically, St. Nicholas rode a white horse and he traveled with a dark-faced companion. The most common one was called Knecht Ruprecht. After the Protestant Reformation in Germany, German authorities wanted to do away with the image of a Catholic saint distributing gifts, so the idea of Santa Claus, a jovial grandfather-type figure in dark green robes with a white beard was born. St. Nicholas is known by several names in different parts of Germany. These include Klaasbuur, Rauklas, Bullerklaas, and Sunnercla. In the eastern part of Germany, he is Ash Man, Shaggy Goat, or Rider. The American "Kris Kringle" is a corruption of the German term Christkindl ("Christ Child"). America altered the image of Santa Claus further when the advertising department of The Coca-Cola Company decided to produce ads depicting him in the soft drink's iconic red-and-white color scheme, cementing the image of Santa that persists today.

Nativity scene

A nativity scene, also called a crèche (meaning crib in French), refers to a depiction of the birthplace of Jesus. These are generally either life-size or near life-size outdoor displays situated in yards or public squares, or small miniature scenes placed in homes. At the very least it includes the figures of Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus situated in the manger. They are somtimes supplemented by the Three Wise Men, the stable boy, the innkeeper, and other characters involved in the story of Christ's birth.

Christmas card

A Christmas card is a greeting card that is decorated in a manner that celebrates Christmas. Typical content ranges from purely Christian symbols such as nativity scenes and the Star of Bethlehem to more general Christmas images such as Santa Claus, Christmas trees, snowmen, and similar themes.

Christmas carol

A Christmas carol is a song whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas. A Christmas song is often only considered a carol after it has been in existence for many years. The tradition of Christmas carols dates back to the 13th century A.D.

Christmas gift

In the United States, children receive their gifts from 'Santa Claus.' Christmas presents are usually opened on Christmas Day but some people open their gifts on Christmas Eve.

Christmas lights

Christmas lights are strands of electric lights used to decorate Christmas trees, homes, and other buildings during the Christmas season.

Television and movies

A popular tradition of the entertainment establishment in the United States is to produce films, television specials and episodes of established television series generally set during the Christmas season. Some of the most notable of these include:

• A Charlie Brown Christmas
  A Christmas Carol (1951 film)
  A Christmas Story
  Frosty the Snowman
  How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
  It's a Wonderful Life
  Miracle on 34th Street
  National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV special)

Sources

• Hal Siemer (June 2006). Celebrating an American Christmas: Traditions, Customs and History. Quest Magazine. Retrieved June 4, 2006.

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: An American Christmas

The ashen faggot (sometimes called ashton fagot) is an old English Christmas tradition found in Devonshire and Somersetshire, similar to that of the Yule log and related to the wassail tradition. The wassail party passes around a bundle of ash sticks, twigs or branches -- the ashen faggot -- bound with green ash withies, which is then placed onto the fire. As each binding bursts, the watchers toast it with a drink. Some traditions had the unmarried women each choosing a withy, and the first one whose tie snapped would be married the next year.

When the bindings have all burst and the bundle has fallen loose, each person who plans to host the festivities next year takes one of the half-burned ash sticks and saves it until the following Christmas, when it will go in the center of their own ashen faggot. The tradition endures (or has been resurrected) in many places; according to an article in the Winter 2005 issue of Devon Talk, the Harbour Inn in Axmouth annually builds an ashen faggot six feet high and three feet wide for their huge pub fireplace.

Some traditions held that not burning the ashen faggot in your house brought bad luck, or that having an ashen faggot in the house kept the Devil away. Ash was likely chosen because the ash tree has a long pedigree of magical associations: perhaps the most important is the Yggdrasil of Norse mythology, also known as the World Ash Tree.

References

• House Wassailing
• Devon Talk, Winter 2005 (pdf format, requires Adobe Reader)

Links

• Wassail Games Online
• Burning of the Ashen Faggot songs (MP3 format]

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

A bubble light is a decorative device consisting of a liquid-filled vial that is heated and lighted by an incandescent light bulb. Because of the liquid's low boiling point, the modest heat generated by the lamp causes the liquid to boil and bubble up from the vial's base. The liquid is almost always methylene chloride, but some early bubble lights used a lightweight oil. The light from the lamp illuminates the bubbles from underneath, causing them to shine.

Bubble lights for Christmas decoration were introduced in 1946 by NOMA, one of the largest American manufacturers of Christmas lights. Bubble lights were also used in operating accessories for Lionel and American Flyer model trains (in the case of American Flyer as bubblng oil wells), and they were also used in a larger form as decoration for Wurlitzer jukeboxes.

As Christmas lights, bubble lights were very popular during the 1950s and 1960s, and into the 1970s, before miniature "fairy" lights became popular. The original design used a miniature screw base (E-10), such as those used on C-6 cone Christmas lamps. These early designs were nominally designed to operate with 8 on one string, in series, at 15 volts each. However,they were often packaged with a nine-socket string to extend the life of the bulbs. Bubble lights could also be purchased individually for use in an already-owned light string. Modern incarnations use candelabra base (E-11), 120-volt bulbs.

The clear light bulb is enclosed in a plastic base made up of a "bowl" and a "cap," usually of different colors. Bubble lights are manufactured in just about any color, including the liquid in the tube. The plastics used are most commonly semi-opaque red, yellow, blue, and green. Liquids are generally amber, red, blue and green. Uncolored liquid is also available, being lit with colored bulbs instead.

In recent years bubble lights have gotten fancier. Glitter is sometimes added to tubes for extra sparkle. This is most common on specialty types such as those used in decorative nightlights. The bases are now often made to look like objects such as Santas or snowmen, rather than the plain ribbed plastic. Like many other Christmas decorations, they have been converted for Halloween use, usually with orange liquid and a base that looks like a jack-o-lantern, or the head of a black cat or witch, among other Halloween symbols.

Bubble lights of all kinds operate best when the top of the tube is significantly cooler than the bottom, thus increasing the pressure gradient. The tubes must be kept upright, and occasionally need to be tapped or even shaken to begin bubbling after warming up. Bulbs should not be stored in a hot (or very cold) attic, as this will cause them to not bubble as well later on.

Modern imitations of bubble lights are made from acrylic or other clear plastic rods, with permanent bubbles deliberately manufactured into them, and lit with fixed-color or color-changing LEDs. Other bubbling lights are much larger and sit on a table or floor, occasionally with fake fish which "swim" up and down in the changing buoyancy. These tubes are filled with distilled water and have one or more airstones at the bottom, and normally a light, along with the air pump.

Patents

• US #2,031,409: February 18, 1936
• US #2,031,416: February 18, 1936
• US #2,162,897: June 20, 1939
• US #2,174,446: September 26, 1939
• US #2,353,063: July 4, 1944

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Carols by Candlelight is an Australian Christmas tradition that has spread around the world. It involves people gathering, usually outdoors in a park, to sing carols by candlelight, accompanied by a band.

History

Carols by Candlelight was begun in Melbourne in 1938 by Norman Banks, a radio announcer then with Melbourne radio station 3KZ. Whilst walking home from his night-time radio shift on Christmas Eve in 1937, he passed a window and saw inside an elderly woman sitting up in bed, listening to Away in a Manger being played on the radio and singing along, with her face being lit by candlelight. Wondering how many others spent Christmas alone, he had the idea to gather a large group of people to all sing Christmas carols together by candlelight, and the first such event was held in the Alexandra Gardens the following Christmas. This first event had 10,000 people attend.

Following World War II, the Carols moved to the nearby Sidney Myer Music Bowl, where they are still held to this day. Funds raised from donations are given to Vision Australia (Previously the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind), who are still the beneficiaries.

Events

Similar events are now held all over Australia, usually arranged by churches, municipal councils, or other community groups. They are normally held on Christmas Eve or the Sunday before Christmas. The major Australian events are the Melbourne Carols (which attracts about 30,000 people) held at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Christmas Eve and the Sydney Carols in The Domain (which attracts about 20,000) and borrows the shape of its stage from its big brother, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne. Both of these are televised nationally and the Melbourne Carols By Candlelight is televised also to eastern Asia, many Pacific Islands and New Zealand, live.

In Brisbane the Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols are held about a week before Christmas, at the Brisbane River Stage in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens.

In Adelaide, Carols by Candlelight is held in the weeks before Christmas in Elder Park on the banks of the River Torrens.

Broadcast

Since the 1980's, the event has been brodcast nationally on Channel 9 and simlecast on local radio. The program is hosted by journalist Ray Martin who invites viewvers to either cuddle up with their family, or join 9's family for the night.

Links

• Carols by Candlelight (Vision Australia official site)
• Carols by Candlelight had lonely beginning (Includes further information on Norman Banks)

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Frank Chapman, who first proposed the Christmas Bird Count.

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a census of birds in the Western Hemisphere, performed annually in the early Northern-hemisphere winter by volunteer birders. The purpose is to provide population data for use in science, especially conservation biology, though many people participate for recreation.

History

Up through the 19th century, many North Americans participated in the tradition of Christmas "side hunts", in which they competed at how many birds they could kill, regardless of whether they had any use for the carcasses and of whether the birds were beneficial, beautiful, or rare. At the end of that century the U.S. ornithologist Frank Chapman, an officer in the recently formed National Audubon Society, proposed counting birds on Christmas instead of killing them.

In 1900, 27 observers took part in the first count in 25 places in the United States and Canada, 15 of them in the northeastern U.S. from Massachusetts to Philadelphia. Since then the counts have been held every winter, usually with increasing numbers of observers. For instance, the 101st count, in the winter of 2000-2001, involved 52,471 people in 1,823 places in 17 countries (but mostly in the U.S. and Canada). The Audubon Society now partners with Bird Studies Canada, the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory of Texas (responsible for CBCs in Mexico), and the Red Nacional de Observadores de Aves (RNOA, National Network of Bird Observers) and the Instituto Alexander von Humboldt of Colombia.

Methods

Each individual count is performed in a "count circle" with a diameter of 15 miles or 24 kilometres. At least ten volunteers, including a compiler to manage things, count in each circle. They break up into small parties and follow assigned routes, which change little from year to year, counting every bird they see. In most count circles, some people also watch feeders instead of following routes.

Counts can be held on any day from December 14 to January 5 inclusive.

The results are by no means as accurate as a human census. Not all the area even in the count circles is covered, and not every bird along the routes is seen or identified. Big flocks can't be counted precisely. Also, telling whether a bird has been counted twice can be difficult. The rules address this problem by prohibiting counting birds when retracing one's route, except for species that the party hasn't seen before. Also, when a large roost of some species occurs in a count circle, an expert estimates the number for that species during the morning or evening and usually no individuals are counted at other times. Observers can attempt to keep track of flocks of mobile birds such as crows, and can use their judgement, even sometimes recognizing an individual bird or at least recognizing that two birds of the same species are different individuals.

The results, providing data on winter ranges of birds, are complementary to those of the Breeding Bird Surveys.

Participation

Participation is open to all. Observers pay a $5 fee (except feeder watchers, U.S. participants under 19 years old, and Latin Americans in their home countries). The fee supports compilation and publication of the data. U.S. participants who pay or who are 18 or under receive a copy of the issue of American Birds that summarizes the results and includes articles on trends and regions.

Links

• Audubon Official CBC page
• Bird Studies Canada Official CBC page
• RNOA Official CBC page (in Spanish)

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: Maciver - Christmas Bird Count 2006

A Christmas card is a greeting card that is decorated in a manner that celebrates Christmas. Typical content ranges from truly Christian symbols such as Nativity scenes and the Star of Bethlehem to purely secular references, sometimes humorous, to seasonal weather or common Christmastime activities like shopping and partying. Christmas cards are exchanged during the Christmas season (around December 25) by many people (including non-Christians) in Western culture and in Japan.

Some Christian groups (such as Jehovah's Witnesses), however, disdain the celebration of holidays without explicit Biblical authorization, and so neither celebrate Christmas nor exchange Christmas cards.

History

The world's first Christmas card, made by John Callcott Horsley

The first commercial Christmas cards were commissioned by Sir Henry Cole in London, 1843, and featured an illustration by John Callcott Horsley. The picture, of a family with a small child drinking wine together, proved controversial, but the idea was shrewd: Cole had helped introduce the Penny Post three years earlier. A batch of 1000 cards was printed and they sold for a shilling each; in December 2005, one of these cards was auctioned for nearly £9000.

Early English cards rarely showed winter or religious themes, instead favoring flowers, fairies and other fanciful designs that reminded the recipient of the approach of spring. Humorous and sentimental images of children and animals were popular, as were increasingly elaborate shapes, decorations and materials. In 1875 Louis Prang became the first printer to offer cards in America, though the popularity of his cards led to cheap imitations that eventually drove him from the market. The advent of the postcard spelled the end for elaborate Victorian-style cards, but by the 1920s, cards with envelopes had returned.

Cards continued to evolve throughout the 20th century with changing tastes and printing techniques. The World Wars brought cards with patriotic themes. Idiosyncratic "studio cards" with cartoon illustrations and sometimes risque humor caught on in the 1950s. Nostalgic, sentimental, and religious images are once again popular, and reproductions of Victorian and Edwardian cards are easy to obtain.

"Official" Christmas cards began with Queen Victoria in the 1840s. The British royal family's cards are generally portraits reflecting significant personal events of the year. In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first official White House card. The cards usually depict White House scenes as rendered by prominent American artists. The number of recipients has snowballed over the decades, from just 2000 in 1961 to 1.4 million in 2005.[1]

Modern Christmas cards can be bought individually but are usually sold in packs of the same or varied designs. A revival of interest in paper crafts, particularly scrapbooking, has raised the status of the homemade card and made available an array of tools for stamping, punching and cutting. Advances in digital photography and printing have provided a more technological way to personalize cards with photos, messages, or clip art.

Technology may also be responsible for the decline of the Christmas card. The estimated number of cards received by American households dropped from 29 in 1987 to 20 in 2004.[2] Email and telephones allow for more frequent contact and are easier for generations raised without handwritten letters. Nonetheless, with 1.9 billion cards sent in the U.S. in 2005 alone, they are unlikely to disappear any time soon.

From the beginning, Christmas cards have been avidly collected. Queen Mary amassed a large collection that is now housed in the British Museum.[3] Specimens from the "golden age" of printing (1840s-1890s) are especially prized and bring in large sums at auctions. Collectors may focus on particular images like Santa Claus, poets, or printing techniques.

The Christmas card list

Many people send cards to both close friends and distant acquaintances, potentially making the sending of cards a multi-hour chore in addressing scores or even hundreds of envelopes. The greeting in the card can be personalized but brief, or may include a summary of the year's news. The extreme of this is the Christmas letter (below). Because cards are usually exchanged year after year, the phrase "to be off someone's Christmas card list" is used to indicate a falling out between friends or public figures.

Many businesses, particularly smaller local businesses, also send Christmas cards to the people on their customer lists, as a way to develop general goodwill, retain brand awareness and reinforce social networks. These cards are almost always tasteful, and do not attempt to sell a product, limiting themselves to mentioning the name of the business. The practice harkens back to "trade cards" of the 18th century, an ancestor of the modern Christmas card.[4]

Christmas letters

Some people take the annual mass mailing of cards as an opportunity to update everybody with the year's events, and include the so-called "Christmas letter" reporting on the family's doings, sometimes running to multiple printed pages. While a practical notion, Christmas letters meet with a mixed reception; recipients may take it as boring minutiae, bragging, or a combination of the two. Since the letter will be received by both close and distant relatives, there is also the potential for the family members to object to how they are presented to others; an entire episode of Everybody Loves Raymond was built around conflict over the content of just such a letter.

Variants on the concept

In 2004, the German post office gave away 20 million of free scented stickers, to make Christmas cards smell of a fir Christmas tree, cinnamon, gingerbread, a honey-wax candle, a baked apple and an orange.

Charity

Many organizations produce special Christmas cards as a fundraising tool; the most famous of these enterprises is probably the UNICEF Christmas card program.

References

• BBC Devon News Story of the first commercial Christmas card, including picture. Retrieved 2 Jan 2006.
• BBC December 3, 2005: First Christmas card sold for £8,469. Retrieved 2 Jan 2006.
• A History of Christmas Cards by a private collector
• The History of Greeting Cards including many galleries of images
• Old Christmas cards from Ukraine

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Christmas crackers, known as bon-bons in Australia, are an integral part of British Christmas celebrations. It consists of a cardboard tube wrapped in a brightly decorated twist of paper, making it resemble an oversized sweet-wrapper. The cracker is pulled by two people, and, much in the manner of a wishbone, the cracker splits unevenly. The split is accompanied by a small bang produced by the effect of friction on a chemically impregnated card strip (similar to that used in a cap gun).

The person with the larger portion of cracker empties the contents from the tube and keeps them. Typically these contents are a coloured paper hat or crown; a small toy or other trinket; and a motto, a joke or piece of trivia on a scrap of paper. Crackers are often pulled after Christmas dinner or at parties.

Assembled crackers are typically sold in boxes of three to twelve. These typically have different designs usually with red, green and gold colours. Making crackers from scratch using the tubes from used toilet rolls and tissue paper is a common activity for children.

It is a running joke that all the jokes and mottos in crackers are unfunny and unmemorable. Similarly, in most standard commercial products, the "gift" is equally awful, although wealthier individuals—notably, the royal family—may use custom crackers with more expensive rewards.

History

Crackers were invented by London confectioner Tom Smith, in 1847, as a development of his bon-bon sweets, which he sold in a twist of paper (the origins of the traditional sweet-wrapper). As sales of bon bons slumped, Smith began to come up with new promotional ideas. His first tactic was to insert mottos into the wrappers of the sweets (cf. Fortune cookies), but this had only limited success.

He was inspired to add the "crackle" element when he heard the crackle of a log he'd just put on the fire. The size of the plastic wrapper had to be increased to incorporate the banger mechanism, and the sweet itself was eventually dropped, to be replaced by a small gift. The new product was initially marketed as the Cosaque (i.e., Cossack), but the onomatopoeic "cracker" soon became the commonly used name, as rival varieties were introduced to the market.

Links

• History of the Cracker
• Classic Christmas Crackers
• Christmas Cracker Traditions

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Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, is historically one of the busiest retail shopping days of the year. Many consider it the "official" beginning to the holiday season. Most retailers will open very early and usually provide massive discounts on their products.

The use of the word "black" relates to business accountants traditionally recording losses in red ink and profits in black ink.

Response (Buy Nothing Day)

Anti-capitalist protestors have chosen this day as Buy Nothing Day in North America (though this day is not especially important in Canada's commercial year, where those concerned about the increasing power and influence of consumer corporations are urged to not make consumer purchases.

Workers

Employees of retail stores have for years referred to Black Friday in a satirical way, to note the extremely stressful and hectic nature of the day. Heavy traffic and customer demands added to the long hours make it a difficult day.

Controversy

In recent years, some retailers (including Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, and Staples) have claimed that the advertisements they send in advance of Black Friday and the prices included in those advertisement are intellectual property and protected by the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Using the take down provision of the DMCA, these retailers have threatened various internet web sites who post Black Friday prices to the internet in advance of the intended release date by the retailers. This policy apparently derives from a fear that competitors, in addition to customers, will also have access to this information and use it for competitive advantage. The actual validity of the claim that prices are protected intellectual property is uncertain as prices might be considered a 'fact' in which case they would not receive the same level of protection as pure intellectual property.

The benefit of threatening internet sites with a DMCA based lawsuit has proved tenuous at best. While some sites have complied with the requests, others have either ignored the threats or simply continuted to post the information under the name of a similar sounding fictional retailer.

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: 2006 Black Friday At Wal-Mart

Boxing Day
Observed by: Commonwealth countries
Type: International, Commonwealth countries
Date: The first weekday after Christmas Day
Related to: St Stephen's Day

Boxing Day is a public holiday observed in many Commonwealth countries on the first day (other than Sunday) following Christmas Day.

In common usage, when 26 December falls on a Sunday, this is now referred to as Boxing Day despite Boxing Day officially occurring on the 27 December. From 1954 to 1993 in the United Kingdom, when 26 December was a Sunday it was referred to as Christmas Sunday, and "Boxing Day" in popular usage referred to the 27th, but this practice had fallen out of use by the time of the next occurrence in 1999.

Boxing Day is often celebrated by giving gifts and donations to the poor and needy.

In some Commonwealth countries, fixed-date holidays falling on Saturday or Sunday are often observed on the next weekday, so if Boxing Day falls on a Saturday then Monday 28th December is a public holiday; in the UK and Australia this is accomplished by Royal Proclamation.

If Christmas Day falls on a Saturday itself then the Boxing Day holiday is automatically on the following Monday, and no Royal Proclamation is required. In such a circumstance, a 'substitute bank holiday in lieu of Christmas Day' is declared for Tuesday 28th December, this being the next available working day - thus the Boxing Day holiday occurs before the substitute Christmas holiday.

Although the same legislation (Bank Holidays Act 1871) originally established the Bank Holidays throughout the British Isles, the holiday after Christmas was defined as Boxing Day in England and Wales and Northern Ireland and St Stephen's Day for The Republic Of Ireland (and now by a few people in Northern Ireland). St Stephen's Day is fixed as the 26 December.

Commonwealth observance

Boxing Day in the UK is traditionally a day for sporting activity, originally fox hunting, but in modern times football and horseracing.

In Canada, and indeed any other country that celebrates it, Boxing Day (in French, lendemain de Noël, "day after Christmas") is also observed as a public holiday, and is a day when stores sell their excess Christmas inventory at significantly reduced prices. Boxing Day has become so important for retailers that they often extend it into a "Boxing Week". This occurs similarly in Australia and New Zealand.

In Australia, a test match starting on December 26th is called the Boxing Day Test Match, and is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before the largest crowd of the summer.

European observance

Boxing Day is a holiday of peculiarly British origin, but in most years it falls on the same day as the Feast of St. Stephen (St. Stephen's Day - 26th December).

In Austria, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Sweden, the 26th is known as the Second day of Christmas ("der zweite Weihnachtsfeiertag" in Germany, Annandag Jul — "the day after Christmas" — in Sweden, "Tweede Kerstdag" — "Second Christmasday" — in the Netherlands, "Andre Juledag" - "Second Christmasday" - in Norway.) and is also a public holiday.

In Ireland, the 26th December is known as St Stephen's Day, or Wren's Day; in Austria it is called Stefanitag,in Italy Santo Stefano, and in Finland tapaninpäivä which also mean "St. Stephen's Day"; in Wales, it is known as Gŵyl San Steffan (St. Stephen's Holiday). In Catalonia, this day is known as Sant Esteve, Catalan for St. Stephen. A practice known as Hunt the Wren is still practiced by some in the Isle of Man, where people thrash out wrens from hedgerows. Traditionally they were killed and their feathers presented to households for good luck. In Germany the days between Christmas and new year are called "the days between the years" (zwischen den Jahren) and becoming more and more important for retailers to clear the unsold Christmas goods.

Canadian observance

In Canada, Boxing Day is observed as a holiday, except for those in the retail business. Boxing Day and the days immediately following are when many retail stores sell their Christmas and retired model products by holding clearance sales. Some shoppers will line up for hours at night (sometimes before midnight and after midnight on December 26th) for retailers to open their doors. Retailers often open their stores earlier than usual, such as 6 or 7 am. Some retail companies internally refer to the sales week after Christmas as the "thirteenth month."

Boxing Day, 2005, was the single-most highest economic transaction day ever in the history of Canadian commerce (according to Visa).

Trivia

In the #1009 episode of M*A*S*H, "'Twas the Day After Christmas", they celebrate Boxing Day by having the officers switch roles with the enlisted personnel.

References

1. Merriam Webster - 'Boxing Day'
2. Encyclopedia Britannica - 'Boxing Day'
3. American Heritage Dictionary, Fourth Edition - 'Boxing Day'
4. Oxford English Dictionary - 'Boxing Day'
5. BBC Radio 4 schedule, December 26 2004
6. Bank Holidays Act 1871 (UK and Republic of Ireland)
7. Banks and Bank Holidays Act (NSW) 1912 - Fourth Schedule
8. Holidays Act (Qld) 1983
9. DTI information on Bank and public holidays in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Note that only a 'substitute Bank Holiday in lieu of 26th December' is only possible in Northern Ireland, reflecting the legal difference in that St Stephen's Day does not automatically shift to the Monday in the same way as Boxing Day.

Links

• Snopes: The Origins of Boxing Day
• Boxing Day: A Bafflingly Mysterious Enigma Puzzle - Humorous fictional speculation on Boxing Day's origins.

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: Boxing Day, Sompting, Bluebells

Chrismukkah is the modern-day merging of the holidays of Christianity's Christmas and Judaism's Hanukkah as celebrated in interfaith households where one parent may be of Christian heritage and another parent of Jewish heritage. The word itself is a portmanteau arisen through the blending of the words "Christmas" and "Hanukkah". Chrismukkah is also celebrated as an ironic, alternative winter holiday, much like the Seinfeld-derived "Festivus."

The term has been used for many years by some in the Jewish community to comment on the commercialization of Hanukkah and the dominance of the commercialized Christmas in American culture. An exhibit at the Jewish Museum of Berlin (10/28/05- 1/28/06) called "Chrismukkah: Stories of Christmas and Hanukkah." sourced the origin of "Chrismukkah" to German-Jews in the late 1800s who called the holiday "Weihnukkah". Weihnachten is the German word for Christmas.

"A Christmas celebration with a tree, songs, and gifts became a symbol of being a part of German culture for many middle-class Jewish families in the 19th century. Jews celebrated Christmas as a secular "festival of the world around us" without religious meaning, or they transferred Christmas customs to the Hanukkah festival. This mixture was and is referred to as "Chrismukkah."

In the United States, Chrismukkah was the subject of a facetious press release that was widely circulated on joke web sites in the late 1990s. Chrismukkah gained pop culture notoriety on December 3, 2003, after being featured on the FOX television program The O.C..

In 2004, Chrismukkah.com was launched by Ron and Michelle Gompertz, a Jewish-Christian intermarried couple in Bozeman, Montana. Their website took the fictional O.C. Chrismukkah and brought it into reality, selling humorous Chrismukkah greeting cards and dispensing detailed mythology about the fictional holiday. The Chrismukkah.com web site was widely credited with popularizing Chrismukkah to a non-television watching audience. Chrismukkah.com stirred up controversy in the Fall of 2004 when the New York Catholic League, the organization run by conservative pundit William Donahue, issued a national press release opposing Chrismukkah. In December, Chrismukkah was listed in Time Magazine as one of the "buzzwords" of the year. It was also reported in a Scottish newspaper, that Chrismukkah had been added to the authoritative "Chambers" dictionary. In 2005 Chrismukkah.com founder Ron Gompertz authored a humorous book of Chrismukkah recipes called Chrismukkah! The Merry Mish-Mash Holiday Cookbook. Gompertz's follow-up book, entitled "Chrismukkah - Everything You Need to Know to Celebrate the Hybrid Holiday" (published by Stewart, Tabori and Chang) comes out in October 2006. A rival book by Gersh Kuntzman, "Chrismukkah: The Official Guide to the World's Best-Loved Holiday" (Sasquatch Press), comes out at around the same time.

Chrismukkah exists amongst mixed non-religious families of Christian backgrounds and non-religious families of Jewish backgrounds. In this way a family can celebrate the external forms of these two disparate holidays simultaneously, although the theological message of the two holidays are completely at odds. (Hanukkah is a holiday that celebrates the victory of religious Jews fighting against non-Jewish religious assimilation; Christmas is a holiday that celebrates the perceived fulfillment of Judaism by the arrival of the prophesied Messiah. Although it can still be argued that Christianity is a branch-off from Judaism, thus Christians celebrating Chrismukkah could be seen as celebrating their religious heritage.

Chrismukkah is advertised as if it were an established holiday by Chrismukkah.com.

Chrismukkah has been described as "eight days of gifts followed by one day of lots of gifts" on the television show The OC.

Other names for the holiday include: Chrismukah, Christmukah, Christmukkah, Hannumas, Chanumas and (Meppy) Christnukmah.

A similarly named holiday called Christmanukkah was featured in The Strangerhood. Unlike Chrismukkah, Christmanukkah is twenty days long (twelve days of Christmas and another eight for Hanukkah), and all of the days are spent receiving gifts and eating till passing out.

It is believed that the spelling of the holiday, as "Chrismukkah," intentionally left out the "t" from Christmas, as so that Christian activists would not be enraged that Christ's name was proclaimed in such a holiday.

Links

• Chrismukkah.com
• Wordspy Entry for Chrismukkah
• Jewsmas

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

"The Christmas Eve" (1904-05), watercolor painting by the Swedish painter Carl Larsson (1853-1919)

Christmas Eve, December 24, the day before Christmas Day, is treated to a greater or a lesser extent in most Christian societies as part of the Christmas festivities. Christmas Eve is the traditional day to set up the Christmas tree, but as the Christmas season has been extended several weeks back (to Thanksgiving in the United States), many trees will have been set up for weeks.

In nearly all countries, Christmas Eve is a shortened business day. For example, (when it falls on a weekday) most financial markets close by early afternoon, and nearly all retail and commercial businesses are closed by late afternoon - typically between 4:00 and 6:00 pm.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the Christmas season liturgically begins on Christmas Eve. Unless it is a Sunday, the Mass of the Vigil is said in the late afternoon and evening hours of December 24. The Christmas season continues through until January 4, or if that be a Saturday, until January 5, when the Vigil of the Epiphany is celebrated.

Many Christians traditionally celebrate a midnight mass at midnight on Christmas Eve, which is held in churches throughout the world, marking the beginning of Christmas Day. Other churches hold a candlelight service which is typically held earlier in the evening. These often feature dramatizations of the Nativity. Large meals are common, often with turkey or ham as the main item. A traditional dish in Germany is roast carp. In Czech Republic and Slovakia it is a fish soup and breaded roasted carp with potato salad. In some parts of Eastern Europe such as Poland and Lithuania, a traditional meatless 12-dishes Christmas Eve Supper is served before opening gifts. A fish-based dinner is traditional in Italy.

When it is Christmas Eve or La Nochebuena, as it is known in Spain, there are two important traditions - attending Christmas mass and secondly, enjoying a meal with friends and family.There is a wide variety of typical foods one might find on plates across Spain on this particular night, and each region has its own distinct specialties.It is particularly common, however, to start the meal with a seafood dish such as prawns or salmon, followed by a bowl of hot, homemade soup. The main meal will commonly consist of roast lamb, or seafood, such as cod or shellfish. For dessert, there is quite a spread of delicacies, among them are turrón, a dessert made of honey, egg and almonds that is Arabic in origin

It is also seen as the night when Santa Claus or his international variants, make their rounds giving gifts to good children. In Czech Republic the Ježíšek (translated into English as 'Happy little Jesus') has no particular personification. Anyone has his/her own idea. In Italy presents are opened on the morning of Christmas Eve, while in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Portugal and Poland, Christmas presents are opened on that evening, and in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia mostly on the morning of Christmas Day. In Finland Joulupukki personally meets children and gives presents in the evening of Christmas Eve. Latin American countries wait until 12:00 am to start opening presents. In most parts of Germany, Austria and Switzerland Christmas presents are opened in the evening of December 24th ('Bescherung'). In Spain and Latin America gifts are opened on the morning of January 6, Epiphany day ("Día de Los Reyes"). In Iceland Christmas starts at 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Church bells ring at that time and people either sit down for holiday dinner at home or with closest family. After that they open gifts and spend the evening together. In many cultures, a festive dinner is traditionally served for the family and close friends in attendance. In Slavic countries, it is known as Wygilia, and being invited to attend a Wygilia dinner with a family is considered a high honor. Unless attendance is impossible or otherwise too impractical, or if the person has made other plans already, turning down such an invitation, or not showing up can be considered extremely rude.

In North America, there is a mixture of families opening gifts in the evening and, more commonly, on Christmas Day morning. In families where a divorce has occurred, children may spend one day with one part of the family, and the next with the other. In extended families where two branches of the family reside within a reasonable driving distance, many families may choose to spend Christmas Eve with the maternal side of the family and Christmas Day with the paternal side, or vice-versa. Most Christmas stories start or take place on this day.

In the Philippines, the sole predominantly Catholic Christian country in Asia, Christmas Eves are usually celebrated by attending the rooster's mass or Misa de Gallo. Misa de Gallo is the Holy Mass celebrated hours before the clock ticks 12 AM that signifies the arrival of December 25 Christmas Day. After going to mass, Filipino families usually hold a feast named Noche Buena to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. A great variety of food is eaten during this feast, an event that usually is done with great preparation. Foods being prepared include the famous Lechon, Quezo de Bola, Jamon, Roast Chicken (turkey did not gain much popularity in the Philippines), Barbecued meats, Pancit among many others. Despite the fact that some families are poor, they still find a way to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ through eating, family time and merry-making.

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Distaff Day, also called Roc Day, is 7 January, the day after the feast of the Epiphany. In many European cultural traditions, women resumed their household work after the twelve days of Christmas. The distaff, used in spinning, was the mediaeval symbol of women's work.

Some modern women's craft groups have taken up the celebration of Distaff day as part of their new year celebrations.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Adoration of the Magi by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, 17th century (Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio.

Epiphany (Greek: επιφάνεια, "the appearance; miraculous phenomenon") is a Christian feast intended to celebrate the 'shining forth' or revelation of God to mankind in human form, in the person of Jesus. The observance had its origins in the eastern Christian churches, and included the birth of Jesus; the visit of the Magi, or Wise Men (traditionally named Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar) who arrived in Bethlehem; and all of Jesus' childhood events, up to his baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist. The feast was initially based on, and viewed as a fulfillment of, the Jewish Feast of Lights. This was fixed on January 6. Ancient Liturgies speak of Illuminatio, Manifestatio, Declaratio (Light, Manifest (show), Declare) cf St. Matthew's Gospel (iii, 13-17); St. Luke's (iii, 22); and St. John's (ii, 1-11); where the Baptism and Cana are dwelt upon. The Christian Churches have traditionally also talked of a Revelation to the Gentiles where the term 'Gentile' meant all non-Jewish peoples. The Biblical Magi represent the non-Jewish peoples of the world.

Epiphany in different Christian rites

Western Christian Churches (Old World)

In the Western church, the feast of Christmas was established before that of Epiphany.

The early western Christian Church decided to celebrate Christmas on December 25. The East continued to treat January 6 as the day marking Jesus's birth. The west generally acknowledges a twelve-day festival, starting on December 25, and ending on January 6, known as the twelve days of Christmas, although some Christian cultures, especially those of Latin America and some in Europe extend it to as many as forty days, ending on Candlemas, or February 2 (known as Candelaria in Spanish).

In the Western Churches it is associated principally with the visit of the Magi or Wise Men

Prior to 1970, the Roman Catholic Church (and prior to 1976, the Anglican churches) reckoned Epiphany as an eight-day feast, beginning on January 6 and continuing through the Octave of Epiphany, or January 13.

Many traditionalist Catholics continue to use this calendar, celebrating the feast of the Holy Family on the Sunday within the octave. On the Feast of the Epiphany itself, the priest, wearing white vestments, will bless the Epiphany Water, frankincense, gold, and chalk. The chalk is used to write the initials of the three magi over the doors of churches and homes.

More recently, most Roman Catholics in the United States mark Epiphany on the Sunday after the first Saturday in January (before this the Sunday between January 1 and January 6 in years when there was one, was designated the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus), and most Catholics and Anglicans (along with many other Protestants) now formally end the Christmas season on the Sunday immediately following January 6, or, for American Catholics, the ensuing Monday in years when the Epiphany falls on January 7 or January 8. In either case, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord is observed on the latter day, after which the first installment of Ordinary Time begins. (But note that some Churches, such as the Anglican Catholic Church, and some groups of Roman Catholics, still use the pre-1970 calendar; for these bodies, Christmas still has twelve days and ends on January 5, and Epiphany is still celebrated on January 6 with an 8-day octave.)

The Irish call this day Little Christmas or Women's Christmas (Irish: Nollaig na mBan). In Rome, "Epiphania" was transformed into Befana, the great fair held at that season, when sigillaria of terracotta or baked pastry were sold (Macrobius I, x, xxiv; II, xlix).

In France, on Epiphany people eat the gâteau des Rois in Provence or the galette des Rois in the northern half of France and Belgium. This is a kind of king cake, with a trinket or a bean hidden inside. The person who gets the piece of cake with the trinket becomes king for a day.

In the United States Christmas usually ends the day after December 26 while other parts of the World are still celebrating Christmas up until the Epiphany or even beyond the Epiphany.

Western Christian Churches Spain and Ibero-America

In Spain, Mexico, Cuba and some Latin American countries Epiphany day is called El Día de los Reyes (The Day of the Kings). The day when the Three Kings or Three Magi of the Bible arrived to worship and bring gifts to the baby Jesus after following a star in the heavens. This day is sometimes known as the Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (The day of the Three Magi) or La Pascua de los Negros (Holy Day of the Blackmen) in Chile, although the latter is rarely heard. In Spanish tradition, on the day of January 6th, the Kings: Melchor, Gaspar, and Balthazar, representing Europe, Arabia, and Africa, arrived on horse, camel and elephant, bringing respectively gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus.

In Mexico, it is traditional for children to leave their shoes out on the evening of January 6, sometimes filling them with hay for the camels, so that the Kings will be generous with their gifts. In Puerto Rico, it is also a tradition for children to fill a box with grass or hay and put it underneath their bed, for the same reasons. This is analogous to children leaving mince pies or cookies and milk out for Santa Claus in Western Europe. In some parts of northern Mexico the shoes are left under the Christmas tree with a letter to the Three Kings. In the afternoon or evening of the same day the ritual of the Rosca de Reyes is shared with family and friends. The Rosca is a type of sweet-bread made with orange blossom, water, and butter; decorated with candied fruit. Baked inside is a small doll representing the baby Jesus. The person who finds the doll in his piece of rosca must throw a party on February 2nd, Calendaria Day, offering tamales and atole (a hot sweet drink thickened with corn flour) to the guests. Notably, in Spain, it is also known as Roscon; made with the same items, however, between the layers of bread, lies different flavoured whip cream. The 'Jesus' doll evolved into a small toy similar to a Kinder Surprise. The person gets the toy, is then responsible for the purchase of the Roscon the following year.

Eastern Christian Churches

The first reference to Epiphany in the Eastern Church is a slighting remark by Clement of Alexandria in Stromateis, I, xxi, 45:

"There are those, too, who over-curiously assign to the Birth of Our Saviour not only its year but its day…"

Origen's list of festivals (in Contra Celsum, VIII, xxii) omits any reference to Epiphany. The first reference to an ecclesiastical feast of the Epiphany, in Ammianus Marcellinus (XXI:ii), is in 361.

Today in Eastern Orthodox churches, the emphasis at this feast is on the shining forth and revelation of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and second person of the Holy Trinity at the time of his baptism. It is also celebrated because, according to tradition, the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist marked the only occasion when all three persons of the Holy Trinity manifested their physical presence simultaneously to humanity: God the Father by speaking through the clouds, God the Son being baptized in the river, and God the Holy Spirit in the shape of a dove overflying the scene. Usually called the Feast of the Theophany (Greek: Θεοφάνεια), it is one of the great feasts of the liturgical year; "theophany" is Greek for "God shining forth". In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, it is known as Timkat.

Orthodox Churches also perform a "Blessing of the Waters" on Epiphany Day: following Divine Liturgy, clerics proceed to the nearest body of water, be it a beach, a harbor, a quay, a river, a lake, a swimming pool, a water depot etc, and after a short ceremony they cast a cross in the water. If swimming is feasible on the spot, any number of volunteers may brave the cold winter waters and try to recover the cross. The person who gets the cross first swims back and returns it to the cleric, who then delivers a special blessing to the swimmer and their family and household. Certain such ceremonies have achieved particular prominence, such as the one held annually at Tarpon Springs, Florida.

Links

• Catholic Encyclopedia: Epiphany
• The Epiphany Season at the Christian Resource Institute

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.