Every generation seems to have a new, revised list of Christmas traditions. Some disappear after only a year or two; others endure to become more or less permanent ingredients of the holiday season for generations to follow. Many are meaningful, based on the remembrance, and celebration of the birth of Christ. Others, while joyous and festive, have little to do with the original event. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with adding a little fun and frivolity to what is basically a religious event, but it doesn’t hurt to remember the differences, and especially to be aware of what is a true tradition and what is merely a passing fancy.
Nearly all of us consider the Christmas tree to be a necessary part of the holiday, yet the ritual of bringing an evergreen tree into the house began with Martin Luther. As he was walking in the woods one winter evening, he was charmed by the sight of stars shining through the branches of an evergreen tree, looking much like tiny candles glowing among its branches. He was so enchanted by the beauty of the scene that he brought a small tree into the house and placed a few candles on its branches as a Christmas surprise for his children. The custom spread across Germany, and when Prince Albert presented his bride, Queen Victoria, with a candle-lit tree as a Christmas gift, the lighted Christmas tree rapidly became a part of the holiday traditions of England. The idea soon spread across all of Europe and eventually to the United States, enhanced along the way by additions from many different cultures. That humble little tree with its few twinkling candles has evolved into fake trees with hundreds of electric lights, outdoor lighting contests, and now, to aerial displays of lighted drones.
Christmas carols, originally songs of joy and devotion were part of religious celebrations at Christmas time and limited mostly to church services. The ritual of giving gifts to the children was symbolic of the gifts presented to the Christ child by the magi. Songs that told the story of the Nativity, such as “Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem” and “Silent Night” were introduced and the Nativity pageant that had once been a church event drifted into the laity, eventually to be incorporated into programs presented by schools and clubs, in theaters and department stores, leading to parades and other ambitious sales promotions. The lovely songs of wonder and devotion survived mostly intact for us to celebrate today but are now mixed with holiday songs that have little to do with the basic Christmas.
I remember, from my childhood, some of the so-called carols that we sang in school and Sunday School. I’m not sure of the titles, but I do remember most of the words; “Jolly old Saint Nicholas, lean your ear this way, don’t you tell a single soul what I’m going to say…” followed by a list of the singer’s hypothetical siblings and what they wanted Santa to bring them for Christmas. I don’t know when the “tradition” of writing to Santa and asking for specific things began, but my sisters and I were never encouraged to do so,
Clement Moore’s poem, A Visit From St. Nicholas was probably responsible for “Up on the housetop reindeer pause, out jumps dear old Santa Claus…” and contributed the idea that he entered through the chimney. (Whether or not one’s house featured an open fireplace was immaterial.)
It was no doubt an effort to increase sales that prompted the Montgomery Ward Company to publish a book, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer in 1939. Later, during the week of Christmas 1949, the song of that same name, written by Johnny Marks, based on the Montgomery Ward story and recorded by Gene Autry, hit the number one spot on the charts. What followed is a whole new genre of Christmas “traditions” including such delights as Frosty the Snowman, A Charlie Brown Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I’m not sure just how long something has to stick around before it can be considered a legitimate tradition, but we can enjoy them while they last. I hope you will just do it your way – and have a Merry Christmas!