Show christmas in many hany lands early christians did not ce lebram tho the birthday of christ it was nt not until tho the fourth century that december 25 23 came to bo be accepted as tho the presumed pies umed anniversary of the great event in that year pope gregory V set this day om oMe dally lally ills his intention was partly to absorb the old pagan festival bt bf the returning sun the winter solstice on december iber 22 in a christian feast A number of pagan celebrations were overlapped in th this Is manner during the me first centuries of christian christianity it Is for this reason that the remnants of ancient rites and customs have become intermingled with genuine christian practices 6 and symbolism V the yule rites of tho the scandinavian germanic and british nations blended with the new christian holy day in north northern europe in italy france spain and other nations descended from noman colonies the rowdy festival spirit and customs of pagan rome hung on to some extent and merged with tho the observation of christmas in the main however the birth of christ was a religious hollday holiday joyous but restrained in mood in the early centuries of the chris christian ft an era gradually however in the middle ages the fl feast ast became more robust as peasants and lords mado merry in the baronial halls nativity plays on the other hand tho the nativity pla plays Y s were purely christian in origin having arisen spontaneously in many parts of europe in tho the early middle ages in one form or another they have been enacted all over the world with additions and embellishments there are ara puppet versions elaborate pageants in music scores nil all treating of the birth of christ in spanish countries the posadas is the name nama given to a combination procession and party with religious overtones that covers the nine days preceding christmas itself tho the polish christmas play is tin on intermingling of the nativity story with elements of polish history and legend the santa claus tradition represents the combining of a number of widely differing relics of old superstition and beliefs the y northern european Europe ant L in pro pre christian r times believed be in a i spirit of woods and w fields who had to be placated now and then or he would ruin the harvests this being was known in norway ns as the nisse and by various names in other scandinavian di din avian countries country 03 it I 1 Is S 8 still till a custom in rural regions for children to set out porridge and beer on chr christmas st eve to please the nisse in britain the character known as father christmas is supposed to be a christian version of this ancient spirit of the fields the dutch sinter klass or st nicholas is still recognizable as the good bishop of myra in dutch plays but lie he too is being absorbed in the more popular version of santa claus the fat red coated little man with tho the big bag of presents this idea of santa claus is a south german interpretation in other parts of germany the dispenser of gifts is dame dertha the custom of hanging up stockings Bloc kings comes from italy switzerland has developed the custom of parading from house to house hous and singing carols in a picturesque way costumes are remarkable mark tible young men and women wear he addresses representing houses ships mountains in oun s and so forth huge sleigh bells tinkle from their waists and shoulders these swiss caro carolers lers also have a peculiar dance used only on christmas eve in switzerland as in other southern european countries the gifts are brought to good children not by santa claus but by the christ child who comes from the north pole in a fairy sleigh members of the orthodox greek church who cling to the old style calendar celebrate christs birthday on I 1 january 6 many i people in greece i serbia romania and i other balkan states i as well as aa many russians belong to the orthodox church their christmas feast traditionally begins with a bowl of butya which Is a combination of wheat honey ground poppy seed and pecans mushroom soup fruit fish and nuts are also served A small layer of hay Is spread under the table cloth to show humility tor for christs birth in a stable so every country and every district often has its own special ways of keeping christmas the united states being composed of people from everywhere has received customs from every people and has adopted those it liked and altered them to fit the american style so it has been with santa claus the christmas tree holly and mistletoe the christmas plays and carols the luscious menus everything has been gladly taken over with thanks to the many peoples that have bequeathed them to us |