Show christmas in many lands early christians did not celebrate the birthday of christ it was not until the fourth century that december 25 came to be accepted as the presumed anniversary ot of the great event in that year pope gregory V set this day officially his int anten cn tion was partly to absorb the old pagan festival ot of the returning sun t the he winter solstice on december 22 in a christian feast A number ot of pagan celebrations were overlapped in this manner during the i first centuries ot of christianity it Is for this reason that the berr remnants of ancient rites and customs have become intermingled with genuine christian practices and symbolism the yule rites ot of the scandinavian germanic and british nations blended with the new christian holy day in northern europe in italy france spain and other nations descended from roman colonies the rowdy festival I 1 spirit and customs of 0 pagan rome hung on to some extent and merged I 1 with the observation ot of christmas in the main however the birth of christ was a religious holiday joyous but restrained in mood in 1 the early centuries of the christian era gradually however in the middle ages the feast became more robust as peasants and lords made mada merry in the baronial halls nativity plays on the other hand the nativity plays were purely christian in origin having arisen spontaneously in many parts of europe in the early middle ages in one form or another they have been enacted all I 1 over the world with additions and embellishments there are puppet versions elaborate pageants music scores all treating of the bi birth of christ la in spanish coun countries the posadas Is the name given to a combination procession and party with religious overtones that covers the nine days preceding christmas itself the ne polish christmas play Is an 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 tion and beliefs the r northern europeans in pre christian times believed in a J spirit of woods and fields who had to be placated now and then or he would ruin the harvests this being was known in norway as the nisse and by various names in other scandinavian di din avian countries it Is still a custom in rural regions for children to set out porridge and beer on christmas 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 rec recognizable cognizable zable as the good bishop ol 01 of myra in dutch plays but he too is being absorbed in the more popular version of santa claus the tat fate red coated little man with 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 bertha the custom of hanging up stockings comes from italy switzerland has developed the custom of parading from house bouse to house and singing carols in a picturesque way costumes are remarkable young men and women wear he addresses representing houses ships mountains and so forth huge sleigh bells tinkle from their waists and shoulders these swiss carolers caro 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 january 6 many people in greece serbia romania and other balkan states as well as many russians belong to the orthodox church their christmas feast traditionally begins wi 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 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 nations and peoples that have bequeathed them to us |