December 25 was the traditional date of the winter solstice in the Roman Empire and coincided with the festival Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, held on that day since AD 274. The earliest document to place the birth of Jesus on December 25 is the Chronograph of 354, with the relevant section written in Rome in AD 336. A competing calculation theory proposes the date came from early Christians who believed Jesus was conceived and died on March 25, placing his birth nine months later.
When was Christmas banned in England and who banned it?
Christmas was banned in England in 1647 by the country's Puritan rulers following the Parliamentarian victory in the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell ordered troops to confiscate special meals prepared on Christmas Day. The ban was lifted with the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660.
What is the origin of the word Christmas?
Christmas is a shortened form of Christ's Mass. The word is recorded as Crīstesmæsse in 1038 and Cristes-messe in 1131. The first element derives from the Koine Greek word Khrīstos, itself a translation of the Hebrew Māšîaḥ meaning anointed; the second element comes from the Latin missa, the celebration of the Eucharist.
Who created the modern image of Santa Claus?
The modern popular image of Santa Claus was shaped in the United States, particularly in New York, with contributions from Washington Irving and the German-American cartoonist Thomas Nast, who lived from 1840 to 1902. The figure is rooted in the Dutch Sinterklaas tradition, which itself derived from Nicholas, a 4th-century Greek bishop of Myra known for generosity and the giving of gifts.
How did Charles Dickens influence the way Christmas is celebrated today?
Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol in 1843, which helped revive the spirit of Christmas and played a major role in portraying the holiday as one emphasizing family, goodwill, and compassion. His approach, described by later critics as Carol Philosophy, influenced family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, games, and a spirit of generosity that are now central to Christmas in Western culture. The phrase Merry Christmas was popularized following the story's appearance.
When was Christmas declared a federal holiday in the United States?
Christmas was formally declared a United States federal holiday on the 28th of June 1870. Before that, Christmas observance had been outlawed in Boston in 1659 and was not fashionable in the New England region until the mid-19th century.