Custom |
Origin |
Source |
Yule log |
Pagan, Northern Europe |
Wikipedia |
"Christmas" tree |
Probably Pagan, Northern Europe |
Wikipedia |
Carols (originally a circular dance) |
Christian, medieval (13th C) |
Wikipedia |
Bringing greenery into the house |
Pagan, all of Europe |
Ronald Hutton, The Stations of the Sun |
Kissing under the mistletoe |
Folk custom, 18th century London |
Ronald Hutton, The Stations of the Sun |
Exchanging gifts |
Pagan - Roman Saturnalia custom (in Christianity, this is derived from the legends about St Nicholas and the gifts of the Wise Men) |
Ronald Hutton, The Stations of the Sun |
Father Christmas |
17th c folk character - in resistance to Puritan suppression of Christmas (but the Dutch version is apparently derived from legends of Oðinn) |
Wikipedia |
Santa Claus |
Christian, based on legend of St Nicholas |
Wikipedia |
Nativity play & tableau |
Christian, invented by St Francis of Assisi |
Wikipedia |
Advent calendar & candles |
Christian |
Wikipedia |
Advent wreath |
Christian, but probably based on a Pagan sunwheel or fire wheel.
"preparing and lighting the Advent wreath probably has its roots in an ancient pagan custom. The very survival of these ancient people depended on the success of their crops. So it may be that during the shortest days of the year, these people lighted candles on a wheel in the hope that the one who controlled the sun would turn the wheel of the earth's orbit to the sun once more."
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Christmas cards |
Secular, 19th century |
Snopes.com |
Wassailing |
Pagan / folk custom |
Snopes.com |
Christmas ham |
Pagan custom, Scandinavia, possibly as a tribute to Freyr |
Wikipedia |
Tomte |
Fairy in Swedish folklore who brings presents; originally the ancestor of the farm |
Wikipedia |
La Befana |
Italian folk character. Christian or Pagan? - you tell me! |
Wikipedia |
Zwarte Piet |
Dutch folkloric companion of Sinterklaas - possibly derived from Oðinn's ravens, Hugin and Munin |
Wikipedia |
Yule goat |
Scandinavian Pagan custom |
Wikipedia |
Date of festival |
Yule / Winter Solstice: 21st December
Saturnalia: 17th - 24th December (pre-Christian)
Dies Natalis Sol Invictus: 25th December - apparently invented in response to Christmas [1]
Juvenalia: 25th December [2]
After the Saturnalia, the Romans celebrated the birth of new life with a festival honoring children, who were given talismans (like bells, shoes, warm clothes and toys) for good luck in the coming year.
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- Calculating Christmas
- School of the Seasons
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Comments (4)
Anonymous said
at 4:18 pm on Dec 18, 2008
Regarding the origin of "Santa Claus" as a Seasonal custom, including a reference to Odin as Jólnir in Óðins nöfn seem to show that there may be some times to the custom of "Santa Claus" and the figure of Odin. In addition it may must be conincidence, but Santa Clause had eight reindeer, while Odins horse Sleipnir has eight legs. Also, in Germany, children would leave gifts for Sleipnir (carrots, etc.) which would be exchanged for gifts for the children.
Anonymous said
at 4:23 pm on Dec 18, 2008
I would make a distinction between the English Father Christmas (essentially a personification of Christmas); the American Santa Claus (essentially derived from St Nicholas); and European equivalents, which can be shown to be derived from Oðinn.
Anonymous said
at 5:24 pm on Dec 18, 2008
Interesting, I think there's a fairly close tie between the American S.C. and Oðinn when I look at the concept of gifts, etc. Separating them out based upon region (even though they are all of european derivation) is interesting.
Anonymous said
at 5:31 pm on Dec 18, 2008
There may be an archetypal connection but it's whether the one is actually derived from the other that seems relevant here.
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