Phone call to Santa and Kitty

http://www.santalivenow.com Bob Turner from Aven’s Furniturehttp://www.antelopevalleyavenfurniture.com in Lancaster, Ca. Puts a call to Santa about the cutbacks during the Christmas Season.

50 Things To Do With Kids in December

50 Things To Do With Kids in December:

1. Eat Candy Canes
2. Go out and look at Christmas lights
3. Bake cookies
4.  Pick out and put up the Christmas Tree
5. Decorate the Christmas Tree
6. Make an Ice Wreath
7.  Make Cinnamon Applesauce and/or Salt Dough ornaments
8.  Make and decorate gingerbread houses
9.  Sing Christmas Songs
10.  Visit Santa
11.  Buy and donate toys for Toys For Tots
12.  Help to wrap presents for friends and family
13.  Act out the Christmas story
14.  Make Reindeer Food
15.  Make homemade Christmas color/glitter play dough (and scent it with peppermint) to give to friends
16.  Make and decorate gingerbread people
17.  Make popcorn and cranberry garland
18.  Go on a sleigh ride
19.  Make paper chains for the Christmas tree
20.   Write a letter to Santa
21.  Watch a holiday movie
22.   Check out holiday books at the library
23.  Leave out shoes for 
24. Eat Candy Canes
25. Hang stockings on the mantle or banister
26. Put out the Nativity Scene
27. Address and Mail holiday cards
28. Pick a special family ornament for the year
29. Make a special plate for Santa’s cookies and the reindeer’s carrots
30. Go to see The Nutcracker
31. Go to a holiday parade
32. Go to a candy store for a holiday treat
33. Tie bells with ribbons and hang them around the house
34. Make cards and gifts for teachers
35. Go to the dollar store and pick gifts for family
36. Make special cards to send to cousins
37.  Have a Random Acts of Kindness Day(s)
38. Make cards to send to troops or to bring to a nursing home
39.  Grocery shop just to take to a food bank or donation boxes
40. Learn a Christmas song on the guitar or piano
41.  Make a present for Santa
42. Celebrate the Winter Solstice
43. Make Winter Tea
44. Make/Put out food for birds and squirrels
45. Make orange and clove pomanders
46. Look through favorite Christmas Cards from friends and family from years past
47. Start a garland or photo album with your own family holiday cards from years past
48. Prep and freeze a special breakfast for Christmas morning
49. Make hot chocolate balls
50. Make snow globes
51. Do research on holiday traditions around the world and choose one to add to family traditions

Christmas Classic Stories for Children about Santa

Short Christmas Stories – Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas Everybody! Welcome to short christmas stories 2011

In this blog you will find our amazing Christmas Story Book – The Santa Stories. This book is a work of pure art pressed down and running over with traditional Christmas spirit.

Download it on iBooks or Kindle – you will have 25 beautifuly illustrated Christmas stories to keep and cherish, that’s one for every night in December leading up to the big day. 50,000 copies downloaded so far …. Get yours now.  Adults and Children alike tell us they love these magical stories which restore the spirit of Christmas to their Hearts and Homes

Christmas Card From Santa and Mrs. Claus Only on LOCAL LIVING

http://www.localliving.com 64 % off this incredible deal from LOCAL LIVING There’s nothing quite like the excitement surrounding Christmas, especially for children. Build their anticipation for this special day and give them something they will treasure for years to come. Customize a special letter to your child from Santa Claus letting them know they are in for a special treat this holiday season. This artfully designed letter will arrive from the “North Pole” making it an authentic experience sure to warm any heart. Easy to follow directions make narrating your unique letter a breeze, up to 500 characters included

 

Christmas Card From Santa

Christmas Card From Santa added “CUSTOM CHRISTMAS CARD FROM SANTA AND KITTY” and said:http:www.localliving.com 64 % off this incredable deal from LOCALLIVING There’s nothing quite like the excitement surrounding Christmas, especially for children. Build their anticipation for this special day and give them something they will treasure for years to come. Customize a special letter to your child from Santa Claus letting them know they are in for a special treat this holiday season. This artfully designed letter will arrive from the “North Pole” making it an authentic experience sure to warm any heart. Easy to follow directions make narrating your unique letter a breeze, up to 500 characters included

WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Santa Claus’ 2010 “State of the Pole”

@http://santalivenow.ning.com

Santa , Santa’s Village , Santa’s Store, Santa Reads”THE SANTA STORIES” ,It’s Christmas

WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Santa Claus’ 2010 “State of the Pole” Address

NORTH POLE HEADQUARTERS, ARCTIC CIRCLE, 12/23/2010 — On last night of  the Night Before 2010, the Throne Room of Santa Claus’ Royal Palace and Toy Workshop once more filled en masse with an audience packed with Elves, Helpers, and an entire Who’s Who of some of History’s greatest, most famous do-gooders. All had answered the customary summons to present themselves before the presence of Their Most Sovereign Majesties, King Nicholas and Queen Vivianne of the Realm of Eternity, otherwise known as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.

In accordance with tradition, it is here, within the elegantly-constructed backdrop of Santa’s Throne Room, that the legendary Jolly Old Elf, in his role as King Nicholas, personally greets those Mortals who, at the end of their alloted period of lifetime upon the Earth, have proven themselves to be brave, truthful and unselfish: the required criteria necessary in order to achieve permanent inclusion as a citizen of the Realm of Eternity.

King Nicholas and Queen Vivianne, seated upon two magnificently-upholstered Royal Thrones, were elegantly dressed in outfits befitting their regal station. King Nicholas’ attire consisted of a fantastic, 14th-Century red-and-gold Baron’s costume, topped by a fabulous roayl crimson cape with ermin trim. A long, fully-flowing, leonineseque white beard dominated his head; and the magnificent Royal Nicholean Crown rested comfortably upon his brow. Queen Vivianne’s red-and-white gown was likewise topped by a royal crimson-and-ermine-trim cape; on her head, she wore the Consort’s Crown of Eternity. In their hands, Their Majesties each wielded two priceless Royal Sceptres, both festooned with diamonds and pearls.

Finally, King Nicholas rose from his Throne, and a hush fell across the length and breadth of the crowd, as Santa Claus began his 2010 “State of the Pole” Address:

Greetings, fellow Believers and dear friends throughout the cosmos!

Once again, the time has come to share with the world the State of our glorious North Pole — and believe me, 2010 has been so whirlwind that I barely know where to begin. The year began somewhat frighteningly, when it seemed as though a horrifying cloud of volcanic ash, emerging from an unexpectedly active volcano in Greenland might force our dear friends in the Earthly village of Klampenbourg to possibly cancel our annual gathering of Kringles, the World Santa Claus Congress. Fortunately, I am happy to report to you, Mother Nature decided, in her unchanging wisdom, that she simply didn’t have the heart to ruin our deelgates’ fun — and, as a result, this year’s Congress at Bakken not only took place as scheduled — but at long last, after 53 years as one of Denmark’s best-kept holiday secrets, the Congress finally found its way into the realms of the World Wide Web! I’m also pleased to inform you that the Congress’ co-organizers, the Danish Santa Claus Guild, have likewise found their way into cyberspace, with a website that is unmistakably all their own! One thing’s for sure, my friends: you can certainly expect this Jolly Old Elf to look in on all the merry goings-on at bothhttp://www.worldsantaclauscongress.com/ andhttp://www.danskjulemandslaug.dk/ for the foreseeable future! Ho-ho-ho!

As usual, however, it has not always been fun and games here in the Kringleverse. Only a few short months ago, tension ran rampant amongst the populace of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Celebrate Santa was a marvelous concept on paper, but despite an epic 2-year staging, those responsible for its upkeep could not maintain the Festival financially for very long; and now, it is to be hoped that the City of Gatlinburg can attempt to collect that which is its rightful due, and have the various payments owed unto it properly taken care of. We will most certainly monitor what is obviously a continuing saga; whether or not that saga will end amicably is, for now, anyone’s guess.

Regrettably, there has also been an intriguingly disturbing trend that has impacted neighborhoods in certain U.S. States and Canadian Provinces: in light of recent budgetary and economic concerns, several Santa Claus Parades are either being delayed, downsized, canceled, or simply rethought as Christmas happenings, most of them including and/or involving meet-n’-greet sessions and photo ops with dear Mrs. Claus and me. The prudency of most of these neighborhoods has to date been sensible; yet much of the time, the children are often disappointed as a result of these horrid situations. I have had to personally respond to questions from more than a few of my faithful subjects asking me, “How do you explain economics to a 3-year-old child?” A difficult dilemma, to say the least, and one not easily solved. The virtue of patience must be very carefully taught within the child, so that the little ones can fully understand situations such as the aforedescribed. We’ll obviously be monitoring this especially controversial trend during the next few weeks and months.

The Mortals’ Realm has also had to bid farewell to three of our more significant heroes, whose contributions to our Clausian legacy will neverbe surpassed. First, in May, Will Koch, the President and CEO of Holiday World & Surfin’ Safari Theme Park in Santa Claus, Indiana, apparently drowned in his own swimming pool at his residence. There are those, not just in the Koch family itself, but in the entire Town of Santa Claus, who would tell you that young Will died too soon. One would hope that Will’s brother Dan will continue the traditions that have long shaped Holiday World’s legacy.

Then, in August, the Mortals in Richmond, Virginia lost Retired Detective Sergeant Dalton Rotruck “Ricky” Duling, known amongst young and old as the famous “Sergeant Santa,” who dedicated his life’s mission to reminding Richmond’s children that policemen need not necessarily be someone to be afraid of. Sgt. Santa went out of his way to make certain that every child became aware of that; how fortunate we are indeed that he succeeded.

Finally, in September, in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, their Mortals honored a third icon of Christmas — perhaps the oldest such icon in the history of our traditions. When, in 1963, Miss Billie Mae Richards sat in front of a microphone, surrounded by an unlikely cast of some of the finest names in Canadian radio, no one knew that they’d be putting together the major element of a television legend: the 1964 stop-motion animated special Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Long before then, Billie Mae had been a leading child star in early Canadian film, eventually becoming one of the most familiar personalities in Canadian radio. Truly, one can say that there is simply no Rudolph without Billie Mae Richards.

Tomorrow morning, before my final preparations for my Christmas Eve flight, we will, per our traditional rituals, set into motion the process to welcome Will, Dalton and Billie Mae into the Realm of Eternity. Each has met the required criteria for inclusion amongst our citizenry; I look forward to greeting all three of them in person.

As you know, the Great Santa Claus Oath, whose Eight Principles are indeed required reading by us all, was conceived by a true defender of my legacy, Mr. Philip L. Wenz. For over 40 years, Phil has consistently and honorably protected that legacy, from the time when, at the tender age of four, he first decided that he actually wanted to become Santa Claus — to today, when, as a leading Santa Claus performer, historian and archivist, he has repeatedly demonstrated that, in placing Santa’s name and likeness into a positive light, he has chosen to make a difference. Accordingly, the creators of the ClausNET website have seen fit to induct Phil into their first-ever Santa Claus Hall of Fame. We here in the Realm of Eternity congratulate Phil on what clearly is a well-deserved tribute.

We also salute Phil’s efforts as leader of a spectacular two-year journey for his Great Santa Claus Oath Book. The Oath, which honors the memory of two great Santa Legends — Charles W. Howard, the world’s first great Santa Claus instructor; and Raymond James (Jim) Yellig, the performer who was the living image of the entire Town of Santa Claus, Indiana — has traveled across 5 countries and 37 major cities, has been the subject of more than 70 public events, and has been signed by over 3000 Santas, Mrs. Clauses, Elves, Helpers and others. Now, after two unique closing ceremonies — the first, in July, at Paradise, PA’s National Christmas Center; the second, in September, on the grounds of Mr. Howard’s old homestead in Albion, New York — the Book has been returned to its permanent home at Santa’s Candy Castle in Santa Claus, where it will remain enshrined until November 3rd, 2035: the 100th Anniversaries, not only of the Candy Castle itself, but also of the Town’s own Santa Claus Statue; the founding by Jim Yellig of the Santa Claus American Legion; and Charles W. Howard’s very first season as a department store Santa …. so that future generations may remember the Oath’s kindly philosophy. We reverently, profoundly and nobly pay homage to those who have signed this vital, significant document; and we offer our thanks for all their combined efforts in supporting the Santa Claus tradition.

On a personal note, if you’ll all kindly indulge me, I wish to take a moment to recognize another significant milestone, one that is especially dear to me. When Alexander and Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler approached me 25 years ago with the idea that they wanted me to tell my story in a way that no one had ever heard it told before, at first I thought that their idea bordered along the lines of silliness.

“Why,” I asked them, “would I want to make another movie?”

“That’s precisely the whole point,” the boys told me. “We don’t want it to be just ‘another’ movie. We want our audience to be immersed in the total Santa Claus experience; and more, we want to make absolutely sure that your legend is presented on the screen with the credibility that your legions of admirers have expected from you.”

So it was, then, that on November 27th, 1985, Santa Claus: The Movie was first shared with the world. Dismissed by imagination-lacking film critics, particularly in the U.S., this wonderful, magical film has nonetheless come out on top because, as had been the case with those three films starring our dear next-door neighbor up here at the pole (that would, of course, be Kal-el, son of Jor-el of the Planet Krypton — more legendarily known asSuperman), there were those who were, and still are, unfailingly loyal to this movie’s inventiveness, incredible style, and visual excitement which dazzled the eye and inspired many new dreams in a time long before computer-generated imagery ever became an almost day-to-day part of the technological DNA of film.

25 years later, there’s not a child or an adult alive who hasn’t been enchanted by Santa Claus: The Movie and its ground-breaking parable of youthful innocence versus bigtime greed, where the spirit of Christmas blossoms in its truest, most non-denominational form possible. Alexander Salkind left the Mortals’ Realm in March of 1997, fearing that his filmmaking legacy would be lost to the world forever. Ilya, luckily, would, I suspect, have something to say about that. Today, he calls that somethingthe Ilya Salkind Company. He’s in his mid-60′s by now, I’d guess, but thanks to the various projects he’s working on, Ilya’s now ready, as he himself had hoped, to pass the torch onto the next great generation of filmmakers to bear the Salkind name.

Please join me, then, in saluting Ilya Salkind and all the survivors of the cast and crew of Santa Claus: The Movie, without whose combined efforts there’d be fewer believers not just in me, but in the entire Realm of Forever as well. To them, let me say that, regardless of the opinions of others, your hard work and dedication were not in vain!

Now, please, let me briefly return to my earlier reference to Mother Nature. Humankind has taken for granted just how much of her resources we continue to destroy because we constantly make critical errors in judgment — including, alas, that far more horrifying error called war. The incidents in and around the Gulf of Mexico should have reminded the Mortals that money, power and greed will, when left unchecked and uncontrolled, plunge the world into acts of chaos from whence there could be no escape. Sadly, such lessons have failed to achieve their intended purpose; and not even Santa Claus’ wisdom can right that wrong in that particular manner. What, then, should one do?

I would say to you: seek out that which matters in your own secret heart.Believe — for Hope, as with all else in this Life, cannot be achieved without loss; nor can Freedom be strengthened without suffering; or Victory won without sacrifice. Now and forever, the strength and the will to believe will rest on the shoulders of each and every one of you assembled here in this Throne Room tonight. How I wish I could describe in words how I’ve spent all these centuries believing in you all in return: first, as Nicholas, Bishop of Myra; then, as Father Christmas, le Pere Noel, Sinterklaas, Joulenissen, Joulupukki, Tomtenissen, Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) ….. of course, as Santa Claus — and now, as Nicholas, King of the Realm of Forever — the names, the places, the traditions are endless, which is as it should be. I hope that all we’ve accomplished as we bring 2010 to its close will bring us on course to maintain our faiths well into 2011 and far, far beyond.

Speaking of 2011, in closing: Where will the journey take us come New Year’s Day, I wonder? We all know that Pasadena’s Tournament of Rosesisn’t very far away, mind you, with its theme of “Building Dreams, Friendships and Memories.” I know you are all looking forward to witnessing a magical adventure on that score. I’m sure that this year’s Rose Parade Grand Marshal, Food Network veteran Paula Deen, is looking forward to that adventure too, as are 2011 Rose Parade Queen Evanne Elizabeth Friedman and her Princesses: Tatyane Anaid Berrios; Sarah Christine Frederickson; Jessica Michelle Montoya; Tenaya Miyoko Senzaki; Kathryn Morris Thomson and Michelle Kaye Washington. I hope right along with all of them that the next 12 months will bring a renewed prosperity and joyfulness. I expect the same, of course, from you, my beloved and noble subjects.

But now, you must all excuse me, for it’s just about time for me to get out of these rather elegant Royal garments, and back into my more familiar red-velvet suit. Soon my Christmas Eve flight will begin, and I think my young admirers deserve a visit from the one true Santa Claus (that, of course, would be me). So, to each and every one of you here within the sound of my voice, and to you each and all throughout the cosmos far beyond, I say once more, as I have long said time and again across the aeons —

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL, A GOOD NIGHT!

Christmas

@http://santalivenow.ning.com

Santa , Santa’s Village , Santa’s Store, Santa Reads”THE SANTA STORIES” ,It’s Christmas

“Christmas Day” redirects here. For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation) and Christmas Day (disambiguation).

Christmas
Christmas decorations on display.
Also called	Christ’s Mass Nativity Noel Feast of the Nativity
Observed by	Christians Many non-Christians[1]
Type	Christian, cultural
Significance	Traditional birthday of Jesus
Date	December 25 January 6 (in Armenia) January 7[2] (in most Eastern Orthodox andOriental Orthodox Churches)
Observances	Gift giving, church services, family and other social gatherings, symbolic decorating
Related to	Annunciation, Advent, Epiphany, Baptism of the Lord

Christmas^[3] or Christmas Day^[4][5] is a holiday observed generally on December 25^[6] to commemorate the birth ofJesus, the central figure of Christianity.^[7][8] The date is not known to be the actual birthday of Jesus, and may have initially been chosen to correspond with either the day exactly nine months after Christians believe Jesus to have been conceived,^[9] the date of the Roman winter solstice,^[10] or one of various ancient winter festivals.^[9][11]Christmas is central to the Christmas and holiday season, and in Christianity marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days.^[12]

Although nominally a Christian holiday, Christmas is also celebrated by an increasing number of non-Christians worldwide,^[1][13][14] and many of its popular celebratory customs have pre-Christian or secular themes and origins. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, music, an exchange of Christmas cards, churchcelebrations, a special meal, and the display of various decorations; including Christmas trees, lights, garlands,mistletoe, nativity scenes, and holly. In addition, several figures, known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, andSanta Claus, among other names, are associated with bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season.^[15]

Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, the holiday has become a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact of Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of the world.

Contents [hide] 1 Etymology 2 Celebration 2.1 Date of celebration 2.1.1 Orthodox Christian Churches 2.2 Commemorating Jesus’ birth 2.3 Decorations and symbols 2.4 Music and carols 2.5 Food 2.6 Cards 2.7 Stamps 2.8 Gift giving 2.8.1 Legendary gift-bringing figures 3 History 3.1 Pre-Christian background 3.1.1 Dies Natalis Solis Invicti 3.1.2 Winter festivals 3.2 Christian feast 3.2.1 Feast established 3.2.2 Middle Ages 3.3 Reformation into the 19th century 4 Controversy and criticism 5 Economics 6 See also 7 References and notes 7.1 Further reading 8 External links

Etymology

The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning “Christ‘s Mass“. It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038.^[8] “Cristes” is from Greek Christos and “mæsse” is from Latin missa (the holy mass). In Greek, the letter Χ (chi), is the first letter of Christ, and it, or the similar Roman letter X, has been used as an abbreviation for Christ since the mid-16th century.^[16] Hence, Xmas is sometimes used as an abbreviation for Christmas.

Celebration

Further information: Christmas worldwide

Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in countries around the world, including many whose populations are mostly non-Christian. In some non-Christian countries, periods of former colonial rule introduced the celebration (e.g. Hong Kong); in others, Christian minorities or foreign cultural influences have led populations to observe the holiday. Countries such as Japan and Korea, where Christmas is popular despite there being only a small number of Christians, have adopted many of the secular aspects of Christmas, such as gift-giving, decorations and Christmas trees. Notable countries in which Christmas is not a formal public holiday include People’s Republic of China, (excepting Hong Kong and Macao), Japan, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Thailand, Nepal, Iran, Turkey and North Korea. Christmas celebrations around the world can vary markedly in form, reflecting differing cultural and national traditions.

Among countries with a strong Christian tradition, a variety of Christmas celebrations have developed that incorporate regional and local cultures. For Christians, participating in a religious service plays an important part in the recognition of the season. Christmas, along with Easter, is the period of highest annual church attendance. In Catholic countries, the people hold religious processions or parades in the days preceding Christmas. In other countries, secular processions or parades featuring Santa Claus and other seasonal figures are often held. Family reunions and the exchange of gifts are a widespread feature of the season. Gift giving takes place on Christmas Day in most countries. Others practice gift giving on December 6, Saint Nicholas Day, and January 6, Epiphany.

The Nativity by Charles-François Poerson, 1667.

Date of celebration

For centuries, Christian writers accepted that Christmas was the actual date on which Jesus was born.^[17] In the early 18th century, scholars began proposing alternative explanations. Isaac Newton argued that the date of Christmas was selected to correspond with the winter solstice,^[10] which the Romans called bruma and celebrated on December 25.^[18] In 1743, German Protestant Paul Ernst Jablonski argued Christmas was placed on December 25 to correspond with the Roman solar holiday Dies Natalis Solis Invicti and was therefore a “paganization” that debased the true church.^[11] In 1889, Louis Duchesne suggested that the date of Christmas was calculated as nine months after Annunciation, the traditional date of the conception of Jesus.^[19]

The December 25 date may have been selected by the church in Rome in the early 4th century. At this time, a church calendar was created and other holidays were also placed on solar dates: “It is cosmic symbolism…which inspired the Church leadership in Rome to elect the winter solstice, December 25, as the birthday of Christ, and the summer solstice as that of John the Baptist, supplemented by the equinoxes as their respective dates of conception. While they were aware that pagans called this day the ‘birthday’ of Sol Invictus, this did not concern them and it did not play any role in their choice of date for Christmas,” according to modern scholar S.E. Hijmans.^[20]

However, today, whether or not the birth date of Jesus is on December 25 is not considered to be an important issue in mainstreamChristian denominations;^[21][22][23] rather, celebrating the coming of God into the world in the form of man to atone for the sins of humanity is considered to be the primary meaning of Christmas.^[21][22][23]

Orthodox Christian Churches

For details on religious observances, see Christmas Eve.

Eastern Orthodox national churches, including those of Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem mark feasts using the older Julian Calendar. December 25 on that calendar currently corresponds to January 7 on the more widely used Gregorian calendar. However, other Orthodox Christians, such as the churches of Greece, Antioch, Alexandria, Finland and the Orthodox Church in America, among others, began using the Revised Julian Calendar in the early 20th century, which corresponds exactly to the Gregorian Calendar. These Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on the same day as Western Christianity.Oriental Orthodox churches also use their own calendars, which are generally similar to the Julian calendar. The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the nativity in combination with the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6. Armenian churches customarily use the Gregorian calendar, but some use the Julian calendar and thus celebrate Christmas Day on January 19, and Christmas Eve on January 18 (according to the Gregorian calendar).^[24]

Commemorating Jesus’ birth

Main articles: Annunciation, Nativity of Jesus, and Child Jesus

Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary as a fulfillment of the Old Testament‘s Messianic prophecy.^[25] The Bible contains two accounts which describe the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. Depending on one’s perspective, these accounts either differ from each other or tell two versions of the same story ^{[26] [27][28][29]}These biblical accounts are found in the Gospel of Matthew, namely Matthew 1:18, and the Gospel of Luke, specifically Luke 1:26 and 2:40. According to these accounts, Jesus was born to Mary, assisted by her husband Joseph, in the city of Bethlehem.

According to popular tradition, the birth took place in a stable, surrounded by farm animals, though neither the stable nor the animals are specifically mentioned in the Biblical accounts. However, a manger is mentioned in Luke 2:7, where it states, “She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Early iconographic representations of the nativity placed the animals and manger within a cave (located, according to tradition, under the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem). Shepherds from the fields surrounding Bethlehem were told of the birth by an angel, and were the first to see the child.^[30] The Gospel of Matthew also describes a visit by several Magi, or astrologers, who bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus. The visitors were said to be following a mysterious star, commonly known as the Star of Bethlehem, believing it to announce the birth of a king of the Jews.^[31] The commemoration of this visit, the Feast of Epiphany celebrated on January 6, is the formal end of the Christmas season in some churches.

Anbetung der Hirten (Adoration of the Shepherds) (c. 1500–10), by Italian painter Giorgio da Castelfranco

Christians celebrate Christmas in various ways. In addition to this day being one of the most important and popular for the attendance of church services, there are other devotions and popular traditions. In some Christian denominations, children re-enact the events of the Nativity with animals to portray the event with more realism or sing carols that reference the event. Some Christians also display a small re-creation of the Nativity, known as a Nativity scene or crèche, in their homes, using figurines to portray the key characters of the event. Prior to Christmas Day, the Eastern Orthodox Churchpractices the 40-day Nativity Fast in anticipation of the birth of Jesus, while much of Western Christianity celebrates four weeks of Advent. The final preparations for Christmas are made on Christmas Eve.

A long artistic tradition has grown of producing painted depictions of the nativity in art. Nativity scenes are traditionally set in a barn or stable and include Mary, Joseph, the child Jesus, angels, shepherds and the Three Wise Men: Balthazar, Melchior, and Caspar, who are said to have followed a star, known as the Star of Bethlehem, and arrived after his birth.^[32]

Decorations and symbols

Main article: Christmas decoration

See also: Christmas tree, Christmas lights, Christmas stocking, and Christmas ornament

Clifton Mill in Clifton, Ohio is the site of this Christmas display with over 3.5 million lights.

The practice of putting up special decorations at Christmas has a long history. From pre-Christian times, people in the Roman Empire brought branches from evergreen plants indoors in the winter. Decorating with greenery was also part of Jewish tradition : “Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. ” (Leviticus 23:40)

Christians incorporated such customs in their developing practices. In the 15th century, it was recorded that in London it was the custom at Christmas for every house and all the parish churches to be “decked with holm, ivy,bays, and whatsoever the season of the year afforded to be green”.^[33] The heart-shaped leaves of ivy were said to symbolise the coming to earth of Jesus, while holly was seen as protection against pagans and witches, its thorns and red berries held to represent the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus at the crucifixion and the blood he shed.^[34][35]

Nativity scenes are known from 10th-century Rome. They were popularised by Saint Francis of Asissi from 1223, quickly spreading across Europe.^[36] Different types of decorations developed across the Christian world, dependent on local tradition and available resources. The first commercially produced decorations appeared in Germany in the 1860s, inspired by paper chains made by children.^[37] In countries where a representation of theNativity Scene is very popular, people are encouraged to compete and create the most original or realistic ones. Within some families, the pieces used to make the representation are considered a valuable family heirloom.

The traditional colors of Christmas are green and red.^[38] White, silver and gold are also popular. Red symbolizes the blood of Jesus, which was shed in his crucifixion, while green symbolizes eternal life, and in particular the evergreen tree, which does not lose its leaves in the winter.^[38][35]

A Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, New York City

The Christmas tree is considered by some as Christianisation of pagan tradition and ritual surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of evergreen boughs, and an adaptation of pagan tree worship.^[39] The English language phrase “Christmas tree” is first recorded in 1835^[40] and represents an importation from the German language. The modern Christmas tree tradition is believed to have begun in Germany in the 18th century^[39] though many argue that Martin Luther began the tradition in the 16th century.^[41][42] From Germany the custom was introduced to Britain, first via Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, and then more successfully by Prince Albert during the reign of Queen Victoria. By 1841 the Christmas tree had become even more widespread throughout Britain.^[43] By the 1870s, people in the United States had adopted the custom of putting up a Christmas tree.^[44]Christmas trees may be decorated with lights and ornaments.

Since the 19th century, the poinsettia, a native plant from Mexico, has been associated with Christmas. Other popular holiday plants include holly, mistletoe, red amaryllis, and Christmas cactus. Along with a Christmas tree, the interior of a home may be decorated with these plants, along with garlands and evergreen foliage. The display of Christmas villages has also become a tradition in many homes during this season. The outside of houses may be decorated with lights and sometimes with illuminatedsleighs, snowmen, and other Christmas figures. Other traditional decorations include bells, candles, candy canes, stockings,wreaths, and angels.

Christmas lights and banners may be hung along streets, music played from speakers, and Christmas trees placed in prominent places.^[45] It is common in many parts of the world for town squares and consumer shopping areas to sponsor and display decorations. Rolls of brightly colored paper with secular or religious Christmas motifs are manufactured for the purpose of wrapping gifts.

In some countries, Christmas decorations are traditionally taken down on Twelfth Night, the evening of January 5.

Music and carols

Main article: Christmas music

Christmas carolers in Jersey

The first specifically Christmas hymns that we know of appear in 4th century Rome. Latin hymns such as Veni redemptor gentium, written by Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan, were austere statements of the theological doctrine of the Incarnation in opposition to Arianism. Corde natus ex Parentis (Of the Father’s love begotten) by the Spanish poetPrudentius (d. 413) is still sung in some churches today.^[46]

In the 9th and 10th centuries, the Christmas “Sequence” or “Prose” was introduced in North European monasteries, developing under Bernard of Clairvaux into a sequence of rhymed stanzas. In the 12th century the Parisian monk Adam of St. Victor began to derive music from popular songs, introducing something closer to the traditionalChristmas carol.

By the 13th century, in France, Germany, and particularly, Italy, under the influence of Francis of Asissi, a strong tradition of popular Christmas songs in the native language developed.^[47] Christmas carols in English first appear in a 1426 work of John Awdlay, a Shropshire chaplain, who lists twenty-five “caroles of Cristemas”, probably sung by groups of wassailers, who went from house to house.^[48] The songs we know specifically as carols were originally communal folk songs sung during celebrations such as “harvest tide” as well as Christmas. It was only later that carols began to be sung in church. Traditionally, carols have often been based on medieval chord patterns, and it is this that gives them their uniquely characteristic musical sound. Some carols like “Personent hodie“, “Good King Wenceslas“, and “The Holly and the Ivy” can be traced directly back to the Middle Ages. They are among the oldest musical compositions still regularly sung.Adeste Fidelis (O Come all ye faithful) appears in its current form in the mid-18th century, although the words may have originated in the 13th century.

Child singers in Bucharest, 1841.

Singing of carols initially suffered a decline in popularity after the Protestant Reformation in northern Europe, although some Reformers, like Martin Luther, wrote carols and encouraged their use in worship. Carols largely survived in rural communities until the revival of interest in popular songs in the 19th century. The 18th century English reformerCharles Wesley understood the importance of music to worship. In addition to setting many psalms to melodies, which were influential in the Great Awakening in the United States, he wrote texts for at least three Christmas carols. The best known was originally entitled “Hark! How All the Welkin Rings”, later renamed “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing“.^[49]Felix Mendelssohn wrote a melody adapted to fit Wesley’s words. In Austria in 1818 Mohr and Gruber made a major addition to the genre when they composed “Silent Night” for the St. Nicholas Church, Oberndorf. William B. Sandys‘Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (1833) contained the first appearance in print of many now-classic English carols, and contributed to the mid-Victorian revival of the festival.^[50]

Completely secular Christmas seasonal songs emerged in the late 18th century. “Deck The Halls” dates from 1784, and the American, “Jingle Bells” was copyrighted in 1857. In the 19th and 20th century, African American spirituals and songs about Christmas, based in their tradition of spirituals, became more widely known. An increasing number of seasonal holidays songs were commercially produced in the 20th century, including jazz and blues variations. In addition, there was a revival of interest in early music, from groups singing folk music, such as The Revels, to performers of early medieval and classical music.

Food

Further information: Christmas dinner

Christmas pudding

A special Christmas family meal is traditionally an important part of the holiday’s celebration, and the food that is served varies greatly from country to country. Some regions, such as Sicily, have special meals for Christmas Eve, when 12 kinds of fish are served. In England and countries influenced by its traditions, a standard Christmas meal includes turkey or goose, meat, gravy, potatoes, vegetables, sometimes bread and cider. Special desserts are also prepared, such as Christmas pudding, mince pies andfruit cake.^[51][52] In Poland and other parts of eastern Europe and Scandinavia, fish often is used for the traditional main course, but richer meat such as lamb is increasingly served. In Germany, France and Austria, goose and pork are favored. Beef, ham and chicken in various recipes are popular throughout the world. The Maltese traditionally serve Imbuljuta tal-Qastan,^[53] a chocolate and chestnuts beverage, after Midnight Mass and throughout the Christmas season. Slovaks prepare the traditional Christmas bread potica, bûche de Noël in France, panettone in Italy, and elaborate tarts and cakes. The eating of sweets and chocolates has become popular worldwide, and sweeter Christmas delicacies include the German stollen, marzipan cake or candy, and Jamaican rum fruit cake. As one of the few fruits traditionally available to northern countries in winter, oranges have been long associated with special Christmas foods.

Cards

Main article: Christmas card

Christmas cards are illustrated messages of greeting exchanged between friends and family members during the weeks preceding Christmas Day. The traditional greeting reads “wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”, much like that of the first commercial Christmas card, produced by Sir Henry Cole in London in 1843. The custom of sending them has become popular among a wide cross-section of people with the emergence of the modern trend towards exchanging E-cards!

Christmas cards are purchased in considerable quantities, and feature artwork, commercially designed and relevant to the season. The content of the design might relate directly to the Christmas narrative with depictions of the Nativity of Jesus, or Christian symbols such as the Star of Bethlehem, or a white dove which can represent both the Holy Spirit and Peace on Earth. Other Christmas cards are more secular and can depict Christmas traditions, mythical figures such as Santa Claus, objects directly associated with Christmas such as candles, holly and baubles, or a variety of images associated with the season, such as Christmastime activities, snow scenes and the wildlife of the northern winter. There are even humorous cards and genres depicting nostalgic scenes of the past such as crinolined shoppers in idealized 19th century streetscapes.

Some prefer cards with a poem, prayer or Biblical verse; while others distance themselves from religion with an all-inclusive “Season’s greetings”.

Stamps

Main article: Christmas stamp

A number of nations have issued commemorative stamps at Christmastime. Postal customers will often use these stamps to mail Christmas cards, and they are popular with philatelists. These stamps are regular postage stamps, unlike Christmas seals, and are valid for postage year-round. They usually go on sale some time between early October and early December, and are printed in considerable quantities.

In 1898 a Canadian stamp was issued to mark the inauguration of the Imperial Penny Postage rate. The stamp features a map of the globe and bears an inscription “XMAS 1898″ at the bottom. In 1937, Austria issued two “Christmas greeting stamps” featuring a rose and the signs of the zodiac. In 1939, Brazil issued four semi-postalstamps with designs featuring the three kings and a star of Bethlehem, an angel and child, the Southern Cross and a child, and a mother and child.

Both the US Postal Service and the Royal Mail regularly issue Christmas-themed stamps each year.

Gift giving

See also: Gift economy

The exchanging of gifts is one of the core aspects of the modern Christmas celebration, making the Christmas season the most profitable time of year for retailers and businesses throughout the world. Gift giving was common in the Roman celebration of Saturnalia, an ancient festival which took place in late December and may have influenced Christmas customs.^[54] Christmas gift giving was banned by the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages due to its suspected pagan origins.^[54] It was later rationalized by the Church on the basis that it associated St. Nicholas with Christmas, and that gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh were given to the infant Jesus by theBiblical Magi.

Legendary gift-bringing figures

Main articles: Santa Claus and Father Christmas

See also: Saint Nicholas and Saint Basil

Sinterklaas or Saint Nicholas, considered by many to be the original Santa Claus.

A number of figures of both Christian and mythical origin have been associated with Christmas and the seasonal giving of gifts. Among these are Father Christmas, also known as Santa Claus, Père Noël, and the Weihnachtsmann; Saint Nicholas orSinterklaas; the Christkind; Kris Kringle; Joulupukki; Babbo Natale; Saint Basil; and Father Frost.

The most famous and pervasive of these figures in modern celebration worldwide is Santa Claus, a mythical gift bringer, dressed in red, whose origins have diverse sources. The name Santa Claus can be traced back to the Dutch Sinterklaas, which means simply Saint Nicholas. Nicholas was Bishop of Myra, in modern day Turkey, during the 4th century. Among other saintly attributes, he was noted for the care of Children, generosity, and the giving of gifts. His feast on the 6th of December came to be celebrated in many countries with the giving of gifts. Saint Nicholas traditionally appeared in bishop’s attire, accompanied by helpers, inquiring about the behaviour of children during the past year before deciding whether they deserved a gift or not. By the 13th century, Saint Nicholas was well known in the Netherlands, and the practice of gift-giving in his name spread to other parts of central and southern Europe. At the Reformation in 16th–17th century Europe, many Protestants changed the gift bringer to the Christ Child or Christkindl, corrupted in English to Kris Kringle, and the date of giving gifts changed from December the 6th to Christmas Eve.^[55]

The modern popular image of Santa Claus, however, was created in the United States, and in particular in New York. The transformation was accomplished with the aid of notable contributors including Washington Irving and the German-Americancartoonist Thomas Nast (1840–1902). Following the American Revolutionary War, some of the inhabitants of New York Citysought out symbols of the city’s non-English past. New York had originally been established as the Dutch colonial town of New Amsterdam and the Dutch Sinterklaas tradition was reinvented as Saint Nicholas.^[56] In 1809, the New-York Historical Societyconvened and retroactively named Sancte Claus the patron saint of Nieuw Amsterdam, the Dutch name for New York City.^[57]At his first American appearance in 1810, Santa Claus was drawn in bishops’ robes. However as new artists took over, Santa Claus developed more secular attire.^[58] Nast drew a new image of “Santa Claus” annually, beginning in 1863. By the 1880s, Nast’s Santa had evolved into the robed, fur clad, form we now recognize, perhaps based on the English figure of Father Christmas. The image was standardized by advertisers in the 1920s.^[59]

Santa Claus is famous around the world for giving gifts to good children

Father Christmas, a jolly, well nourished, bearded man who typified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas, predates the Santa Claus character. He is first recorded in early 17th century England, but was associated with holiday merrymaking anddrunkenness rather than the bringing of gifts.^[40] In Victorian Britain, his image was remade to match that of Santa. The FrenchPère Noël evolved along similar lines, eventually adopting the Santa image. In Italy, Babbo Natale acts as Santa Claus, while La Befana is the bringer of gifts and arrives on the eve of the Epiphany. It is said that La Befana set out to bring the baby Jesusgifts, but got lost along the way. Now, she brings gifts to all children. In some cultures Santa Claus is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht, or Black Peter. In other versions, elves make the toys. His wife is referred to as Mrs. Claus.

There has been some opposition to the narrative of the American evolution of Saint Nicholas into the modern Santa. It has been claimed that the Saint Nicholas Society was not founded until 1835, almost half a century after the end of the American War of Independence.^[60] Moreover, a study of the “children’s books, periodicals and journals” of New Amsterdam by Charles Jones revealed no references to Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas.^[61] However, not all scholars agree with Jones’s findings, which he reiterated in a booklength study in 1978;^[62] Howard G. Hageman, of New Brunswick Theological Seminary, maintains that the tradition of celebrating Sinterklaas in New York was alive and well from the early settlement of the Hudson Valley on.^[63]

Current tradition in several Latin American countries (such as Venezuela and Colombia) holds that while Santa makes the toys, he then gives them to the Baby Jesus, who is the one who actually delivers them to the children’s homes, a reconciliation between traditional religious beliefs and the iconography of Santa Claus imported from the United States.

In Alto Adige/Südtirol (Italy), Austria, Czech Republic, Southern Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Slovakia and Switzerland, the Christkind (Ježíšek in Czech, Jézuska in Hungarian and Ježiško in Slovak) brings the presents. The German St. Nikolaus is not identical with the Weihnachtsmann (who is the German version of Santa Claus/Father Christmas). St. Nikolaus wears a bishop‘s dress and still brings small gifts (usually candies, nuts and fruits) on December 6 and is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht. Although many parents around the world routinely teach their children about Santa Claus and other gift bringers, some have come to reject this practice, considering it deceptive.^[64]

History

Mosaic of Jesus as Christo Sole (Christ the Sun) in Mausoleum M in the pre-fourth-century necropolis under St Peter’s Basilicain Rome.^[65]

Pre-Christian background

Dies Natalis Solis Invicti

Main article: Sol Invictus

Dies Natalis Solis Invicti means “the birthday of the unconquered sun”.

Modern scholars have argued that the festival was placed on the date of the solstice because this was on this day that the Sun reversed its southward retreat and proved itself to be “unconquered”.^{[citation needed]} Some early Christian writers connected the rebirth of the sun to the birth of Jesus.^[8]“O, how wonderfully acted Providence that on that day on which that Sun was born…Christ should be born”, Cyprian wrote.^[8] John Chrysostom also commented on the connection: “They call it the ‘Birthday of the Unconquered’. Who indeed is so unconquered as Our Lord . . .?”^[8]

Although Dies Natalis Solis Invicti has been the subject of a great deal of scholarly speculation,.^{[citation needed]} the only ancient source for it is a single mention in the Chronography of 354, and modern Sol scholar Steven Hijmans argues that there is no evidence that the celebration precedes that of Christmas:^[20] “[W]hile the winter solstice on or around the 25th of December was well established in the Roman imperial calendar, there is no evidence that a religious celebration of Sol on that day antedated the celebration of Christmas, and none that indicates that Aurelian had a hand in its institution.”^[20]

Winter festivals

Main article: List of winter festivals

A winter festival was the most popular festival of the year in many cultures. Reasons included the fact that less agricultural work needs to be done during the winter, as well as an expectation of better weather as spring approached.^[66] Modern Christmas customs include: gift-giving and merrymaking from Roman Saturnalia; greenery, lights, and charity from the Roman New Year; and Yule logs and various foods from Germanic feasts.^[67] Pagan Scandinavia celebrated a winter festival called Yule, held in the late December to early January period.^{[citation needed]} As Northern Europe was the last part to Christianize, its pagan traditions had a major influence on Christmas.^{[citation needed]} Scandinavians still call Christmas Jul. In English, the word Yule is synonymous with Christmas,^[68] a usage first recorded in 900.

Christian feast

The New Testament does not give a date for the birth of Jesus.^[8][69] Around AD 200, Clement of Alexandria wrote that a group in Egypt celebrated the nativity on 25Pashons.^[8] This corresponds to May 20.^[70] Tertullian (d. 220) does not mention Christmas as a major feast day in the Church of Roman Africa.^[8] However, inChronographai, a reference work published in 221, Sextus Julius Africanus suggested that Jesus was conceived on the spring equinox, popularizing the idea that Christ was born on December 25.^[71][72] The equinox was March 25 on the Roman calendar, so this implied a birth in December.^[73] De Pascha Computus, a calendar of feasts produced in 243, gives March 28 as the date of the nativity.^[74] In 245, the theologian Origen of Alexandria stated that, “only sinners (like Pharaoh and Herod)” celebrated their birthdays.^[75] In 303, Christian writer Arnobius ridiculed the idea of celebrating the birthdays of gods. However, since Christmas does not celebrate Christ’s birth “as God” but “as man”, this is not evidence against Christmas being a feast at this time.^[8] Moreover, the fact that the innovation rejecting Donatist Church of North Africa celebrated Christmas suggests that the feast had been established before the living memory of those who began that Church in 311.

Feast established

The earliest known reference to the date of the nativity as December 25 is found in the Chronography of 354, an illuminated manuscript compiled in Rome.^[76] In the East, early Christians celebrated the birth of Christ as part of Epiphany (January 6), although this festival emphasized celebration of the baptism of Jesus.^[77]

Christmas was promoted in the Christian East as part of the revival of Catholicism following the death of the pro-Arian Emperor Valens at the Battle of Adrianople in 378. The feast was introduced to Constantinople in 379, and to Antioch in about 380. The feast disappeared after Gregory of Nazianzus resigned as bishop in 381, although it was reintroduced by John Chrysostom in about 400.^[8]

The Examination and Trial of Father Christmas, (1686), published shortly after Christmas was reinstated as a holy day in England.

Middle Ages

In the Early Middle Ages, Christmas Day was overshadowed by Epiphany, which in the west focused on the visit of the magi. But the Medieval calendar was dominated by Christmas-related holidays. The forty days before Christmas became the “forty days of St. Martin” (which began on November 11, the feast of St. Martin of Tours), now known as Advent.^[78] In Italy, former Saturnalian traditions were attached to Advent.^[78] Around the 12th century, these traditions transferred again to the Twelve Days of Christmas (December 25 – January 5); a time that appears in the liturgical calendars as Christmastide or Twelve Holy Days.^[78]

The prominence of Christmas Day increased gradually after Charlemagne was crowned Emperor on Christmas Day in 800. King Edmund the Martyr was anointed on Christmas in 855 and King William I of England was crowned on Christmas Day 1066.

By the High Middle Ages, the holiday had become so prominent that chroniclers routinely noted where various magnates celebrated Christmas. King Richard II of England hosted a Christmas feast in 1377 at which twenty-eight oxen and three hundred sheep were eaten.^[78]The Yule boar was a common feature of medieval Christmas feasts. Caroling also became popular, and was originally a group of dancers who sang. The group was composed of a lead singer and a ring of dancers that provided the chorus. Various writers of the time condemned caroling as lewd, indicating that the unruly traditions of Saturnalia and Yule may have continued in this form.^[78] “Misrule”—drunkenness, promiscuity, gambling—was also an important aspect of the festival. In England, gifts were exchanged on New Year’s Day, and there was special Christmas ale.^[78]

Christmas during the Middle Ages was a public festival that incorporated ivy, holly, and other evergreens.^[79] Christmas gift-giving during the Middle Ages was usually between people with legal relationships, such as tenant and landlord.^[79] The annual indulgence in eating, dancing, singing, sporting, card playing escalated in England, and by the 17th century the Christmas season featured lavish dinners, elaborate masques and pageants. In 1607, King James I insisted that a play be acted on Christmas night and that the court indulge in games.^[80] It was during the Reformation in 16th–17th century Europe, that many Protestants changed the gift bringer to the Christ Child or Christkindl, and the date of giving gifts changed from December 6 to Christmas Eve.^[55]

Reformation into the 19th century

Ebenezer Scrooge and theGhost of Christmas Present. From Charles Dickens‘ A Christmas Carol, 1843

Following the Protestant Reformation, groups such as the Puritans strongly condemned the celebration of Christmas, considering it a Catholic invention and the “trappings of popery” or the “rags of the Beast.”^[81] The Catholic Church responded by promoting the festival in a more religiously oriented form. King Charles I of England directed his noblemen and gentry to return to their landed estates in midwinter to keep up their old style Christmas generosity.^[80] Following the Parliamentarian victory over Charles I during the English Civil War, England’sPuritan rulers banned Christmas in 1647.^[81] Protests followed as pro-Christmas rioting broke out in several cities and for weeks Canterburywas controlled by the rioters, who decorated doorways with holly and shouted royalist slogans.^[81] The book, The Vindication of Christmas(London, 1652), argued against the Puritans, and makes note of Old English Christmas traditions, dinner, roast apples on the fire, card playing, dances with “plow-boys” and “maidservants”, and carol singing.^[82] The Restoration of King Charles II in 1660 ended the ban, but many clergymen still disapproved of Christmas celebration. In Scotland, the Presbyterian Church of Scotland also discouraged observance of Christmas. James VI commanded its celebration in 1618, however attendance at church was scant.^[83]

In Colonial America, the Puritans of New England shared radical Protestant disapproval of Christmas. Celebration was outlawed in Bostonfrom 1659 to 1681. The ban by the Pilgrims was revoked in 1681 by English governor Sir Edmund Andros, however it was not until the mid-19th century that celebrating Christmas became fashionable in the Boston region.^[84] At the same time, Christian residents of Virginia andNew York observed the holiday freely. Pennsylvania German Settlers, pre-eminently the Moravian settlers of Bethlehem, Nazareth and Lititzin Pennsylvania and the Wachovia Settlements in North Carolina, were enthusiastic celebrators of Christmas. The Moravians in Bethlehem had the first Christmas trees in America as well as the first Nativity Scenes.^[85] Christmas fell out of favor in the United States after theAmerican Revolution, when it was considered an English custom.^[86] George Washington attacked Hessian (German) mercenaries on Christmas during the Battle of Trenton in 1777, Christmas being much more popular in Germany than in America at this time.

By the 1820s, sectarian tension had eased in Britain and writers, including William Winstanly, began to worry that Christmas was dying out. These writers imagined TudorChristmas as a time of heartfelt celebration, and efforts were made to revive the holiday. In 1843, Charles Dickens wrote the novel A Christmas Carol, that helped revive the ‘spirit’ of Christmas and seasonal merriment.^[87][88] Its instant popularity played a major role in portraying Christmas as a holiday emphasizing family, goodwill, and compassion.^[89] Dickens sought to construct Christmas as a family-centered festival of generosity, in contrast to the community-based and church-centered observations, the observance of which had dwindled during the late 18th century and early 19th century.^[90] Superimposing his secular vision of the holiday, Dickens influenced many aspects of Christmas that are celebrated today in Western culture, such as family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, dancing, games, and a festive generosity of spirit.^[91] A prominent phrase from the tale, ‘Merry Christmas’, was popularized following the appearance of the story.^[92] The term Scrooge became a synonym for miser, with ‘Bah! Humbug!’ dismissive of the festive spirit.^[93] In 1843, the first commercial Christmas card was produced by Sir Henry Cole.^[94] The revival of the Christmas Carol began with William B. Sandys Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (1833), with the first appearance in print of ‘The First Noel’, ‘I Saw Three Ships’, ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen’, popularized in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

The Queen’s Christmas tree at Windsor Castle, 1848. Republished in Godey’s Lady’s Book, PhiladelphiaDecember, 1850.

In Britain, the Christmas tree was introduced in the early 19th century following the personal union with the Kingdom of Hanover, byCharlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen to King George III. In 1832 a young Queen Victoria wrote about her delight at having a Christmas tree, hung with lights, ornaments, and presents placed round it.^[95] After her marriage to her German cousin Prince Albert, by 1841 the custom became more widespread throughout Britain.^[43] An image of the British royal family with their Christmas tree at Windsor Castle, created a sensation when it was published in the Illustrated London News in 1848. A modified version of this image was published in the United States in 1850.^[44][96] By the 1870s, putting up a Christmas tree had become common in America.^[44]

In America, interest in Christmas had been revived in the 1820s by several short stories by Washington Irving which appear in his The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon and “Old Christmas”. Irving’s stories depicted harmonious warm-hearted English Christmas festivities he experienced while staying in Aston Hall, Birmingham, England, that had largely been abandoned,^[97] and he used the tract Vindication of Christmas (1652) of Old English Christmas traditions, that he had transcribed into his journal as a format for his stories.^[80] In 1822, Clement Clarke Moore wrote the poem A Visit From St. Nicholas (popularly known by its first line: Twas the Night Before Christmas).^[98] The poem helped popularize the tradition of exchanging gifts, and seasonal Christmas shopping began to assume economic importance.^[99] This also started the cultural conflict of the holiday’s spiritualism and its commercialism that some see as corrupting the holiday. In her 1850 book “The First Christmas in New England”, Harriet Beecher Stowe includes a character who complains that the true meaning of Christmas was lost in a shopping spree.^[100] While the celebration of Christmas wasn’t yet customary in some regions in the U.S., Henry Wadsworth Longfellow detected “a transition state about Christmas here in New England” in 1856. “The old puritan feeling prevents it from being a cheerful, hearty holiday; though every year makes it more so”.^[101] In Reading, Pennsylvania, a newspaper remarked in 1861, “Even our presbyterian friends who have hitherto steadfastly ignored Christmas — threw open their church doors and assembled in force to celebrate the anniversary of the Savior’s birth”.^[101] The First Congregational Church of Rockford, Illinois, ‘although of genuine Puritan stock’, was ‘preparing for a grand Christmas jubilee’, a news correspondent reported in 1864.^[101] By 1860, fourteen states including several from New England had adopted Christmas as a legal holiday.^[102] In 1870, Christmas was formally declared a United States Federal holiday, signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant.^[102] Subsequently, in 1875, Louis Prang introduced theChristmas card to Americans. He has been called the “father of the American Christmas card”.^[103]

Controversy and criticism

Main article: Christmas controversy

Throughout the holiday’s history, Christmas has been the subject of both controversy and criticism from a wide variety of different sources. The first documented Christmas controversy was Christian-led, and began during the English Interregnum, when England was ruled by a Puritan Parliament.^[104] Puritans (including those who fled to America) sought to remove the remaining pagan elements of Christmas. During this period, the English Parliament banned the celebration of Christmas entirely, considering it “a popish festival with no biblical justification”, and a time of wasteful and immoral behavior.^[105]

Controversy and criticism continues in the present-day, where some Christian and non-Christians have claimed that an affront to Christmas (dubbed a “war on Christmas” by some) is ongoing.^[106][107] In the United States there has been a tendency to replace the greeting Merry Christmas with Happy Holidays.^[108] Groups such as theAmerican Civil Liberties Union have initiated court cases to bar the display of images and other material referring to Christmas from public property, including schools.^[109]Such groups argue that government-funded displays of Christmas imagery and traditions violate the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits the establishment by Congress of a national religion.^[110] In 1984, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Lynch vs. Donnelly that a Christmas display (which included a Nativity scene) owned and displayed by the city of Pawtucket, Rhode Island did not violate the First Amendment.^[111] In November 2009, the Federal appeals court in Philadelphia endorsed a school district’s ban on the singing of Christmas carols.^[112]

In the private sphere also, it has been alleged that any specific mention of the term “Christmas” or its religious aspects was being increasingly censored, avoided, or discouraged by a number of advertisers and retailers. In response, the American Family Association and other groups have organized boycotts of individual retailers.^[113]In the United Kingdom there have also been some controversies, one of the most famous being the temporary promotion of the Christmas period as Winterval by Birmingham City Council in 1998. There were also protests in November 2009 when the city of Dundee promoted its celebrations as the Winter Night Light festival, initially with no specific Christmas references.^[114]

Economics

See also: Christmas in the media, Christmas tree production, Christmas tree cultivation, and Christmas Price Index

Christmas market in Metz, France.

Christmas is typically the largest annual economic stimulus for many nations around the world. Sales increase dramatically in almost all retail areas and shops introduce new products as people purchase gifts, decorations, and supplies. In the U.S., the “Christmas shopping season” starts as early as October.^[115][116] In Canada, merchants begin advertising campaigns just before Halloween (October 31), and step up their marketing following Remembrance Day on November 11. In the UK and Ireland, the Christmas shopping season starts from mid November, around the time when high street Christmas lights are turned on.^[117][118] In the United States, it has been calculated that a quarter of all personal spending takes place during the Christmas/holiday shopping season.^[119] Figures from the U.S. Census Bureau reveal that expenditure in department stores nationwide rose from $20.8 billion in November 2004 to $31.9 billion in December 2004, an increase of 54 percent. In other sectors, the pre-Christmas increase in spending was even greater, there being a November – December buying surge of 100 percent in bookstores and 170 percent in jewelry stores. In the same year employment in American retail stores rose from 1.6 million to 1.8 million in the two months leading up to Christmas.^[120] Industries completely dependent on Christmas includeChristmas cards, of which 1.9 billion are sent in the United States each year, and live Christmas Trees, of which 20.8 million were cut in the USA in 2002.^[121] In the UK in 2010, up to £8 billion was expected to be spent online at Christmas, approximately a quarter of total retail festive sales.^[118]

In most Western nations, Christmas Day is the least active day of the year for business and commerce; almost all retail, commercial and institutional businesses are closed, and almost all industries cease activity (more than any other day of the year), whether laws require such or not. In England and Wales, the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 prevents all large shops from trading on Christmas Day. Scotland is currently planning similar legislation. Film studios release many high-budget movies during the holiday season, including Christmas films, fantasy movies or high-tone dramas with high production values.

One economist‘s analysis calculates that, despite increased overall spending, Christmas is a deadweight loss under orthodox microeconomic theory, because of the effect of gift-giving. This loss is calculated as the difference between what the gift giver spent on the item and what the gift receiver would have paid for the item. It is estimated that in 2001, Christmas resulted in a $4 billion deadweight loss in the U.S. alone.^[122][123] Because of complicating factors, this analysis is sometimes used to discuss possible flaws in current microeconomic theory. Other deadweight losses include the effects of Christmas on the environment and the fact that material gifts are often perceived as white elephants, imposing cost for upkeep and storage and contributing to clutter.^[124]

See also

	Christmas portal
	Holidays portal

Christmas Eve Christmas Sunday Christmas worldwide Christmas controversy Holiday season

Little Christmas Midwinter Christmas Midwinter Twelve days of Christmas Yuletide

References and notes

1. ^ ^{a b} Christmas as a Multi-faith Festival—BBC News. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
2. ^ Christmas: January 7 or December 25? —Coptic Orthodox Church Network. John Ramzy. Retrieved on December 31, 2009.
3. ^ Canadian Heritage – Public holidays —Government of Canada. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
4. ^ 2009 Federal Holidays — U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
5. ^ Bank holidays and British Summer time — HM Government. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
6. ^ Those traditions using the Julian calendarcelebrate on December 25 according to that calendar, which is now January 7 on the Gregorian calendar. Armenian Churches observed the nativity on January 6 even before the Gregorian calendar originated. Most Armenian Christians use the Gregorian calendar, still celebrating Christmas Day on January 6. Some Armenian churches use the Julian calendar, thus celebrating Christmas Day on January 19 on the Gregorian calendar, with January 18 being Christmas Eve.
7. ^ Christmas, Merriam-Webster. Retrieved October 6, 2008.
   Archived 2009-10-31.
8. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} “Christmas”, The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913.
9. ^ ^{a b} How December 25 Became Christmas, Biblical Archaeology Review, Retrieved 2009-12-13
10. ^ ^{a b} Newton, Isaac, Observations on the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of St. John (1733). Ch. XI.
    A sun connection is possible because Christians consider Jesus to be the “sun of righteousness” prophesied in Malachi 4:2.
11. ^ ^{a b} “Christmas“, Encarta
    Roll, Susan K., Toward the Origins of Christmas, (Peeters Publishers, 1995), p.130.
    Tighe, William J., “Calculating Christmas“.Archived 2009-10-31.
12. ^ “The Christmas Season”. CRI / Voice, Institute. Retrieved 2008-12-25.
13. ^ Why I celebrate Christmas, by the world’s most famous atheist – DailyMail. December 23, 2008. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
14. ^ Non-Christians focus on secular side of Christmas — Sioux City Journal. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
15. ^ “Poll: In a changing nation, Santa endures”, Associated Press, December 22, 2006. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
16. ^ Oxford English Dictionary
17. ^ For example, Pope Benedict XIV argued in 1761 that the church fathers would have known the correct date of birth from Roman census records. (Roll, Susan K., Toward the Origins of Christmas, (Peeters Publishers, 1995), p. 129.)
18. ^ “Bruma“, Seasonal Festivals of the Greeks and Romans
    Pliny the Elder, Natural History, 18:59
19. ^ Roll, pp. 88–90.
    Duchesne, Louis, Les Origines du Culte Chrétien,Paris, 1902, 262 ff.
20. ^ ^{a b c} S.E. Hijmans, Sol, the sun in the art and religions of Rome, 2009, pp. 587–588.
21. ^ ^{a b} The Liturgical Year. Thomas Nelson. Retrieved 2009-04-02. “Christmas is not really about the celebration of a birth date at all. It is about the celebration of a birth. The fact of the date and the fact of the birth are two different things. The calendrical verification of the feast itself is not really that important…What is important to the understanding of a life-changing moment is that it happened, not necessarily where of when it happened. The message is clear: Christmas is not about marking the actual birth date of Jesus. It is about the Incarnation of the One who became like us in all things but sin (Heb. 4:15) and who humbled Himself “to the point of death-even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:8). Christmas is a pinnacle feast, yes, but it is not the beginning of the liturgical year. It is a memorial, a remembrance, of the birth of Jesus, not really a celebration of the day itself. We remember that because the Jesus of history was born, the Resurrection of the Christ of faith could happen.”
22. ^ ^{a b} “The Christmas Season”. CRI / Voice, Institute. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
23. ^ ^{a b} The School Journal, Volume 49. Harvard University. Retrieved 2009-04-02. “Throughout the Christian world the 25th of December is celebrated as the birthday of Jesus Christ. There was a time when the churches were not united regarding the date of the joyous event. Many Christians kept their Christmas in April, others in May, and still others at the close of September, till finally December 25 was agreed upon as the most appropriate date. The choice of that day was, of course, wholly arbitrary, for neither the exact date not the period of the year at which the birth of Christ occurred is known. For purposes of commemoration, however, it is unimportant whether the celebration shall fall or not a the precise anniversary of the joyous event.”
24. ^ “Christmas in Bethlehem”.
25. ^ Geza Vermes, The Nativity: History and Legend, London, Penguin, 2006, p22.; E. P. Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus, 1993, p.85.
26. ^ Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing The Hidden Contradictions In The Bible (And Why We Don’t Know About Them), Harper Collins, 2009, Bart D. Ehrman, P. 19-60
27. ^ Larry W. Hurtado. “Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity”. Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Retrieved 2010-12-02. “Yet, as in a number of other matters, in this emphasis Matthew essentially has extended and elaborated an affirmation that is already made in Mark, which opens (1:2-3) with a citation of “Isaiah the prophet” to introduce and frame the ensuing story of Jesus. The Lukan nativity account shows a similar concern and emphasis, even the the author uses different techniques in presenting them.”
28. ^ JPH. “The Nativity Stories Harmonized”. TEKTON. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
29. ^ Richard Bruce. “Reconciling the Nativity Stories of Matthew and Luke”. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
30. ^ Luke 2:1–6
31. ^ Matthew 2:2.
32. ^ Matthew 2:1–11
33. ^ Miles, Clement A, Christmas customs and traditions, Courier Dover Publications, 1976, ISBN 0-486-23354-5, p. 272.
34. ^ Heller, Ruth, Christmas: Its Carols, Customs & Legends, Alfred Publishing (1985), ISBN 0-7692-4399-1, p. 12.
35. ^ ^{a b} Ace Collins. “Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas”. Zondervan. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
36. ^ Collins, Ace, Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas, Zondervan, (2003), ISBN 0-310-24880-9p.47.
37. ^ Collins p. 83.
38. ^ ^{a b} Hal Siemer, Christmas Magic: The History and Traditions of the Holiday, QuestMagazine.com, 2004-12-02.
39. ^ ^{a b} van Renterghem, Tony. When Santa was a shaman. St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications, 1995.ISBN 1-56718-765-X
40. ^ ^{a b} Harper, Douglas, Christ, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001.
41. ^ “The Chronological History of the Christmas Tree”. The Christmas Archives. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
42. ^ “Christmas Tradition – The Christmas Tree Custom”. Fashion Era. Retrieved 2007-12-18.
43. ^ ^{a b} Lejeune, Marie Claire. Compendium of symbolic and ritual plants in Europe, p.550. University of Michigan ISBN 90-77135-04-9
44. ^ ^{a b c} Shoemaker, Alfred Lewis. (1959) Christmas in Pennsylvania: a folk-cultural study. Edition 40. pp. 52, 53. Stackpole Books 1999. ISBN 0-8117-0328-2.
45. ^ Murray, Brian. “Christmas lights and community building in America,” History Matters, Spring 2006.
46. ^ Miles, Clement, Christmas customs and traditions, Courier Dover Publications, 1976, ISBN 0-486-23354-5, p.32
47. ^ Miles, pp. 31–37
48. ^ Miles, pp. 47–48
49. ^ Dudley-Smith, Timothy (1987). A Flame of Love. London: Triangle/SPCK. ISBN 0-281-04300-0.
50. ^ Richard Michael Kelly. A Christmas carol p.10. Broadview Press, 2003 ISBN 1-55111-476-3
51. ^ Broomfield, Andrea (2007) Food and cooking in Victorian England: a history pp.149-150. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007
52. ^ Muir, Frank (1977) Christmas customs & traditionsp.58. Taplinger Pub. Co., 1977
53. ^ Imbuljuta
54. ^ ^{a b} The Origin of American Christmas Myths and Customs – Ball State University. Swartz Jr., BK. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
55. ^ ^{a b} Forbes, Bruce David, Christmas: a candid history, University of California Press, 2007, ISBN 0-520-25104-0, pp. 68–79.
56. ^ Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Santa Claus
57. ^ John Steele Gordon, The Great Game: The Emergence of Wall Street as a World Power: 1653–2000 (Scribner) 1999.
58. ^ Forbes, Bruce David, Christmas: a candid history, pp. 80–81.
59. ^ Mikkelson, Barbara and David P., “The Claus That Refreshes”, Snopes.com, 2006.
60. ^ “History of the Society”. The Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
61. ^ Jones, Charles W.. “Knickerbocker Santa Claus”.The New-York Historical Society Quarterly XXXVIII(4)
62. ^ Charles W. Jones, Saint Nicholas of Myra, Bari, and Manhattan: Biography of a Legend (Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1978).
63. ^ Hageman, Howard G. (1979). “Review of Saint Nicholas of Myra, Bari, and Manhattan: Biography of a Legend“. Theology Today (Princeton: Princeton Theological Seminary) 36 (3). Retrieved 2008-12-05
64. ^ Matera, Mariane. “Santa: The First Great Lie”,Citybeat, Issue 304
65. ^ Kelly, Joseph F., The Origins of Christmas, Liturgical Press, 2004, p. 67-69.
66. ^ ““Christmas – An Ancient Holiday”, The History Channel, 2007.
67. ^ Coffman, Elesha. Why December 25? Christian History & Biography, Christianity Today, 2000.
68. ^ Yule. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved December 3, 2006.
69. ^ “Christmas, Encyclopædia Britannica Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2006.
70. ^ Roll, p. 78, citing calculations by Roger Beckworth. Roll, pp. 79–80, then cites Roland Bainton to say that Clement may have used two separate calendars and the discrepancies between them eventually “yields 6 January, in 2 CE”.
71. ^ “Christmas, Encyclopædia Britannica Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2006.
72. ^ Roll, p. 79, 80. Only fragments of Chronographaisurvive. In one fragment, Africanus referred to “Pege in Bethlehem” and “Lady Pege, Spring-bearer.” See “Narrative Narrative of Events Happening in Persia on the Birth of Christ Narrative“.
73. ^ Bradt, Hale, Astronomy Methods, (2004), p. 69.
    Roll p. 87.
74. ^ Roll p.81f
75. ^ Origen, “Levit., Hom. VIII”; Migne P.G., XII, 495.
    “Natal Day“, The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911.
76. ^ This document was prepared privately for a Roman aristocrat. The reference in question states, “VIII kal. ian. natus Christus in Betleem Iudeæ”.[1]It is in a section copied from an earlier manuscript produced in 336.[2] This document also contains the earliest known reference to the feast of Sol Invictus.[3]
77. ^ Pokhilko, Hieromonk Nicholas, “History of Epiphany”
78. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Murray, Alexander, “Medieval Christmas”, History Today, December 1986, 36(12), pp. 31 – 39.
79. ^ ^{a b} McGreevy, Patrick. “Place in the American Christmas,” (JSTOR), Geographical Review, Vol. 80, No. 1. January 1990, pp. 32–42. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
80. ^ ^{a b c} Restad, Penne L. (1995). Christmas in America: a History. Oxford: Oxford University Press.ISBN 0-19-510980-5
81. ^ ^{a b c} Durston, Chris, “Lords of Misrule: The Puritan War on Christmas 1642–60″, History Today, December 1985, 35 (12) pp. 7 – 14.
82. ^ “A Christmassy post | Mercurius Politicus”. Mercuriuspoliticus.wordpress.com. 2008-12-21. Retrieved 2010-08-08.
83. ^ Chambers, Robert (1885). Domestic Annals of Scotland. p. 211.
84. ^ When Christmas Was Banned – The early colonies and Christmas
85. ^ Nancy Smith Thomas. Moravian Christmas in the South. p. 20. 2007 ISBN 0-8078-3181-6
86. ^ Andrews, Peter (1975). Christmas in Colonial and Early America. USA: World Book Encyclopedia, Inc..ISBN 7-166-2001-4.
87. ^ Les Standiford. The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits, Crown, 2008. ISBN 978-0-307-40578-4
88. ^ Minzesheimer, Bob (December 22, 2008).“Dickens’ classic ‘Christmas Carol’ still sings to us”. USA Today. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
89. ^ Rowell, Geoffrey, Dickens and the Construction of Christmas, History Today, Volume: 43 Issue: 12, December 1993, pp. 17 – 24
90. ^ Ronald Hutton Stations of the Sun: The Ritual Year in England. 1996. Oxford: Oxford University Press.ISBN 0-19-285448-8.
91. ^ Richard Michael Kelly (ed.) (2003), A Christmas Carol. pp.9,12 Broadview Literary Texts, New York: Broadview Press ISBN 1-55111-476-3
92. ^ Robertson Cochrane. Wordplay: origins, meanings, and usage of the English language. p.126 University of Toronto Press, 1996 ISBN 0-8020-7752-8
93. ^ Joe L. Wheeler. Christmas in my heart, Volume 10. p.97. Review and Herald Pub Assoc, 2001. ISBN 0-8280-1622-4
94. ^ Earnshaw, Iris (November 2003). “The History of Christmas Cards”. Inverloch Historical Society Inc.. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
95. ^ The girlhood of Queen Victoria: a selection from Her Majesty’s diaries. p.61. Longmans, Green & co., 1912. University of Wisconsin
96. ^ Godey’s Lady’s Book, 1850. Godey’s copied it exactly, except removed the Queen’s crown, and Prince Albert’s mustache, to remake the engraving into an American scene.
97. ^ Kelly, Richard Michael (ed.) (2003), A Christmas Carol. p.20. Broadview Literary Texts, New York: Broadview Press, ISBN 1-55111-476-3
98. ^ Moore’s poem transferred the genuine old Dutch traditions celebrated at New Year in New York, including the exchange of gifts, family feasting, and tales of “sinterklass” (a derivation in Dutch from “Saint Nicholas,” from whence comes the modern “Santa Claus”) to Christmas.The history of Christmas: Christmas history in America, 2006
99. ^ usinfo.state.gov “Americans Celebrate Christmas in Diverse Ways” November 26, 2006
100. ^ First Presbyterian Church of Watertown “Oh . . . and one more thing” December 11, 2005
101. ^ ^{a b c} Restad, Penne L. (1995), Christmas in America: a History. p.96. Oxford: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-510980-5
102. ^ ^{a b} Christian church of God – history of Christmas
103. ^ Meggs, Philip B. A History of Graphic Design. ©1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p 148 ISBN 0-471-29198-6
104. ^ Marta Patiño, The Puritan Ban on Christmas
105. ^ “Why did Cromwell abolish Christmas?”. Oliver Cromwell. The Cromwell Association. 2001. Retrieved 2006-12-28.
106. ^ Christmas controversy article – Muslim Canadian Congress.
107. ^ “Jews for Christmas”—NewsMax article
108. ^ Don Feder on Christmas – Jewish World review
109. ^ Gibson, John, The War on Christmas, Sentinel Trade, 2006, pp. 1–6
110. ^ Ostling, Richard. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Lawsuit This Season.” Buffalo Law Journal12/1/2005, Vol. 77 Issue 96, p. 1-4.
111. ^ Lynch vs. Donnelly (1984)
112. ^ “Appeals Court: School district can ban Christmas carols”. Philly.com. Philadelphia Inquirer. 2009-11-25. Retrieved 2009-11-28.^{[dead link]}
113. ^ Boycott Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic this Christmas
114. ^ April Mitchinson (2009-11-29). “Differences set aside for Winter Night Light festival in Dundee”. The Press and Journal. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
115. ^ Varga, Melody. “Black Friday, About:Retail Industry.
116. ^http://womeninbusiness.about.com/od/womeninbusinessanswers/a/Wib-Answers-What-Is-The-Definition-Of-Christmas-Creep.htm
117. ^ South Molton and Brook Street Christmas Lights(Tuesday 16th November 2010) View London.co.uk
118. ^ ^{a b} Julia Kollewe Monday (29 November 2010)West End spree worth £250m marks start of Christmas shopping season The Guardian
119. ^ Gwen Outen (2004-12-03). “ECONOMICS REPORT – Holiday Shopping Season in the U.S.”. Voice Of America.
120. ^ US Census Bureau. “Facts. The Holiday Season” December 19, 2005. (accessed Nov 30 2009)
121. ^ US Census 2005
122. ^ “The Deadweight Loss of Christmas”, American Economic Review, December 1993, 83 (5)
123. ^ “Is Santa a deadweight loss?” The EconomistDecember 20, 2001
124. ^ Reuters. “Christmas is Damaging the Environment, Report Says” December 16, 2005.

Further reading

• Restad, Penne L. (1995). Christmas in America: A History. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509300-3.
• The Battle for Christmas, by Stephen Nissenbaum (1996; New York: Vintage Books, 1997). ISBN 0-679-74038-4
• The Origins of Christmas, by Joseph F. Kelly (August 2004: Liturgical Press) ISBN 978-0-8146-2984-0
• Christmas Customs and Traditions, by Clement A. Miles (1976: Dover Publications) ISBN 978-0-486-23354-3
• The World Encyclopedia of Christmas, by Gerry Bowler (October 2004: McClelland & Stewart) ISBN 978-0-7710-1535-9
• Santa Claus: A Biography, by Gerry Bowler (November 2007: McClelland & Stewart) ISBN 978-0-7710-1668-4
• There Really Is a Santa Claus: The History of St. Nicholas & Christmas Holiday Traditions, by William J. Federer (December 2002: Amerisearch) ISBN 978-0-9653557-4-2
• St. Nicholas: A Closer Look at Christmas, by Jim Rosenthal (July 2006: Nelson Reference) ISBN 1-4185-0407-6
• Just say Noel: A History of Christmas from the Nativity to the Nineties, by David Comfort (November 1995: Fireside) ISBN 978-0-684-80057-8
• 4000 Years of Christmas: A Gift from the Ages, by Earl W. Count (November 1997: Ulysses Press) ISBN 978-1-56975-087-2
• Sammons, Peter (May 2006). The Birth of Christ. Glory to Glory Publications (UK). ISBN 0-9551790-1-7.

External links

Find more about Christmas on Wikipedia’ssister projects:
	Definitions from Wiktionary
	Images and media from Commons
	Learning resources from Wikiversity
	News stories from Wikinews
	Quotations from Wikiquote
	Source texts from Wikisource
	Textbooks from Wikibooks

• Christmas at the Open Directory Project
• Christmas: Its Origin and Associations, by William Francis Dawson, 1902, from Project Gutenberg
• Christmas Newswire

SANTA TO BE HONORED

SANTA TO BE HONORED IN THE NEW YEARS HONORS LIST FOR

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE ON 34th STREET

It was about three years ago that I received some very exciting and important news!  We were all sitting by the fire after a very busy Christmas, telling each other stories of our latest adventures when mysteriously a letter suddenly dropped through my letterbox.  Now as you know I get millions of letters from children every year, but this I thought, was a little TOO early for next Christmas!!

Eric, the chief elf brought it to me, and informed me that the postmark indicated that the letter had been sent all the way from the United Kingdom.  As I took the letter from him, I noticed that the envelope had been sealed, and on the seal were the initials ER!

“My goodness” I exclaimed with surprise, “this letter has been sent by the Queen of England!”

I looked at the postmark again and noticed the letters HRH!  For those of you who do not know what HRH stands for, then I will tell you!  HRH means HER ROYAL HIGHNESS, by which the Queen is also known!

I cannot begin to tell you how excited I was to receive such an important letter, so much so that I dropped the envelope three times before I eventually opened the seal and took out the letter inside.

“Why has the Queen sent a letter to you Santa?” cried one of the elves!

“Please read it out to us!” pleaded another.

So without delay I read it out loud to my very attentive audience!

“Dear Santa,

In my message to the Commonwealth, which was televised on Christmas Day, my husband and I included you and your elves in our New Year Honours list.  Santa, you are to receive a Knighthood, and will henceforth be known as Sir Santa.  The elves will be awarded the OBE, that is THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH ELVES!  This is in recognition for all the good work that you have done for so many years for the children of the world!

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth”

“Hooray, we are all going to London!” we sang as we danced around the room! What an honour, this was so exciting!  Suddenly, I realised that we had such little time, so I ordered the elves to prepare the sleigh immediately as we had to be in London by New Years Day, dressed in our top hat and tails.  This time, we would take no chances, we would take Rudolph with us, as we could not afford to loose our way and end up on the moon again!

Dressed in our finest, we set off for London on New Years Eve, and as we flew over many countries, we could see lots of fireworks from the many celebrations and parties!  We reached the skies over London just in time to hear Big Ben strike 12 midnight, signalling the New Year!  Hearing the cries of “Happy New Year!” from the people down below in Trafalgar Square, we waved to the revellers who were dancing in the fountain before landing in the gardens at Buckingham Palace.

“Happy New Year sir” said the Queen’s Butler as he came out to greet us.  “The Queen is expecting you”, he informed us as he took us to a beautiful room inside the Palace.  “If you need anything, just ring the bell.”

After a good nights rest, we were summoned to the Palace at 3 o’clock in the afternoon to meet the Queen.  Looking very regal in her crown and robes, the Queen beckoned for me to come forward.  As I reached Her Majesty I knelt before her, only to find one of her corgi dogs had entered the room, and was sniffing the fur on my coat!  Soon more dogs surrounded me when, all of a sudden, one of the dogs lifted its leg and…………..shook my hand, and thanked me for bringing them their presents!  After all that excitement, the Queen lifted a sword, placed it on both of my shoulders and exclaimed “ARISE SIR SANTA CLAUSE” to which the elves clapped and cheered before going up one by one to receive their own medals.

After the ceremony, we were invited to a wonderful garden party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, where we had tea and cucumber sandwiches with the Queen and Prince Philip before flying back to the North Pole, tired but very happy!

To this day, I still prefer to be called just plain Santa, but I must admit, at times, the title SIR does help to get a good seat in a restaurant!

SANTALIVENOW.COM

 

The Next Christmas Blockbuster Movie Classic

“THE GREATEST GIFT A MAN CAN RECEIVE IS A FAMILY. THIS GIFT WAS ABOUT TO BE THROWN AWAY, UNTIL A LETTER SENT UP A CHIMNEY CREATED A MIRACLE WITHIN THE CITY”

The script can only be described as

“It’s a Wonderful Life on 34th Street”

a Christmas Story Charles Dickens would be proud of.

The story needs no introduction from the first page the Child in you will be released and the Story will transfix you into another world of fantasy, humour whilst releasing the Christmas Spirit within your heart.

This work is an accumulation of two years hard work, resulting in the creation of Original Children’s Characters, New Christmas Stories, Original Christmas Songs but most of all an Original Christmas Theme that carries high moral family values.

THE STORY IN BRIEF

Santa receives a Christmas letter 5 Days before Christmas from a little girl called Alley. All she wants for Christmas is for her Daddy to come home.

Santa heads to the city to find her daddy to persuade him to return to his family. The task to deliver would not be an easy one for Santa, as he would have to deal with a hard drinking cynical father who believes he has lost everything.

On finding Alley’s father Jim, Santa witnesses him being evicted from a department store dressed as Santa.      Santa applies for the vacant job of the Mall Santa but insists the manager re-employs Alley’s father as a janitor.

Santa now employed as the Mall Santa with access to Jim’s emotions then begins to win over the city with his story telling slowly manipulating Jim and helping him to regain his self confidence.

Santa now in control of the situation uses the written word in letter form to complete his task. He sends a letter to Alley inviting her to see Santa but on the day he knows Jim will be the Mall Santa as he will ask Jim to take over his role. Santa is confident the words on the little girl’s Christmas letter will be repeated. “I want my Daddy to come home for Christmas”

The plot is nearly complete one more Story to Jim telling how Santa sent a letter to his wife 30 years ago to reassure her about the pet she lost and dearly loved.

Jim now having regained his confidence returns home and tells his wife of this child like character who believes he is Santa. He then tells of the letter sent from Santa 30 years ago. It is true, the wife confirms, how could this be? The letter is identical to one Alley was carrying in the Mall yet there is a thirty year gap.

Jim realises the miracle of the two letters could have only been sent by one person- Santa. The old guy he called Nick was Santa

Santa knew he had to deliver before Christmas Eve and he has done just that. He made Jim realise the Greatest Gift a Man can receive is a family. Jim is now home, home with his family.

Read full story by downloading the book free, click on link below

if you have enjoyed reading the book please pass this link

http://www.santalivenow.com/moviescipt.pdf

to your friends.

Some of the songs and stories that feature in this movie can be downloaded free by clicking on the links below

Dance with Santa (SONG)

Click here to read the lyrics .

YODULE ELF (STORY Narated by Santa)

Click here to read the STORY .

Yodule Elf (SONG)

Click here to read the lyrics .

ALLEY THE CAT STORY (Narrated by Santa)

Click here to read the STORY .

It’s Christmas (SONG)

Click here to read the lyrics .

 

THIS MOVIE MUST BE MADE.

The Stories and Music can also all be heard in our Music and Story Sections.

THE FULL SCRIPT IS AVAILABLE BY CONTACTING JIM GREENLEAF FOR AMERICAN AND PACIFIC OPERATIONS OR CONTACT DEREK BUCKHAM FOR  THE UK AND EUROPE.

CLICK ON PHOTOGRAPHS TO CONTACT EITHER JIM OR DEREK.

JIM GREENLEAF DEREK BUCKHAM

 

It’s a Wonderful life on 34th Street

@http://santalivenow.ning.com

Santa , Santa’s Village , Santa’s Store, Santa Reads”THE SANTA STORIES” ,It’s Christmas

http://santalivenow.com “THE GREATEST GIFT A MAN CAN RECEIVE IS A FAMILY. THIS GIFT WAS ABOUT TO BE THROWN AWAY, UNTIL A LETTER SENT UP A CHIMNEY CREATED A MIRACLE WITHIN THE CITY”

The script can only be described as

“It’s a Wonderful Life on 34th Street”

a Christmas Story Charles Dickens would be proud of. The story needs no introduction from the first page the Child in you will be released and the Story will transfix you into another world of fantasy, humour whilst releasing the Christmas Spirit within your heart.

THE MOVIE

CLICK FOR FREE DOWNLOAD OF MOVIE BOOK

MOVIESTORY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ5wLxbfIGY&feature=player_embedded