Christmas
The countdown to Christmas Day is on amidst the usual frenzied Christmas preparations. Folks are working hard, sacrificing time to meet scheduled dates, and maintain their personal goals for this time. Between work and family, the true Christmas prepping is about Moms and Dads, relatives and significant others, friends and yes, even strangers making the magic of Christmas happen. Those who are the true organizers, artists, planners who are part of the magic, not to mention our own families are the one who create the home and holidays memorable moments.
Historically, the celebration of Christmas, as a religious observation of the Christ’s birth has been at least for one thousand, five hundred years and more. Pope Julius, of the Roman Church declared December 25th as a collective celebration of Jesus’ birth. Though this date was not clearly established, December 25th on the Julian Calendar was set as the Church’s date. This date coincided with the Rome’s Winter Solstice, named “Dies Natalis Solis Invicti”.
Understanding a bit of world history helps one to understand how traditions have come into being and evolved. The Roman Winter Solstice celebration, Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, which means birth of the unconquered Sun originated in Persia and Syria of today. Sol Invictus was a sun god which Romans adopted through connected influence of other peoples and cultures. Rome’s military and trade stretched far and wide. The worship of Mithra in Persia influenced Rome. Mithra took a unique and different meaning in Rome which helped to unify many under a single deity. This singular icon later lead to the ease of conversion to worshiping the one, Jesus Christ which helped the process of conversion.
Since the Winter Solstice was the already a festive time and known to the early Romans, the merging of the birth of Christ coinciding with the Winter Solstice helped to further push the ease of conversion. There are the negative whispers about there being no Santa, and Christmas is all but commercial, devoid of religion as it was and becoming more secular where Santa Claus has replaced the true meaning of the symbolic birth of the Christ.
Today, a lot of churches are moving away from the date of Christmas knowing that it was originally a pagan festival, Sol Invictus which is Latin for the Unconquered Sun. This time was observed as the Sun’s return and the advent of longer days. Winter Solstice was a significant time to all peoples of this Earth and humans generally celebrated on different days depending on where they were situated on the globe, the return o the Sun. Whether this time is interconnected to religion or not, this time from an Earth’s perspective is significant as the Sun’s birthday / renewal.
Generally, the festivities of the Winter Solstice was about gatherings of family, friends feasting and gift-giving. Many people today do same during this time. As you enjoy this holiday time, whatever your beliefs or your views, take sometime to reflect as we move into a new calendar year. Regardless of what religious or cultural calendar we adhere to it is still important to be grateful for life and all the bounty that this Earth produces. The Sun is the main life-giving element on this Earth. It is the main material force that sustains life and without it it life will die on this Earth.
Happy Holidays!