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Christmas: Its Origin and Associations
Christmas is the most famous holiday of the year, and the word itself evokes images of Santa Claus, reindeer, snow, Christmas trees, egg nog and more. At the same time, it represents Christianity's most important event, the birth of the baby Jesus. Instantly, well known Christmas carols ring in your ears, pictures of the Nativity Scene become ubiquitous, or maybe you even picture nutcrackers or Scrooge and Tiny Tim.
Regardless, Christmas is always the perfect time for holiday cheer, and reading classic Christmas stories. This version of William Francis Dawson’s Christmas: Its Origin and Associations includes a table of contents and several Christmas related pictures.
698 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1902
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 23, 2015
Its very, very dry. And very listing. And very English only. Very boring.
December 7, 2023
A 1902 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ON CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS, AND MORE
Author W.F. (William Francis) Dawson wrote in the Preface of this 1902 book, “it fell to my lot to write an article on Christmas, its customs and festivities… I discovered many interesting details of its observances dispersed in the works of various authors… I saw, also, that the successive celebrations of Christmas during the nineteen centuries were important links in the chain of historical Christian evidences. I became enamored of the subject… It seemed to me that the origin and hallowed associations of Christmas, its ancient customs and festivities, and the important part it has played in history combine to make it a most fascinating subject. I resolved, therefore, to collect materials for a larger work on Christmas.
He explains in the first chapter, “‘Christmas’ … signifies ‘Christ’s Mass,’ meaning the festival of the Nativity of Christ… Christmas has also been called Noël… As to the derivation of the word … some say it is a contraction of the French ‘nouvelles’ (tidings)… others take it as an abbreviation of the Gascon ‘nadal’ which means the same as the Latin ‘dies natalis,’ ‘the birthday.’” (Pg. 9)
He notes, “Within thirty years after the death of our Lord, there were churches in Jerusalem, Caesarea, Rome, and the Syrian Antioch…Clement, one of the Apostolic Fathers and third bishop of Rome, who flourished in the first century, says: “Brethren, keep diligently feast-days, and truly in the first place the day of Christ’s birth.’ And according to another of the early Bishops of Rome, it was ordained early in the second century…” (Pg. 11-12)
He recounts, “It is known that the Feast of the Nativity was observed as early as the first century, and that it was kept by the primitive Christians even in the dark days of persecution… Yet they were faithful to Christ, and the Catacombs of Rome contain evidence that they celebrated the Nativity. The opening up of these Catacombs has brought to light many most interesting relics of primitive Christianity. In these Christian cemeteries and places of worship there are signs not only of the deep emotions and hope with which they buried their dead, but also of the simple forms of worship and the festive joy with which they commemorated the Nativity of Christ.” (Pg. 18)
He notes, “The great Reformer, Martin Luther, took much interest in the festivities of Christmastide, including, of course, the Christmas tree. One of his biographers tells how young Luther… sang Christmas carols ‘in honor of the Babe of Bethlehem… Luther may be justly regarded as the central representative of the Reformation in its early period, for this among other reasons---that he, more powerfully than any other, impressed upon the new doctrine the character of glad tidings of great joy. [On Christmas Day, 1521, Martin Luther] administered the communion in both kinds, and almost without discrimination of applicants … [in his] beloved town.’” (Pg. 105-106)
In a section labeled, “The Attempt to Abolish Christmas Day,’ he reports, “The attempt… was, of course, a signal failure. The event commemorated made it impossible for the commemoration to cease. Men may differ as to the mode of celebration, but the Christ must and will be celebrated… ‘The Puritans gradually prevailed, and in 1647 some parish officers were committed for permitting ministers to preach upon Christmas Day, and for adorning the church… in the same year, it was ordained by… Parliament that the feast of the Nativity of Christ, with other holidays, should no longer be observed… The Parliament had not the courage to repeat the brutal experiment of the previous year. It was easy to abolish the feast by an ordinance; but it was risky to insist by an ordinance that the English people and English families should keep the dearest and most sacred of their festivals as a fast. The rulers knew that such an ordinance would not be obeyed. They resolved simply to ignore the day, or treat it as any ordinary Thursday. Doubtless many of the members kept up some sort of celebration of the old family festival in their own private houses… the shops and streets … everywhere bore witness to the fact that there was a deep and fundamental estrangement between ‘the State’ and ‘the people,’ and that the people were actually keeping the festival which the ‘Synod’ had declared to be profane and superstitious, and which the Parliament, to please the Scots, the Noncomformists, and the Sectaries, had abolished by law.” (Pg. 206-207)
He continues, “The ‘National Magazine’ (1857) … remarks upon the stout resistance given by the citizens of London to the order of the Puritan Parliament, that shops should be opened and churches closed on Christmas Day… They declared…they would go to church…and the porters of Cornhill swore they would dress up their conduit with holly, if it were only to prove that in that orthodox and heavily-enduring body there was some respect yet left for Christianity and hard drinking---for the raising of the holly was ever accompanied by the lifting of tankards. Nor was the gallant Christmas spirit less lively in the country than in the capital.” (Pg. 209-210)
He goes on, ”Notwithstanding the adverse acts of the Puritans, however, and the suppression of Christmas observances in high places, the old customs and festivities were still observed in different parts of the country, though with less ostentation than formerly; and various publications appeared which plainly showed that the popular sentiments were in favor of the festivities.” (Pg. 212)
A 19th century author observed, “it is not easy to write of ‘Christmas customs in the North,’ because many of them, even though connected with the Christmas festival, do not take place till January 6th , that being Christmas Day, Old Style, while most of them are associated with the New Year, either Old or New Style, one of the most striking celebrations coming off on January 11th, regarded as ‘New Year’s Eve.’ Christmas itself has never been a national Scottish festival since the Reformation. On its purely festive side, it has become somewhat of a ‘fashion’ of late years, but its ancient customs have only lingered on in those districts where Episcopacy has taken deep root…” (Pg. 284)
This book may interest those studying the history of Christmas customs.
Author W.F. (William Francis) Dawson wrote in the Preface of this 1902 book, “it fell to my lot to write an article on Christmas, its customs and festivities… I discovered many interesting details of its observances dispersed in the works of various authors… I saw, also, that the successive celebrations of Christmas during the nineteen centuries were important links in the chain of historical Christian evidences. I became enamored of the subject… It seemed to me that the origin and hallowed associations of Christmas, its ancient customs and festivities, and the important part it has played in history combine to make it a most fascinating subject. I resolved, therefore, to collect materials for a larger work on Christmas.
He explains in the first chapter, “‘Christmas’ … signifies ‘Christ’s Mass,’ meaning the festival of the Nativity of Christ… Christmas has also been called Noël… As to the derivation of the word … some say it is a contraction of the French ‘nouvelles’ (tidings)… others take it as an abbreviation of the Gascon ‘nadal’ which means the same as the Latin ‘dies natalis,’ ‘the birthday.’” (Pg. 9)
He notes, “Within thirty years after the death of our Lord, there were churches in Jerusalem, Caesarea, Rome, and the Syrian Antioch…Clement, one of the Apostolic Fathers and third bishop of Rome, who flourished in the first century, says: “Brethren, keep diligently feast-days, and truly in the first place the day of Christ’s birth.’ And according to another of the early Bishops of Rome, it was ordained early in the second century…” (Pg. 11-12)
He recounts, “It is known that the Feast of the Nativity was observed as early as the first century, and that it was kept by the primitive Christians even in the dark days of persecution… Yet they were faithful to Christ, and the Catacombs of Rome contain evidence that they celebrated the Nativity. The opening up of these Catacombs has brought to light many most interesting relics of primitive Christianity. In these Christian cemeteries and places of worship there are signs not only of the deep emotions and hope with which they buried their dead, but also of the simple forms of worship and the festive joy with which they commemorated the Nativity of Christ.” (Pg. 18)
He notes, “The great Reformer, Martin Luther, took much interest in the festivities of Christmastide, including, of course, the Christmas tree. One of his biographers tells how young Luther… sang Christmas carols ‘in honor of the Babe of Bethlehem… Luther may be justly regarded as the central representative of the Reformation in its early period, for this among other reasons---that he, more powerfully than any other, impressed upon the new doctrine the character of glad tidings of great joy. [On Christmas Day, 1521, Martin Luther] administered the communion in both kinds, and almost without discrimination of applicants … [in his] beloved town.’” (Pg. 105-106)
In a section labeled, “The Attempt to Abolish Christmas Day,’ he reports, “The attempt… was, of course, a signal failure. The event commemorated made it impossible for the commemoration to cease. Men may differ as to the mode of celebration, but the Christ must and will be celebrated… ‘The Puritans gradually prevailed, and in 1647 some parish officers were committed for permitting ministers to preach upon Christmas Day, and for adorning the church… in the same year, it was ordained by… Parliament that the feast of the Nativity of Christ, with other holidays, should no longer be observed… The Parliament had not the courage to repeat the brutal experiment of the previous year. It was easy to abolish the feast by an ordinance; but it was risky to insist by an ordinance that the English people and English families should keep the dearest and most sacred of their festivals as a fast. The rulers knew that such an ordinance would not be obeyed. They resolved simply to ignore the day, or treat it as any ordinary Thursday. Doubtless many of the members kept up some sort of celebration of the old family festival in their own private houses… the shops and streets … everywhere bore witness to the fact that there was a deep and fundamental estrangement between ‘the State’ and ‘the people,’ and that the people were actually keeping the festival which the ‘Synod’ had declared to be profane and superstitious, and which the Parliament, to please the Scots, the Noncomformists, and the Sectaries, had abolished by law.” (Pg. 206-207)
He continues, “The ‘National Magazine’ (1857) … remarks upon the stout resistance given by the citizens of London to the order of the Puritan Parliament, that shops should be opened and churches closed on Christmas Day… They declared…they would go to church…and the porters of Cornhill swore they would dress up their conduit with holly, if it were only to prove that in that orthodox and heavily-enduring body there was some respect yet left for Christianity and hard drinking---for the raising of the holly was ever accompanied by the lifting of tankards. Nor was the gallant Christmas spirit less lively in the country than in the capital.” (Pg. 209-210)
He goes on, ”Notwithstanding the adverse acts of the Puritans, however, and the suppression of Christmas observances in high places, the old customs and festivities were still observed in different parts of the country, though with less ostentation than formerly; and various publications appeared which plainly showed that the popular sentiments were in favor of the festivities.” (Pg. 212)
A 19th century author observed, “it is not easy to write of ‘Christmas customs in the North,’ because many of them, even though connected with the Christmas festival, do not take place till January 6th , that being Christmas Day, Old Style, while most of them are associated with the New Year, either Old or New Style, one of the most striking celebrations coming off on January 11th, regarded as ‘New Year’s Eve.’ Christmas itself has never been a national Scottish festival since the Reformation. On its purely festive side, it has become somewhat of a ‘fashion’ of late years, but its ancient customs have only lingered on in those districts where Episcopacy has taken deep root…” (Pg. 284)
This book may interest those studying the history of Christmas customs.
December 24, 2014
This book was published in 1905 and is available for free at Gutenberg.org and other sources. I downloaded it hoping to learn the origins of various Christmas traditions and the book was a huge disappointment in that area.
This is basically a book about English history through the lens of Christmas. The author has endeavored to gather every historical occurance on Christmas, how each English monarch celebrated it, and various wars and controversies around that date each year. He throws in poems, songs, and scripts of plays performed on the Christmas holiday in England-- too much superfluous information and far too broad. The book concludes with a look at how Christmas is celebrated in various countries, circa the late 1800s, according to newspaper accounts and correspondence with British people all over the world.
Dawson begins with the biblical origins of Christmas, and then how its date was debated by the early church in the first centuries. He gives a brief explanation of how Dionysius miscounted the number of years when designing the Christian calendar adopted by the Western Church (so, Christ was likely born in 4 B.C.). There is evidence that even prior to Constantine, Christians were commemorating the birth of Christ perhaps even in the month of December, which coincided with the winter solstice and common pagan celebrations of this time. (It seems every ancient culture celebrated the winter solstice in some form). Emperor Diocletian reportedly massacred Christians during a Christmas celebration in 303 AD. The Romans had Bacchanalia and Saturnalia, which were similar to the Scandinavian celebrations adopted by the natives of Britain. "Bacchanalian illustrations have been found among the decorations in the early Christian Churches" (p. 20). Focusing on England, ancient Saxons and other northern nations kept a Yule festival, honoring the Norse God Thor. The Yule celebration was not explained by Dawson, but I learned from another book that the burning of a yule log packed with incense (and mingled with the remains of the prior year's yule log) was expected to bring good luck to the household and favor to the start of a new year. Later, Christians continuing the practice said that the log represented the cross, and its sweet incense the new life that Christ gives believers.
According to Dawson "Towards the end of the (winter solstice) feast, when the sun was on its return, and the world was considered to be renovated, a king or ruler was chosen, with power granted to him during his ephemeral reign" (p. 21). This may explain why so many English coronations occurred on Christmas, along with many royal weddings. St. Alban, martyred during Diocletian's reign was purportedly the first Christian martyr in Britain (p. 25).
Post-Constantine, Christmas celebrations included elaborate feasts, gift-giving, stage plays, and card games, a tradition that would continue in England to the time of the author's writing. Early church records show there was some concern from the clergy about the excessive nature and dancing of these festivals. As early as Alfred the Great (9th century), twelve days from Nativity to Epiphany were set aside in England expressly for the celebration of Christmas. Monarchs in England continued the tradition, spending great sums on festivities, masquerade dramas, weddings, and more. If you disdain how Christmas decorations show up in stores after Halloween in the U.S., know that some monarchs also increased the length of festivities for months at a time. As often shops were forbidden to be open during the festival, this was not great for the local economy. During the various civil wars, hostilities interrupted Christmas celebrations.
On December 25 in 1214 (800 years ago as I write this), the Magna Charta was agreed upon by King John and the English barons who resented his abuse of power. The Charta is hailed as an achievement of human rights and a step toward democracy. The summoning of the first representative national Parliament took place on Christmas in 1264 (p. 78).
Christopher Columbus landed in Cuba on Christmas Day, 1492 (p. 117). Henry VII forbid card playing except at Christmas (p. 119). IN 1617, James I imposed religious festivals like Christmas on the Scottish Church, which was denounced (p. 240). This is a description of Christmas written in the 17th century (p. 249-250)
"Nicholas Breton, [70] writing in merry mood, says: 'It is now Christmas, and not a cup of drink must pass without a carol; the beasts, fowl, and fish come to a general execution, and the corn is ground to dust for the bakehouse and the pastry: youth show their agility in shoeing of the wild mare: now, good cheer, and welcome, and God be with you, and I thank you:—and against the New Year provide for the presents:—The Lord of Misrule is no mean man for his time, and the guests of the high table must lack no wine: the lusty bloods must look about them like men, and piping and dancing puts away much melancholy...hearing. In sum it is a holy time, a duty in Christians for the remembrance of Christ and custom among friends for the maintenance of good fellowship.'"
However, as Puritans gained ascendency in the 1600s, Christmas celebrations began to be denounced. When the Puritans gained control of Parliament, they outlawed the celebration of Christmas in 1647. By law, Christmas was to be treated as an ordinary weekday with shops opened and pastors forbidden to preach on Christmas Day. Commoners, particularly Londoners, kept the celebration in defiance. By 1649, riots broke out in response to decrees outlawing Christmas as England descended into civil war between Royalists and those who were opposed to monarchy. Charles II came to power under a restored monarchy in 1660 and reinstated the Christmas holiday, to the joy of the citizens (p. 269-270):
"These holidays we'l briskly drink, all mirth we will devise, No Treason we will speak or think, then bring us brave minc'd pies Roast Beef and brave Plum porridge, our Loyal hearts to chear, Then prithee make no more ado, but bring us Christmas Beer."
Eventually, Christmas traditions also included ghost stories (338), wassailing crowds of peasants shooting apple trees (343-345), morning church services, and various English dramas.
Dawson's world tour of modern Christmas celebrations includes a look at America, quoting Howard Paul in 1855 (p. 382):
"Society generally seems to apportion the day thus: Church in the morning, dinner in the afternoon, and amusements in the evening. The Christmas dinners concentrate the scattered members of families, who meet together to break bread in social harmony, and exchange those home sentiments that cement the happiness of kindred...and a Christmas sleigh-ride is one of those American delights that defy gravity."
"A curious feature of an American Christmas is the eg-nogg and free lunch, distributed at all the hotels and cafes" (p. 386). There is an excerpt about how President William Henry Harrison expected to celebrate Christmas in 1891, and how Christmas was celebrated by African-Americans in the South.
I found the description of traditional Christmas in pre-Revolution Russia to be interesting. On Christmas Eve, peasants traditionally sang "Kolyadki," referencing an ancient solar goddess (p. 428). There is a description of how the Russian Orthodox Church traditionally celebrated Christmas (428-429).
If you want to know the origins of various traditions and symbols of Christmas, you will not find it in this book. As such, I give it 2.5 stars out of 5. If you want a look at English history and the various events that occurred on Christmas Day in England throughout the centuries, this is the book.
This is basically a book about English history through the lens of Christmas. The author has endeavored to gather every historical occurance on Christmas, how each English monarch celebrated it, and various wars and controversies around that date each year. He throws in poems, songs, and scripts of plays performed on the Christmas holiday in England-- too much superfluous information and far too broad. The book concludes with a look at how Christmas is celebrated in various countries, circa the late 1800s, according to newspaper accounts and correspondence with British people all over the world.
Dawson begins with the biblical origins of Christmas, and then how its date was debated by the early church in the first centuries. He gives a brief explanation of how Dionysius miscounted the number of years when designing the Christian calendar adopted by the Western Church (so, Christ was likely born in 4 B.C.). There is evidence that even prior to Constantine, Christians were commemorating the birth of Christ perhaps even in the month of December, which coincided with the winter solstice and common pagan celebrations of this time. (It seems every ancient culture celebrated the winter solstice in some form). Emperor Diocletian reportedly massacred Christians during a Christmas celebration in 303 AD. The Romans had Bacchanalia and Saturnalia, which were similar to the Scandinavian celebrations adopted by the natives of Britain. "Bacchanalian illustrations have been found among the decorations in the early Christian Churches" (p. 20). Focusing on England, ancient Saxons and other northern nations kept a Yule festival, honoring the Norse God Thor. The Yule celebration was not explained by Dawson, but I learned from another book that the burning of a yule log packed with incense (and mingled with the remains of the prior year's yule log) was expected to bring good luck to the household and favor to the start of a new year. Later, Christians continuing the practice said that the log represented the cross, and its sweet incense the new life that Christ gives believers.
According to Dawson "Towards the end of the (winter solstice) feast, when the sun was on its return, and the world was considered to be renovated, a king or ruler was chosen, with power granted to him during his ephemeral reign" (p. 21). This may explain why so many English coronations occurred on Christmas, along with many royal weddings. St. Alban, martyred during Diocletian's reign was purportedly the first Christian martyr in Britain (p. 25).
Post-Constantine, Christmas celebrations included elaborate feasts, gift-giving, stage plays, and card games, a tradition that would continue in England to the time of the author's writing. Early church records show there was some concern from the clergy about the excessive nature and dancing of these festivals. As early as Alfred the Great (9th century), twelve days from Nativity to Epiphany were set aside in England expressly for the celebration of Christmas. Monarchs in England continued the tradition, spending great sums on festivities, masquerade dramas, weddings, and more. If you disdain how Christmas decorations show up in stores after Halloween in the U.S., know that some monarchs also increased the length of festivities for months at a time. As often shops were forbidden to be open during the festival, this was not great for the local economy. During the various civil wars, hostilities interrupted Christmas celebrations.
On December 25 in 1214 (800 years ago as I write this), the Magna Charta was agreed upon by King John and the English barons who resented his abuse of power. The Charta is hailed as an achievement of human rights and a step toward democracy. The summoning of the first representative national Parliament took place on Christmas in 1264 (p. 78).
Christopher Columbus landed in Cuba on Christmas Day, 1492 (p. 117). Henry VII forbid card playing except at Christmas (p. 119). IN 1617, James I imposed religious festivals like Christmas on the Scottish Church, which was denounced (p. 240). This is a description of Christmas written in the 17th century (p. 249-250)
"Nicholas Breton, [70] writing in merry mood, says: 'It is now Christmas, and not a cup of drink must pass without a carol; the beasts, fowl, and fish come to a general execution, and the corn is ground to dust for the bakehouse and the pastry: youth show their agility in shoeing of the wild mare: now, good cheer, and welcome, and God be with you, and I thank you:—and against the New Year provide for the presents:—The Lord of Misrule is no mean man for his time, and the guests of the high table must lack no wine: the lusty bloods must look about them like men, and piping and dancing puts away much melancholy...hearing. In sum it is a holy time, a duty in Christians for the remembrance of Christ and custom among friends for the maintenance of good fellowship.'"
However, as Puritans gained ascendency in the 1600s, Christmas celebrations began to be denounced. When the Puritans gained control of Parliament, they outlawed the celebration of Christmas in 1647. By law, Christmas was to be treated as an ordinary weekday with shops opened and pastors forbidden to preach on Christmas Day. Commoners, particularly Londoners, kept the celebration in defiance. By 1649, riots broke out in response to decrees outlawing Christmas as England descended into civil war between Royalists and those who were opposed to monarchy. Charles II came to power under a restored monarchy in 1660 and reinstated the Christmas holiday, to the joy of the citizens (p. 269-270):
"These holidays we'l briskly drink, all mirth we will devise, No Treason we will speak or think, then bring us brave minc'd pies Roast Beef and brave Plum porridge, our Loyal hearts to chear, Then prithee make no more ado, but bring us Christmas Beer."
Eventually, Christmas traditions also included ghost stories (338), wassailing crowds of peasants shooting apple trees (343-345), morning church services, and various English dramas.
Dawson's world tour of modern Christmas celebrations includes a look at America, quoting Howard Paul in 1855 (p. 382):
"Society generally seems to apportion the day thus: Church in the morning, dinner in the afternoon, and amusements in the evening. The Christmas dinners concentrate the scattered members of families, who meet together to break bread in social harmony, and exchange those home sentiments that cement the happiness of kindred...and a Christmas sleigh-ride is one of those American delights that defy gravity."
"A curious feature of an American Christmas is the eg-nogg and free lunch, distributed at all the hotels and cafes" (p. 386). There is an excerpt about how President William Henry Harrison expected to celebrate Christmas in 1891, and how Christmas was celebrated by African-Americans in the South.
I found the description of traditional Christmas in pre-Revolution Russia to be interesting. On Christmas Eve, peasants traditionally sang "Kolyadki," referencing an ancient solar goddess (p. 428). There is a description of how the Russian Orthodox Church traditionally celebrated Christmas (428-429).
If you want to know the origins of various traditions and symbols of Christmas, you will not find it in this book. As such, I give it 2.5 stars out of 5. If you want a look at English history and the various events that occurred on Christmas Day in England throughout the centuries, this is the book.
January 4, 2026
This book has a lot of very interesting details if taken in small doses. To try to read very much at a time is overwhelming.
It is fully indexed at the end of the book. In fact, the last 17% is index.
It begins by discussing in great detail how every English king in history celebrated Christmas.
Later chapter talks about Christmas traditions from places all over the world. Mostly by publishing letters from people who travelled there.
My favorite story was a nativity showing the Holy family and their four-footed associates. I don’t know if it was supposed to be funny, but I thought it was.
It’s taken me over 2 years to read, but I’m not at all sorry I did.
Another reviewer complained that it was dry, and they aren’t wrong. But a lot of nonfiction books from that era are much the same.
It is fully indexed at the end of the book. In fact, the last 17% is index.
It begins by discussing in great detail how every English king in history celebrated Christmas.
Later chapter talks about Christmas traditions from places all over the world. Mostly by publishing letters from people who travelled there.
My favorite story was a nativity showing the Holy family and their four-footed associates. I don’t know if it was supposed to be funny, but I thought it was.
It’s taken me over 2 years to read, but I’m not at all sorry I did.
Another reviewer complained that it was dry, and they aren’t wrong. But a lot of nonfiction books from that era are much the same.
November 30, 2018
This is an interesting and educational book on the ways Christmas was observed and celebrated in the ancient days to the nineteenth century.
January 25, 2020
This is a dope book I just bought an old copy at half price books and it’s super old and cool
December 10, 2014
This is an exhaustive collection of anecdotes and happenings about Christmas since the birth of Christ all the way to 19th century England. Much of the book is about how kings and other leaders kept Christmas during their reigns, and often to exhausting detail. I can see if you are historical writer, this volume might be indispensable.
However it's so exhaustive and covers so much history that it's hard to read for pleasure. There's a ton of detail though. Did you know Blind Man's Bluff is over three hundred years old? Or that one time in 1625, Christmas became more like Halloween when the Lord of Misrule and his fools went around extorting five shillings per house or their "gunner" would lay into it with a huge sledgehammer? Until they got into armed conflict with the mayor and learned that halberds were scissors to a sword's paper. Or that a game during the 1800's celebrated during Christmas was Snapdragon, in which you try to take as many raisins as you can and put them in your mouth...out of a bowl of brandy. Set on fire.
There's plenty more details like that, but you have a long read to find them. It's too much for someone who wants a basic history of Christmas celebration, but you could easily use this as a source for college-level work. Not that it's particularly academic or jargon-filled. Just extensive.
However it's so exhaustive and covers so much history that it's hard to read for pleasure. There's a ton of detail though. Did you know Blind Man's Bluff is over three hundred years old? Or that one time in 1625, Christmas became more like Halloween when the Lord of Misrule and his fools went around extorting five shillings per house or their "gunner" would lay into it with a huge sledgehammer? Until they got into armed conflict with the mayor and learned that halberds were scissors to a sword's paper. Or that a game during the 1800's celebrated during Christmas was Snapdragon, in which you try to take as many raisins as you can and put them in your mouth...out of a bowl of brandy. Set on fire.
There's plenty more details like that, but you have a long read to find them. It's too much for someone who wants a basic history of Christmas celebration, but you could easily use this as a source for college-level work. Not that it's particularly academic or jargon-filled. Just extensive.
December 21, 2013
This book covers the history of Christmas from Christ's birth up to AD 1900.
I found the info on the very beginnings to be the most interesting, such as the possibilities that Christ's birth may be four or five years out. Therefore, he could've been born as early as 5 BC ... that's like saying he was born five years before he was born! I guess we're too far on to change things now.
Events in 1752 are also interesting, as eleven days were cut out of September, thus outraging some people who believed they'd been robbed of eleven days of their lives. These same people and others refused to celebrate Christmas on 25 December that year, thinking that 5 January must be the correct day.
The author spent a long time working on this tome and I admire him for his efforts. That said, I did find myself skipping a lot of pages. I'm not interested in reading reproductions of old plays, especially not the list of actors and the characters they portrayed.
The more interesting and obscure historical accounts that transpired in England were what interested me the most. I'm glad I wasn't alive during Cromwell's stint as lord protector - the miserable sod banned Christmas, warts and all!
I found the info on the very beginnings to be the most interesting, such as the possibilities that Christ's birth may be four or five years out. Therefore, he could've been born as early as 5 BC ... that's like saying he was born five years before he was born! I guess we're too far on to change things now.
Events in 1752 are also interesting, as eleven days were cut out of September, thus outraging some people who believed they'd been robbed of eleven days of their lives. These same people and others refused to celebrate Christmas on 25 December that year, thinking that 5 January must be the correct day.
The author spent a long time working on this tome and I admire him for his efforts. That said, I did find myself skipping a lot of pages. I'm not interested in reading reproductions of old plays, especially not the list of actors and the characters they portrayed.
The more interesting and obscure historical accounts that transpired in England were what interested me the most. I'm glad I wasn't alive during Cromwell's stint as lord protector - the miserable sod banned Christmas, warts and all!
March 25, 2017
Tah Dah!
Here is a book that discovers "Merry Old England's Christmas". It deals EXCLUSIVELY with British custom. It draws from many sources: everything from the Inns of Courts, Colleges, Royalty, you name it. Highly detailed with original text. If you can't read renaissance English, in some spots, you are out of luck! It details the origins of everything from cards to crackers. It does end with some 19th Century English Empire superiority, but that's typical for the period.
Here is a book that discovers "Merry Old England's Christmas". It deals EXCLUSIVELY with British custom. It draws from many sources: everything from the Inns of Courts, Colleges, Royalty, you name it. Highly detailed with original text. If you can't read renaissance English, in some spots, you are out of luck! It details the origins of everything from cards to crackers. It does end with some 19th Century English Empire superiority, but that's typical for the period.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews