Rev. Beckmann uncovers new fun facts about Christmas

The Rev. William Beckmann of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Batavia sums up his interest in researching Christmas legend and lore in a way that explains how he has managed to share his knowledge with the Tri-Cities Exchange Club for nearly 30 years.

"Every year there is more stuff to uncover," Beckmann said last week during his annual "Christmas message" presentation to the club. "There is so much to learn about Christmas."

True to form, Beckmann shared new facts and fiction about the holiday season, examining everything from Christmas movies and TV shows to the birth of Christ and the centuries-long transformation into modern Christmas themes.

In keeping up my end of the bargain with this tradition, I again share the reverend's findings and insights with my readers.

Funny movie's message

The 1983 comedy "A Christmas Story" by late director Bob Clark is a funny movie and "one of my favorites," Beckmann said. But more importantly, the story line of Ralphie continuously begging for a Red Ryder BB gun is the basis for delivering a great moral message.

"It's about what's more important, getting what you want or what you need," Beckmann said.

Ralphie gets his BB gun and hurts himself, whereas, in the end, his family discovers that enjoying the holiday together is what is really most important.

Rudolph and Charlie

"Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" marks its 75th anniversary this year, and it is the longest running Christmas special on TV, first airing in 1951.

Robert May, a member of the Montgomery Ward advertising staff, was asked in 1939 to come up with a new coloring book that the store would give away during the holidays. He created Rudolph as the ninth reindeer, but he first tried the names Rollo and Reginald, among others.

"A Charlie Brown Christmas," which will be 50 years old next year, is one of the few TV holiday specials that deals with the religious aspect of Christmas, Beckmann said.

That message is delivered when Lucy's brother, Linus, tells Charlie Brown the "real meaning" of Christmas in relaying the story of Christ's birth.

Those Christmas writers

Three writers made a significant difference in how we view Christmas.

Washington Irving (1783-1859) was worried about the growing gap between rich and poor in England and felt inviting the less fortunate and well-to-do together for a large holiday meal would help bridge that gap. If nothing else, it led to several stories about the festivities and fellowship of the holidays.

Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) wrote "The Night Before Christmas" and introduced a St. Nicholas with a sled full of gifts pulled by eight reindeer. His effort did much to change Christmas to a children's event, rather than just an adult celebration, Beckmann said.

Charles Dickens came along in 1843 and published a novella titled "A Christmas Carol." The story barely mentions the religious nature of Christmas, other than to note that Scrooge went to church. It is also interesting that "ghosts," rather than angels, redeem Scrooge, Beckmann said.

All three authors stressed the importance of family, and the positive elements of gift-giving and bringing people together. "But by their writing, the absolute link of Christ with Christmas was broken," Beckmann said.

That first Christmas

No evidence exists in the first century that any type of feast or celebration was held to honor Christ's birth, so it's not entirely correct to call that birth the "first Christmas."

Christmas is technically the feast honoring the birth, referred to as the "feast of the Nativity."

"Early Christians weren't much interested in Christ's birth, or anyone's birth for that matter," Beckmann said. "This was a time when the infant mortality rate was very high, so people were more interested in marking when a person died."

The messengers

The first two chapters of gospels by Matthew and Luke include accounts of the Nativity scene, setting the foundation for Christmas.

"But gospels were not biographies; they were a theological treatise," Beckmann said.

As such, each had different details or accounts of Christ's birth.

Matthew mentions the visit of the "Maji" from the east, but it is not likely they were kings and there is no certainty they arrived on camels, or even if there were three wise men, Beckmann said. "Nor were their names Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar," he added.

In addition, the star they followed wasn't described as "exceptionally bright," Beckmann said.

Changing traditions

While others before him did little to advance Christmas, or even tried to get rid of it, Martin Luther (1483-1546) liked the holiday and wrote several Christmas songs.

Legend has it that he also invented the Christmas tree. "But it is legend, and that's about it," Beckmann said.

The story goes that Luther saw a beautiful tree covered in snow, cut it down and brought it home. When the snow melted, he put candles on the tree.

Luther is generally given credit for creating the Christkindlmarket concept as he sought to bring more attention to the birth of Christ, rather than all of the credit for Christmas going to the image of St. Nicholas passing out gifts.

Trying to kill Christmas

Not all people had a place in their hearts for Christmas. Put the Puritans in that corner.

Puritans in England "moved carefully to shut down Christmas," Beckmann said. They did it by keeping stores and workplaces open on Dec. 25, making it difficult for families to gather for celebrations.

"When the Puritans came to the colonies in 1620, they tried their best to do away with Christmas," Beckmann said. "However, there were too many Anglicans who liked Christmas."

A good thing …

… those Puritans didn't have any luck in their attempts to wreck Christmas.

Here's to hoping all of my readers have a great holiday week and enjoy time with family and friends. Merry Christmas!

dheun@sbcglobal.net