The stories and traditions that surround Christmas

The Rev. William Beckman admits he is a purist when it comes to Christmas.

"I won't play Christmas music or put up any decorations until the fourth Sunday of Advent (today)," said Beckman, an assistant pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Batavia. "But I also am not bothered by other traditions or the commercial aspects of the season."

Beckman said everybody who celebrates Christmas loves the Christmas season, but it also drives people crazy.

"We complain that Christmas is too commercialized, too hectic and not spiritual enough," Beckman added. "In response, we launch campaigns to tell everyone that 'Jesus is the reason for the season' and we need to 'keep Christ in Christmas.' "

Beckman claims the truth is that Christmas never was like we think it was.

In continuing a 10-year tradition, Beckman presented interesting facts and lore about the holiday season for the Tri-Cities Exchange Club, of which we are both members. The following items summarize some interesting points made during that presentation.

In the beginning: Christians assume that Christmas and Easter are the two most important observances of the Christian year, Beckman said, but it wasn't always that way.

During the first few centuries of early Christianity, there was no annual celebration of the Christ child's nativity.

"It's possible that birth dates were not as important, because of the high mortality rate of infants," Beckman reasoned. "The focus was on the death and resurrection of Jesus."

Beckman noted that the four gospels of the New Testament have many chapters on the last days and hours of Jesus' life, but "only Matthew and Luke give us any clue to Jesus' birth and the early years."

They came later: The three wise men, or Maji, likely never arrived in Bethlehem in time to see baby Jesus in his manger, Beckman said.

"They came much later, and Jesus, Mary and Joseph may have lived in a house by then."

Beckman said it wasn't until the third or fourth centuries that the eastern church observed Epiphany, or the arrival of the Maji, on Jan. 6.

Why that date?: "We don't have a clear-cut answer as to why Dec. 25 was chosen as the date to celebrate the birth of Jesus," Beckman said. "But with the choice of Dec. 25, the church arrived at a date smack in the middle of three wildly popular Roman midwinter festivals."

Beckman said that Dec. 25 fell right in between a festival celebrating harvest, and another celebrating the new year.

"Quite likely," he said, "Christian leaders picked these midwinter festivals to either tame them or take advantage of their popularity to promote the acceptance of Christianity."

Cards in the mail: Recent figures suggest that 75 percent of Americans still send Christmas cards, Beckman said, resulting in more than 2.5 billion cards per year.

The letters that sometimes accompany Christmas cards were common before cards became popular. These letters, which update recipients on what a family has done in the past year, were commonly sent during the holiday season. When cards became popular, Beckman said, critics complained that they were a poor substitute for the letters.

Beckman said a German immigrant named Louis Prang printed cards from 1875 to 1890. "He reproduced fine art on the cards, so they were popular with the well-to-do," Beckman added. "When less expensive cards imported from Germany undercut his business, he turned to manufacturing art supplies, and some of you may recall seeing his name on the watercolor tins you had in grade school."

Those decorations: After years of decorating Christmas trees with just candles, cookies, popcorn strings and paper ornaments, glass ornaments from Germany began to show up in America in the 1880s.

"F.W. Woolworth was talked into accepting a shipment, then within two days his stores were sold out," Beckman said. "In following years, he placed large orders for the glass ornaments."

As for wrapping paper trivia, Beckman said that 96 percent of Americans wrap their Christmas presents, averaging 37 gifts per home.

"Wrapping paper actually became a marketing technique to encourage sales," Beckman explained. "Historians explain that as the transition went from homemade gifts to manufactured gifts, wrapping paper hid the commercial nature of the gifts, making them more personal."

The Christmas spirit: Beckman closed his presentation with suggestions for keeping the Christmas spirit.

"Remember those who truly need your gifts; express your love and caring in more direct ways than gifts; examine your holiday activities in the light of your deepest values; be a peacemaker within your circle of family and friends; and rededicate yourself to your spiritual growth.

"Claim the joy and meaning of the season."

dheun@sbcglobal.net