By Sam Frescoe
samfrescoe@gmail.comhttp://samfrescoeproject.blogspot.com/
The Sam Frescoe Project
#SamFrescoe
#SamFrescoe #Christmas #exceptional #self-governance #season
#heritage #tradition #faith #secular #non-secular #santa
There are those that will say this post is several days too
late. However, there are those that may say this post is still a bit early.
Still, there may be others that say this post is “in the season.” In any case,
when the Christmas season comes around, there is something for everyone.
I want to dig into the breadth and depth of the Christmas
season, that time leading up to December 25th and concluding after the New
Year. My desire is to show you that a greater understanding of this period of
celebration can assist us to better understand why the USA is exceptional. To
this end, I am going to change my voice away from disagreement and towards
discovery. While this article is brief, and in no way capable of discussing
every aspect, I hope you will enjoy the read.
“So What?”
The United States of America is an exceptional nation. Why?
Because the United States was deliberately founded on an idea that was good:
self-governance.
“Happily for America, happily we
trust for the whole human race, they pursued a new and more noble course. They
accomplished a revolution which has no parallel in the annals of human society.”
– James Madison, Federalist #14
A Unique Nation
The United States was founded on a
belief in self-governance, personal freedom. Personal freedom, the power and natural
right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. – To
that end, the United States provides a republic-based way of life. A state in
which supreme power is held by the people through their elected
representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a
monarch. – By design, the United States of America is a constitutional
republic. An arrangement of government, where the head of state and other
officials are representatives of the people and which governs in accordance
with existing constitutional law. It is a government of laws not of men.
Like no other nation, the United States is a place of
self-determination. It is here where an individual, regardless of their station
or condition, can more fully embrace their meaning as a human being: to exist, to
earn, to nourish, to rest, and make-merry.
“In America, you are the author of
your own life,” Dinesh D’Souza.
Mother Liberty
Mother Liberty is not Lady Liberty.
She stands resolute, but does not judge. She shows the way, but does not
prescribe. She embodies hope above order. Mother Liberty is a representation of
the United States itself; a symbol standing for an idea, a basic human need:
freedom.
"Give me your tired, your
poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your
teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp
beside the golden door!" – Statue of Liberty, September 1875
The United States is a place for
all of humanity. The weary and shattered; the deprived and unfortunate; the
crowds of common people (not ruling elites). Those declared to be less, but
desire and long to take in personal freedom. The United States is a spotlight
upon an excellent entrance: hope.
The United States, while unique in the world, shares an
important similarity with all other nations: it needs a means of unification. It
needs something comprehensive; something human; something timeless; something
that crosses divisions (real, imagined, or imposed); something that raises up
what is true, good and beautiful; something that raises the human spirit for
its own sake. The United States needs something that collects The People to a
purpose without stamping out the individual.
The United States needs the Christmas Season.
Getting Started
The Christmas Season, or holiday season, is an amazing time
of the American calendar. It is during this time that all manner of traditions
and celebrations (secular, non-secular, and all manner between) align
themselves with nature’s calendar at/near the winter solstice. Generally, this
a time when The People purposefully recognize the closing of one year, the opening
of a new year, and to embrace the value of family and friends. In the sections
to follow, and to keep the discussion brief, I summarize the lineage of the Christmas
Season, to touch on secular and non-secular heritage, recap several traditions
that are common in America, a Christmas critique, and provide a description of
historic figures.
Is
the Christmas Season special to you? Why? – Please leave a comment or send an
e-mail to samfrescoe@gmail.com.
A Long Lineage
Celebrating winter holidays in America is a custom that
traces its roots back to the first century, England and across Europe. Over the
centuries, these celebrations took on many forms across various cultures and were
adapted to meet the needs of peoples along the way. In my view, it seems clear that human beings
have a common need (something in our nature) to gather together at this time of
the year for prolonged merrymaking. Today, Americans continue to celebrate the
season; however, it was not always this way.
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1900’s – Today
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Christmas came into the popular discourse near 1931 when
construction workers built the first Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. [1]
In 1939, the imagination of Robert L. May gave us Rudolph, “the most famous
reindeer of all,” as an attempt to lure shoppers into Montgomery Ward
department stores.[2]
During the 1950’s, carol singing was revived by ministers, particularly in
America. [3]
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1931
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On Christmas Eve, 1931, during the height of the Clutch
Plague, workers at the Rockefeller Center construction site decided to pool
their money together to buy a Christmas tree, a 20-foot balsam fir that they
decorated with handmade garland from their families. The men lined up at the
tree to receive their paychecks. Two years later in 1933, Rockefeller Center
decided to make the tree an annual tradition and held the first official
lighting ceremony.[4]
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1800’s
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During the early 1800’s, America was struggling with class
conflicts and turmoil.[5]
In 1819, Washington Irving wrote The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, a series
of stories about the celebration of Christmas in an English manor house in
which Christmas was a peaceful, warm-hearted holiday.[6] Then, in 1822, Irving penned “Night Before
Christmas”.[7] In 1828, poinsettias were introduced from
Mexico by Joel R. Poinsett.[8]
– During the Victorian Era (1837-1901),
especially in England, Christmas was widely celebrated [9]
with gift-giving on Christmas Day.[10]
Charles Dickens inspired the British (and American) middle class with “A
Christmas Carol” in 1843. [11] – In America, on 26 June 1870,
Christmas was made a federal holiday. [12]
[13]
The Salvation Army has been sending Santa Claus-clad donation collectors into
the streets since the 1890s. [14]
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1700’s
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After the Revolutionary War (1765-1783) most English
customs fell out of favor in America, including Christmas.[15]
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1600’s
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In England, the
Puritan movement began near 1603 with the reign of Queen Elizabeth. With the
rise of Puritan thought, Christmas and other saints' days were banned under
pain of a fine.[16]
In 1644, all Christmas activities were banned in England.[17]
In 1658, Christmas was reinstated in England by Charles II. [18] – In 1607, the
first eggnog was consumed in the Jamestown settlement.[19]
After the pilgrims arrived in America (1620)[20]
Puritan ideas began to take hold. During the 1659-1681 period, Christmas was
not a holiday in early America,[21]
and was outlawed altogether in Boston; however, Christmas was fully embraced
in Jamestown.
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Some aspects of Christmas can be
traced back to the first century.
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400-1400
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During the Medieval
Period, Christmas was celebrated with feasting and merrymaking for 12 days
from Christmas Eve on 24th December, until the Epiphany (Twelfth Night) on
6th January. [22]
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End-700’s
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End-500’s
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567
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The 12 days from the
25th to the Epiphany were public holidays in England. The 25th
became a holiday in 529. [25]
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432
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400
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300-400
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Religion and Faith
Christmas is a Christian holy day reserved to mark the birth
of Jesus Christ, the son of God. It’s common for Christians to celebrate on
December 25th; whereas, Orthodox believers may prefer to celebrate
on January 7th.[32]/[33]
Interestingly, the Christmas celebration has ancestries in the Jewish holiday
of Hanukkah, the festivals of the ancient Greeks, the beliefs of the Druids,
and folk customs of Europe. [34]
Does
faith have a role in your celebration of Christmas? Tell me about it. – Please
leave a comment or send an e-mail to samfrescoe@gmail.com.
Hanukkah
Judaism was the main religion of Israel
at the time of Jesus' birth. The Jewish midwinter festival of Hanukkah marks an
important part of Jewish history. It is eight days long and on each day a
candle is lit. It is a time of remembrance, celebration of light, a time to
give gifts and have fun. [35]
Christianity
As Christianity spread into Europe,
leaders began to introduce Christian beliefs into local and regional religious
creeds (such as Saturnalia).[36]
Winter Festivals
The Christmas Season falls near/after the winter solstice
when the days are beginning to grow longer. It was common for people throughout
history to feast and celebrate to lift their spirits. Norsemen of Northern
Europe and Scandinavia lit bonfires, told stories and drank sweet ale. The
Romans also held a festival called Saturnalia for seven days. [37]
Additionally, at the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast
honoring the children of Rome. [38]
Do
you attend a Christmas celebration or festival? Tell me about it. – Please
leave a comment or send an e-mail to samfrescoe@gmail.com.
Saturnalia
It was a time when the ordinary
rules were turned upside down. Men dressed as women and masters dressed as
servants. The festival also involved processions, decorating houses with
greenery, lighting candles and giving presents. [39] During this period, Roman courts were closed,
and Roman law dictated that no one could be punished for damaging property or
injuring people during the weeklong celebration.[40]
Celebrations were commonly described as a "raucous, rowdy and sometimes
bawdy fashion." [41] Some celebration would go for a month.
Practical Matters
During the early centuries, at this
time of year, cattle and livestock were slaughtered so they would not have to
be fed during the winter; thus, there was a ready supply of fresh meat. In
addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and
ready for drinking.[42]
Middle Ages
On Christmas, believers attended
church, then celebrated raucously in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere
similar to today’s Mardi Gras. [43]
Christmas in America
In the early-1800’s, Americans
re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a
family-centered day of peace and nostalgia. The
family was also becoming less disciplined and more sensitive to the emotional
needs of children during the early-1800s. Christmas provided families with a
day when they could lavish attention and gifts on their children without
appearing to “spoil” them.[44]
Trees, Holly and Mistletoe
Bringing trees into homes and decorated them was a pagan
practice.[45] Christmas
trees became a German tradition and were popularized in the 1600’s by
Victorians. [46]
In 1834, Prince Albert received a Christmas tree from the Queen of Norway.[47]
The significance of holly predates Christianity. It was
important in Pagan customs for protection. Holly was used to decorate doors and
windows in the belief it would ward off evil spirits.
The Druids (Celtic priests) would cut the mistletoe that
grew on the oak tree and give it as a blessing. Oaks were seen as sacred and
mistletoe was a symbol of life in the dark winter months. [48] Norse mythology recounts how the god Balder
was killed using a mistletoe arrow by his rival god Hoder while fighting for
the female Nanna. [49]
Caroling and Cards
Victorians revived carol singing before being embraced by
American pastors and clergymen in the 1950’s. [50]
Victorians borrowed the practice of card giving from St.
Valentine's Day. However, Americans embraced the practice as a good way of
keeping in contact with people at home by leveraging the inexpensive postal
service. [51]
Gift Giving
Today, Christmas is the biggest holiday in the calendar with
the main element the exchange of gifts on Christmas day. [52]
While gift-giving seems tied to Christmas Day, it used to be reserved for New
Year's Day. [53]
Santa – Santa Claus – Father Christmas – Old Saint Nick –
Saint Nicholas
Santa’s origins are in Christian and European tradition; but,
his visual image was popularized by American card-makers in the Victorian era.
His reindeer sleigh is from Scandinavian mythology. The name, Saint Nicholas,
has a Dutch origin. [54]
As a point of fact, Saint Nicholas was born in Parara,
Turkey in 270 CE and later became Bishop of Myra. He died in 345 CE on December 6th. He was only named a saint in the 19th
century. A famous story has him anonymously delivering bags of gold coins to a
man who could not afford dowry for his daughters to get married. Nicholas was
among the most senior bishops who convened the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE and
created the New Testament. [55]
Thomas Nast, a Bavarian illustrator, completed the modern
picture of Santa, gave him a home at the North Pole, filled his workshop with
elves, and created the good/bad list. In 1931, the Coca Cola Corporation
contracted the Swedish commercial artist Haddon Sundblom to create a
coke-drinking Santa. Sundblom modeled
his Santa on his friend Lou Prentice, chosen for his cheerful, chubby
face. The corporation insisted that
Santa’s fur-trimmed suit be bright, Coca Cola red. [56]
What
did I miss? What are your favorite traditions? Why are they important to you? –
Please leave a comment or send an e-mail to samfrescoe@gmail.com.
A Time of Excess
Christmas has always been celebrated with a measure of carelessness. [57] "There's always been a push and pull,
and it's taken different forms. It might have been alcohol then, and now it's
these glittering toys." [58]
It is the opinion of some that the consumerism of Christmas shopping takes away from the spirit of the season. In the opinion of others this degree of consumerism contradicts the religious goal of celebrating Jesus Christ's birth outright (excessive spending is the modern equivalent of the revelry and drunkenness that made the Puritans frown).[59] Recently, protests against consumerism have been made by Christians and non-Christians, encouraging people to spend time with their families instead of spending money on them.[60]
What
are your thoughts? Is the concern of excess important to you? – Please leave a
comment or send an e-mail to samfrescoe@gmail.com.
Going Forward
Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide
cultural and commercial phenomenon. For centuries, the peoples of the world have
observed its traditions and practices that are both secular and non-secular in
nature. Americans are no different. Over time, Americans have re-invented the
holiday to fill the cultural needs of the nation.[61] With carol concerts, trees, parties,
religious services, and television programs, modern celebrations embrace
elements of the Pagan, Christian and folk traditions that have withstood the
test of time.
The Bottom Line
Christmas in America is a powerful phenomenon. Like no other
holiday, Christmas crosses all divisions at a human level. Christmas serves as
a timeless and unifying mechanism that recognizes humanity (its existence, its
essences, its accountability, its charity) for its own sake. There is no
secular/non-secular qualification inherent in Christmas, just the ones we individually
apply.
Christmas was handed down, gifted, to The People by those
that came before in order to provide those yet to come a way to recognize,
embrace, and protect that which is true, good, and beautiful. Today, we are
responsible to steward this amazing and precious gift. Tomorrow, we will be
responsible to re-gift it…again.
Thank you. – Sam Frescoe
Your View
Your thoughts and perspectives are important. I invite you
to tell me what you believe with the comment section below or at samfrescoe@gmail.com.
© 2016 – SamFrescoeProject.Blogspot.com
– All Rights Reserved
Tell me about the Names – Who were those folks?
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Pope Julius I
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Born 337, Died 352 – Ruled Roman Church from 18 Jan 336
through 7 Oct 336. He was elected Pope on 6 Feb 337. [62]
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St Gregory Nazianzen
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Pope Sixtus III
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Consecrated 31 July 432, Died 440. He was prominent among
the Roman clergy and in correspondence with St. Augustine.[64]
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Queen Elizabeth I
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Born 7 Sep 1533 – Died 24 Mar 1603. Crowned 1558. Never
openly passionate about religion, recognizing its divisive role in English
politics. [65]
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Captain John Smith
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Born Jan 1580 – Died 21 Jun 1631
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Oliver Cromwell
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Born 25 Apr 1599 – Died 3 Sep 1658 – It is a myth that he
personally ‘banned’ Christmas. He served as Lord Protector from December 1653
until his death in September 1658, and likely supported the enforcement of
existing measures. [66]
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Charles II
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Born 29 May 1630 – Died 6 Feb 1685
Cromwell was Lord Protector until his death in 1658,
whereby Charles II was enthusiastically welcomed back to England to take the
throne as the country's rightful heir. Once Charles II was restored to the
throne, all legislation banning Christmas – enforced from 1642 to 1660 – was
dropped and the common people were once again allowed to mark the Twelve Days
of Christmas. Old traditions were revived with renewed enthusiasm and
Christmas was celebrated throughout the country as both a religious and
secular festival. [67]
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Washington Irving
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3 Apr 1783 – 28 Nov 1859; He is best known for the short
stories “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle.”[68]
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Joel R. Poinsett
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2 Mar 1779 – 12 Dec 1851; American physician and diplomat;
He was the first U.S. agent in South America, a member of the South Carolina
legislature and the United States House of Representatives, the first United
States Minister to Mexico, a Unionist leader in South Carolina during the
Nullification Crisis, Secretary of War under Martin Van Buren, and a
co-founder of the National Institute for the Promotion of Science and the
Useful Arts (a predecessor of the Smithsonian Institution).
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Prince Albert
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26 Aug 1819 – 14 Dec 1861; Married to Queen Victoria
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Queen of Norway
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Desiree Clary was born 8 Nov 1777, married 17 Aug 1798 to
Charles III, ascended 5 Feb 181, ceased 8 Mar 1844, and died 17 Dec 1860. [69]
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Charles Dickens
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7 Feb 1812 – 9 Jun 1870; English writer and social critic
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Queen Victoria
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24 May 1819 – 22 Jan 1901; Victoria was Queen of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her
death. From 1 May 1876, she adopted the additional title of Empress of India.
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Robert L. May
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27 Jul 1905 – 10 Aug 1976; The creator of Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer
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Sir James Frazer
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1 Jan 1854 – 7 May 1941; a Scottish social anthropologist
influential in the early stages of the modern studies of mythology and
comparative religion. He is often considered one of the founding fathers of
modern anthropology.
|
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