Christmas is the one holiday every kid waits for every year. From the colorful gifts to the food, dessert, and family traditions, it’s the one holiday when families get together and spend great quality time together. Christmas is a holiday about giving and spending time together.
Christmas has its classic traditions, such as putting up a Christmas tree and decorations. But where do these traditions come from, and how did they gain popularity? Here is a list of different common Christmas traditions and how they came to be:
First, the Christmas tree dates back to 16th-century Germany. People started bringing evergreen(pine-needle) trees into their homes and decorating them with fruits, nuts, and, eventually, ornaments. This practice spread throughout Europe and eventually into America, becoming a staple of Christmas.
Second, how can you have Christmas without good old Santa Claus. Originating from Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop known for his generosity, became associated with Christmas in the 19th century. The modern image of Santa, with the red suit and white beard, was popularized through various media sources. This mainly comes from Coca-Cola’s advertising in the 1930s.
Next, gift giving is the one thing every kid looks forward to. This mainly symbolizes the gifts given to Jesus by the Magi. Gift-giving during Christmas became prominent due to its association with generosity and goodwill.
Finally, nativity scenes depicting the birth of Jesus Christ became widespread after St. Francis of Assisi created the first living nativity in 1223. This representation reminds people of the holiday’s religious significance.
The main tradition my family and I have is to have dinner and then open gifts; even though the kids get the most gifts out of everybody, the parents still enjoy the holiday. Jessica Divine, my mom, says the best part of Christmas to her is seeing the joy of kids opening their gifts. After we open gifts at my home and eat cookies, later we’ll go to my grandparents’ house and hang out with family and eat a christmas lunch then go and open more presents. The kids aren’t the only ones who open gifts; the parents also give gifts to each other, and everyone has fun.
This tradition started when my mother was a kid. They would follow the same tradition of waking up and celebrating Christmas at home. Then, she would go to her grandparents’ house, eat Christmas lunch, and open presents. Christmas doesn’t need a bunch of fancy traditions; it’s about spending time with your family and making memories.
Christmas is the very image of holiday cheer and families coming together to enjoy some food and maybe a movie or a pleasant conversation around a fireplace. Every family has their own way of celebrating Christmas, and that’s what it is about. Free will is the key ingredient of Christmas, along with the birth of Jesus Christ. It’s never about what traditions you do or don’t do. It is about the traditions that you and your family enjoy together before the new year.
