The first recorded mention of “Christmas” is in 1038. The word came from “Cristes Maesse,” meaning “mass of Christ.” The Bible doesn’t tell us Christ’s birthdate, but a Pope back in the mid-fourth century designated December 25 as the day to celebrate His birth.
DYK the first December 25 Christmas was celebrated in Rome in AD 336?
DYK the first American Christmas was celebrated in Tallahassee, FL, in 1539?
In both cases, the celebration was a religious mass—no Christmas trees, no gifts, and certainly, no Santa Claus.
Illegal Celebrations
Celebrating Christmas was once illegal. An act of Parliament in 1644 forbid its observance in England. That law carried over to the American colonies. Anyone caught celebrating Christmas between 1659-1681 paid a fine. It wasn’t until June 26, 1870, Christmas was declared a federal U.S. holiday.
DYK the first U.S. state to declare Christmas a legal holiday was Alabama in 1836? The last state to do so was Oklahoma in 1907.
Xmas
Some people don’t like the abbreviation “Xmas” for “Christmas.” But it’s not a disrespectful or modern abbreviation.
In Greek, the letter “X” (“Chi”) is the first letter of Christos (Christ). The second letter is “P” (“Rho”). The shorthand for “Christ”—“Xp,” the first two letters of His name—was made popular by Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great, in the early fourth century. Most scholars agree the abbreviation “XPmas,” referring to Christ’s birth, first appeared in 1021. By the mid-1500s in Europe, the use of the abbreviation was common. (Although it had been shortened to “Xmas” by then.)
Where is the “Christ” in “Christmas”
In 2019, 93% of Americans claimed to celebrate Christmas, but not all of them celebrate it because it’s a religious holiday. The reason for the holiday appears to gradually be disappearing. Once, everyone attended a religious service to celebrate Christ’s birth. Now no more than half include a church service in their holiday festivities.
Today, as you enjoy your family, food, and gifts, remember the reason for the holiday is to celebrate the birth of the savior Jesus Christ. Without Him, there would be no holiday. So be sure to include Him in your celebration.
Bonus Did You Know Christmas Facts
DYK “Santa Tracker,” provided by NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command), began because of a newspaper error? A Sears ad in 1955 was supposed to include the store’s number for children to call and tell Santa what they wanted. Instead, the phone number printed was the unlisted hotline for the U.S. Continental Air Defense Command’s (CONAD) Director of Operations. Colonel Harry Shoup, commander on duty, decided to spread a little Christmas magic by assuring the young caller that CONAD guaranteed Santa a safe journey from the North Pole. He then ordered his staff to provide updates on Santa’s flight coordinates to any other children who called.
DYK the children who gave voices to the characters in Charlie Brown’s Christmas were so young they couldn’t read the script? The director read the lines, then had the children repeat what he’d read.
DYK according to National Geographic Kids, during the Christmas season approximately 28 Lego sets are sold every second?