Helina Seyoum
Teacher’s Guide to Christmas
Christmas is a religious and cultural holiday celebrated on December 25th. For Christians, it commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. For many others, it has become a secular winter celebration focused on family, giving, and community.
Quick Facts:
- Religious Significance: Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, whose teachings form the basis of Christianity
- Date: December 25th (though Jesus’ actual birth date is unknown)
- Federal Holiday: Became a U.S. federal holiday in 1870
- Duration: Often celebrated from Christmas Eve (December 24th) through Christmas Day, with a longer “Christmas season” from late November through early January
- Common Traditions: Decorating Christmas trees, exchanging gifts, special meals with family, attending religious services, Santa Claus for children
- Key Themes: Joy, peace, generosity, family, light in darkness, hope
Important Context for Teachers: Christmas has both religious and secular aspects. Many traditions we associate with Christmas—including Christmas trees, gift-giving, and Santa Claus—developed independently from Christian religious practices and have roots in ancient winter celebrations.
Winter Celebrations Existed First
Long before Christmas, ancient peoples celebrated the winter solstice—the shortest day of the year (around December 21st). Almost all agricultural societies worshipped the sun and marked the solstices as major events.
Ancient Winter Festivals:
- Roman Saturnalia (5th century BCE): A festival honoring Saturn, god of agriculture. Celebrated with feasting, gift-giving, gambling, and role reversals where social order was temporarily upended
- Norse Yule: A winter festival where the god Odin rode across the sky on his eight-legged white horse, leaving gifts for children at households
- Persian Yalda: Celebrating the longest night of the year
- Chinese Dongzhi: Marking the return of longer days
Why December 25th?
The Bible doesn’t mention when Jesus was born (some evidence suggests spring, when shepherds would be herding). In the 4th century, Pope Julius I chose December 25th for the Feast of the Nativity.
Strategic Timing: Early Christian leaders placed Christmas near existing winter solstice celebrations. This allowed them to:
- Offer an alternative to pagan festivals like Saturnalia
- Adopt and transform familiar customs into Christian traditions
- Describe Jesus as the “new light” returning to the world—fitting for the time when days begin lengthening after the solstice
Key Teaching Point: Many Christmas customs—decorating with evergreens, feasting, gift-giving, lighting candles—existed in ancient winter celebrations before Christianity. These traditions were adapted and given new meaning within Christian context.
Ancient Evergreen Symbolism
Using evergreens during winter predates Christmas by thousands of years. Ancient peoples used evergreen plants as symbols of:
- Life persisting through winter: When other plants died, evergreens stayed green
- Hope for spring’s return: A promise that warmth and growth would come again
- The sun’s return: Encouraging the sun to come back after the darkest days
Ancient Examples:
- Egyptians brought palm branches into homes during winter festivals honoring Ra (sun god)
- Romans decorated with evergreen wreaths during Saturnalia
- Celts and other Northern European peoples used evergreens in winter solstice celebrations
❌ The Martin Luther Myth
Popular Story: Martin Luther was walking through a forest on Christmas Eve when he was struck by the beauty of starlight shining through snow-covered fir branches. He cut down a small tree, brought it home, and decorated it with candles to recreate the scene for his children.
Historical Reality: This charming story is not supported by historical evidence. While Luther may have used evergreens, he did not invent the Christmas tree tradition.
The Real Origins: 17th Century Germany
The Christmas tree tradition began as a minor, localized custom in Strasbourg, Germany (in the Alsace region) in the early 1600s.
Evolution of the Christmas Tree:
- Early 1600s: First recorded Christmas trees in Strasbourg homes
- 1605: Trees decorated with apples appeared in Strasbourg
- 1611: First recorded use of candles on Christmas trees by a Silesian duchess
- Late 1700s: Custom of decorating trees with wax candles and ornaments became more widespread in German towns
- 1799: English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge gave the first English description of a decorated Christmas tree in a German home
- 1840: Queen Victoria and Prince Albert popularized the tradition in Britain
- 1843: George Ticknor brought the tradition to prominent American society with a Christmas party in Boston
- 1889: President Benjamin Harrison placed the first Christmas tree in the White House
Why Light Candles on a Tree?
The practice of putting wax candles on an evergreen tree was inspired by ancient pagan tradition of lighting bonfires on the winter solstice (December 21st)—the darkest day of the year. These fires were meant to:
- Recall the sun and show it the way home
- Bring warmth and light to the darkest time
- Celebrate that days would start getting longer
The lit Christmas tree was essentially a domesticated version of these ancient bonfires.
How German Protestants Popularized It
In the 16th century, German Protestant reformers wanted to remove elaborate Catholic imagery (ornate Nativity scenes, statues of saints). They promoted the simpler Christmas tree as an alternative, making it a Protestant symbol.
Queen Victoria’s Influence
The tradition exploded in popularity after an 1848 illustration in The Illustrated London News showed Queen Victoria, Prince Albert (who was German), and their children gathered around a candlelit Christmas tree. This image:
- Made Christmas trees fashionable among the British upper classes
- Spread the tradition throughout the British Empire
- Helped popularize it in America, where it had been seen as “too German”
Teaching Point: The Christmas tree is a perfect example of how traditions evolve. What started as ancient pagan bonfires became candlelit trees in German Protestant homes, then spread worldwide through Victorian influence and American adoption.
Ancient Origins of Winter Gift-Giving
Exchanging gifts during winter celebrations existed long before Christmas:
- Roman Saturnalia: Romans exchanged gifts during their December festival
- Norse Yule: The god Odin left small gifts for children as he rode across the sky
- New Year traditions: Many cultures gave gifts to mark the turning of the year
How Christmas Gift-Giving Began
The Christian connection to gift-giving comes from the Three Wise Men (Magi) who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus.
However, modern Christmas gift-giving—especially the custom of placing wrapped presents under a tree—is surprisingly recent.
Evolution of Christmas Gifts:
- Late 1700s: Gift-giving emerges in Germany alongside Christmas tree tradition
- Early 1800s: Initially, gifts were modest and often handmade
- 1840s: American book publishers marketed the idea of giving books as Christmas presents to children
- 1845: Kriss Kringle’s Christmas Tree depicted children receiving gifts under the tree—books, swords, drums, and dolls
- Mid-1800s: Wrapped presents became fashionable, invented in America
- Late 1800s-Early 1900s: Department stores promoted Christmas shopping
- 20th century: Gift-giving became increasingly commercialized
The Role of Booksellers
American book publishers played a crucial role in creating the tradition of gifts under the tree. They:
- Published picture books showing children receiving presents under Christmas trees
- Marketed books as ideal Christmas gifts for children
- Essentially convinced parents that giving gifts would keep children happily indoors and away from rowdy street celebrations
Marketing Strategy: “What better way to convince your children to stay inside, away from the revelry and out of trouble, than to leave gifts under the tree?”
Charles Dickens’ Influence
In 1843, Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol, which:
- Linked Christmas with generosity, charity, and kindness
- Emphasized family togetherness and goodwill
- Helped popularize the idea of Christmas as a time for giving
- Created the “Dickensian” vision of Christmas we still recognize today
Key Insight: Modern Christmas gift-giving is a blend of ancient winter traditions, Christian symbolism, Victorian sentimentality, and clever 19th-century marketing. What feels like an “ancient tradition” is actually less than 200 years old in its current form.
The Many Influences on Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a fascinating example of cultural mixing, combining elements from:
1. Saint Nicholas of Myra (4th Century)
- A real Christian bishop who lived in what is now Turkey (270-343 CE)
- Famous for his generosity, especially to children and the poor
- Stories tell of him secretly giving gold coins to save three daughters from poverty
- Became patron saint of children in European traditions
2. Norse God Odin
- During Yule, Odin rode across the sky on his eight-legged white horse (Sleipnir)
- Left small gifts at households as he passed
- Connection to Santa’s flying reindeer and gift-giving
3. Dutch Sinterklaas
- Dutch settlers brought “Sinterklaas” traditions to America
- Celebrated on December 6th (St. Nicholas Day)
- The name “Santa Claus” comes from “Sinterklaas”
4. English “Father Christmas”
- First appeared in mid-17th century as a symbol of good cheer
- Originally depicted as a thin man promoting feasting and celebration
- By 1874, evolved into a jolly round man in red and green robes with holly on his head
- Was the personification of Christmas festivities for adults—brought no presents initially
Santa’s Modern Image Develops:
- 1823: “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (also called “The Night Before Christmas”) published, possibly by Clement Clarke Moore. This poem:
- Described Santa as jolly and plump
- Introduced eight named reindeer
- Established coming down the chimney
- Created much of the modern Santa mythology
- 1863: German-American cartoonist Thomas Nast drew the first image of Santa Claus in Harper’s Weekly, showing him visiting Union Army troops during the Civil War
- 1930s-1940s: Coca-Cola advertising campaigns popularized the image of Santa in red and white (Coca-Cola’s brand colors), though Santa wore red before Coca-Cola
- Mid-20th century: The name “Santa Claus” gradually replaced “Father Christmas” in British usage
Did Coca-Cola Create Santa?
Myth: Coca-Cola invented Santa Claus or changed his suit to red.
Reality: Santa wore red before Coca-Cola’s campaigns began. However, Coca-Cola’s extensive advertising (starting in 1931) did help standardize and popularize the specific image of a jolly, round Santa in a red suit with white fur trim that we know today.
Teaching Point: Santa Claus shows how folklore evolves through cultural mixing. He combines a real Christian saint, a Norse god, Dutch customs, English traditions, American poetry, and 20th-century advertising into one beloved figure.
Why Puritans Banned Christmas
When English Puritans outlawed Christmas in 1647, and American Puritans did the same in Massachusetts (1659-1681), they had good reasons. Christmas past was wild, raucous, and often dangerous.
What Was Christmas Like Before the Victorian Era?
Until the mid-19th century, Christmas was anything but the peaceful, family-centered holiday we know today:
Characteristics of Pre-Victorian Christmas:
- Wild Celebrations: Christmas was loud, rowdy, and often chaotic
- Role Reversals: Men dressed as women, women as men, servants as masters, boys as bishops
- Misrule: Social order was deliberately turned upside down for the season
- Wassailing: Roving bands of poor men and boys would go door-to-door demanding the finest food and drink from wealthy homes
- Late-Night Festivities: Young people celebrated late into the night
- Gambling: Card games and betting were common
- Public Disorder: Streets filled with noisy crowds and mischief-making
The Connection to Saturnalia
These wild Christmas customs came directly from Roman Saturnalia traditions:
- Temporary suspension of social rules
- Masters serving enslaved people for a day
- Gambling and games
- Feasting to excess
- General “misrule” and chaos
The Victorian “Reinvention” of Christmas
In the mid-1800s, Christmas was deliberately transformed into a family-centered, respectable holiday:
- Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (1843): Promoted charity, family unity, and goodwill
- Queen Victoria’s influence: Made Christmas domestic and child-focused
- The Industrial Revolution: Created the concept of “leisure time” and family holidays
- Social reformers: Worked to make Christmas “respectable” and family-friendly
Historical Irony: The “traditional Victorian Christmas” we romanticize today—peaceful, family-centered, focused on children—was actually a radical reinvention. For most of history, Christmas was a loud, drunken, sometimes dangerous public festival, not a quiet domestic celebration.
Remnants That Remain
Some elements of the old wild Christmas still survive:
- Festive office Christmas parties
- Overeating and indulgence
- New Year’s Eve celebrations
- Staying up late on Christmas Eve
As one historian notes: “Still, much of the sordid underbelly of Christmas past remains” in various forms of celebration and excess.
Early American Skepticism
For most of the 19th century, Americans were skeptical of Christmas:
- Puritan colonists had banned it in Massachusetts (1659-1681)
- It was seen as a rowdy, disorderly holiday
- Many viewed Christmas trees as “too German”
- Some felt it lacked biblical authority
- The celebration remained marginal in American society
German Influence
German immigrants brought Christmas traditions to America:
- Benjamin Franklin estimated one-third of Pennsylvania’s white population was German before the Revolution
- German-American families put up Christmas trees and exchanged gifts in their homes
- These customs were initially viewed as foreign and strange
Key Moments in American Adoption
Christmas Becomes American:
- 1843: George Ticknor, a prominent Harvard professor, hosted a Christmas party with a tree in Boston, introducing the custom to influential Americans
- 1850s: Christmas trees slowly gained acceptance among the American upper class
- 1863: During the Civil War, Thomas Nast’s illustration of Santa visiting Union troops appeared in Harper’s Weekly—the first image of the American Santa Claus
- 1870: Christmas became a federal holiday (along with New Year’s Day, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving)
- 1889: President Benjamin Harrison placed the first official Christmas tree in the White House
The Civil War’s Impact
Surprisingly, the American Civil War helped solidify Christmas as an American tradition:
- Soldiers from different regions shared Christmas customs
- The holiday provided comfort during a devastating time
- Thomas Nast’s patriotic Santa images linked Christmas with American identity
- Families found solace in Christmas traditions while separated by war
20th Century Transformation
Christmas became fully American through:
- Commercialization: Department stores like Macy’s promoted Christmas shopping
- Mass Media: Radio, then television spread common Christmas imagery
- Advertising: Companies used Christmas to sell products
- Secular Adoption: Non-Christians began celebrating as a cultural holiday
- Christmas Music: Songs like “White Christmas” (1942) became American classics
American Innovation: While many Christmas customs came from Europe, Americans made unique contributions: Santa’s North Pole workshop, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1939), elaborate outdoor lighting displays, Black Friday shopping, and Christmas as a major economic driver.
Christmas Cards
Invented in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole in Victorian England:
- Cole was popular and busy, overwhelmed by social correspondence
- He asked artist J.C. Horsley to design a holiday card he could send to many people
- The first mass-produced Christmas card was born
- Made affordable by the Penny Post (introduced 1840), which allowed mailing for just one penny
- Became essential to British and American Christmas by the 20th century
Christmas Decorations
The idea of winter decorations is older than Christmas itself:
- Holly: Used in Roman Saturnalia; evergreen leaves symbolized eternal life
- Mistletoe: Sacred to ancient Druids; kissing under mistletoe has unclear origins but became popular in Victorian England
- Wreaths: Circular evergreen wreaths used by Romans; the circle represented eternity
- Tinsel: Invented in Germany, originally made from real silver, now plastic
- Lights: Originally candles on trees; electric lights invented by Edward Johnson in 1882
Christmas Music and Carols
- Caroling: Evolved from wassailing tradition (roving bands demanding food/drink)
- “O Tannenbaum” (O Christmas Tree): Written in 1824, actually just praises the fir tree—no mention of Christmas
- “Silent Night”: Written in Austria in 1818
- Modern American Christmas songs emerged in the 20th century
Christmas Foods
- Turkey: Became the standard Christmas meat in Britain and America in Victorian era
- Christmas Pudding: A rich, heavy dessert popular in Britain
- Candy Canes: Peppermint candy sticks mass-produced by Bob McCormack in Georgia in 1920
- Gingerbread Houses: Inspired by the Brothers Grimm story “Hansel and Gretel”
- Eggnog: Rich drink with medieval English origins
Modern American Traditions
- Elf on the Shelf: Invented in 2005
- Ugly Christmas Sweaters: Became popular in the 1980s-1990s
- Christmas Lights Displays: Elaborate outdoor decorations
- Christmas Movies: “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “A Christmas Carol” adaptations, “Home Alone“
- Advent Calendars: Started in Germany in 1903, originally with Bible verses, now often with chocolate
✅ DO:
- Teach the history of Christmas traditions and their multicultural origins
- Acknowledge that Christmas is a religious holiday for Christians while also having secular cultural aspects
- Recognize that many students celebrate Christmas, while many don’t
- Present Christmas alongside other winter holidays (Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, etc.)
- Focus on universal themes: family, generosity, light in darkness, hope
- Discuss how traditions evolve and change over time
- Connect to historical and cultural learning standards
- Allow students to share their family’s traditions (whether Christmas or other holidays) voluntarily
❌ DON’T:
- Assume all students celebrate Christmas
- Require participation in Christmas activities in public schools
- Present Christmas as the only important December holiday
- Ignore the religious significance for Christian families
- Focus only on Santa and gifts without historical/cultural context
- Make non-celebrating students feel excluded
- Treat Christmas as the “default” while other holidays are “exotic”
- Pressure families to conform to any particular celebration
Public School Considerations
Legal Context: Public schools in the U.S. can teach about religious holidays as part of cultural and historical education, but cannot promote or celebrate them as religious observances. Schools must be inclusive of all students regardless of their family’s beliefs.
- Teaching about Christmas traditions = Educational ✅
- Requiring participation in Christmas celebrations = Not appropriate ❌
- Saying “Merry Christmas” = Generally fine in context 👍
- Saying only “Merry Christmas” while ignoring other holidays = Less inclusive 👎
Creating Inclusive Classrooms
- “Winter Celebrations” Units: Study multiple December holidays together
- “How Traditions Change” Theme: Explore how Christmas and other holidays evolved
- “Light in Darkness” Universal Theme: Many cultures celebrate light during the darkest time of year
- “Family Traditions” Sharing: Students can share their family’s traditions, whatever they are
- Historical Approach: Focus on the fascinating history of how traditions developed
Grades K-1:
- Focus on simple concepts: “A winter holiday that many families celebrate”
- Read age-appropriate books about Christmas traditions
- Discuss that different families celebrate different holidays in December
- Emphasize themes of kindness, sharing, family, and light
- Simple activity: “What does your family do to celebrate in winter?”
- Avoid assuming all students believe in Santa Claus
Grades 2-3:
- Introduce the history: Christmas celebrates Jesus’ birth for Christians
- Explain that some traditions (like Christmas trees) come from ancient winter celebrations
- Compare winter holidays: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, winter solstice
- Discuss how families have different traditions
- Activity: Create a timeline showing how one Christmas tradition evolved
- Explore universal themes across different cultural celebrations
Grades 4-5:
- Study ancient winter solstice celebrations (Saturnalia, Yule)
- Explore how Christianity adopted and adapted pagan traditions
- Discuss the evolution of Santa Claus from multiple cultural sources
- Analyze how Christmas changed in Victorian era vs. earlier periods
- Research project: “How a Christmas tradition traveled around the world”
- Critical thinking: “Why do we still use customs from ancient celebrations?”
- Discuss commercialization and how holidays change over time
- Connect to immigration and cultural blending in American history
Social Studies
- Ancient History: Study Roman Saturnalia and winter solstice celebrations worldwide
- Cultural Diffusion: How German Christmas tree tradition spread globally
- Immigration: How different groups brought traditions to America
- Timeline: Chart evolution of Christmas customs from ancient times to today
- Geography: Map where different Christmas traditions originated
- Civil War: How Christmas became unified American tradition during/after war
Language Arts
- Read: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (age-appropriate version)
- Poetry: Analyze “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (The Night Before Christmas)
- Comparative Reading: Christmas stories from different cultures
- Writing: “How My Family Celebrates” personal narrative
- Research: History of a specific Christmas tradition
- Vocabulary: Winter solstice, evergreen, tradition, secular, commercialization
Science
- Astronomy: Study winter solstice and Earth’s tilt
- Botany: Why evergreens stay green in winter
- Physics: How candles/lights work, fire safety
- Weather: Winter patterns and why ancient peoples feared the dark season
- Day Length: Track sunrise/sunset times through winter
Math
- Calendar Math: Calculate when December 25 falls on different weekdays over years
- Consumer Math: Christmas shopping budgets, calculating discounts
- Data Analysis: Graph Christmas card sending trends over time
- Measurement: Recipe conversions for holiday baking
- Patterns: Symmetry in Christmas tree decorations
Art
- Historical Art: Study Victorian Christmas cards and illustrations
- Cultural Art: Compare Christmas decorative traditions worldwide
- Design: Create original ornament or card designs
- Art History: Examine Nativity paintings through different eras
Music
- Carol Origins: Learn where different Christmas songs came from
- Cultural Music: Compare Christmas music from different countries
- Historical Music: How Christmas music changed from medieval to modern times
K-2nd Grade:
- “What special things does your family do in winter?”
- “Why do you think people like to give gifts?”
- “What do lights and candles make you think of?”
- “How does your family celebrate together?”
3rd-5th Grade:
- “Why do you think so many cultures celebrate during the darkest time of year?”
- “How did ancient winter celebrations influence Christmas?”
- “Why would German Protestants want a Christmas tree instead of a Nativity scene?”
- “How do you think Queen Victoria helped spread the Christmas tree tradition?”
- “Why might the Puritans have banned Christmas?”
- “How has Christmas changed from the 1800s to today?”
- “What does ‘commercialization’ mean? How has it affected Christmas?”
- “How do traditions travel from one culture to another?”
- “Why do some families celebrate Christmas while others don’t?”
- Ancient Roots: Most Christmas traditions originated in pre-Christian winter solstice celebrations, particularly Roman Saturnalia and Norse Yule.
- Cultural Blending: Christmas is a perfect example of cultural synthesis—combining Christian religious meaning with pagan customs, Germanic traditions, Victorian sentimentality, and American commercialization.
- Relatively Recent: Many traditions we think of as “ancient”—Christmas trees, Santa Claus, gift exchanges—are less than 200 years old in their current form.
- Constantly Evolving: Christmas has continually changed and adapted. Victorian Christmas was radically different from medieval Christmas; modern Christmas is different from Victorian Christmas.
- Marketing Matters: Book publishers, department stores, and advertisers played huge roles in shaping modern Christmas traditions.
- Diverse Celebrations: Not all Christian families celebrate Christmas the same way, and many American families don’t celebrate it at all. Respect this diversity.
- Educational Opportunity: Teaching Christmas history provides rich opportunities to discuss cultural diffusion, historical change, ancient civilizations, and religious freedom.