The origin of the symbols associated with the Christmas holiday

Le Père Christmas

If there is one symbol often associated with Christmas, it is that of Santa Claus, who was inspired by Saint Nicholas. We must go back to the 17th century to trace its origins. It is believed that German or Dutch immigrants brought this character to the United States. Of course, in those distant times, Saint Nicholas was a bishop, and his stature had nothing in common with that which is today attributed to Santa Claus. The unification of these two figures undoubtedly goes back to Clement Clarke Moore, author of the famous poem entitled "A Visit From St. Nicholas," which was written in 1821. This poem was subsequently transformed into a story, translated into several languages, and spread to the four corners of the planet.

The fir tree

The symbol of the fir tree, which stands in the living rooms of millions of people, is also closely associated with the Christmas holiday. The origins of the Christmas tree may date back to the time of the Celts, possibly as early as the 8th century. For them, December 24 was considered the rebirth of the Sun, and it was traditional to associate a tree with each of the lunar months. This day, December 24, was therefore dedicated to the spruce, which was considered at the time to be the tree of childbirth.

The Christmas log

Surprisingly, the Yule log was originally a real log of wood, which was supposed to burn from December 24th to January 1st. Obviously, to burn for so long, it had to be enormous, and came from an old stump or fruit tree. Tradition dictated that it be cut before sunrise, and then carried, with a very special ceremony, to a large family room. It wasn't until 1945 that it became a dessert, which was supposedly invented by a pastry chef.

The gifts

La tradition de donner des cadeaux remonte à des temps très lointains. Les Romains, lors de la fête des Saturnales, s’échangeaient déjà des cadeaux entre eux. Cette tradition serait probablement associée aux présents que les Rois Mages avaient apportés à l’enfant Jesus lors de sa naissance. Ce n’est qu’aux XVIIIe et XIXe siècles, que la tradition des cadeaux a pris de l’ampleur et à commencer à se répandre un peu partout, à travers de nombreux pays.

The crown

The Christmas wreath is an ancient symbol with several meanings. For Christians, it refers to Christ, as it reminds them of the crown placed on Christ's head during his crucifixion. For others, the wreath is hung to mark the announcement of the return of the Sun.