The+real+Christmas

=Christmas=

Objectives
In this series of lessons you will learn:
 * the real history of Christmas
 * the customs and traditions of Christmas
 * how the story of Father Christmas developed
 * how this religious holiday is celebrated in other countries

In order to learn this you will:
 * find information from a Close Reading passage
 * research information on the internet
 * be able to record and organise information you have researched
 * be able to demonstrate what you have learned by delivering a short presentation

Background information
Christmas has had a long and varied history. It has been celebrated for centuries by different people, at different times, in different places, and in many different ways.

An Ancient Holiday
Some of our modern Christmas traditions have much older roots, going back to pagan European traditions. The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many people rejoiced during the **winter solstice** (this is a winter time festival to do with the sun), when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and more hours of sunlight.

In Scandinavia, the Norse (the name of the people who lived in Scandinavia) celebrated **Yule** from December 21, the winter solstice, through to January. To celebrate the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast and have a party until the log burned out, which could take as long as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year.

The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.

In Germany, people honoured the pagan god **Oden** during the mid-winter holiday. The pagans followed a religion that had lots of gods-not just one. Germans were terrified of Oden, as they believed he flew around the sky at night to watch his people, and then decide who he would reward or punish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.

Saturnalia
In Rome, where winters were not as cold and hard as those in the far north, Saturnalia—a holiday in honour of Saturn, the god of agriculture—was celebrated. Beginning in the week leading up to the winter solstice and continuing for a full month, Saturnalia was a time of wild parties and celebrations, when there was plenty of food and drink and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. For a month, slaves would become masters. Peasants were in command of the city. Business and schools were closed so that everyone could join in the fun.

Christianity
In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention a date for his birth. Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and blend together the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century (that means sometime in the year 500). By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would become popular. Now, we celebrate Christmas as the day when Jesus Christ (the son of God) was born in Bethlehem. But in fact, Christmas is a BLEND of a few different traditions.

Task 1
Use to answer questions about the above text.

Christmas Traditions
TASK: Make a list of all the Christmas traditions that you can think of.

For example: Putting a star on top of the tree

Christmas symbols
Certain things we do at Christmas are TRADITIONS. We do things, like putting up a Christmas tree, because it’s a long-established custom that has been handed down from generation to generation. When people first started these traditions they had important meanings and associations. That means, they did them because they symbolised – they reminded them of things to do with the real meaning of Christmas.

to find out what the original meanings of these Christmas symbols were.

You will need to research this question. Don't forget to reference where you find the information from.

Santa
Do some research to answer these questions.

//He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his sack. His eyes how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry; His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face, and a little round belly That shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly. He was chubby and plump,--a right jolly old elf-- And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.//
 * Clement C. Moore**


 * 1) Write a description of Santa
 * 2) What colour clothing does Santa wear?
 * 3) What stories explain this colour choice?

Father Christmas
In Britain Santa is called Father Christmas. Father Christmas was originally part of an old English midwinter festival, normally dressed in green, a sign of the returning spring. He was known as 'Sir Christmas', 'Old Father Christmas' or Old Winter'.

In this earliest form, Father Christmas was not the bringer of gifts for small children, nor did he come down the chimney. He simply wandered around from home to home, knocking on doors and feasting with families before moving on to the next house.

The Ghost of Christmas Present in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1843) is based on Father Christmas. He is described as a large man with a red beard and fur-lined green robe.

[|Images of Father Christmas] (Santa Claus) dressed in red started appearing on Christmas cards in the late Victorian times.

Who is Santa Claus
Santa Claus is based on a real person, St. Nicholas.

St. Nicholas, or Sinter Klaas in Dutch, was a very shy man and wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing about it. It is said that one day, he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney. It landed in the stocking which a girl had put to dry by the fire! This may explain the belief that Father Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts in children's stockings. copyright of projectbritain.com

When the Dutch introduced Sinter Klaas to the Americans they called him Santa Claus.

What do we call Santa in different countries
Find out the name of Santa in these countries


 * Iceland
 * Denmark
 * Macedonia
 * Norway
 * Germany
 * Russia
 * Hungary
 * Spain

Add the name of your own country if it isn't here.

Find out about the traditions of Christmas in another country
Prepare a presentation for the class about the Christmas celebration in a country that is not connected to you. You can work in pairs for this presentation.