The Battle for Christmas
Stephen Nissenbaum, Ph.D.
21 min
8 Key Points
4.8 RateWhat's inside?
Explore the fascinating evolution of Christmas, from its controversial origins to its current status as a cherished holiday, through a deep dive into its social and cultural history.
You'll learn
1. How Christmas went from wild party to cozy family time2. What shaped our Christmas traditions3. The business side of Christmas and its effects4. How books and TV shape our Christmas views5. The stories behind Christmas symbols and traditions6. What Christmas says about our culture and values.Key points
01Our choices shape our traditions, like how we celebrate Christmas
Traditions aren't set in stone. They're like clay, molded and reshaped by the choices we make. This is true for all traditions, including those tied to Christmas. They evolve, mirroring the shifting values, beliefs, and circumstances of the societies they're part of. Let's take Santa Claus as an example. He's practically a synonym for Christmas in America now. But how did that happen? Many think it was the Dutch immigrants who brought the tradition of Santa Claus to America. But that's not quite right. While Santa Claus is part of Dutch folklore, the Dutch immigrants who came to America were mostly Protestants. They didn't celebrate St. Nicholas' Day, the holiday linked to Santa Claus in the Netherlands. So, how did Santa Claus become a Christmas icon in America? It's all about choices. Someone chose to mark December 25th as a holiday on a calendar. That was a bold move when Christmas wasn't a big deal. The New-York Historical Society chose to push the idea of a nostalgic, peaceful Christmas. That helped make the holiday popular. And a company chose to use Santa Claus in its ads. That helped make Santa a household name. These choices weren't random. They were responses to social, cultural, and economic factors. They turned Christmas from a minor holiday into the most awaited event of the year. But it wasn't a quick or easy process. It was a complex dance of factors, including changes in farming and industrial societies and shifts in what was seen as normal or strange. So, remember, traditions aren't fixed. They're shaped by the choices and actions of people and groups. They change over time, reflecting the shifting sands of the societies they're part of.
02Back in the day, Puritans didn't allow Christmas celebrations, but it was a different kind of holiday then
In the 17th century, a religious group known as the Puritans put a stop to Christmas celebrations. But it's crucial to note that the Christmas they banned isn't the one we're familiar with today. Back then, life was all about farming and the changing seasons. When December rolled around, it signaled the end of the harvest and the start of winter. With the year's hard work behind them, folks had time to kick back and celebrate. This was when they could finally enjoy the fruits of their labor, like wine and beer. So, December was a time for feasting and having a good time. But, these celebrations often got out of hand, with too much drinking and rowdy behavior. This was what Christmas was like back then, and the Puritans weren't having any of it. They were known for their strict religious beliefs and moral codes, and they found this kind of behavior unacceptable, especially during a religious holiday. Instead of trying to change people's behavior, the Puritans decided to get rid of the problem altogether: they took Christmas off the calendar. In 17th century New England, there was no mention of December 25th or any other holiday. In fact, from 1659 onwards, anyone caught celebrating Christmas had to pay a fine of five shillings, which was a lot of money back then. This law shows that despite the ban, some folks still celebrated Christmas. But, there are no records of anyone actually being punished for this, which suggests that not many people went against the ban. Even with the ban, it was hard to squash the festive spirit of the season. Even without an official Christmas celebration, people still saw this time of year as special. The usual rules were relaxed, and people did things they wouldn't normally do. Men dressed up in women's clothes, kids made fun of their elders, and apprentices mimicked their masters. This carnival-like atmosphere gave people a chance to let off steam and restore a sense of fairness in their lives. Interestingly, the Puritans didn't stop at Christmas. They even changed the names of the weekdays to get rid of any pagan influences. For example, they knew that 'Thursday' was named after Thor, the Norse god of thunder, and they wanted to get rid of any such connections. In the end, the Puritans' ban on Christmas was their way of dealing with the rowdy celebrations of the time, which they saw as going against their religious beliefs. But, their attempts to stamp out the festive spirit of the season didn't really work, as people found ways to have fun and celebrate, despite the ban.
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03Christmas carols weren't just about spreading cheer at first
04Clement Clarke Moore gave Santa a makeover and added seven reindeer
05To get shoppers' attention, stores used big gimmicks like 1000-pound cakes
06Books and stories helped make the Christmas tree popular in the U.S
07Dickens's "A Christmas Carol" was a wake-up call for the rich
08Conclusion
About Stephen Nissenbaum, Ph.D.
Stephen Nissenbaum, Ph.D., is a retired professor of history at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is a Pulitzer Prize finalist known for his work on American cultural history, particularly his research on Christmas traditions.
