The truth about Christmas: Pagan origins
Our favourite festival has its roots in our pagan past
The midwinter solstice has been celebrated for thousands of years. Many – if not all – our Christmas customs are rooted in a pagan past that is much older. Let’s take a look back in time at the origins of some of our best-loved festive traditions…
BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE
The word ‘solstice’ means ‘sun standing still.’ This happens around 22 December, when the sun is furthest away from Earth and everything is cold and dark. In ancient times, people wanted to entice the sun to come back, so they lit fires and had a party! By 25 December, you can see the sun is returning. This was celebrated as the rebirth of the Sun God, the magical child who would bring back life to the land.
Christianity took this over, marking the birth of Jesus at the solstice - although there’s no historical support for the idea that Jesus was born in the depths of winter. But it was simple to keep on celebrating the birth of a wonderful baby, and in this way, Christian beliefs were gradually adopted.
Whatever you believe, there’s no doubt that nature is at an important turning point, and if you connect with the cycle, you feel more in tune and life takes on special meaning. So, if you have a crib waiting for baby Jesus, put him in on 22 December and rejoice that the sun is reborn!
TREE OF LIFE
What would Christmas be without sparkling fir trees in our homes and shops? The tradition as we know it was imported in Victorian times – Queen Victoria adopted many of the customs of her German husband Albert, including the German fashion for a decorated tree at Christmas. However, boughs and evergreens have been brought in to honour the season for millennia.
The tree has so many meanings. In Norse mythology, the World Tree represented the Three Worlds of spirit, with its roots in the Lower World where the ancestors lived, its trunk in Middle World, the realm of Faerie, and its boughs in Upper World, touching the star beings and gods. Trees are symbols of life and hope, connecting Earth and Heaven.
HONOUR THE GODDESS
The crowning glory to your tree is probably a glittery angel or fairy in a gorgeous dress. She’s more than just a bit of Crimbo magic - she’s deeply symbolic. The fairy is a representation of the Earth Goddess, who gave birth to the Sun God at the solstice. This meaning has largely been lost, but deep within, your subconscious remembers – and now, when you look at your Christmas angel, you will too!
SUPERNATURAL SANTA
Santa is the soul of Yuletide, and pagan through and through! He’s a facet of the Horned God of nature, who protects the wintering animals and keeps the land alive. His horns show his kinship with the beasts – the ‘antlered crown’. Of course, Santa doesn’t have horns – in modern tradition, they’re separated from him and carried by his loyal reindeer instead!
Santa also has links with the German goddess Holda who came down the chimney dressed in red and bringing presents. From a Christian perspective he’s Saint Nicholas – a kind Turkish bishop who helped the poor in the 4th century. That’s how myths intertwine to make our Christmas traditions so vibrant.
COOL YULE
‘Yule’ comes from an old English word meaning ‘midwinter,’ and Yuletide refers to the entire season of celebration around it. Although there was lots of partying, Yule was also a time when the ancestors were remembered. The god Odin was also called the ‘Yulefather’ and in the depths of winter he led the Wild Hunt – a spirit cavalcade – across the skies. In fact, Santa and his reindeer could be a cosy version of the Wild Hunt!
It’s second nature to remember family members who have passed away at this time of year. Why not make a little ceremony of it by lighting a candle next to a photo and proposing a toast? Our ancestors are always with us, so invite their spirits to share your feast.
LOGGING OFF
Because Yule was such an important turning point, many traditions clustered around it. One was the Yule Log. This was simply a log kept from the Yuletide fires to kindle those of the following year. This ensures the continuity of life.
Nowadays, our Yule Log is more likely to be made of chocolate. But you can still have a tradition of continuity by using a Yuletide candle. Each year, buy a special candle for the festive season. Let the candle burn down but save the stub to light the following year, and ignite your new Yuletide candle with it.
KISS ME QUICK
At Christmas we’re all supposed to show love, and kissing under the mistletoe is a special sign of romantic love. It’s said to be bad luck to refuse a passionate smacker under this plant.
Mistletoe was sacred to the Druids because it symbolises the connection between Earth and Heaven, growing, as it does, high in the branches of another tree, rather than in the earth. In Norse mythology, the joyful god Baldur was killed by a mistletoe shaft. The tears of his mother, Frigg, turned to white berries and fixed themselves to the plant. Frigg then blessed the plant and promised a kiss to everyone who passes beneath it, in memory of her son.