While the overall purpose – celebrating the birth of Jesus – remains the same, other countries have vastly different approaches to the holiday. Here’s a look at some fascinating celebration rituals and traditions worldwide.

Mexico

Celebrations of Christmas, or La Navidad, in Mexico include a number of traditions, starting with the ritual of las posadas, which involve re-enactments of Joseph and Mary’s search for lodging in Bethlehem. The custom begins nine days before Christmas, since that coincides with the amount of time it took travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Families in a neighborhood take turns playing two roles from night to night – pilgrims who search for lodging, and innkeepers who send the pilgrims away. One family in the neighborhood is chosen to host the posada each night.

The ritual often differs slightly, but it’s basically the same: Each night, the pilgrims visit innkeepers and ask for shelter by reciting a simple chant, but are turned away. Eventually, each family of pilgrims reaches the home that hosts the posada, and they are joyfully invited in. Once inside, prayers and singing take place around a Nativity scene, followed by a party which typically involves food, drink and a piñata. The piñata is an animal-shaped papier-mâché container filled with nuts, fruit and candy. Children take turns wearing a blindfold and swinging a stick to break it and spill the treats for everyone to enjoy.

Scotland

For centuries, the celebration of Christmas was actually banned in Scotland. It wasn’t until 1958 that it became a recognized religious holiday, rather than just another working day. Today, Christmas traditions are relatively low-key, but similar to those in the United States and United Kingdom. But before Christmas celebrations became common, gift-giving and merriment took place on New Year’s Eve, during an event called Hogmanay.

Of course, like many New Year’s celebrations, Hogmanay involves large, raucous parties. One interesting tradition involves “First Footing.” After midnight, neighbors will traditional visit each other’s homes bearing gifts and good wishes for the New Year. It is considered to be particularly lucky if the first visitor through the door after midnight is a stranger – and even more so if the stranger is a tall, dark-haired male.

Greece

Christmas celebrations in Greece take a relatively somber religious tone from the dominance of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Also, since St. Nicholas is the patron saint of Greece, it comes as no surprise that Greek rituals at Christmas focus on his legacy.

According to religious doctrine, anyone wishing to take Communion on Christmas Day will fast during Advent, the period marked by the four Sundays before Christmas. In this case, fasting calls for abstaining from eating meat, eggs, dairy products or oils. The end of the fast is marked by a huge feast on Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve belongs largely to children, who travel from house to house singing kalanda, which are a form of carol, and often playing simple musical instruments such as drums or metal triangles. In return, they receive coins, or treats like candy and dried fruit. Christmas trees are relatively rare; instead, the dominant tradition has traditionally been a small “Christmas ship,” or karavaki, which is decorated and carried by the children during Christmas Eve.

Bethlehem

Given Bethlehem’s religious significance as the birthplace of Jesus, the Christmas season takes on special meaning. However, Bethlehem is significant to more than one religion, and that creates a diverse atmosphere of multiple types of celebrations.

For example, Christmas is observed on a variety of dates, depending on religion. Protestants and Roman Catholics observe the traditional day of Dec. 25, while Greek, Syrian and other Orthodox churches choose Jan. 6, or Epiphany, which marks the end of the 12 Days of Christmas.

Each religion also has its own series of services and processions through the town, though some common themes emerge. Christmas lights are prevalent throughout the city, a cross is painted on the door of every Christian home, and Nativity scenes are present in most households. An area called “Manger Square,” outside the Basilica of the Nativity, represents the birthplace of Jesus and is the focal point for a number of activities.

One of the highlights occurs on Christmas Eve (in this case, Dec. 24), with the main Christmas procession winding through the streets. A procession features a parade of horses, clergy and government officials, as well as a man riding on a black horse, carrying a cross. The procession makes its way to the Basilica, and chosen members of the parade enter the Basilica, carrying an effigy of the Christ child to the grotto commemorating his birth, which is marked by a 14-point silver star.

Other unusual celebrations

• During the Christmas Day feast in Portugal, places are traditionally set at the table for the souls of ancestors, who hopefully will bestow their blessings on the house.
• In Yugoslavia, the gift-giving begins on a morning two weeks before Christmas, when children rush into the mother’s bedroom and tie her feet to a chair, happily chanting “What will you pay to get away?” The mother agrees to give the children presents in exchange for her freedom. One week later, Dad gets the same treatment.
• In Finland, Christmas Day festivities are typically marked by a trip to a steam bath before the holiday feast.

“Jingle Bells”

Jingle Bells is a staple for any band of carolers, mainly because it’s fun to sing, easy to learn, and relies more on enthusiasm than vocal talent. The original title of the song was “One Horse Open Sleigh,” written in 1857 by James Lord Pierpont. It differed from other Christmas carols written around that time period, since it had no reference to any religious elements of Christmas.

Few elements of Christmas are without at least some sort of controversy, and Jingle Bells is no different. While everyone agrees on Pierpont’s authorship, both Savannah, Ga., and Medford, Mass., lay claim to being the place where Jingle Bells was first performed. The issue seems to be where Pierpont purportedly wrote the song (Medford) versus where he was living (Savannah) when he copyrighted it and it became famous.

The typical version of the song includes only the first verse and the chorus. In fact, there are at least three other verses. Maybe they fell by the wayside over the years because they included references to fast sleigh rides with female companions. This verse, for example:

Now the ground is white, so do it while you’re young,
Take the girls tonight, and sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bobtailed bay, two-forty as his speed,
Hitch him to an open sleigh, and crack, you’ll take the lead!

It’s tough to imagine children singing that during a Christmas program.

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”

Most people associate the song either with Gene Autry’s famous rendition released in 1949, or with an animated TV special in 1964. The show took quite a few liberties with the song, adding new characters and a romantic interest for Rudy. It has been a seasonal holiday staple ever since. But not many people know that Rudolph was a marketing campaign before he was a holiday icon.

Montgomery Ward, a chain of department stores based in Chicago, wanted to release a customized coloring book for children in 1939 as a seasonal promotion, and the task fell to copywriter Robert L. May.  After experimenting with different concepts and names (including Rollo and Reginald), he borrowed liberally from the tale of the Ugly Duckling as well as his own childhood and created a poem that was the foundation for the coloring book. It was a hit, and the store distributed more than 6 million copies of the book between 1939 and 1946.

The story took an unusual twist in 1947. At the time, May was deeply in debt because of his wife’s terminal illness, but received no royalties from Rudolph, since the character was technically the intellectual property of the company. To help him, Montgomery Ward executives agreed to transfer the copyright to May. His brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, wrote the song that was recorded by Gene Autry in 1949, and it sold more than 2 million copies in its first year.

May quit his job in 1951 and lived off Rudolph’s earnings for several years, but eventually went back to work for Montgomery Ward and retired in 1971.

“Frosty the Snowman”

Gene Autry also plays a prominent role in the birth of another famous Christmas icon of the 20th century. After seeing Autry’s success with the 1949 recording of “Rudolph,” two songwriters saw a chance to capitalize on the trend (and make money in the process) by writing another Christmas song.  Jack Nelson and Steve Rollins decided to continue the theme of giving human characteristics to non-human characters, and finally settled on a snowman named Frosty who briefly comes to life.

There was only one problem; Autry, who had become famous as a “singing cowboy,” wasn’t too enthusiastic about recording another Christmas song. So Nelson and Rollins wrote “Peter Cottontail” to sweeten the deal, and presented the two songs to Autry as a package in 1950. Soon, Autry had another Christmas hit on his hands.

Frosty also followed in Rudolph’s footsteps with a TV deal, an animated special in 1969 featuring the voice of Jimmy Durante. The song has been recorded by an eclectic list of performers over the years, including Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Alvin and the Chipmunks, The Beach Boys, Leon Redbone and – weirdly enough – Burt Reynolds.

Here are three of the best-known examples of Christmas reading.

“A Christmas Carol”

Probably the most famous of Christmas-themed literary works is “A Christmas Carol,” Charles Dickens’ novel about a mean miser who discovers the true meaning of Christmas after encountering ghosts who show him the error of his ways. But it’s much more than just a Christmas story of revelation and redemption. Dickens takes the opportunity to also explore larger societal themes of wealth and poverty, ignorance and education, and England’s rigid class system of the 1800s.

Despite being relatively short compared to the length of Dickens’ other books, it’s arguably his best-known work, and his most enduring legacy. Written in October of 1843, Dickens had planned to release the book to coincide with the Christmas season, but began squabbling with the original publisher over a number of issues.  He took matters into his own hands and financed the book himself, sparing no expense. Early editions had decorative bindings, gold-colored edging, and colored illustrations throughout. The book sold well, but because of the lavish budget, failed to turn much of a profit.

The last name of the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, has become synonymous for anyone who hates Christmas. He is arrogant, mean and self-centered, and treats everyone around him with contempt.  The characters include his loyal clerk, Bob Cratchit, and Cratchit’s family, with his crippled son Tiny Tim.

On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley, who tells Scrooge to expect a series of encounters with ghosts who will confront him with past, present and future visions of Christmas. Scrooge is truly haunted by the experience, and finds a new spirit of benevolence and kindness at Christmas and beyond.

Over the years, the story has been presented numerous times on stage and screen, featuring actors ranging from Alec Guinness and George C. Scott, to Bill Murray and Jim Carrey. Even Bugs Bunny, Mr. Magoo, Fred Flintstone, and the Muppets have taken turns with their interpretations of the classic.

“A Visit from St. Nicholas”

The contemporary vision of Santa Claus is largely the result of a poem written in 1822 by American author Clement Clarke Moore. For most readers, the title doesn’t ring a bell until the first five words:  “Twas the night before Christmas.” It’s a simple story of a jolly, fat man in a red suit, with a bag of toys slung over his back, who is accidentally discovered while delivering presents to a family.

But it actually provides a vivid description that has served as the model for the modern-day look of Santa. Also, it introduces several new concepts, including a flying sleigh pulled by eight reindeer with names like Dasher, Dancer, Donner and Blitzen; as well as the practice of Santa landing on the rooftop and coming down the chimney.

Legend has it that he wrote the poem during a sleigh ride in New York on Christmas Eve, read the poem to his family after dinner, and largely forgot about it after that. But a friend thought enough of the poem to submit it to a newspaper for publication. It’s an early example of the nature of “viral” creative work: published locally, it quickly spread to other newspapers throughout New York, the United States, and finally the world.

Moore was actually an accomplished author who wrote about a wide range of political and religious themes, and was said to be disappointed that his Christmas poem was better known than any of his scholarly works.

“Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus”

Is there a Santa Claus? It’s a question that children have been asking for years, and it always requires a tricky response from parents who don’t want to ruin the magic of Christmas for children before they finally realize that it’s highly unlikely that reindeer can fly.

Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon took a different route in 1897, asking the question in a letter to the editor of the New York Sun. The answer – published as an editorial under the headline “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” – is an artfully worded piece by editor Francis Pharcellus Church that would be difficult for the average pre-teen to grasp (not to mention many adults). But parents have simplifying Church’s basic themes of magic, faith and wonder to answer the question for more than 100 years.

Virginia O’Hanlon really did exist, and there really was a letter to the editor. A copy was authenticated in 1998 and appraised at between $20,000 and $30,000 by an expert from Christie’s auction house.

As for Virginia, she died in 1971, hopefully not before realizing that you can’t believe everything you read in the newspapers.

It’s hard to say which vision is most accurate. Giving and receiving gifts is an integral part of Christmas as a ritual, with its roots firmly grounded in history dating back to ancient Rome. Shopping for Christmas presents, on the other hand, has become a ritual of its own over time, with an increasing emphasis on the commercial aspect of the holiday.

One thing is certain: For better or worse, both are linked hand-in-hand as part of the Christmas tradition.

How it started

As with many aspects of the Christmas celebration, there is some amount of disagreement as to the origins of gift-giving.  Some believe that the practice of exchanging presents traces back to the birth of Jesus, when the Magi, or “wise men,” traveled to visit the Christ child with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  But the history of gift-giving actually goes a great deal farther back, to a pre-Christian celebration in ancient Rome.

Dating back as far as the Third Century B.C., Saturnalia was a festival celebrating the Winter Solstice and honoring Saturn, the Roman god of seed and sowing.  It was a raucous occasion that spanned several days, and included games, a huge public banquet, and other events devoted primarily to pleasure and (sometimes) debauchery.  Gift-giving also was part of the fun. Adults exchanged such items as food, wine, candles or perfume, while children often received clay figurines. Often, gift-giving became a sort of punishment, as emperors demanded gifts from citizens who had fallen out of favor.

Over the centuries, pagan rituals such as Saturnalia were banned as part of the rise of Christianity. However, the practice of gift-giving proved a little more difficult to outlaw, since everybody loves to give and receive, so church leaders used the gifts of the Magi as a way to justify continuing the ritual as part of Christmas.

How it flourished

The practice of holiday gift-giving has survived in a wide variety of forms worldwide, despite social and religious upheaval over the centuries. But it especially took hold in Victorian England during the mid-1800s as a family oriented Christmas event that incorporated fun rituals such as the “Christmas Pie,” which was actually a large bowl of grain with small gifts hidden inside. Children would gather around the bowl after dinner, and dip into it with spoons to pull out the gifts.  Another ritual involved a “cobweb party,” in which children would follow different strands of colored yarn strung throughout the house, eventually leading to a wrapped present at the end.

The Victorian traditions eventually made their way across the Atlantic and became part of the American version of Christmas. Presents are typically exchanged on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, either wrapped as presents under a tree or placed inside a Christmas stocking.

During the early 1800s, gifts were typically homemade items such as cookies, clothes or toys, and occasionally coins. That would all change with the beginning of the industrial revolution, as the mass production of goods switched the emphasis from homemade to store-bought.

Business takes control

No discussion of Christmas gift-giving is complete without recognizing commercial influences. It began quietly in the 1820s, with the first Christmas-oriented newspaper advertisements. Macy’s upped the ante in 1867 by keeping its New York department store open on Christmas Eve for last-minute shoppers.

Macy’s took the lead again in 1924 with its first Thanksgiving Day parade, which was originally known as the Christmas Parade. It wound through the streets of New York and ended at Macy’s flagship store. It not only drew an estimated crowd of 250,000, but it also solidified Macy’s status as a shopping destination. When it became an annual event, it quickly became the unofficial beginning of the holiday shopping season.  In fact, in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the date for Thanksgiving forward by one week, tacking on seven days to the holiday shopping season.

The day after Thanksgiving would eventually be popularized as “Black Friday,” and marketed aggressively as the busiest shopping day of the year. Retailers use special offers and sales to draw crowds that account for approximately 5 percent of all holiday retail spending, but it’s not really the busiest day for Christmas shopping. In recent years, last-minute shoppers have typically bestowed that honor to the Saturday before Christmas.

Christmas all year long

Over time, retailers have begun to ignore the day after Thanksgiving as the start of the Christmas shopping season. It’s not unusual to see the first Christmas shopping ads appear well before Halloween, and some retailers use “Christmas in July” campaigns to spur sales. Internet sales have also changed the habits of Christmas shoppers, drawing more than $29.1 billion in sales in November and December of 2009, according to data from the digital marketing analysis firm comScore.

Overall, though, that’s a relatively small drop in the bucket. Even in a lackluster economy, the market intelligence firm BIGresearch is predicting more than $447 billion overall in Christmas-related spending in 2010.

And that’ll buy an awful lot of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Everyone knows that Santa lives at the North Pole, and leaves home on Christmas Eve to fly around the world, delivering gifts to children who are either “naughty” or “nice,” and filling any stockings that might be hung by the fireplace.  In return, some children are often thoughtful enough to leave cookies and milk, in case he gets hungry, since delivering presents around the world can be a difficult job.

But Santa goes by a multitude of names and images throughout the world. He’s not always fat, he doesn’t always have a red suit, and – sometimes – he even has a partner who travels with him.

It all begins with St. Nicholas

Virtually all forms of the Santa Claus icon have their roots in the story of Nicholas, a bishop during the Fourth Century in what is now modern-day Turkey. Nicholas was known for his selflessness, generosity and kindness, particularly to children. He is said to have died on Dec. 6, in the year 343. He was recognized as a saint in the Ninth Century, and over the centuries became one of the most popular religious figures in the world, as the patron saint of children. Celebrations and feasts were held each year on the anniversary of his death, a practice that continued for centuries as “St. Nicholas’ Day.”

When the Protestant reformation took place in the 1500s, though, St. Nicholas fell out of favor along with other Catholic icons in most Protestant-dominated countries. One exception was Holland, where he became a more secular “Sinter Klaas,” with a family oriented celebration each Dec. 6.  The celebration has continued in The Netherlands up to the present day, with gift-giving each Dec. 5 on “St. Nicholas’ Eve.”

Sometimes, St. Nick has a sidekick

While the Western version of Santa Claus is secular, Sinter Klaas remains a religious icon during the celebration, depicted in a white robe with a red cape, and a red “mitre,” the hat traditionally worn by a bishop. He’s thin, not fat, and instead of a sleigh with eight reindeer, he rides a gray horse. He carries a book with the names of children who are naughty or nice. He also has a devilish companion, called “Black Peter,” who is in charge of dealing with naughty children.

The Christmas concept of a religious figure accompanied by a sinister sidekick is a common thread in a number of countries. In Austria, for example, “Pelznickel” is accompanied by a terrifying creature called “Krampus.” He is depicted as an ugly, demon-like creature that could easily be found in a modern-day horror movie. Legend dictates that Krampus metes out punishments of all kinds to children who have been naughty, ranging from a simple silver twig in a shoe to actually kidnapping children and dumping them in the pits of Hell. Even today, children are sometimes warned to go to bed at a proper time on St. Nicholas’ Eve so that they won’t be punished by Krampus. Versions of the myth continue – though often not as sinister, and with lesser degrees of evil or malice – in Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and other parts of Eastern Europe.

All is not lost, though. In some countries, St. Nicholas is often accompanied by an angel as well, who balances out the dark side and ultimately protects the children.

Many countries, many versions

St. Nick has a number of aliases around the world, with some interesting differences between countries:

• In Finland, “Joulupukki” doesn’t have a sleigh. He rides a goat made of straw.
• In China, “Dun Che Lao Ren,” or the “Christmas Old Man,” brings gifts to children, while Chile turns it around with “Viejo Pascuero,” or “Old Man Christmas.”
• Japan has “Hoteiosho,” a Buddhist monk who bears gifts.
• Much of the world, including England, uses Father Christmas instead of Santa Claus or St. Nicholas. In Afghanistan, it translates as “Baba Chaghaloo,” while Scottish Highlanders greet “Daidain na Nollaig,” and South Africa calls him “Vader Kersfees.”
• A kindly witch named “La Bafana” takes charge of delivering presents to children in Italy, while a grandmotherly character named “Babouschka” gets that honor in Russia.
• Last but not least, since Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, December is a summertime month and Christmas is typically celebrated in the heat. Santa Claus is the dominant figure, though Australians like to have fun with the concept. One remarkable spin says his sleigh gets pulled by six kangaroos instead of eight reindeer, while another depiction puts him on water skis, wearing a red bathing suit.

The list goes on. Virtually every country has some sort of variation on the Santa myth and the Christmas gift-giving tradition, but a common thread runs through it: Mystery, imagination, and a sense of wonder for both children and adults.

For example, in some parts of France and Germany, as well as Syria and Lebanon, the Christmas season begins on Dec. 4, which is St. Barbara’s Day. In other countries – such as Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and parts of Germany – use St. Nicholas’ Day on Dec. 6 as the beginning of the season.  Sweden adds to the variety, using St. Lucia’s Day on Dec. 13 to begin Christmas observances.

Using basic western Christianity as a guide, though, four religious periods stand out in importance, along with Christmas Eve and Christmas.

Advent

Most Christian religions believe that Advent represents the true celebration of the Christmas season. Advent is the four-week period of praise and worship that traditionally begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and ends on Christmas Eve. The best way to understand its importance is by comparing it to Lent, which prepares Christians for Good Friday (the death of Jesus) and Easter (the Resurrection). Advent, on the other hand, prepares Christians for the arrival of Christmas (the birth of Christ), and the expectation of the second coming of Jesus.

That makes Advent a perfect opportunity for celebration, both in church and at home. Many religions see it as a way to incorporate seasonal rituals into the home and reinforce the meaning of the Christmas season as something more spiritual, that goes beyond just presents and decorations.

Popular ways of decorating and celebrating Advent in the home include:

• An “Advent wreath,” usually placed on the dining table but sometimes hung from the ceiling in the home. Made from evergreen branches, an Advent wreath has four candleholders on the edges, with one in the center of the wreath. One of the surrounding candles is lit on each of the four Sundays leading to Christmas Eve as a ceremonial way of marking the time until the birth of Christ. Some families choose to incorporate Scriptural readings as part of the lighting. The final candle is in the center of the decoration. Generally known as the “Christ Candle,” it is traditionally lit on Christmas Day.
• An “Advent calendar,” which is a large rectangular card or board with a number of windows. On each of the days before Christmas,  a new window is opened to reveal an image, a poem, a portion of the nativity story, and sometimes a small gift, such as a toy or a piece of chocolate.
• A Nativity scene that serves as a replica of Jesus’ birthplace in Bethlehem. Each night, children place different figures inside the manger, including Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus, as well as barnyard animals, shepherds and angels.

St. Nicholas Day

Nicholas of Myra, a bishop during the Fourth Century in what is now modern-day Turkey, was known for his kindness, generosity and love of children. He is said to have died on Dec. 6, in the year 343. After being recognized as a saint in the Ninth Century, celebrations and feasts were held each year on the anniversary of his death, a practice that has continued for centuries as “St. Nicholas Day.”

Nicholas is typically the primary saint of Advent, and in some cultures, St. Nicholas Day still marks the beginning of the Christmas season. In many others, it still is considered an important day of religious celebration and gift-giving.

Epiphany

While it’s natural to view Christmas as the end of the celebration of the birth of Jesus, many religions extend the season to include Epiphany, particularly in celebrations outside the United States. But complications arise through major differences in the meaning of the Epiphany by religions around the world.

So-called “Western” Christian churches tend to celebrate Epiphany as a feast commemorating the visit of the Magi (the “wise men”) to the Christ child, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and also as a celebration of the baptism of Jesus. “Eastern” Orthodox Christian churches also emphasize the baptismal aspect of the Epiphany, but celebrate the event as the revelation of Jesus to mankind as the Messiah.

In either interpretation, the Epiphany represents a major milestone in the story of Christ, and in the Christmas season.

The 12 Days of Christmas

Epiphany naturally dovetails with the period called the 12 Days of Christmas. As with any number of Christmas tales and traditions, there is quite a bit of disagreement on the origins of the 12 Days of Christmas, but one thing is certain: the meaning runs far deeper than a clever Christmas carol.

The period is also known as “Christmastide,” and many religions consider it to be the true Christmas season, choosing to celebrate the birth of Christ as the beginning, rather than the conclusion. Christmastide is a series of daily celebrations and remembrances which begin with “Holy Night,” or Christmas Eve. The Nativity of the Lord is celebrated on Christmas Day with the Feast of the Nativity.

Technically, though, the 12 days of Christmas begin on Dec. 26, after the celebrations of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and conclude with the Epiphany on Jan. 6. The first day of Christmastide is the “Feast of St. Stephen,” which is also commonly known as “Boxing Day.” In countries like Canada, England, Australia and New Zealand, it’s another opportunity to give and receive gifts.

Other celebrations include the Feast of St. John the Evangelist (Dec. 27), the Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord (Jan. 1), the Day of the Holy Innocents (Jan. 4). The last event is the Vigil of the Feast of the Epiphany. Held on Jan. 5, the night before Epiphany, it’s also known as “Twelfth Night.”

Christmastide concludes on the 12th day, with the Feast of the Epiphany.

As usual, there is no shortage of disagreement as to the origin and evolution of the Christmas tree. In fact, at the risk of invoking a terrible pun, the roots of the Christmas tree run in many different directions.

An evergreen tradition

A number of Christmas traditions are said to have their origins with pagan rituals honoring the Winter Solstice, or with an ancient Roman celebration called Saturnalia, in honor of Saturn, who was the Roman god of agriculture. The Christmas tree is no exception, though in either case, the ritual was largely the same: boughs of evergreen branches were cut and decorated as symbols of life and rebirth, since they remained green during the winter while other trees shed their leaves.

Others believe that the significance of the evergreen traces back to St. Boniface, who lived in the Eighth Century. In roughly 723, while spreading the message of Christianity in what is now modern-day Germany, Boniface challenged Germanic beliefs in pagan gods such as Odin and Thor. To prove his point, Boniface chopped down an oak tree that was central to pagan beliefs, and challenged the “thunder god” to strike him down. While he was waiting, however, Boniface noticed a small fir tree growing at the base of the oak, and told the hostile crowd that it was a sign from God of everlasting life offered by Christianity. The event would prove to be an important turning point in the future of Christianity in Europe.

The seeds of evolution

There is also a healthy amount of disagreement regarding how evergreen worship evolved into what would ultimately become the modern-day Christmas tree. Some historians believe that, sometime during the early 1500s, Martin Luther was walking through the woods near his home on Christmas Eve and noticed the beauty of the evergreen trees in the starlight and snow. Inspired, he cut one down and brought it indoors for his family to decorate with candles as a symbol of Christmas. Others say that Martin Luther’s involvement is a myth, and that decorating an evergreen tree gained popularity in Germany, with the first known Christmas tree in 1521.

Religious scholars offer a third explanation that has nothing to do with pagan rituals, oak trees or Martin Luther. Instead, they say, the tree is part of a Christmas Eve ritual dating back to the Middle Ages called the “Paradise Tree.” It represented the Tree of Life from the Garden of Eden, and was decorated with apples to represent the forbidden fruit. Over time, the apples would be replaced with ornaments and other decorations, with a star placed at the top to symbolize the dominance of Christ.

Yet another origin comes from Latvia in 1510, where residents would often decorate a tree at Christmastime with artificial roses and dance around it in a celebration of the Virgin Mary.

Growth in popularity

Whatever the case, it is generally agreed that the practice of decorating evergreen trees slowly gained popularity over the centuries throughout Europe as part of the Christmas celebration, particularly after gaining acceptance by the Catholic church. The practice gained additional momentum by spreading to England in 1841, when the marriage of England’s Queen Victoria to Germany’s Prince Albert brought the Christmas tree to the Royal Family. The Christmas tree quickly became popular throughout the country.

The Christmas tree’s history in the United States is a mixed bag of history and legend as well. Several cities claim credit for being the home for the first Christmas tree at various times during the 1800s, including Windsor Locks, Conn.; Easton, Pa.; Lancaster, Pa.; and Boston, Mass. No clear winner emerges.

Decorating the tree

Tree decorations have origins that trace back through the centuries: colored paper and fruit in the 1500s, small candles in the 1700s, and glass ornaments and strings of lights in the 1800s. In the United States, the ritual of decorating the tree began as part of the Christmas Eve celebration, and the tree was left up until Twelfth Night on Jan. 5, the night before Epiphany.

As with many Christmas traditions, however, commercialization and popular culture have had a gradual influence on the decorating ritual. Two famous U.S. Christmas trees – the National Christmas tree on the south lawn of the White House and the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in New York – are lit well before Christmas Eve, and many families now decorate trees at various times in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Real vs. artificial

While artificial Christmas trees are generally associated with the 20^th century, the first ones actually appeared in Germany in the 19^th century, made from goose down feathers that had been dyed green. Sears, Roebuck & Co. began selling artificial trees in the United States in approximately 1883 in response to fears about deforestation. The famous (or infamous) aluminum Christmas tree made its debut in 1958 and was relatively common until the late 1960s.

The first U.S. Christmas tree farms began cropping up in the early 1900s. In 2010, it is estimated that between 25 million and 30 million natural Christmas trees will be sold, with almost all coming from Christmas tree plantations.

It’s easy to get the notion of Christmas carols confused with Christmas songs. The distinction is simple: By the most common definition, Christmas carols deal with religious concepts, while Christmas songs are more secular in nature. The best way to get a clearer picture is to consider the difference between the birth of Jesus and the arrival of Santa Claus. They’re certainly part of the same season, but in both history and substance, they’re as different as night and day.

Origins

The word “carol” is believed to have its roots in the word caroller, a French word referring to a circle dance accompanied by singers. It’s an apt description for the first carols, which actually were performed in pagan rituals celebrating the winter solstice, around the time we now associate with Christmas. As with many Christmas traditions, early Christians took the pagan traditions and gave them a new direction, focusing on religious themes.

The earliest Christmas carol was actually appeared in about 129 A.D., when a song called “Angel’s Hymn” was allowed to be sung during a Christmas service in Rome. Another documented instance of an early carol was performed in the Greek Orthodox Church in 760 A.D. Early carols were written in Latin, though, which wasn’t widely understood by the public and didn’t really lend itself to singalongs.

The carol took a giant leap forward in 1223, thanks to St. Francis of Assisi. With permission from the Pope, he began staging “Nativity plays” throughout Italy, telling the story of the birth of Jesus through a staged presentation featuring actors and wooden characters.  The songs were no longer in Latin, but tended to reflect whatever language was dominant in the region, and the public was encouraged to sing along.

As with many Christmas traditions, the carol gained popularity throughout Europe and became an integral part of English medieval music in the 15^th century. And, as with most Christmas traditions, the writing and performance of carols came to a sudden halt in 1647, when they were banned as part of the Reformation (though they were still often sung in secret).

Eventually, though, the practice took hold again in the 18th century, this time for good. In Victorian England, Christmas carols were no longer reserved for church rituals, but went into the streets with roving groups of carolers. Some of the best loved and most revered Christmas carols were written in the 1700s, and on into the 1800s.

“Silent Night”

Legend has it that one of the most popular carols was written on Christmas Eve in 1818, largely as a result of a damaged church organ. Scrambling at the last minute to put together music for the evening service, assistant pastor Joseph Mohr quickly scribbled some lyrics, and asked Franz Gruber, a friend and musician, to set them to music that didn’t require an organ. They sang the song “Silent Night” at Midnight Mass, accompanied only by a guitar and the choir and Gruber’s guitar.

A good portion of the story is true, except for the damaged church organ and the last-minute scribbling.  In fact, Mohr had actually written the words previously as a poem, and asked Gruber to set them to music on Christmas Eve in time to be performed at Mass that evening using only the guitar and choir.

“The Twelve Days of Christmas”

Arguably, no song has generated quite as much debate in recent years as “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” On the surface, it’s about the 12 days between Christmas on Dec. 25 and the Epiphany on Dec. 26, a nonsensical song about “12 drummers drumming, 11 pipers piping,” and so on. Many historians believe it was part of a common memory game in which a singer would begin with a verse; the next singer would sing that verse and add one; and so on, until a singer finally could no longer remember all the verses.

Other historians say the song is much more serious in its nature. From the mid-1500s until the early 1800s, any private or public religious practice by Catholics was outlawed. It has been suggested that the song was used as a memory aid for children to learn Catholic doctrine in secret, and that each verse represents a symbol of faith. For example, “10 lords a-leaping” represented the Ten Commandments, while “six geese a-laying” was a device to remember the six jars of water turned to wine by Jesus. “A partridge in a pear tree” is a reference to Jesus.

Well, at least it’s a catchy tune which – to complicate matters even more – is actually of French origin.

“Do You Hear What I Hear?”

The great majority of traditional Christmas carols were written in the 18th and 19th centuries, but “Do You Hear What I Hear?” has become a religious-themed favorite with a much later birth date – 1962. It’s actually not so much a Christmas carol as it is a peace hymn. French composer Noel Regney and lyricist Gloria Shayne crafted the song in response to the Cuban missile crisis, using religious imagery to drive home the point. Considering the time period, the lyric “Pray for peace, people everywhere” takes on added significance. By the most recent count, the song has been recorded more than 120 times by artists ranging from Robert Goulet to Celine Dion.

Every winter, usually beginning sometime in early November, he comes from out of nowhere, and you can’t get rid of him. He’s at every shopping mall, on TV, in movies, on Christmas cards, at Christmas parties, at your house, and just about everywhere you look. He definitely carries more influence than the Easter Bunny.

Then, on Dec. 26, just when you think you can’t take it anymore – he’s gone without a trace.

As it turns out, the old guy has quite a history, and lot of different identities. Call him what you want – Santa Claus, St. Nick, Kris Kringle – he’s the face of Christmas around the world.

Meet St. Nicholas

There are conflicting versions of the origin of St. Nicholas, the religious figure who was the inspiration for Santa Claus, and it’s difficult to separate truth from legend. But all agree that his story starts around 280 A.D. in the region of the Middle East that today would be the nation of Turkey.

Nicholas was a wealthy man in the region of Lycia, a Christian priest who was known for his charity and kindness, particularly with children. He eventually became bishop for the region.  In 303 A.D., the Roman Empire began its persecution of Christians, and Nicholas was eventually imprisoned, along with other Christians who refused to renounce God, until the rise of a new emperor in 313 A.D.

Once released, he returned to his work as bishop and continued to gain fame for his kindness and wisdom. There are various stories about his deeds, ranging from giving gifts to needy children late at night without being seen, to saving children from lives of servitude and cruelty. Even after his death in 343 A.D., his legend and popularity continued to grow, and stories of his generosity and kindness toward children continued. He was sainted by the Catholic Church in 800 A.D., and by the 1400s, he was generally considered as the third-most beloved religious figure (behind Jesus and Mary).

He became the patron saint of children, and a feast day was established in his honor on Dec. 6 of each year. The practice of gift-giving often was a part of the celebration.  His status as a religious icon continued until the 1500s, when Nicholas and other saints fell from the public grace during the Protestant Reformation.

Becoming Santa Claus

In the centuries after the Reformation, the legacy of St. Nicholas gradually merged with other cultures, resulting in the creation of mythical, gift-giving characters in a number of countries. In Holland, he was “Sinter Klaas,” while Germany had “Christkindl,” or “Christ Child.” England honored “Father Christmas,” and France followed that naming concept with “Pere Noel.”

Dutch and English cultures converged in New York (or “New Amsterdam”) in the 1800s, as immigrants came to the United States by the thousands. Sinter Klaas transformed from a religious figure clad in the red robes of a bishop, into “Santa Claus,” a smiling, bearded plump figure wearing a red suit with a pointed cap, similar to the imagery used for Father Christmas. For German immigrants, the name transformed from Christkindl to “Kris Kringle,” but the concept was the same.

Those traditions came together in a famous poem by American author Clement C. Moore, written in 1823. “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” introduced new creative elements, including the flying sleigh pulled by eight reindeer, landing on rooftops while St. Nick dropped down the chimney with a bag stuffed with toys. Today, Moore’s poem is also commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas.”

Building the perfect Santa

Moore’s poem also gave a broad sketch of what Santa looked like: dressed in fur from head to toe, twinkling eyes, rosy cheeks and nose, white beard, and a “little round belly that shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.”

Still, there were some blanks to be filled in. Early art images of Santa often showed him as an elf, small enough to ride in a tiny sleigh and drop down a chimney with ease.  Other times, he was a tall, slender, serious-looking figure dressed in a red religious-style robe, or even a tan coat. The modern day iconic image of Santa didn’t take on a consistent appearance until the Coca-Cola Company turned him into one of the most successful advertising campaigns in history.

Coca-Cola began using Santa in advertising as early as 1920, suggesting that Coke was his favorite drink. In 1931, Coca-Cola commissioned popular artist and illustrator Haddon Sundblom to create a wholesome, fun-loving Santa.  Sundblom’s Santa always had the same basic look, but was depicted in casual situations – playing with toys, writing a letter, or raiding the refrigerator.

Sundblom stayed close to Moore’s depiction in the poem, with one major difference – it seemed like Santa always had a Coke in his hand. Also, Santa’s suit was the same shade of red as the Coca-Cola label, though the company has always claimed that it was a coincidence. Coca-Cola has continued the seasonal marketing campaign every year since 1931.

Ending up in Santa’s lap

It’s not clear when or where the first “department store Santa” made his debut. Some sources say it was in 1841, when “Kris Kringle” climbed the chimney atop a store in Philadelphia. Others claim it was in 1890, when businessman James Edgar brought Santa to his store in Brockton, Mass.

Regardless, there’s no doubt about Santa’s current status as a Christmastime fixture in shopping malls and department stores across the country, though it’s hard to pin down an estimate how many department-store Santas there actually are. However, more than 700 Santas currently belong to a non-profit association called the Amalgamated Order of Real-Bearded Santas (AORBS). All you need is a red suit, a big belly, a fluffy white beard, and $25 a year for dues.