Christmas is an amalgam of traditions from a half-dozen cultures brought together into the fold and incorporated into the holiday we now hold dear.
DECEMBER 25
For two hundred years following Christ's birth, no one ventured to pinpoint the exact date he was born. Christ was divine, and his natural birth was played down. It was regarded as sinful to consider observing Christ's birthday "as though He were a King Pharaoh."
Several dates were suggested as to when the Nativity took place: January 1, January 6, March 25, and May 20. What led to December 25 as being the chosen day was brought on by Christianity's chief rival of the day - Mithraism.
December 25th was appointed by Pagan Romans as the Celebration of the Natalis Solis Invicti - "Birthday of the Invincible Sun God" Mithras. To offer converts as occasion to participate in a sacred celebration of their own, the Church officially recognized December 25 as a rival to the sun-worshipers feast, to be observed prayerfully, a mass of sorts. Christ's Mass.
MISTLETOE
The custom of the mistletoe originated with the Druids, two centuries, B.C. The Druids celebrated the start of winter by rounding up the parasitic plant to burn as a sacrifice to their gods as well as hang in homes to ensure good fortune and harmony. Only the highest ranking priest was allowed to gather the mistletoe from sacred oak trees using a gold knife.
With the official recognition of Christmas, the use of mistletoe was banned by the Church, which held in disdain its idolatrous association. As a substitute, holly was chosen. The pointed leaves served as a symbol for the crown of thorns while the berries represented drop of Christ's blood. The ban on mistletoe would last into the middle ages.
POINSETTIA
This member of the spurge family's adoption as the unofficial Christmas flower dates from 1828. This plant, a native of Mexico, has small yellow flowers surrounded by tapering red leaves and was known as the "flower of the blessed night" because it resembled the Star of Bethlehem.
In 1828, the plant was presented to the first United States Ambassador, Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced it into the the U.S., where it was renamed in his honor.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
While preaching to a tribe of Germanic Druids, the British Monk St. Boniface demonstrated that the oak tree was not sacred and invincible by chopping one of them down right in front of them, where it crushed every shrub in its path save for a small fir tree. As the story goes, Boniface saw that this event might lend itself in his favor, and land him some converts at the same time.
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