|
Dates
in the
Christmas Tradition |
| 255 |
Mithra, the god of light, increasingly popular during Saturnalia. |
| 280 |
St.
Nicholas is born in Patara, now part of Turkey. |
| 313 |
Constantine,
Roman Emperor, declares religious freedom. |
| 342 |
St.
Nicholas dies in Myra. |
| 350 |
Pope
Julius 1, and other religious leaders declare 25 December as the
birthday of Jesus Christ. |
| 354 |
Christmas
( Christ’s Mass ) celebrated for the first time as the birthday of
Jesus. |
| 400 |
Pope
Sixtus III introduces midnight mass and the Christmas crib in Rome, at
the church of
Santa Maria Maggiore. |
| 500’s |
Bells
appear in Christian churches. |
| 567 |
Council
of Tours proclaims the 12 days of Christmas from 25 December to 6
January |
| 575 |
Bishop
Martin of Bracae in Germany forbids
all Christmas evergreens as pagan. |
| 601 |
The pope instructs churches to use greenery as decoration during Christmas celebrations
to Combat pagan practices.
|
| 900
‘ s |
Christmas
almost dies out in Europe. |
| 1000
‘s |
St.
Nicholas comes to Russia and begins to replace the shamans of the
nomadic tribes of Siberia.
The reindeer begin their role with Nikolai Chudovorits ( St. Nicholas
). |
| 1087 |
The remains of St. Nicholas are stolen from Myra and brought to Bari. Bari was a crossroads in those days and his fame spread throughout Europe as crusaders carried tales of him to their homeland. |
| 1200
‘s |
Custom
of giving gifts during the mid – winter festival moved to the feast
day of St. Nicholas. |
| 1223 |
St.
Francis of Assissi starts the tradition of the Nativity scene, |
| 1530 |
Martin Luther decorates the first Christmas tree with lighted candles. |
| 1561 |
First printed reference to Christmas trees. Germany. |
| 1600’s |
Evergreens
have become a fixture during the Christmas season. |
| 1607 |
Plum pudding. It began as a thick porridge consisting of beef broth, chopped cow’s
tongues, raisins, fruit juice, wine, and spices. Plum used to mean rise or swell up, as raisins do when
cooked.
|
| 1610 |
Tinsel
invented in Germany. |
| 1628 |
Dutch
settlers arrive in the New World and bring Sinter Klaas with them. |
| 1642 |
Oliver
Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, bans Christmas celebrations
as too rowdy and pagan. |
| 1659 |
Christmas
banned in the American Colonies. |
| 1660 |
King
Charles II, King of
England, restores Christmas celebrations. |
| 1664 |
Control
of New Amsterdam passes over to the British in the American Colonies. By
the end of the Revolutionary War, Sinter Klaas has become Santa
Claus. |
| 1741 |
First
candlelight service in America. Tradition says Count Nicholas Von
Zinzendorf holding
a lighted candle led a group of settlers into a cabin in
Pennsylvania where they named their town Bethlehem.
Handel’s
Messiah performed for the first time. |
| 1747 |
Christmas
trees decorated in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. |
| 1752 |
Calendar
changed and Christmas moved up 11 days from 6 January to 25 December. |
| 1809 |
Washington
Irving publishes “ Knickerbocker ‘s History of New York. “ He
describes in glowing
terms the Dutch tradition of Santa Claus and Christmas. Santa Claus uses
a horse drawn sleigh to
distribute gifts. |
| 1818 |
Silent
Night is written on Christmas Eve. Obendorf, Austria |
| 1822 |
Dr.
Clement C. Moore writes “ A Visit from St. Nicholas. “ The first
time Santa Claus is shown
with eight reindeer. |
| 1841 |
Christmas
trees come to Great Britain from Germany. Prince Albert, Consort to
Queen Victoria, brings the tradition from his native Germany. |
| 1843 |
First
Christmas card is printed in England. |
| 1843 |
Charles
Dickens writes “ A Christmas Carol “. |
| 1847 |
Christmas
cracker invented by Thomas Smith, a Londoner. Factory opened. |
| 1850’s |
Christmas
cards reach America. |
| 1851 |
First Christmas tree business started in
America.
Richard Pease, a printer from Albany, New York, is credited with sending the first specially printed
Christmas card in America; and also with making the first mistake in Christmas card history when a building had a banner hanging which read
"Pease’s GreatVariety
Store “. |
| 1852 |
Santa
Claus, Indiana is named. Many people have their cards and gifts
sent from their post office in order to get the postmark which starts on
1 December. |
| 1857 |
Jingle
Bells is written by J. Pierpoint. |
| 1863 |
From
1863 to 1886, Thomas Nast produces a series of illustrations for Harper
‘s Weekly
that transforms Santa Claus from a small gnome – like elf to a
figure in a red fur – trimmed costume.
The first to show Santa Claus answering mail, in his workshop, and at
home at the North Pole. |
| 1860
‘s |
Christmas
cards become fashionable in America. |
| 1874 |
Louis Prang of Roxboro begins to print Christmas cards and would soon be selling
millions. Known as the Father of the American Christmas card. |
| 1879 |
First
ever Christmas tree electric lights at the home of Edward H. Johnson, an
Edison Company employee. |
| 1890 |
Woolworth’s
begins importing
German Christmas
tree decorations. |
| 1896 |
The
T. Eaton Company produces it’s first Christmas catalogue. |
| 1897 |
Yes,
Virginia, there is a Santa Claus editorial appears in the New York
Sun. |
| 1890 |
Between
1836 and 1890, Christmas is declared a legal holiday throughout America. |
| 1900 |
The
concept in the early 1900’s that children had a right to a happy
Christmas came along with laws that restricted or prohibited the use of
child labor is fostered in America. |
| 1903 |
Mass
production of stringed electric lights by Ever – Ready Company of New
York. |
| 1907 |
Christmas
seals begin in America. |
| 1931 |
Coca - Cola embarks on a Christmas ad campaign that lasts for 35 years and in the process creates the image of Santa Claus we know today.
First Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. |
| 1939 |
Creation
of Rudolph the Red – Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May, advertising
copywriter for Montgomery Ward. |
| 1942 |
White
Christmas – Irving Berlin. Sung By Bing Crosby. The tune becomes one of
the all time best selling songs. |
| 1949 |
Rudolph
the Red - Nosed Reindeer is recorded by Gene Autry.
First UNICEF Christmas card. |
| 1964 |
The
lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center becomes a
nationally televised event in
America. |
|
Do
you have other dates you feel should be included in this list ?E-mail
your suggestion |
