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1038
First Recorded Christmas Celebrations
Medieval people celebrated Christmas by fasting until Christmas Eve, then spending 12 full days partying and partaking in all the Christmas festivities such as feasting, visiting acquaintances, and dancing. This reflected a sign of the times, as nobles liked to host grand parties to show off their wealth. On January 6th, "the Twelfth Night", presents were exchanged, commemorating Christ's birth (who was the greatest gift of all). -
1038
The Term "Christmas" Introduced
It was also n 1038 that the first use of the word "Christmas", or Christ's Mass was used: this reflected the overwhelmingly Catholic influence of the time. -
Shakespeare's Twelfth Night Written
In Tudor times, Christmas became an excuse to party and have plays. People strayed from the strict religious influence of the Catholic church, and Christmas became more secular. Shakespeare's Twelfth Night was written as entertainment for the Twelfth Night, and celebrated the closing of the Christmas season. -
Father Christmas
An anonymous poem "A Visit from St Nicholas" (now known as "The Night Before Christmas") is published in a children's story book, and the idea of Father Christmas being a jolly old man bringing the good little girls and boys became a popular phenomena. -
Victorian Celebrations
The way we celebrate Christmas today began to take shape during Queen Victoria's reign. Christmas became a time for quieter family celebrations; many in the Victorian period became church-goers once again, and this time period became synonymous with solemnity, morality, and all things good and proper. -
Christmas Tree Introduced
Queen Victoria's husband Albert was German, and when he migrated to England, he brought with him from his homeland the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree with lights and presents (which were now exchanged on Christmas Day, rather than the Twelfth Night). This tradition quickly spread around England and the UK. Migration began to have a bigger impact on British life and culture in this time. -
"Boxing Day" Introduced
Boxing Day became a holiday during Victorian times as well, as it was typically the day that servants would get the day off and receive boxed up gifts from their masters. This was also a time where the rich would would box up presents for the poor. -
"A Christmas Carol" Written
Popular author of the time Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol, and those who were well off began sharing meals with the destitute, inspired by his main character Scrooge (something that is still practiced today). -
Christmas in the 20th Century
Christmas in the 20th century remained largely the same as it was in the 19th century, with most abandoning the tradition of celebrating The Twelfth Night, and sticking to the tradition of exchanging gifts on Christmas Day. Many also took this opportunity to donate to the poor, and share meals with them. The Great Depression meant that celebrations were less elaborate, and people were focused on spending time with family rather than gifts. -
Christmas Today
Billions of people worldwide celebrate Christmas today. Those who are religious do so by attending church services, or mass, but a lot of people who celebrate it are not religious. It has become a time for family, and for spending time together. It is often the holiday that students and expats return home for, and nearly everyone knows what Christmas is (even those who don't celebrate it). -
How Brits Currently Celebrate
The British now celebrate Christmas much the same as they have since the 1800s. Having feasts with family and friends, exchanging presents, decorating their houses with lights and Christmas trees. Over time, Christmas changed from massive parties in Medieval times, to an almost worldwide holiday set aside for family. Today, Christmas can hold meaning for anyone, not just Christians.
