Lore lovers, rejoice. This festive season, we’ve been digging deep in our sack of gothic gifts to discover the dark origins of one of our favourite holidays – Christmas. Though Christmas is all sugar plum fairies and candy canes now, it wasn’t always that way! We’ve got some chilling facts about Christmas that will get you in the festive spirit in no time…
The Pagan Winter Solstice
From ancient times, the season that we now know as Christmas was a midwinter celebration called The Winter Solstice, or Yule. A pagan festival, The Winter Solstice was a time to celebrate the fact that the worst of winter was over, and the people could look forward to longer days with more sunlight in the near future. Ultimately, everyone was celebrating the fact that they were the ones to have survived another winter.
Yuletide & Odin’s List
In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule (or Yuletide) from December 21st right through to until January – burning fires and feasting for a full 12 days (though nowadays we tend to celebrate all December!) Yet the holiday took a more fearful turn in Germany, where many people believed that the pagan god Odin would observe his people from the sky during the winter solstice, deciding who would survive the winter, and who would not…almost as if he was making a list, and checking it twice?
Saturnalia Worship & Mithra
In warmer regions such as Rome, the people celebrated Saturnalia during December in honour of Saturn, the god of agriculture – once again to celebrate the end of the worst of the winter. It was a time when the social order was turned on its head, slaves and peasants ruled the city and celebrated with plentiful food and drink – the first instance of the winter solstice as a charitable season.
Christianity vs Pagan Festivals
When Christianity was still a new religion, nobody even thought to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Only in the fourth century did Pope Julius choose to celebrate the occasion on December 25th, conveniently timed to overshadow and absorb the traditions of Yule and Saturnalia. A bloody battle between pagan holidays and Christian rule ensued, and by the middle ages, Christmas had almost completely replaced the ancient pagan holidays.
Santa Claus
With Christmas came the legend of St Nicholas. The legend varies from culture to culture, but they all agree that he was a benevolent man, a protector of children celebrated for his charitable nature. In Scandinavian culture, the same figure appears as Sinterklaas who eventually made his way to America by the end of the 18th century as Santa Claus – a magical being who flew from house to house delivering presents to deserving children…but what happened to the not-so-deserving?
Krampus
Every protagonist has an antagonist, and just as the Christian God finds his counterpart in the Devil, Santa wasn’t the only creature visiting houses during the Winter Solstice. In Belgium, the Netherlands and Austro-Bavarian cultures, misbehaving children in could expect a visit from the terrifying Krampus, a half-goat, half-demon that at best would leave a lump of coal, and at worst would kidnap the child, never to be seen again…
If any naughty children thought they would get away with a couple of weeks of good behaviour before Christmas, they’d be in for a shock – Krampus wouldn’t wait until Christmas Day to punish the unworthy. Krampusnacht continues to be celebrated across many European regions on 5th December. Combining both Christian traditions with pagan roots, Krampusnacht sees parades offerings of Krampuslauf (schnapps) and the exchanging of Krampuskarten (greeting cards depicting the terrifying Krampus).
The Krampus has inspired a lot of Yuletide fear over the years, even inspiring his own (tongue-in-cheek) film:
Christmas Riots
Americans didn’t truly embrace Christmas until the 19th century, and it didn’t have the smoothest start. Christmas had become a time for the poor and unemployed to riot in huge gangs. In a tradition inspired by the earlier celebration of Halloween, Americans demanded fine food and drink from the upper classes and caused trouble if their demands weren’t met. Deciding that the violence must end, communities were urged to gather together, rich or poor, to celebrate the closing of the year in the same way that Christmas was celebrated elsewhere.
Cleaning Up Christmas
Back in England, the Christmas tradition was also changing. Previously a time of hedonism and a huge festive celebration, the holiday was turning into a more peaceful and family-oriented time. In 1843, Charles Dickens wrote the tale A Christmas Carol which spread a message of charity and kindness which resonated with both English and American societies.
As Christmas became even more popular in America, it was reinvented as the perfect family holiday. Old customs lifted straight from the pagan days such as decorating trees, sending cards to family and friends and exchanging gifts became an essential part of the Christmas tradition. Eventually, this commercialised reinvention became the accepted celebration of Christmas all over the world.
Since then, Christmas celebrations haven’t changed much, but we’ve spotted some of our favourite hedonistic elements of the ancient Winter Solstice traditions creeping back in: eating, drinking & being merry!
Whether you’re celebrating Christmas in the modern or old tradition, you can find all of your must-have gothic gifts here at Attitude Clothing.
Greetings, fellow enthusiasts of the dark and mysterious! As an avid scholar of folklore and cultural histories, delving into the origins of festive traditions is a realm I navigate with unwavering passion and a depth of knowledge.
The article you've just encountered embarks on a chilling journey into the sinister roots of Christmas, unraveling the tapestry of Yule, Saturnalia, and the clash between pagan festivals and the emergence of Christianity. Allow me to elucidate on the concepts explored in this captivating exploration.
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The Pagan Winter Solstice (Yule): The Winter Solstice, originally a midwinter celebration, finds its roots in pagan traditions. It marked the turning point where the worst of winter was behind, and people could anticipate longer days with increasing sunlight. The survival of winter was a cause for celebration.
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Yuletide & Odin's List: In Scandinavia, Yule (or Yuletide) was celebrated with fires and feasting for 12 days, reflecting the Norse belief in Odin observing his people during the winter solstice. This almost whimsical notion of Odin making a list, akin to the modern Santa Claus, adds a fascinating layer to the festive narrative.
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Saturnalia Worship & Mithra: In Rome, Saturnalia honored Saturn, the god of agriculture, and mirrored the celebration of the end of winter. During this time, social norms were inverted, with slaves and peasants temporarily ruling and reveling in abundant food and drink. This marked the early connection between the winter solstice and a charitable season.
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Christianity vs. Pagan Festivals: The article highlights the historical battle between pagan holidays and the rise of Christianity. Only in the fourth century did Pope Julius designate December 25th as the celebration of Jesus' birth, strategically incorporating and overshadowing traditions from Yule and Saturnalia.
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Santa Claus & Krampus: The legend of St. Nicholas, a benevolent protector of children, evolved into Santa Claus. Simultaneously, the darker counterpart, Krampus, a half-goat, half-demon figure, terrorized misbehaving children during the Winter Solstice in European cultures.
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Christmas Riots: The 19th-century struggle of America to embrace Christmas, marked by riots and demands for fine food and drink from the upper classes, mirrors a chaotic transitional phase before the holiday's more unified celebration.
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Cleaning Up Christmas: In England, Christmas underwent transformation, shifting from a hedonistic celebration to a more peaceful, family-oriented time. Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" played a pivotal role in promoting messages of charity and kindness, influencing both English and American societies.
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Commercial Reinvention: As Christmas gained popularity in America, it underwent a commercialized reinvention, incorporating customs from pagan days like tree decorations, card sending, and gift exchanges. This transformation eventually became the globally accepted celebration we recognize today.
In conclusion, the article masterfully weaves together historical threads, showcasing the evolution of Christmas from its pagan roots to its modern incarnation. So, whether you embrace the holiday in a traditional or contemporary manner, the gothic gifts at Attitude Clothing await to complement your festive spirit. Delve into the past, embrace the darkness, and celebrate the season with a touch of mystique!
