Page 49 - All About History - Issue 59-17

The Secret History of Christmas

o ChrisTmas CreaTing
Tree… sainT niCk

A popular tale regarding the origins of the A visit from St. Nicholas is a poem by Clement
Christmas tree features one of the most Clarke Moore that was composed in 1822.
controversial men in European history. Thanks to Moore’s poem, the image of Santa
Apparently Martin Luther, the German Claus as a fat, “jolly old elf” became popularised
Protestant reformer, was the first to during the 19th century and is what we know
think of decorating a tree for Christmas. today. One of Moore’s inspirations was Saint
Supposedly, Luther was walking home Nicholas and he supposedly composed the
one evening when he looked up at the poem while on a sleigh on a snowy day.
night sky and was amazed by its beauty. The poem redefined the traditions of
Surrounded by evergreen trees, he became Christmas gift giving as Father Christmas was
inspired and hoped to recreate the scene for his family. He brought a depicted flying from house to house on 24 December, magically entering
tree into the house and proceeded to decorate it with lit candles. While each one through the chimney. Until this point, Santa had always been
this may or may not be true, Christmas trees did originate in Germany… portrayed as arriving on Christmas Day.

oDin: The original sanTa Claus? a Conning

The pagan influence behind the jolly old man loved today ChrisTmas
Crook
The Nazis appropriation of Odin for their Should we call Odin
Christmas celebrations has some basis in ‘All-Father Christmas’? John Duval Gluck founded the Santa
fact. Pre-Christian Germans celebrated Claus Association in 1913 to help the
Yule. During this time, Odin would go on New York Post Office deal with the
his ‘wild hunt’ in the sky. Children would numerous letters addressed to Santa.
leave their boots filled with straw for his The Association sorted through the
eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, and when letters, passing them on to donors
Odin flew past he would leave them gifts who would buy the gifts for the
like toys and sweets in return — much children. The service was popular
like how children today put food out and soon enough, Gluck began to
for Santa’s reindeer when he visits their ask for funds for a new company
homes to leave them presents. building. When the building never
Gift giving is not the only way in materialised but Gluck continued
which Odin and Santa Claus are similar to ask for money, suspicions were
characters. Odin is frequently portrayed raised. In 1927, it was discovered
with a long, white beard, just like Saint that he could not account for large
Nicholas, and he rode his horse across amounts of the money — there was
the sky much like how Father Christmas not enough to convict him, but Gluck
rides with his reindeer and sleigh. was stripped of his role.
Also, Odin had the uncanny ability
to always know if someone had been
good or bad. For those who were bad, he
would hand out punishments and many
feared that he was watching them at all
times. This is a skill that Santa Claus also
possesses, although it would seem that
worst punishment from him would be a
lump of coal. The © Alamy, Getty Images, Thinkstock, Joe Cummings
Pagan traditions became assimilated xmas myth
into Christian ones as Christianity took
It has often been said that using
hold across Europe. It is reasonable to the abbreviation ‘Xmas’ is actually
suggest that Santa, a Christian figure, offensive as it removes ‘Christ’ from
supplanted Odin’s place as worship of the word. However, the letter ‘X’ is
pagan deities was eventually banned actually the same as the letter ‘Chi’ in
and, in doing so, he also took on a few Greek, which translates to ‘Christ’
of Odin’s characteristics. — therefore, when you use the
shortened version, you are
still acknowledging
Jesus.