BeautifulMag Week 51-52: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

When does the Christmas season start? Historically Christmas is a Christian celebration by default, although we all know by now many habits and even the date of December 25 are borrowed from pagan believes more than the Catholic Church. Still for many, Christmas is the celebration to be held on the 24th and 25th of this month. But that doesn’t include the festive activities of decorating and preparing. And that brings us back to the original question: when does the Christmas season start?

In some countries, like The Netherlands and Belgium, one celebrates Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children. This celebration takes place on December 5 and many believe it is the origin of the current, more commercialized celebration of Christmas. The distinctive Saint Nicholas is obviously related to the jolly Santa Claus. In these countries it is considered tasteless to put any sorts of Christmas decoration before the Saint returns to Spain (different story, we keep it for another time). But as soon as he is gone, the twinkling lights and silver bells appear. The United States do it very different. They changed the Christmas season into a Holiday season, justifying a celebration period that starts with Halloween and lasts about 2 months.

Christmas has become equivalent of a festive time. Streets are lit, trees are decorated and lots of money is being spent on mostly presents that you really don’t need but that are always nice to get. Father Christmas seems to have replaced the Holy crib as the international symbol of this celebration of all celebrations. You find him everywhere, from China (Shen Dan Lao Ren) to the USA (Saint Nick) and from Russia (Ded Moroz) to Chile (Viejito Pascuero). Yes it truly is the most wonderful time of the year and for us it can not start early enough. –B-

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Comments

[Steve]

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day,
their old familiar carols play,
so wild and sweet, the words repeat
of peace on Earth, good will to men.

My thought was now this Day had come,
the belfries of all Christendom,
rang out so long,
the unbroken song,
of peace on Earth, good will to men.

And in despair, I bowed my head,
there is no peace on Earth, I said.
For hate is strong,
and mocks the song,
of peace on Earth, good will to men.

Then pealed the bells more loud and sweet,
God is not dead, nor doth he sleep.
The wrong shall fail,
the right prevail,
with peace on Earth, good will to men."

I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY by Bing Crosby.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

[Dieter Reimers (Toronto, Canada)]

Thank you Steve.......that is a bautiful Christmas Poem by Bing Crosby. Very fitting words. A very merry Christmas to all and a happy and healthy NEW YEAR 2010 !!

[RE]

in the philippines, christmas starts when the months' names begin to end in -ber. meaning its starts on september 1. you start hearing christmas carols being played at this time. its a very long celebration culminating in the second sunday of january.

[Paul]

Thanks for the poem, Steve, but may I offer a correction to the credit? It is part of a poem originally written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1867, and first set to music in the 1870s. The current tune, first recorded by Bing Crosby, was written in 1956 by Johnny (John D.) Marks.

None of this, however, takes away from the sentiments the song expresses, and your reminder of them is very à propos of the season. Thank you.

[Steve]

Thank you, Paul. You are, of course, correct. I thought I would give the credit to Bing for his magnificent recording of this song, which should be played more often at this time of year than it usually is.