25 Video Views·Mar 12, 2025 #christmas #santa #history How much do you know about Christmas—about its origins and its many beloved traditions? Do you know where the idea of stocking-stuffers comes from? Or how lights found their way onto the Christmas tree? Or why we all have the jolly, red-suited, white-haired image of Santa Claus in our heads? In this video, historian William Federer explores the holiday’s rich and unique history.
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Script:
“‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…”
You probably know what happens next. But do you know who wrote this poem, and when? Do you know where the tradition of the Christmas tree comes from? Lights on the Christmas tree? Stockings? Even the idea of gift-giving?
No holiday has a richer and more varied tradition than Christmas. So let’s look into its history and see if we can uncover some of that richness and tradition. And if you don’t celebrate Christmas—well, at least you’ll have a better appreciation of why so many people do.
Here’s what everybody knows:
Christmas is when Christians celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ. That in itself is a very big deal. Christianity, in all its many iterations, remains the most popular religion in the world. Two billion people follow it.
Aside from its obvious religious significance, the first Christmas stands as the great divide for the recording of human history. Until recently, history was divided between BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini, which is Latin for “Year of Our Lord”). Now you’ll often see BCE (Before the Common Era) and CE (Common Era). No matter. The divide is still Jesus’s birth.
The great kings of the first millennium recognized the significance of the day and attached themselves to it. Charlemagne, Alfred the Great, and William the Conqueror, among many others, were either baptized or coronated on December 25.
The idea of Christmas as a time of gift-giving also goes back to the earliest days of Christianity. The story is told that a third-century church bishop, Nicholas, would anonymously throw bags of gold coins into the windows of the poor. The coins supposedly landed in the shoes or stockings that were drying by the fireplace. Thus, was the stocking stuffer born. After Nicholas died and was declared a saint, his popularity and positive Christmas message spread across Europe, each nation adding its own distinct contribution.
In Germany, the winter tradition of placing evergreens in their homes took on a new significance in the 16th century when Protestant reformer Martin Luther put candles in the branches. He told his children the lights were like the sky above Bethlehem on the night of Christ's birth.
The idea that St. Nicholas would judge whether you’ve been good or bad during the year stems from the Book of Revelation in the New Testament, which depicts Christ returning to Earth riding a white horse. In the Middle Ages, the legend sprang up that Saint Nicholas had been chosen as the Savior’s advance guard. He wouldn’t come at the end of the world, but every year to check things out and give a report.
When this notion arrived in Norway, it encountered a problem: there were no horses in Norway. But they did have plenty of reindeer. And, of course, Norway abuts the Arctic Circle and the North Pole, so St. Nick found himself with a new domicile.
All these various European traditions came together in the great melting pot of America.
In New York in 1823, a professor at the Protestant Episcopal Seminary, Clement Moore, wrote a poem for his children, 'Twas the night before Christmas:
"…The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there…"
The poem caught on and became a Christmas staple every school child could recite.
The holiday got another push in 1843, when the great British writer, Charles Dickens, published his short novel, A Christmas Carol. The redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge perfectly captured what we now refer to as “the Christmas spirit”: the idea that the holiday brings out the best in all of us.
As the new century turned, Hollywood got into the act. Almost as soon as there were movies, there were movies celebrating Christmas. To this day, a year doesn’t go by without a new one.
Madison Avenue saw a big opportunity, too. In 1931, Coca-Cola hired artist Haddon Sundblom to create a Christmas ad of Santa Claus (which is Dutch for St. Nicholas) drinking Coke. The jolly white-bearded fellow in a bright red suit remains the personification of Old St. Nick.
And, in perfect melting-pot fashion, Irving Berlin, the son of a rabbi, wrote the definitive yuletide song, “White Christmas.”
View the full script: https://l.prageru.com/3TASrST
#christmas #santa #history
was the night before Christmas and all
through the house not a creature was
stirring not even a mouse you probably
know what happens next but do you know
who wrote this poem and when do you know
where the tradition of the Christmas
tree comes from lights on the Christmas
tree stockings even the idea of
giftgiving no holiday has a richer and
more varied tradition than Christmas so
let's look into its history and see if
we can uncover some of that richness and
tradition
and if you don't celebrate Christmas
well at least you'll have a better
appreciation of why so many people do
here's what everybody knows Christmas is
when Christians celebrate the birthday
of Jesus Christ that in itself is a very
big deal Christianity in all its many
iterations Remains the most popular
religion in the world two billion people
follow it aside from its obvious
religious significance the first
Christmas stands as The Great Divide for
the recording of human history
until recently history was divided
between BC before Christ and AD anod Dom
which is Latin for year of Our Lord now
you'll often see BCE before the Common
Era and CE Common Era no matter the
Divide is still Jesus's birth the great
Kings of the first Millennium recognized
the significance of the day and attach
themselves to it Charlemagne Alfred the
Great and William the Conqueror among
many others were either baptized or
coronated on December
25th the idea of Christmas as a time of
giftgiving also goes back to the
earliest days of Christianity the story
is told that a thir Century Church
Bishop Nicholas would anonymously throw
bags of gold coins into the windows of
the poor the coin supposedly landed in
the shoes or stockings that were drying
by the fireplace thus was the stocking
stuffer born
after Nicholas died and was declared a
saint his popularity and positive
Christmas message spread across Europe
each Nation adding its own distinct
contribution in Germany the winter
tradition of placing Evergreens in their
homes took on a new significance in the
16th century when Protestant reformer
Martin Luther put candles in the
branches he told his children the lights
were like the sky above Bethlehem on the
night of Christ's birth the idea that St
Nicholas would judge whether you've been
good or bad during the year stems from
The Book of Revelation in the New
Testament which depicts Christ returning
to Earth riding a white horse in the
Middle Ages the legend sprang up that St
Nicholas had been chosen as the savior's
Advanced guard he wouldn't come at the
end of the world but every year to check
things out and give a report when this
notion arrived in Norway it encountered
a problem there were no horses in Norway
but they did have plenty of reindeer and
of course Norway AB buts the Arctic
Circle and the North Pole so St Nick
found himself with a new
domicile all these various European
Traditions came together in the great
Melting Pot of America in New York in
1823 a professor at the Protestant
Episcopal Seminary Clement Moore wrote a
poem for his children TW the Night
Before Christmas the stockings were hung
by the chimney with care in hopes that
St Nicholas soon would be there the poem
caught on and became a Christmas staple
every school child could
recite the holiday got another push in
1843 when the Great British writer
Charles Dickens published his short
novel A Christmas Carol the Redemption
of Ebenezer Scrooge perfectly captured
what we now refer to as the Christmas
spirit the idea that the holiday brings
out the best in all of us as the new
century turned Hollywood got into the
ACT almost as as soon as there were
movies there were movies celebrating
Christmas to this day a year doesn't go
by without a new one Madison Avenue saw
a big opportunity too in 1931 cocacola
hired artist Haden sunlam to create a
Christmas ad of Santa Claus which is
Dutch for St Nicholas drinking Coke the
Jolly white bearded fellow in a bright
red suit Remains the personification of
Old St Nick and in perfect melting pot
fashion Irving Berlin
the son of a rabbi wrote The Definitive
Ule tide song White
Christmas many complain today that the
religious aspect of Christmas has been
overwhelmed by Commerce retail sales
between Thanksgiving and Christmas are
now $1
trillion this is not a new complaint the
Puritans refused to celebrate Christmas
because they thought it trivialized the
holiday's religious message but this
Remains the minority view most people
love Christmas and all the things the
lights the tree the songs the movies and
yes the gifts that come with it and who
can deny that people tend to act a
little nicer a little happier as the
special day draws near in a world that
feels so divided Christmas still unites
us for that we should all be grateful
I'm William feder author of there really
is a Santa Claus for Prager
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