Here’s the thing. We’ve been around the block a few times and think we know a holiday, but do we? As Christmas approaches, there may be more.
Let start with those reindeer. I love a good reindeer, I’ll tell you.
But, let’s look at the 1823 poem, A Visit from Saint Nicholas. This is the prose that originally introduced the world to Santa’s reindeer. As it turns out, two of the flying creatures had slightly different names. Donner and Blitzen were originally named Dunder and Blixem. That’s how the Dutch say “thunder and lightning.” Dunder and Blixem. I like the Dutch version.
Since we’re talking about those Scandinavian countries. They have something called “The Yule Goat,” and it figures into many of their homes. In Norse mythology, the two goats pulled Thor’s flying chariot. Just like reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh. But wait. There’s more. They also have an invisible Yule Goat that checks in on things before the big holiday. Flying goats. Magical invisible goats. You have to love the Scandinavians. To honor all of this, they made a big Yule Goat statue in 1966. The creature resides in the Swedish city of Gävle and stands 42.6 feet high and 22 yards in length. That’s a whole lot of Yule Goat.
Then there are tree traditions. We don’t get a live/dead tree anymore. Ours have been artificial for years. They are easier, safer, don’t shed. And sometimes better looking. That’s because, these days, artificial Christmas trees are made of materials that are meant to mimic real evergreens and last for as long as possible. Artificial trees first came on the scene it happened in Germany around 1865. They were not plastic of course. They were made of goose feathers that were dyed green. Plucky.
Most years, we hang up stockings. I always wondered why that tradition started. One popular legend tells the tale of a poor widower who worried that he wouldn’t be able to marry off his three daughters because he was so poor. As it happened, St. Nicholas was wandering through the town where the man lived and heard villagers talking about how poor that family was. St. Nick wanted to help but knew the man would refuse any kind of charity directly. So, he got sneaky. He slid down the chimney of the family’s house and filled the girls’ recently laundered stockings, which happened to be drying by the fire, with gold coins. And then he disappeared. In the morning, the family found the gifts, and the daughters became eligible to wed. And bells were ringing.
Ringing bells. And then there is Christmas music. I used to get tired of Christmas music when I had a car with a regular old radio. Now I have Satellite and listen to anything I want. But back then, they’d start playing Christmas tunes in October, and by Christmas Day, I was ready to run over grandma and her reindeer. Today, I can take or leave a Christmas tune, depending. But Christmas tunes have been taken a long way. In fact, way up to the stars. NASA’s Gemini 6A space flight crew got into the Christmas spirit and made history when they played “Jingle Bells” on December 16, 1965. That earned Jingle Bells the Guinness World Record for being the first song ever played in space. Or, so we think.
Finally, as Christmas approaches, I always wonder what it would be like at a different time of year. Say, outdoors and around the grill, cooking Christmas burgers. Well. A long time ago, Pope Julius decided that Christmas should be celebrated on December 25. Yes, indeed. He picked the date. However, there is a lot of evidence that suggests that wasn’t the date Jesus was born. The Pope chose December 25 to overshadow a pagan festival called Saturnalia which also happened on that day. But, all evidence shows that Jesus was most likely born during the spring. I say we should move Christmas, combine it with Easter, and just have Big Jesus Day. That’s a wrap.
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“Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home.”
— G.K. Chesterton
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“Freshly cut Christmas trees smelling of stars and snow and pine resin—inhale deeply and fill your soul with wintry night.”
— John J. Geddes
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“Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most.”
— Ruth Carter Stapleton
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The Christmas Goats and Space Songs
