Christmas traditions date back centuries in America

ASHLAND — Through the centuries, as Christianity spread throughout the world, so did its many rich traditions.

These traditions are very diverse and can be defined by climate, religion, culture, native foods, social structure and other factors.

Whether it’s a palm tree decorated patio in Mexico, roller skating to Mass on Christmas Eve in Venezuela, or children from Spain searching for the Magi, the celebration of Christmas has been marked with happiness, peace and universal goodwill toward others.

So, which Christmas traditions came with our ancestors to the United States and which ones have we created on our own?

Decorated Christmas trees date back to Middle Age Germany but no one is sure exactly when Fir trees were first used as Christmas trees. Early trees were hung upside down with chains from chandeliers or lighting hooks. Others were cherry or Hawthorne plant branches that were simply placed in pots and brought inside to flower at Christmas.

Sometimes, wood was used to create a pyramid that looked like a tree and was decorated with candles, paper, and apples.

In 2019, the American Christmas Tree Association predicted 77% of American homes would display a Christmas tree and of those, only 19% were real trees.

In 2020, Michigan alone is reporting a 50% increase in live tree sales and artificial tree sales are also up throughout the country. The theory behind the increase in sales is that decorating this year is helping families cope with being at home more often during the pandemic.

In 1882 Edward Hibberd Johnson of New York was credited with inventing strings of lights to hang around the Christmas tree. Thirty years later they started being mass-produced and currently about 150 million light sets are sold each year in the U. S.

The Jolly Old Elf has also been named Santa Claus, Father Christmas, St. Nicholas, Kris Kringle, St. Nick, Daddy Christmas, and others throughout the centuries. He is probably the most well- known character throughout the world.

The name Santa Claus was derived from the Dutch name Sinter Klaus, which was a shorter version of Sint Nikolaas. Over the centuries, each country has adopted their own versions of Sint Nikolaas. This 3rd century monk became known as the patron saint of children. He was well- known for his kindness and traveled around helping the poor and sick.

Sinter Klaus made his debut in the United States in December, 1773 because a story was written about groups of Dutch families living in the U. S. who had gathered to honor the anniversary of his death on Dec. 6.

In the United States, Santa Claus in his red suit and long white beard started making appearances at shopping malls, parades, and to solicit money for the Salvation Army throughout the 19th century. He has also gained popularity in American movies over the decades.

The tradition of sending Christmas cards started in England in 1843. The first card said, “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You.” This practice caught on in the United States when a Kansas City company named Hall Brothers (now Hallmark) created a folded card that slipped into an envelope in 1915.

Although sending Christmas cards has declined in popularity, there are still 1.6 billion purchased annually.

Christmas caroling has been traced back to St. Francis of Assisi who composed simple songs of praise that all Italians could easily understand. This tradition transferred to England, where caroling in the streets became popular and then made its way here.

In recent years, traveling from door to door in neighborhoods has lost a lot of its popularity with only 16% of Americans saying they still do it today. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Jingle Bells and Silent Night are still some favorite songs. Virtual caroling is a popular trend this year!

What is the best-selling potted plant in the United States?

There are more than 100 varieties of poinsettias available in a wide range of colors and new varieties are introduced each year. Over 34 million poinsettia plants are sold in the United States which accounts for almost ¼ of all potted plant sales and $144 million annually. Ohio is fifth in sales with over 3 million sold.

The poinsettia is native to southern Mexico and blooms in December. Dr. Joel Poinsett, who was the first American ambassador to Mexico and an amateur botanist, brought the plant here in about 1828. In Mexico and Guatemala, the plant is called the “Flower of the Holy Night” in honor of Christmas Eve.

Poinsettias were also used by the Aztecs to dye clothing and the sap was used to control a fever. The plants can grow up to 12 feet high with leaves six to eight inches across and is actually a tropical tree in its native habitat.

The term Black Friday as it relates to shopping probably was first coined in Philadelphia in 1961 when police used it to describe the heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic that occurred on the day after Thanksgiving. No one wanted to work that day so they went shopping and many attended the annual Army-Navy football game there.

The term became more widely used in the 1980’s when it became an unofficial holiday set aside for the first day of Christmas shopping in brick- and-mortar stores and malls. Later the term was also described as a means for retailers to get “back in the black” financially. Now it has morphed into online sales and it seems every Friday is Black Friday, especially due to the tough economic environment in 2020 with the pandemic.

In the 21st century, Americans have added ugly Christmas sweaters, an Elf on a Shelf, a televised Yule log, Small Business Saturday and tracking Santa and his sleigh on our smartphones as part of modern tradition. It is also a very popular time of year to help those in need with food donations, Toys for Tots and other causes.

Despite all the decorations, fun, food, and fellowship during this wonderful time of year, attending church with family is still a popular and important tradition in our American culture.

In today’s society churchgoers can also watch and listen sermons on their smartphones and other computer devices to help stay connected with their church.

Wishing everyone a safe, happy and healthy Holiday Season from the Ashland County Historical Society as 2020 closes and becomes a memorable part of our history.