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Like many events, even holidays can change over time and Christmas is one that has changed.¹

It wasn’t until AD 336 that Christians officially celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25. Ironically, in Biblical times deaths were remembered more often than births were celebrated. Birthdays were not considered important. That may explain why celebrating Jesus’s birth took centuries rather than decades to become a Christian celebration.²

Biblical scholars say it’s highly unlikely that December 25 was Jesus’s actual date of birth. Apparently the date was selected to coincide with pagan winter festivals and the Jewish Festival of Lights, Hanukkah. That way it was more inclusive and Jesus was Jewish.

A central figure in the Christmas celebration is Santa Claus and he actually preceded the formal declaration of Christmas itself. Saint Nicholas was an actual person who was born in circa AD 280 in Patara, Lycia, an area that is part of present-day Turkey.³

For centuries Christmas was more of a large group social event rather than the small family gatherings that it came to be in the past 200 years. Christmas trees were originally a German custom that Christians in many other nations considered rather weird. Over time it became a universal custom for the Christmas season.⁴

The first commercial Christmas card was created and sent in 1843. John Calcott Horsley printed the first Christmas card for Sir Henry Cole. In a few short years the custom of sending cards spread from England to many other countries including America. Also, about that same time the commercialization of Christmas came into its own. As Christmas became more commercialized that created changes in the celebration that was never dreamed of in the centuries before 1850.^{5 6}

There are many additional aspects of Christmas that have changed over time. Christmas carols and Christmas stories have come and gone. Those of us old enough to have lived for several generations have experienced these changes. For certain there will be more changes to come in the decades ahead.⁷

In spite of the many changes we experience in life, the happiness derived from giving gifts is quite constant. Apparently it’s an emotional high that doesn’t end. Since the focus of my column is food and health, I often think about them both. What’s unfortunate is that gifting good food for health is not always appreciated by the receiver for many reasons. But for sure if I gift my body nutrient dense and diverse, low glycemic food that has equally balanced Omega-6 and Omega-3 essential fatty acids the results will be most gratifying. What could be a better win/win than that?⁸

Merry Christmas to one and all. Once again the image accompanying this year’s Christmas wish is our neighbor’s toy train Christmas setup. Every year it takes them about six weeks to set up their spectacular highly detailed miniature display. It’s way larger than shown as there are also seven Christmas trees, additional seasonal displays, and trains running around the walls of the room. In the next room there’s two more train sets. Yes, it’s a big Merry Christmas display that is no longer as traditional as when I was much younger.

To your health.

Ted Slanker

Ted Slanker has been reporting on the fundamentals of nutritional research in publications, television and radio appearances, and at conferences since 1999. He condenses complex studies into the basics required for health and well-being. His eBook, The Real Diet of Man, is available online.

Don’t miss these links for additional reading:

1. Ten Ages of Christmas by Christine Lalumia from BBC

2. The 1st Recorded Celebration of Christmas from Christianity.com

3. Saint Nicholas - Patron Saint, Feast Day & Santa from Biography.com

4. The History of Christmas by Megan Finley, MOAS Curatorial Assistant, from Museum of Arts and Sciences

5. The History of Christmas Cards from WhyChristmas.com

6. Christmas in 19th Century America by Penne Restad from History Today

7. Christmas Traditions, Past and Present by Sarah Pruitt from History.com

8. Why Giving Gifts Brings You More Happiness than Receiving Them by Paul Ratner from Big Think