This time of year always serves to remind me of a gentleman I never knew.
He and I passed one another on the footpath in Stewart St — on the morning of every working day.
I was on my way to open my shop and I had no idea where he was going.
I smiled at him, and he ignored me, and eventually, I gave up on the smile.
Then came Christmas Eve; he stopped, smiled and wished me a happy Christmas.
By the new year, he had regained his original persona.
What is it about this time of year?
What is the spirit of Christmas?
The date
We know how it all started; a baby was born.
However, no-one recorded a date.
In the fourth century, the first Council of Nicaea debated many meaty topics about the emerging religion, including the formula for the date of Easter each year.
It is likely the council was also responsible for determining the date of Christmas Day.
The people of Rome celebrated the Sol Invictus festival on December 25; it was a day of celebrating the ‘return of the Sun’.
In Britain, and in large sections of Europe, the people enjoyed the winter solstice festival and the lengthening of the days.
Someone, whose name I’ve forgotten, had previously calculated that the Virgin Mary had become pregnant on March 25. (Please don’t ask me what those calculations were; I have no idea how they were possible.)
They decided on December 25.
Christmas trees
Christmas trees have come to us from pagan winter solstice practices.
German playwrights carried on the references, with evergreens for eternal life, and candles for Jesus.
Prince Albert brought trees to Buckingham Palace, in the 19th century, and Queen Victoria loved them.
The Brits took the idea to many countries, including ours.
Fortunately, we ignored the practice of burning the yule log.
How would it be if we set fire to millions of logs, around the country, in December?
The meal
The Romans had yet another festival, originally on December 17, called the Saturnalia.
It consisted of several days of partying, and during this period, even slaves had permission to have fun.
They were often allowed to eat with their masters.
More than once, Julius Caesar organised a meal for everyone in Rome.
Tables loaded with good food were set up in every street.
Everyone wore colourful clothes and comical hats.
It seems likely that this festival, which often lasted for seven days, also became a part of Christmas.
The meal itself has evolved over the millennia, usually affected by the prevailing culture.
But it has always included large quantities of meat and, often, a fair amount of alcohol.
The carols
There were ancient traditions of winter songs — and carols emerged in the 14th century.
However, in the 19th century, with the publication of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, carols became a central tradition.
And it has been written, ‘Along with them came the spirit of Christmas.’
As much as I enjoy carols, I think we’d all agree that the spirit of this season is different for everybody.
Keep the baby safe
On one of my visits to Annette Leahy’s comfy home, she told me about her four-year-old grandson, who had visited to help her decorate.
She brought out her nativity set and asked him to set it up.
He said, “We’ll put the pirates in the front, so we can keep an eye on them — and we’ll put the baby at the back to keep him safe.”
Whatever gives you the spirit of Christmas, I wish you a happy one.
May it be filled with love, good company, laughter, joy, gratitude — and perhaps we can spare a thought for the baby who changed the world.
May it be easy, my friends.
Marnie
Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au
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