Why is Christmas abbreviated “Xmas”?
Because the Greek letter “X” is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ, Xristos. “Xmas” therefore means “Christ’s Mass.” The abbreviation has been around since at least the 16th century and is not, as some people have claimed, an attempt to take the “Christ” out of “Christmas” and make it a secular holiday.
Why is it a custom to kiss under the mistletoe?
The custom of kissing under the mistletoe may be related to a Scandinavian goddess. Frigga, the goddess of love in Norse mythology, is strongly associated with mistletoe, which has been used as a decoration in homes for thousands of years. Mistletoe is associated with many pagan rituals. In fact, the Christian church disliked the plant so much, thanks to its pagan associations, that it forbade its use in any form. Some English churches continued this ban as late as the 20th century! According to Charles Panati’s excellent book, “Extraordinary Origins of Ordinary Things,” holly became a Christian substitute for mistletoe, which is why we “deck the halls” with it. The sharply pointed leaves in holly were supposed to symbolize the thorns in Christ’s crown and the red berries were to symbolize his blood.
Why do we decorate trees for Christmas?
The evergreen tree, because it is perpetually green, has been used as a symbol of eternal life since the ancient Egyptians and Hebrews. The Scandinavians believed that the evergreen could even scare away the devil. Decorating an evergreen tree in honor of Christmas became popular in the Middle Ages, especially in Germany. The decorations then consisted of candles and wafers, to symbolize Christ and the Host. Martin Luther is actually said to be the first person to put candles on a tree. (The decorated wooden Christmas pyramid was also popular then!) The tree became popular in Europe and America in the 18th century and the Victorians started decorating them with candies and cakes hung with ribbon. Woolworth (a department store) began selling manufactured Christmas ornaments in 1880 and the custom became big very fast. The first electronically lighted Christmas tree appeared in 1882.