What is Christianity Wiki

Jump to: navigation, search

Difference between revisions of "Welcome to WICWiki your Christian Wiki"

(History & Customs of Christmas)
 
(95 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
 
=<FONT color="#oooaaa" size="">'''Welcome'''</font>=
 
=<FONT color="#oooaaa" size="">'''Welcome'''</font>=
 
----
 
----
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="">'''GOD BLESS lSRAEL AND THE IDF'''</font>=
+
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="5">'''GOD BLESS ISRAEL AND THE IDF'''</font>=
 
----
 
----
<FONT color="#aaooo" size="4">'''(Redirected from Main Page)'''</font>
+
====='''THE DARK TRUTH about tithing that your church never tells you'''=====
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="">''' [[Israel News]]'''</font>=
+
====='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWzP8ejgf5I'''=====
 
----
 
----
===='''CAN YOU ANSWER THESE TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LIFE OF JESUS? YOU ARE AMAZING!'''====
+
'''CAN YOU ANSWER THESE TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LIFE OF JESUS? YOU ARE AMAZING!'''
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv1lNFs3JLU'''====
+
'''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv1lNFs3JLU'''
 
----
 
----
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="">'''Meirpanim'''''</font>=
+
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="5">''' Netanyahu ➤ THEY DID IT AGAIN  (THE END HAS REALLY BEGUN) Prophetic Message for Humanity'''</font>=
===='''YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE'''====
+
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0qyZ7gYocU'''====
===='''MAKE A DONATION'''====
+
===='''https://meirpanim.org/'''====
+
 
----
 
----
=<FONT color="#aa0000" size="6">'''Please Watch'''</font>=
+
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="5">'''URGENT!'''</font>=
===='''Mike Pilavachi at Soul Survivor'''====
+
====='''See What The Bible Says About Cremation Of The Dead | Jonathan Cahn Sermon'''=====
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVZkgdt32u8'''====
+
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_rX9gbDRb8'''====
 
----
 
----
=<FONT color="#aa0000"  size="6">'''Please Watch'''</font>=
+
=<FONT color="#aa0000"  size="5">'''Please Watch'''</font>=
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="6">'''WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SPIRIT LEAVES A PERSON'S BODY?'''''</font>=
+
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="4">'''WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SPIRIT LEAVES A PERSON'S BODY?'''''</font>=
 
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1jKfsoi2JY'''====
 
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1jKfsoi2JY'''====
 
----
 
----
===='''She Mocks God on Live TV Then THIS Happens'''====
+
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="5">'''Please Watch'''</font>=
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqOyq2_gmJM'''====
+
====='''Urgent! See The Bible's Harsh Truths About Cremating the Dead'''=====
----
+
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="6">'''Please Watch'''</font>=
+
===='''Urgent! See The Bible's Harsh Truths About Cremating the Dead'''====
+
 
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0dgQhbOQw4'''====
 
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0dgQhbOQw4'''====
 
----
 
----
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="6">'''Please Watch'''</font>=
+
====='''Signs of the End Times are 'Intensifying' as Anti-Semitism Soars'''=====
===='''MINUTES BEFORE DEATH: THIS VIDEO WILL SHOCK YOU (BIBLICAL EXPLANATION)'''====
+
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnXhTRnddmg'''====
+
----
+
===='''Signs of the End Times are 'Intensifying' as Anti-Semitism Soars'''====
+
 
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iksrmK0I9MQ'''====
 
===='''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iksrmK0I9MQ'''====
 
----
 
----
Line 44: Line 35:
 
<iframe framespacing="0" frameborder="no" src="https://www.biblegateway.com/votd/get?format=html&version=KJV">View Verse of the Day</iframe> </noscript></html></div>
 
<iframe framespacing="0" frameborder="no" src="https://www.biblegateway.com/votd/get?format=html&version=KJV">View Verse of the Day</iframe> </noscript></html></div>
 
<html><div><a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Holy-Bible-King-James-Version/dp/000725976X/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=king+james+bible&amp;qid=1706001332&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-2&_encoding=UTF8&tag=lani9loo-21&linkCode=ur2&linkId=fad5721f4a5a269868d5ca08eb22c3bc&camp=1634&creative=6738">'''Our recommended bible!'''</a></div></html>
 
<html><div><a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Holy-Bible-King-James-Version/dp/000725976X/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=king+james+bible&amp;qid=1706001332&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-2&_encoding=UTF8&tag=lani9loo-21&linkCode=ur2&linkId=fad5721f4a5a269868d5ca08eb22c3bc&camp=1634&creative=6738">'''Our recommended bible!'''</a></div></html>
<blockquote><p>WiCWiki has been in existence in various forms for over 24yrs when our very first early site launched in 2000.  Since then as with our beliefs we have been on a extraordinary journey and have been able to build a website that is so vast with a staggering <FONT color="#oooaaa" size=>'''{{NUMBEROFPAGES}}''' </font>articles, you could be here for days.... well we hope. </p>   
+
<blockquote><p>WiCWiki has been in existence in various forms for over 25yrs when our very first early site launched in 2000.  Since then as with our beliefs we have been on a extraordinary journey and have been able to build a website that is so vast with a staggering <FONT color="#oooaaa" size=>'''{{NUMBEROFPAGES}}''' </font>articles, you could be here for days.... well we hope. </p>   
 
<p>Our biggest aim is to share the <FONT color="#ooooaa" size="">'''Word of God'''</font> through a medium that is accessible to everyone who has access to a PC, Tablet or even mobile device.  We have searched through every nook and cranny of the Wibbly  Wobbly Web to find the best and most accurate articles according to the bible, all into to one place...'''www.wicwiki.org.uk'''. *formerly known as<FONT color="#oooaaf" size=""> '''What is Christianity'''</font></p>   
 
<p>Our biggest aim is to share the <FONT color="#ooooaa" size="">'''Word of God'''</font> through a medium that is accessible to everyone who has access to a PC, Tablet or even mobile device.  We have searched through every nook and cranny of the Wibbly  Wobbly Web to find the best and most accurate articles according to the bible, all into to one place...'''www.wicwiki.org.uk'''. *formerly known as<FONT color="#oooaaf" size=""> '''What is Christianity'''</font></p>   
 
<p>We hope we become your source for information relating to the Christian religion and pray that these articles help you in every way possible.</p>
 
<p>We hope we become your source for information relating to the Christian religion and pray that these articles help you in every way possible.</p>
Line 52: Line 43:
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
'''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40DclW84HkM'''
 
'''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40DclW84HkM'''
----
 
<FONT color="#oooffo" size="4">'''Jerusalem LIVE view </font><br>https://www.tv7israelnews.com/jerusalem-live-feed/'''
 
 
----
 
----
 
<FONT color="#oooffo" size="4">'''When Demons Are Real!'''</font><br><br>
 
<FONT color="#oooffo" size="4">'''When Demons Are Real!'''</font><br><br>
Line 137: Line 126:
 
       <th><div class="panel panel-primary">
 
       <th><div class="panel panel-primary">
 
     <div class="panel-heading">
 
     <div class="panel-heading">
     <h3 class="panel-title">[[File:Page.png]] '''September''' featured article</h3>
+
     <h3 class="panel-title">[[File:Page.png]] '''December''' featured article</h3>
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
----
 
----
  
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="">''Kingdom Against Kingdom'''</font>=
+
=<FONT color="#aaooo" size="6">'''History & Customs of Christmas'''</font>=
 +
 
 +
'''December 25'''
  
Daniel 7:15-28 says, "I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
+
<p>The reason for choosing the day of December 25th as Christ's birthday is usually held that the day was chosen to correspond to pagan festivals that took place around the time of the winter solstice, when the days begin to lengthen, to celebrate the "rebirth of the sun". Northern European tribes celebrated their chief festival of Yule at the winter solstice to commemorate the rebirth of the sun as the giver of light, warmth, and life. The Roman Saturnalia (a festival dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture, and to the renewed power of the sun), also took place at this time, and some Christmas customs are rooted in this ancient pagan celebration. The early church did not celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Christ. The Gospels indicate neither the month nor the day on which Christ was born. Although Luke places the birth in a historical perspective, even the year cannot be determined with exactitude. If the date of Christ's birth were of real religious significance, then the day and the month would have been given; as was given in the first passover. Some of the early church fathers, including Origin, stated for the record that it was blasphemous to celebrate this festival.</p>
  
Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgement was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
+
<p>Most Christian churches except the Armenian Church observe the birth of Christ on December 25. This date was not set in the West until about the middle of the fourth century, and in the East until about a century later. The Armenians follow the old Eastern custom of honoring Christ's birth on January 6, the day of the Epiphany, commemorating in the West chiefly the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus, and in the East, Christ's Baptism. Some churches hold their most elaborate festivals on January 6, and in parts of the United States this date has been celebrated as "Old Christmas" or "Little Christmas". This time, over a century after the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church would account for much. The Catholic practice of assimilating the rituals, images, festivals and even gods of pagan religions, into their brand of Christianity by giving these all "Christian" names or purposes, would explain these dates and their significance. Christmas even in more modern times has not always been remembered with gaiety and good cheer. Excessive frivolity has always been frowned upon by some, and Christmas was not celebrated by the Puritans or Calvinists. When the Puritans came to power in England under Oliver Cromwell in 1642, Christmas celebrations were banned as evidences of anti religious sentiment. Penalties were exacted for celebrating Christmas, and for staying home from work on Christmas day. The Puritan tradition was brought to New England, where Christmas did not become a legal holiday until 1856.</p><strong>Yule Log</strong>
  
Thus he said, the fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgement shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
+
<p>The burning of the Yule Log was adapted to an English custom from the ancient Scandinavian practice of kindling huge bond fires in honor of the winter solstice. This helped the dying earth to regain strength and allow the rebirth of the sun. The log was cut from a red oak, and burned all of Christmas Eve and some would burn it all day on Christmas Day also. All of this is taken from sun worship rituals.</p>
 +
<strong>Nativity Scenes</strong>
  
And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitation's much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart."
+
<p>Shortly before Christmas 1223, St. Francis of Assisi wrote to his friend, John Velita, the Lord of Greccio, "I would fain make a memorial of that child who was born in Bethlehem, and in some sort behold with bodily eyes His infant hardships; how He lay in a manger on the hay, with ox and ass standing by." St. Francis organized a group of people to go on Christmas Eve and created the first live nativity scene that year. It has become a greatly practiced custom. Also from this re-creation came the celebrating or h onoring of the cr`eche, the wooden model of the feeding trough holding the Christ Child. In some Catholic countries, this elaborately carved cr'eche, often taking years to complete and much wealth to buy, is placed as the center of the Christmas festival, replacing the customary Christmas Tree.</p>
 +
<strong>Mistletoe</strong</strong>
  
In spite of the four kinds of beastly world systems that have attempted to rule the earth through their kings or leaders, verse 18 says, "But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever."
+
<p>In ancient Britain it was the sacred plant of the druids. The arch druid and his priests performing elaborate ceremonies around it at the winter solstice. Because of the pagan associations, the mistletoe has seldom been sanctioned in church decorations. Traditionally, a girl would stand under it, when a male would approach and pick a berry and kiss the girl. When the berries were all gone then there were no more kisses.</p>
 +
<strong>Christmas Cards</strong>
  
Even though, in verse 21, Satan makes war with the saints and prevails against them for a season, Jesus, the Ancient of Days, comes in judgement with His saints and possesses the kingdom. No beast or antichrist system shall take and rule all of this earth in the end. "But the judgement shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
+
<p>Sir Henry Cole, the first director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and royal academician John Calcott Horsely, thought of and designed a card in 1843. By 1846 they were selling 1000 of them for one shilling each. In 1844, painter, W. Dobson sent out hand painted Christ-mas cards to friends instead of writing his usual letters. Also, in 1844, Mr. Braadley, a Newcastle vicar had his cards litho-graphed and circulated to his friends. In neither of these cases were any of them sold. Another English artist, William Egley, designed and printed a card either in 1842 or 1849. He was 16 in 1842. German emigrant, printer Louis Prang, designed and sold colored Christmas cards in Roxbury, Mass. in 1874. In less than ten years his shop was putting out more than five million cards per year.</p>
 +
<strong>The Twelve Days</strong>
  
And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." God’s people will never be ruled by the beast or any antichrist. Satan can rule only those marked by him, but not the whole world. God’s true people will remain faithful to Christ as they are marked by God and Satan will not rule over them.
+
<p>Christmastide extends from the anniversary of the birth of Christ, officially established as December 25 by the Western church, to the Feast of the Epiphany twelve days later, which celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles in the persons of the Magi. This joyous period was popularly called the "Twelve Days". It included New Year's Day, traditionally a time when midwinter fertility rites were performed as the season moved from barren winter toward burgeoning spring. The Twelve days also embraced more somber religious occasions such as the anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Stephen and the Massacre of the Innocents. But even these are overlaid with festivity, and generally speaking the time is one of revelry, mumming, the exchange of gifts, and feasting, with vestiges of pre-Christian fertility magic such as decoration with evergreens, kisses under the mistletoe, and lighting new fires. In short, the events and customs usually associated with Christmas are spread across the Twelve Days.</p>
 +
<strong>Christmas Tree</strong>
  
http://www.bible.com
+
<p>The Christmas Tree which is decorated with lights to celebrate the nativity of Christ and on which offerings are made to Him; is a survival of pagan tree worship and of early Christian rites which celebrated the winter solstice with tree and lights. This tree in Germany was an oak, which fostered the custom of the Yule Log which is oak. The Druids in England worshiped the evergreen because it had eternal life, it did not brown and die in the winter. Our modern Christmas Tree is a cross between the two ancient forms of pagan worship. This is the equivalent of the May tree (May pole), a fertility symbol. The tree even dates back to Baal worship in the old Testament. Jeremiah 10:1-6 "Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might."</p>
 +
<strong>Caroling</strong>
  
[[Category:Main Pages|Main_Pages]]
+
<p>A well-loved Christmas custom is the singing of Christmas carols. The word "carol" is thought to have originally denoted a dance accompanied by singing. Thirteenth century Italy is considered the birthplace of the real Christmas carol, and St. Francis of Assisi, who led songs of praise to the Christ Child, is thought to be the father of this custom.</p>

Latest revision as of 18:22, 5 December 2025

Welcome


GOD BLESS ISRAEL AND THE IDF


THE DARK TRUTH about tithing that your church never tells you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWzP8ejgf5I

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LIFE OF JESUS? YOU ARE AMAZING! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv1lNFs3JLU


Netanyahu ➤ THEY DID IT AGAIN (THE END HAS REALLY BEGUN) Prophetic Message for Humanity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0qyZ7gYocU


URGENT!

See What The Bible Says About Cremation Of The Dead | Jonathan Cahn Sermon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_rX9gbDRb8


Please Watch

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SPIRIT LEAVES A PERSON'S BODY?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1jKfsoi2JY


Please Watch

Urgent! See The Bible's Harsh Truths About Cremating the Dead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0dgQhbOQw4


Signs of the End Times are 'Intensifying' as Anti-Semitism Soars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iksrmK0I9MQ


Verse of the Day

'''Our recommended bible!'''

WiCWiki has been in existence in various forms for over 25yrs when our very first early site launched in 2000. Since then as with our beliefs we have been on a extraordinary journey and have been able to build a website that is so vast with a staggering 86,456 articles, you could be here for days.... well we hope.

Our biggest aim is to share the Word of God through a medium that is accessible to everyone who has access to a PC, Tablet or even mobile device. We have searched through every nook and cranny of the Wibbly Wobbly Web to find the best and most accurate articles according to the bible, all into to one place...www.wicwiki.org.uk. *formerly known as What is Christianity

We hope we become your source for information relating to the Christian religion and pray that these articles help you in every way possible.

Wow! we have been vistied 55,991,735 times, which is a great blessing!

Investigating Islam with Dr. Jay Smith (2 Corinthians 10:5)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40DclW84HkM


When Demons Are Real!

https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-television-program/when-demons-are-real


CRAZY "CHURCHES" and "PREACHERS" vs A TRUE CHURCH of GOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1DQTDepL7A


Our Popular Categories

86,456

Articles to read and study.



Page.png December featured article


History & Customs of Christmas

December 25

The reason for choosing the day of December 25th as Christ's birthday is usually held that the day was chosen to correspond to pagan festivals that took place around the time of the winter solstice, when the days begin to lengthen, to celebrate the "rebirth of the sun". Northern European tribes celebrated their chief festival of Yule at the winter solstice to commemorate the rebirth of the sun as the giver of light, warmth, and life. The Roman Saturnalia (a festival dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture, and to the renewed power of the sun), also took place at this time, and some Christmas customs are rooted in this ancient pagan celebration. The early church did not celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Christ. The Gospels indicate neither the month nor the day on which Christ was born. Although Luke places the birth in a historical perspective, even the year cannot be determined with exactitude. If the date of Christ's birth were of real religious significance, then the day and the month would have been given; as was given in the first passover. Some of the early church fathers, including Origin, stated for the record that it was blasphemous to celebrate this festival.

Most Christian churches except the Armenian Church observe the birth of Christ on December 25. This date was not set in the West until about the middle of the fourth century, and in the East until about a century later. The Armenians follow the old Eastern custom of honoring Christ's birth on January 6, the day of the Epiphany, commemorating in the West chiefly the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus, and in the East, Christ's Baptism. Some churches hold their most elaborate festivals on January 6, and in parts of the United States this date has been celebrated as "Old Christmas" or "Little Christmas". This time, over a century after the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church would account for much. The Catholic practice of assimilating the rituals, images, festivals and even gods of pagan religions, into their brand of Christianity by giving these all "Christian" names or purposes, would explain these dates and their significance. Christmas even in more modern times has not always been remembered with gaiety and good cheer. Excessive frivolity has always been frowned upon by some, and Christmas was not celebrated by the Puritans or Calvinists. When the Puritans came to power in England under Oliver Cromwell in 1642, Christmas celebrations were banned as evidences of anti religious sentiment. Penalties were exacted for celebrating Christmas, and for staying home from work on Christmas day. The Puritan tradition was brought to New England, where Christmas did not become a legal holiday until 1856.

Yule Log

The burning of the Yule Log was adapted to an English custom from the ancient Scandinavian practice of kindling huge bond fires in honor of the winter solstice. This helped the dying earth to regain strength and allow the rebirth of the sun. The log was cut from a red oak, and burned all of Christmas Eve and some would burn it all day on Christmas Day also. All of this is taken from sun worship rituals.

Nativity Scenes

Shortly before Christmas 1223, St. Francis of Assisi wrote to his friend, John Velita, the Lord of Greccio, "I would fain make a memorial of that child who was born in Bethlehem, and in some sort behold with bodily eyes His infant hardships; how He lay in a manger on the hay, with ox and ass standing by." St. Francis organized a group of people to go on Christmas Eve and created the first live nativity scene that year. It has become a greatly practiced custom. Also from this re-creation came the celebrating or h onoring of the cr`eche, the wooden model of the feeding trough holding the Christ Child. In some Catholic countries, this elaborately carved cr'eche, often taking years to complete and much wealth to buy, is placed as the center of the Christmas festival, replacing the customary Christmas Tree.

Mistletoe</strong

In ancient Britain it was the sacred plant of the druids. The arch druid and his priests performing elaborate ceremonies around it at the winter solstice. Because of the pagan associations, the mistletoe has seldom been sanctioned in church decorations. Traditionally, a girl would stand under it, when a male would approach and pick a berry and kiss the girl. When the berries were all gone then there were no more kisses.

Christmas Cards

Sir Henry Cole, the first director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and royal academician John Calcott Horsely, thought of and designed a card in 1843. By 1846 they were selling 1000 of them for one shilling each. In 1844, painter, W. Dobson sent out hand painted Christ-mas cards to friends instead of writing his usual letters. Also, in 1844, Mr. Braadley, a Newcastle vicar had his cards litho-graphed and circulated to his friends. In neither of these cases were any of them sold. Another English artist, William Egley, designed and printed a card either in 1842 or 1849. He was 16 in 1842. German emigrant, printer Louis Prang, designed and sold colored Christmas cards in Roxbury, Mass. in 1874. In less than ten years his shop was putting out more than five million cards per year.

The Twelve Days

Christmastide extends from the anniversary of the birth of Christ, officially established as December 25 by the Western church, to the Feast of the Epiphany twelve days later, which celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles in the persons of the Magi. This joyous period was popularly called the "Twelve Days". It included New Year's Day, traditionally a time when midwinter fertility rites were performed as the season moved from barren winter toward burgeoning spring. The Twelve days also embraced more somber religious occasions such as the anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Stephen and the Massacre of the Innocents. But even these are overlaid with festivity, and generally speaking the time is one of revelry, mumming, the exchange of gifts, and feasting, with vestiges of pre-Christian fertility magic such as decoration with evergreens, kisses under the mistletoe, and lighting new fires. In short, the events and customs usually associated with Christmas are spread across the Twelve Days.

Christmas Tree

The Christmas Tree which is decorated with lights to celebrate the nativity of Christ and on which offerings are made to Him; is a survival of pagan tree worship and of early Christian rites which celebrated the winter solstice with tree and lights. This tree in Germany was an oak, which fostered the custom of the Yule Log which is oak. The Druids in England worshiped the evergreen because it had eternal life, it did not brown and die in the winter. Our modern Christmas Tree is a cross between the two ancient forms of pagan worship. This is the equivalent of the May tree (May pole), a fertility symbol. The tree even dates back to Baal worship in the old Testament. Jeremiah 10:1-6 "Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might."

Caroling

A well-loved Christmas custom is the singing of Christmas carols. The word "carol" is thought to have originally denoted a dance accompanied by singing. Thirteenth century Italy is considered the birthplace of the real Christmas carol, and St. Francis of Assisi, who led songs of praise to the Christ Child, is thought to be the father of this custom.