As Christmas draws near, let’s enjoy the yuletide and learn about the rich history of this holiday, as well as some important words related to it. Dive into the Christmas mood this post aims to stir, and practice listening, reading, and vocabulary, while gaining more knowledge about one of the most beloved celebrations in the world.

Listen and/or watch the video below and answer the questions:

1. Who wrote the poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and when?
2. Where does the tradition of the Christmas tree come from?
3. What is the origin of Christmas tree lights, stockings and gift giving?

🎧 The audio script

“Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…”. You probably know what happens next. But do you know who wrote this poem and when? Do you know where the tradition of the Christmas tree comes from? Lights on the Christmas tree, stockings, even the idea of gift giving? No holiday has a richer and more varied tradition than Christmas. So, let’s look into its history and see if we can uncover some of that richness and tradition. And if you don’t celebrate Christmas, well, at least you’ll have a better appreciation of why so many people do.

Here’s what everybody knows. Christmas is when Christians celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ. That in itself is a very big deal. Christianity in all its many iterations remains the most popular religion in the world. Two billion people follow it. Aside from its obvious religious significance, the first Christmas stands as the great divide for the recording of human history. Until recently, history was divided between BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini, which is Latin for “Year of Our Lord”). Now you’ll often see BCE (Before the Common Era) and CE (Common Era). No matter. The divide is still Jesus’s birth. The great kings of the first millennium recognized the significance of the day and attached themselves to it. Charlemagne, Alfred the Great and William the Conqueror, among many others, were either baptized or coronated on December 25.

The idea of Christmas as a time of gift giving also goes back to the earliest days of Christianity. The story is told that a third century church bishop, Nicholas, would anonymously throw bags of gold coins into the windows of the poor. The coins supposedly landed in the shoes or stockings that were drying by the fireplace. Thus was the stocking stuffer born. After Nicholas died and was declared a saint, his popularity and positive Christmas message spread across Europe, each nation adding its own distinct contribution.

In Germany, the winter tradition of placing evergreens in their homes took on a new significance in the 16th century when Protestant reformer Martin Luther put candles in the branches. He told his children the lights were like the sky above Bethlehem on the night of Christ’s birth.

The idea that St. Nicholas would judge whether you’ve been good or bad during the year stems from the Book of Revelation in the New Testament, which depicts Christ’s returning to Earth riding a white horse. In the Middle Ages, the legend sprang up that St. Nicholas had been chosen as the Savior’s advance guard. He wouldn’t come at the end of the world but every year to check things out and give a report. When this notion arrived in Norway, it encountered a problem – there were no horses in Norway. But they did have plenty of reindeer. And of course Norway abuts the Arctic Circle and the North Pole, so St. Nick found himself with a new domicile.

All these various European traditions came together in the great melting pot of America. In New York in 1823, a professor at the Protestant Episcopal Seminary, Clement Moore, wrote a poem for his children. “Twas the night before Christmas: The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.” The poem caught on and became a Christmas staple every school child would recite.

The holiday got another push in 1843, when the great British writer Charles Dickens published his short novel “A Christmas Carol.” The redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge perfectly captured what we now refer to as the Christmas spirit – the idea that the holiday brings out the best in all of us.

As the new century turned, Hollywood got into the act. Almost as soon as there were movies, there were movies celebrating Christmas. To this day, a year doesn’t go by without a new one. Madison Avenue saw a big opportunity too. In 1931, Coca Cola hired artist Haddon Sundblom to create a Christmas ad of Santa Claus, which is Dutch for St. Nicholas, drinking Coke. The jolly white-bearded fellow in a bright red suit remains the personification of Old St. Nick. And, in a perfect melting pot fashion, Irving Berling, the son of a rabbi, wrote the definitive yuletide song “White Christmas.”

Many complain today that the religious aspect of Christmas has been overwhelmed by commerce. Retail sales between Thanksgiving and Christmas are now $1 trillion. This is not a new complaint. The Puritans refused to celebrate Christmas because they thought they trivialized the holiday’s religious message. But this remains the minority view. Most people love Christmas and all the thighs – the lights, the tree, the songs, the movies and, yes, the gifts, that come with it. And who can deny that people tend to act a little nicer, a little happier, as the special day draws near? In a world that feels so divided, Christmas still unites us. For that we should all be grateful.

Answer key 🔑

1. Professor at the Protestant Episcopal Seminary Clement Moore wrote the poem in 1823.
2. Germany
3. 1) Protestant reformer Martin Luther put candles in the branches. He told his children the lights were like the sky above Bethlehem on the night of Christ’s birth. 2 & 3) Nicholas would throw bags of gold coins into the windows of the poor. The coins supposedly landed in the shoes or stockings that were drying by the fireplace.

Christmas & History-Related Words From the Video

The video mentions a few important Christmas-related words that are also connected to history. While we’re on the topic, let’s make sure we understand the meaning of these words and the basics of the history they relate to.

1. Protestant (“In the 16th century Protestant reformer Martin Luther put candles in the branches.”). Protestant refers to Christians who broke away from the Catholic Church in the 16th century. This was part of a movement called the Protestant Reformation, led by people like Martin Luther. Luther disagreed with some of the practices of the Catholic Church and wanted to reform it. As a result, many new Christian groups formed, and they followed different traditions from Catholics. Further reading: “Reformation.”
2. Bethlehem (“Martin Luther told his children the lights were like the sky above Bethlehem on the night of Christ’s birth.”). Bethlehem /ˈbeθ.lɪ.hem/ a small town close to Jerusalem, where Jesus is said to have been born. Further reading: “Bethlehem.”
3. The Book of Revelation (“The idea that St. Nicholas would judge whether you’ve been good or bad during the year stems from the Book of Revelation in the New Testament, which depicts Christ’s returning to Earth riding a white horse.”) The Book of Revelation is the last book in the Bible and talks about the future, including the return of Jesus Christ. It describes how Jesus will come back to Earth to judge people and bring about the end of the world, followed by a new, better world. Further reading: “Book of Revelation.”
4. The New Testament. The New Testament is the second part of the Christian Bible. It focuses on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the early history of Christianity. Further reading: “New Testament.”
5. Episcopal (“In New York in 1823, a professor at the Protestant Episcopal Seminary, Clement Moore, wrote a poem for his children. “Twas the night before Christmas: The stockings were hung by the chimney with care In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.””). Episcopal refers to a type of Christian church that is led by bishops. The Episcopal Church is part of the Anglican tradition, which started with the Church of England. In this church, bishops have special authority, and the services are often formal and structured. Further reading: “Episcopal Church.”
6. Madison Avenue (“Madison Avenue saw a big opportunity too.”). Madison Avenue is a famous street in New York City that is known as the heart of the American advertising industry. In the 20th century, many major advertising agencies were based on or around Madison Avenue, making it a symbol of advertising and marketing. Further reading: “Madison Avenue.”
7. The Puritans (“The Puritans refused to celebrate Christmas because they thought they trivialized the holiday’s religious message.”). The Puritans were a group of Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who wanted to “purify” the Church of England, which they believed was still too close to Catholic practices. They sought a simpler, more focused form of worship and living, emphasizing personal faith, piety, and a strict interpretation of the Bible. Further reading: “Puritans.”

Other Vocabulary From the Video

1. Appreciation – a better understanding of something: If you don’t celebrate Christmas, well, at least you’ll have a better appreciation of why so many people do.
2. Iteration /ˌɪt̬.əˈreɪ.ʃən/ – a version or form of something that has been repeated or changed in some way: Christianity in all its many iterations remains the most popular religion in the world.
3. The great divide – a major turning point or event that separates two distinct periods or ideas: The first Christmas stands as the great divide for the recording of human history.
4. To baptize /bæpˈtaɪz/ someone – to perform a religious ceremony (called baptism /ˈbæp.tɪ.zəm/) in which a person is officially welcomed into the Christian faith, often by sprinkling or immersing them in water: Charlemagne, Alfred the Great and William the Conqueror, among many others, were either baptized or coronated on December 25.
5. Bishop – a priest of high rank who is in charge of the priests of lower rank in a particular area: The story is told that a third century church bishop, Nicholas, would anonymously throw bags of gold coins into the windows of the poor.
6. Stocking stuffer – a small gift, typically inexpensive, that is placed inside a Christmas stocking: Nicholas would anonymously throw bags of gold coins into the windows of the poor. The coins supposedly landed in the shoes or stockings that were drying by the fireplace. Thus was the stocking stuffer born.
7. To take on (a new significance) – to begin to have a different or deeper meaning than it had before: In Germany, the winter tradition of placing evergreens in their homes took on a new significance in the 16th century when Protestant reformer Martin Luther put candles in the branches.
8. To spring (sprung; sprung) up – to suddenly appear or begin to exist: The legend sprang up that St. Nicholas had been chosen as the Savior’s advance guard.
9. Advance guard – a group of people (or things) that come before the main part, often to prepare or lead the way: The legend sprang up that St. Nicholas had been chosen as the Savior’s advance guard.
10. To abut (something) – to be adjacent to or border something; to touch or be next to something: Norway abuts the Arctic Circle and the North Pole.
11. Domicile – a home or place where someone lives: Norway abuts the Arctic Circle and the North Pole, so St. Nick found himself with a new domicile.
12. Melting pot – a place (or situation) where different cultures, ideas, or traditions blend together to create something new: The various European traditions came together in the great melting pot of America.
13. To catch on – to become popular: The poem caught on.
14. Staple – a basic or essential item, something that is commonly used or considered a regular part of a tradition or routine: The poem caught on and became a Christmas staple every school child would recite.
15. To recite /rɪˈsaɪt/ – to repeat aloud from memory, often in front of an audience: The poem caught on and became a Christmas staple every school child would recite.
16. Redemption – the act of being saved or forgiven, often after making a mistake or wrongdoing; a process of improvement or change for the better: The redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge perfectly captured what we now refer to as the Christmas spirit – the idea that the holiday brings out the best in all of us.
17. To turn (of a new century) – to mark the beginning of a new period or era, especially when one century changes to the next: As the new century turned, Hollywood got into the act.
18. To get into the act – to become involved in something, especially after others have started or made it popular: As the new century turned, Hollywood got into the act.
19. Rabbi /ˈræb.aɪ/ – a Jewish religious leader or teacher: In a perfect melting pot fashion, Irving Berling, the son of a rabbi, wrote the definitive yuletide song “White Christmas.”
20. Yuletide /ˈjuːl.taɪd/ (old-fashioned or literary) – the Christmas season or the period around Christmas: In a perfect melting pot fashion, Irving Berling, the son of a rabbi, wrote the definitive yuletide song “White Christmas.”
21. To trivialize /ˈtrɪv.i.ə.laɪz/ (something) – to make something seem less important or serious than it really is: The Puritans refused to celebrate Christmas because they thought they trivialized the holiday’s religious message.
22. To draw near – to approach or come closer in time or space: who can deny that people tend to act a little nicer, a little happier, as the special day draws near?

Practice

For more examples of the vocabulary above, as well as practice, click the link here and choose the correct words to complete the sentences. Merry Christmas, everyone! 🎄