By Karna Small Bodman
Now that we all have enjoyed the turkey dinner, the exchange of gifts, the laughter and joy with family and friends, it is time to reflect on this Holiday Season and ask ourselves: Why do we do this in December – where did it all start? I decided to do a bit of research and as you may have heard, there are a ton of theories about the dates, the Star of Bethlehem as well as the invention of Santa Claus.
When I wrote my new children’s picture book Stories of Jesus, I put it together to read to my children when they were quite young. I wanted to tell them the story of the birth in Bethlehem, the Wise Men, the bright star along with a reference to how this great man spread his influence throughout the centuries. The question is: how did His story spread throughout the centuries? Where did it start?
As for the actual month and day of the birth of Jesus, it is not known and does not appear in the Christian Bible. One estimate is that he was born between 6 and 4 B.C. because of the Biblical story of King Herod instructing the Wise Men to report back to him about the rumor of a new King of the Jews being born. Some have said their travel must have been in the spring based on the mention in the Biblical chapter of Luke of shepherds tending to their flock.
Back to the December question, the tradition of Christians celebrating Christmas in December came several centuries after Jesus’ death, right after Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in 312 A.D. Before this, Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a winter festival in the month of December. Part of that celebration was the giving of gifts, although most of us connect the idea of giving gifts with the gifts of gold, frankincense (incense) and myrrh (oil) – all standard gifts at the time.
Even before that event is the story about Santa Claus. It turns out that he was inspired by a real monk named Nicholas, who was born in Turkey sometime around 280 A.C. He was known for giving away his inherited wealth and helping the sick and poor. By the Renaissance, St. Nicholas was the most popular saint in Europe. The name of Santa Claus evolved from Nick’s Dutch nickname, Sinterklaas.
Of course, we are all familiar with the wonderful story beginning, “’Twas the night before Christmas” written by Clement Clarke Moore for his children in 1822. One tradition in our household is for my husband to read this story to our children and grandchildren on Christmas Eve.
What are some of the traditions you have followed in the Holiday Season? Please let us know in the Comments section below; thanks for joining us here on Rogue Women Writers – and Happy New Year to all.
Karna Small Bodman is the author of five international thrillers that have hit #1 in Thrillers on Amazon and won several awards, as well as a series of children’s picture books. Her books were inspired by the six years she served in the Reagan White House, first as Deputy Press Secretary, later as Senior Director of the National Security Council where she was the highest-ranking woman on the White House staff. On book tours she has given over 400 speeches and interviews nation-wide. When not writing or traveling, she is serving on several boards and swimming laps at their homes in Naples, FL, and Washington, DC.
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