Set Apart for a Purpose

A timeline journey of Christmas.

Making sense of the Holidays.

Holidays=Holy Days. Christ=Jesus. Mass=People.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

I betcha read that in your best Andy Williams voice.

It’s time to Celebrate the Season! Everything red and green.

What’s the reason?

Tinsel, bells, stockings, bows.

The Nativity scene?

Holly, Ivy, and Wassail?

Be Merry, it’s time for Yule!

Yes. Of course. Jesus.

And, Andy Williams.

Celebrate Good Times

(Come on!)

The Sumerians were among the first to celebrate good times. During Nisan, the first month of the Jewish Calendar; the Mesopotamian people rallied together to celebrate Akitu. The sowing of Barley.

AKITU: The Mesopotamian New Year

In Honor and Celebration

The Sumerians discovered a way of measuring time. The length of the sun, the phases of the moon. Longer warm days. Shorter cold days. Counting the days in measurement and marking.

Origin of the Calendar

Before Christ

(Before Common Era)

Jewish prophecy spoke about a virgin birth. The prophet Isaiah wrote these visions in 700BC.

6 For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.

Isaiah 9:6-7

What year is it?

Dates were not always marked. The Julian calendar was introduced in 46 BC to reform the Roman Calendar.

Julian Day 0 is set to be the day starting on January 1, 4713 BC.

Julian Calendar

The calendar used to go April (1), May (2), June (3), Sol (4), July (5), August (6), September (7), October (8), November (9), December (10), January (11), February (12), March (13).

**December** **was** **the tenth and final month.**

What Month is it?

For Americans, and most followers of the Gregorian Calendar. “Christmas” falls in December. Seven days (Sabbat) before the New Year. Coincidentally, always December 25th. The day of Winter Equinox on the Julian calendar.

Months of Moons

In ancient times; The new year started with the spring equinox. When new life began. As the plants come back to life and most animals have their babies.

Some cultures and societies do not celebrate birthdays, or historical events. Other religions and countries still use the Luni-Solar Calendar.

The Unconquering Sun

(Anno Domini)

In 274 AD The ancient Roman Empire celebrated the day of Winter Equinox. Sol Invictus was also known as Saturnalia. To mark the joy of the Season; Chariot races were held in a circus.

Roman festival of sun god Sol Invictus

During the rule of Diocletian; Christians were persecuted for celebrating. It became legend that Saint Nicolas was a gift-giver.

Birth of the Son

In 320 AD, Pope Julius I specified the 25th of December to be the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.

5 years later, also in Rome; Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman emperor declared an immovable feast on December 25th. Sunday, the seventh day; was declared a Sabbath, a Holy Day.

History of Christmas

Birth of the Sun

At the change of equinox, the days become longer. Yuletide was one of the earliest known year-end celebrations.

Families, friends, and neighbors gathered together. Stories were told, happenings happened. The beginning of tradition and rituals. Feasts, bonfires, and tree lighting. Eat, drink, and be merry!

Celebrating Yule: The Returning of The Light

Set the Scene

In 1223, the first Nativity scene was set. Throughout the centuries, into the Middle Ages. Christmas had some new rituals. Beginning in November, The Church people participated in a 40 Day Advent Fast. On December 25th; the feasts began. Lasting 12 days, until January 5th (Epiphany).

The Story of St. Francis of Assisi and the First Nativity Scene

During the 12 days of Christmas. They indulged in feasts. Fare included; Boars head, mince pies, mulled wine, fruits and nuts. Lots of games, dancing, and comradery. Gatherings and carols. Gift giving. From peasants to Masters, from Lords to servants.

The boar’s head in hand bring I,
Bedeck’d with bays and rosemary.
I pray you, my masters, be merry.

–Boars Head Carol (1521)

8 Oldest Christmas Songs that ever Existed

The English Civil War

In the English Civil War, the battle between Church and State. The Monarch (Church) wanted to overthrow the King and Parliament (British Government).

An ordinance was placed *six* days before “Christmas” to ban the celebration.

The Puritans wanted to abolish any “popish” celebrations deeply rooted in the Roman Catholic Church.

The Origins & Causes of the English Civil War

Voyage to Commonwealth

King James, the Mayflower Compact, the “OG Thanksgiving”. The puritans established in 1659; a Massachusetts Law Banning Christmas. The feasting and comradery was considered a “great dishonour to God”.

What is common sense?

In 1776, a pamphlet titled “The American Crisis” was released anonymously. These words stirred up colonist; the former allies of The Parliament.

“Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.”

-Thomas Paine

The War on Christmas

George Washington led troops across the Delaware River on Christmas Day 1776. The First U.S. Army Christmas left the Hessian Troops (Hired Germans) defeated.

**The Christmas Surprise**.
The commander knew they’d be celebrating

What the Dickens?

(The Spirits of Christmas)

In 1834, in England, Charles Dickens wrote “A Christmas Carol“. The popular book swayed the protestant population. The presents, the family traditions. The once-seemed pagan aspect of Christmas made sense.

**Founded in the 14C.**
**A vulgar term used by the church.**

The American Civil War

Most European-Americans were already celebrating Christmas, long before the Civil War.

In 1863, Abraham Lincoln urged the American People to come together and put aside differences. Thanksgiving became a federal holiday.

Thanksgiving Proclamation

By 1870; Christmas became a federal holiday. Along with George Washington’s birthday in 1880.

Since then; the 12th Month has decked out many “popish” traditions. Families gather, stories are told. Feasts, music, gifts, trees.

Everything red and green.

The nativity scene.

and yes, comradery.

To every thing there is…

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (KJV)