Yule, also known as Yuletide, is a festival traditionally celebrated by Germanic people to mark the winter solstice. Some modern elements of Christmas, such as the Yule log, originally come from Yuletide. The word “Yule” comes from the word for “wheel”.
During an event held on Christmas Eve as part of Yule, called Modraniht, Anglo Saxons probably would have stayed up all night eating and drinking. Some think that during this event, sacrifices were made for God.
Yule log
The Yule log is a traditional symbol of the festival and a key part of the decorations. The log has to be grown or given, not bought, as this is considered unlucky. Traditionally, the log would be decorated, covered in ale and flour before being burnt using a piece of the previous year’s log. Some people may say this prayer whilst the log is burning:
May the log burn May the wheel turn May the evil spurn May the Sun return
A different tree is traditionally used for the log in each country. In England, the log is made of oak, Scotland birch and France cherry.
Yule candle
On Christmas Eve, a red, green or blue candle decorated with holly would be lit on the night of Christmas Eve and left to burn until Christmas morning. This tradition is meant to encourage the sun to grow stronger.
“So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us — Listen!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!”
–Susan Cooper
Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in North America (USA and Canada.) When it is celebrated varies by country – in Canada, it is celebrated on the 2nd Monday in October, whilst in the US and Brazil, it is celebrated on the 4th Thursday in November.
History
Thanksgiving in America originally came from English traditions from the Protestant Reformation (when Britain got rid of the monarchy and strict Oliver Cromwell was in charge.) Puritans (strict Protestants) wanted to replace all holidays, including Christmas and Easter, with days of fasting (going without food or water) and days of Thanksgiving. It also has links to harvest festivals that take place around the world to celebrate the collection of the year’s harvest.
In the United States, Thanksgiving has been celebrated since the Founding Fathers, first at a state level and then at a federal (national) level.
Celebrations
Food
To celebrate Thanksgiving, friends and family gather together to have a large meal. Nearly all of these families have turkey, roasted, baked or deep-fried. They will probably also have other food with it, such as pumpkin pies, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes.
A dining table laid out for Thanksgiving, with turkey and other condiments | Kirt Edblom on Flickr
Parades
In the United States, parades are held across the country to celebrate Thanksgiving. The biggest Thanksgiving parade is in New York, with 2 – 3 million people attending each year. They usually have marching bands and elaborate floats and performers.
Easter is the time of year where Christians from around the world celebrate Jesus rising from the dead. Many people feast on chocolate eggs. But it’s not all about the chocolate, as some people might think. In order to find out why Easter is celebrated, we must go back 2000 years to when Jesus was alive.
The story starts with Jesus and his friends getting ready for Passover. (Jesus was Jewish.) While this was happening, Jewish priests and officials were at the House of Caiaphas, discussing how to capture and kill Jesus without causing a fuss. They didn’t like how popular Jesus was and worried about loosing some of their power. As well as this, they didn’t believe he was the Son of God.
One of Jesus’ 12 disciples, Judas, asked a chief priest how much money he would get if he betrayed Jesus. He said they would pay him 30 silver coins.
On the first day of Passover, the disciples asked Jesus when they would eat their Passover meal. He told them to “go into the city and find a man carrying a water jar and tell him, ‘Our Master says, my time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house’.”
Later that day, whilst Jesus was eating the Passover meal, he broke up some bread and said:
This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
Corinthians 11:24
He also said something similar about wine, which represented his blood.
Mount of Olives
Once they had finished the meal and sung a hymn, Jesus and his disciples went to the nearby Mount of Olives. He told his disciples that on that night they would run away and leave Jesus. Peter replied by saying that even if everyone else left him, he never would. Jesus said, “Tonight, before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”
He then took his disciples to a place called Gethsemane and told them to sit down whilst he prayed. An hour later, when he finished praying, he went back over to his disciples, who were sleeping. Jesus asked them, “Why are you sleeping? Couldn’t you stay awake for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation, for your spirit is willing, but your body is weak.”
Once again, he went back to his disciples and found that they were asleep. Annoyed, Jesus went back to pray for the third time. When he came back, they were still asleep. He told them:
Are you still going to sleep and take your ease? In a moment you will see the Son of Man betrayed into the hands of evil men. Wake up, let us be going! Look, here comes my betrayer!
Matthew 26:45
Betrayal
Meanwhile, Judas had gone to the high priests and soldiers, who asked how they would know who is Jesus. He told them that whichever one he kissed was Jesus, and should be arrested. When they arrived where Jesus was, Judas went to Jesus, kissed him and said “Greetings, teacher!”
They arrested Jesus.
He was taken to the Court of the High Priest (Caiaphas), the law teachers and the Jewish elders. Peter followed on from a distance.
The priests and the Jewish Parliament brought in witnesses who told lies about Jesus. Nothing could be proved, yet Jesus didn’t try to defend himself. The high priest then said: “Are you the Son of God?” Jesus replied: “You say that I am.” There was outrage. The other priests were calling for Jesus to be killed because of what he said.
Do you know Jesus?
In the courtyard, a servant girl came up to Peter and said that he was with Jesus. Afraid of being arrested, Peter said that he wasn’t. Another girl told the people around her that Peter was with Jesus.
The people standing around the gate said that his Galilean accent gave him away. Peter then cried: “I don’t know Jesus!” A rooster then crowed. Peter then remembered what Jesus had told him, before going outside and crying.
They took Jesus to the Roman Governor, Pilate, to ask him to sentence Jesus to death. He asked Jesus if he thought he was the king of the Jews. Jesus replied: “Those are your words.” The priests and the elders continued to accuse Jesus. Pilate was stunned at Jesus not defending himself: “Don’t you hear how they’re accusing you?” Jesus didn’t reply.
Not sure of what he should do with Jesus, since he hadn’t actually done anything wrong, he sent him to King Herod. He was pleased that Jesus had been arrested and started to ask him questions. Herod started to make fun of him by getting soldiers to beat him up. Afterwards, he then sent him back to Pilates, also not knowing what to do with him.
Release the prisoner!
Around Passover time, the governor usually released one Jewish prisoner, who was chosen by ordinary people. There was a widely known prisoner called Barabbas. Pilate asked the crowd of ordinary people who they wanted to see released. Led by the priests, they cried “Barabbas!”
He then asked the crowd what they want to be done with Jesus, who claimed to be the King of the Jews. Also led by the priests, they cried: “Crucify him!” When he asked them why, he got the same response. Pilates then gave up and washed his hands with some nearby water. Pilates released Barabbas, Jesus was flogged and sentence to death by hanging on the cross (crucifixion.)
The soldiers took him to the palace where they put a red robe on him and rammed on a crown made of thorns. They mocked him, spat on him before beating him up and sending him away to be crucified.
Hanging him on the cross
When he arrived at “Golgotha, or The Place of the Skull, where executions took place, they offered Jesus cheap wine to ease the pain. After he tasted it, he refused to drink it. Once they had nailed him to the cross, the Jewish rulers asked him why he wouldn’t save himself. He could, after all – he was the King of the Jews, right?
They then carved out on his cross, in Greek, Latin and Hebrew: “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Whilst this was happening, Jesus prayed to God:
Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.
Luke 23:34
Next to Jesus, two thieves were being crucified. One of them insults Jesus by saying: “If you’re the Christ, why don’t you save yourselves, and us too?” The other thief said: “Aren’t you afraid of God? We’re being hung because we did something wrong but this man hasn’t.” He then asked Jesus to remember him when he came into “his kingdom.”
Jesus replied by telling him that he would be in heaven with him today. At 12pm that day, the thief who had told Jesus that he had done wrong died. From then until 3pm, the sun didn’t shine. At 3pm, Jesus cried out: “It is finished!” and he died. A Roman centurion who was watching Jesus said: “Surely this man must be the son of God!”
Three crucifixes
Burial of Jesus’s body
The next day was the Jewish Holy Day, Sabbath, so the Jews didn’t want the bodies to be left on the crosses. Joseph of Arimathea, an important council member, asked for Jesus’s body. Joseph and another council member wrapped the body in cloth, and put it within a tomb inside Joseph’s garden. The Romans put their best guards outside this tomb. In order to stop followers taking the body and claiming he had come back to life, they rolled a large stone outside the entrance of the tomb.
Early the next morning, Mary and a few other of Jesus’ followers went to the tomb to sprinkle some spices in order to stop the body from smelling bad when it rotted away.
But his body wasn’t there.
And the stone guarding the outside of the tomb had been rolled aside.
The women were scared. But the men said that he had risen from the dead, like he said he would. They ran off to tell the disciples what had happened. But when they told them, most of the disciples simply laughed and didn’t believe them.
The empty tomb
Peter and John did, and ran off to the tomb. Back at the tomb, Mary was crying. She turned her back from the tomb and saw Jesus. He asked her why she was crying. Thinking it was the gardener, she replied, “If you took his body away, then could you tell me where it is so I can see him?”
She turned around and saw it actually was Jesus. “Rabboni! [Teacher!]” she cried. Mary tried to hug him, but Jesus stopped her and said:
Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father [God]. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’
John 20:17
Mary then went back and told the disciples that Jesus was alive!
Later that day, two of his followers were walking to Emmaus, a town 7 miles (11km) away from Jerusalem. They were chatting about what had happened with Jesus over the past few days.
A stranger, who was actually Jesus, came up to them and asked them what they were talking about. Not recognising it was actually Jesus, they told him about how Jesus was alive and how his tomb was empty. The two men, still not recognising Jesus, asked if he wanted to stay for the night, as it was getting late.
The Last Supper
When they sat down at dinner, they realised that the man was Jesus. The two men then went back to Jerusalem to find the disciples.
The disciples were in a locked room because they were afraid of being found by Jewish leaders. When Jesus entered the room, they were scared, thinking he was a ghost. “A ghost doesn’t have a body,” he said. “Touch my hands where the nails went in [on the crucifix.]”
They believed it was him. He ate some fish with them and explained why he died, and he would be going back to Heaven. But he would send someone, the Holy Spirit, to live within and help all Jesus’ followers.
One disciple, Thomas, didn’t believe Jesus was alive. Until he saw the holes in his hands, he wouldn’t think he was raised from the dead.
When all the disciples were in a room again, Thomas was there. Jesus entered the room, despite the locked door.
40 days after Jesus resurrected, he and his followers went to Bethany. He prayed for his followers whilst going back to Heaven.
The disciples then went back to Jerusalem, and went into a house waiting to celebrate the Jewish harvest festival, Pentecost. Suddenly, there was a strong wind blowing inside the house. Spirits looking like a fire rested on each of the disciples. It was the Holy Spirit.
A few minutes later, they went outside to tell everyone about Jesus and what he did. People from across the world could understand them. The Holy Spirit allowed them to speak different languages.
People still tell the story of what he did to this day.
Celebrations
Easter Eggs
Many people in Christian countries, such as the UK and USA, eat chocolate Easter eggs. The egg is a popular symbol of Easter, as it symbolises Jesus’ empty tomb (see The Story behind Easter.)
Chinese New Year is a holiday celebrating the new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. It usually falls around the first new moon (when the moon gets into a cresent shape like this:)
The holiday is still used to tell people what animal the year will be named after (eg. 2003 and 2015 was named Year of the Sheep,) There are twelve different animals that the year can be named after: a rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. (2018 will be the Year of the Dog.)
Like Christmas, Chinese New Year is a time for the entire family to gather round and to have a meal. Children also get gifts. But the gifts tend to be cash in red envelopes.
The celebrations used to go on for 15 days. Today, Chinese New Year is now a national holiday in China, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and some parts of Thailand.
Where did it come from?
Chinese tradition said that the calendar began whilst the Yellow Emperor was ruling the country in 2637BC. However, we now know that the ways of counting the years began as early as 1250BC.
Valentine’s Day is on the 14th February each year and celebrates love. It is named after Saint Valentine. At this time of year it is where lovers show each other their love by buying chocolate boxes or flowers.
It originated in the 14th century when Valentine pairs were formed in England. When some English people went to America, they took this custom with them. After World War 2, US soldiers brought the Valentine’s custom to the rest of Europe.
Who was Saint Valentine?
In the third century (A.D), Saint Valentine was the bishop of Italy. He performed marriages for those who would otherwise not be allowed to get married. He then gave flowers to the newly married couple from his garden – which is why we associate flowers with Valentine’s Day.
However, none of this pleased the Emperor and he was beheaded in 269AD.
Shrove Tuesday is the last day before Lent, which lasts for 40 days and lasts until Easter. In some countries, it is called Pancake Tuesday or Pancake Day. These are usually eaten on this day in order to use up ingredients such as fat, eggs, milk and flour.
What is Lent?
Lent is traditionally a 40-day period of fasting (going without food or drink.) However, most people who celebrate Lent simply go without any treats (sweets, chocolate, crisps etc.)
Remember, remember, the 5th of November, which is also known as Bonfire Night. On that night in 1605, Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament. He was eventually caught because someone had known about the plot and told the guards. Fawkes was then tortured for ten days until he died. But that isn’t the full story at all.
The threat to James I
James I (of England) was a Catholic and, after 40 years of Elizabeth’s reign, where everyone had to be Protestant or face the consequences, the Catholics were happy. But the Protestants weren’t happy and were always plotting against James so they could get a Protestant king on the throne.
A few months before the plot, James I was strongly advised to stay away from Parliament and he took that advice on board. So, really, he wasn’t in any danger at all.
Guy Fawkes thought up of the plot
Guy Fawkes was brought in by Protestants who were planning the plot because he was an explosives expert. So, in a nutshell, there were many other people involved, but Fawkes got the blame for it.
Halloween is more than just a day where you can scare people and get loads of candy. It started off as a Celtic festival in Wales, Scotland and Ireland marking the end of summer and the beginning of a long winter.
What did they do during All Hallow’s Eve?
During the 1500s – 1800s, it was simply to burn the inedible parts of wheat, known as chaff, which was leftover from the harvest.
But over time, the bonfires were seen as guiding Christian souls in what is known as a purgatory, which is where the soul is cleansed of all sins before going to heaven. The Church also rang bells on Halloween which Henry VIII and Elizabeth I tried multiple times to stop without success.
The emigration to America
In 1845, there is a large potato famine in Ireland, forcing one million people to move to the United States, taking their traditions with them. Shortly afterwards, the earliest reference to Halloween appeared in a ladies magazine who described it as an English holiday.
At first, the Halloween traditions in the States mixed farm games and harvest traditions. The apples, which were very popular with people who played British fortune-telling games, was made into cider and served with doughnuts. Corn became a very important part of Halloween in America. This was because corn was a huge part of American industry.
By the 20th century, scarecrows were common decorations.
Which vegetable would be used to celebrate Halloween?
Look at our logo below and you’ll find the answer: Yes, that’s right: the humble pumpkin. They had carved these into shape in America instead of turnips, which people in the UK would have carved. Pumpkins were an American fruit, after all.
How did the Jack-o-lantern get it’s name?
The Jack-o-lantern got it’s name from a tale about a blacksmith, a person who carves metal, called Jack, who outsmarts the devil and wanders around the earth undead. This also gave Halloween it’s unique black and orange colour scheme.
And trick-or-treating?
Trick-or-treating originated from America in the 1920s.
Christmas is the time of year for getting together with family and friends. It’s a time when you can exchange gifts (and it’s not all about the gifts, by the way.) But, people didn’t always celebrate Christmas as we do now or on the day we do now. How did it all start? You’ll find out now.
Food
At Christmas, we didn’t always eat turkey. In fact, for hundreds of years, we hunted wild boar (a black pig with horns) for our feast. But, we eventually hunted the wild boars into extinction so we had to find something else to feast on geese. But, we still don’t know how we got around to eating turkey, do we? Well, King James I (1566-1625, the time when wild boars were still around) didn’t like boar’s head and was one of the first people to eat turkey at Christmas.
Not many people started eating turkey until the 1700s when King George II had a taste for turkey and fenced off part of Richmond Park (in London) to breed them. Queen Victoria’s gigantic Christmas feast included fifty turkeys, which is still a lot considering that she had nine children.
Stories
Ever heard of Charles Dickens‘ A Christmas Carol? Well, that become very famous. In fact, after he published A Christmas Carol, he published a new Christmas story every year!
Cards
Christmas cards came around in the Victorian times. But the fronts of a Victorian Christmas card included a dead mouse and bacon. They could also have Santa with his reindeer on the front. Inside, it usually reads, “We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” inside, along with a personalised message.
28th December
You may have heard about the 28th December not being a very good day for children. Well, you are absolutely right. Or at least it was if you lived in Spain or South America. The Bible says that when Jesus was born, King Herod ordered all the children in and around Bethlehem to be killed. This is why that the 28th December is known as the ‘Massacre of the Innocents’ day.
Holly
The Romans believed that Holly was supposed to guard the house against:
