Tis the season to be jolly, and my favorite time of the year. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who reads my articles and especially those of you who have become my clients and friends over the past years.
The History of Christmas
In early Christianity, the birth of Jesus was not celebrated until the fourth century. Pope Julius I chose Dec. 25 in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival.
First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after Dec. 25, referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day, believed to be when the three wise men found Jesus in the manger.
On Christmas, believers attended church. They then celebrated raucously in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere similar to today’s Mardi Gras.
An Outlaw Christmas
In the early 17th century, religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe. In 1645, when Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. By popular demand, Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday.
The pilgrims coming to America in 1620 were more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. Therefore, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, Christmas actually was outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings.
After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.
It wasn’t until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas. Americans reinvented Christmas, changing it from a raucous carnival holiday, to a family-centered day of peace and nostalgia.
A Christmas Carol
Around this time, English author Charles Dickens created the classic holiday tale A Christmas Carol. The story’s message—the importance of charity and goodwill toward all humankind—struck a powerful chord in the United States and England. Members of Victorian society understood the benefits of celebrating the holiday.
The family also was becoming more sensitive to the emotional needs of children during the early 1800s. Christmas provided families with a day to lavish attention—and gifts—on their children without appearing to spoil them.
As Americans began to embrace Christmas as a perfect family holiday, old customs were unearthed. People looked toward recent immigrants and Catholic and Episcopalian churches to see how the day should be celebrated. In the next 100 years, Americans built a Christmas tradition all their own, which included pieces of many other customs, including decorating trees, sending holiday cards and giving gifts.
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Lorraine Ryall has been a Multi-Million Dollar producer for the past nine years. You can reach Lorraine at (602) 571-6799. You also can send her an email at Lorraine@Homes2SellAZ.com, or visit her website at Homes2SellAZ.com.
Recipe: CROCK POT CHICKEN CHILI
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
2.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces
1 small onion diced
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1/2 cup diced red pepper
1 tablespoon minced garlic
14.5 ounce can Hunts Fire-roasted Diced Tomatoes
2 cans cannellini beans, undrained
1 can black beans, drain and rinsed
1 2-ounce can diced chile peppers
2 teaspoons cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust as needed)
1 1/2 cans of water
shredded cheese (optional)
sour cream (optional)
Directions
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet, and sauté the chicken for about 5 minutes.
- Add the onion, green peppers and garlic to the skillet.
- Toss well and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Pour the contents of the skillet into a 6-quart crockpot.
- Add the next 10 ingredients to the crockpot, stir well.
- Cook for 4 hours on high.
- To thicken: After 3 hours of cooking, mix cool water and cornstarch and add to the crockpot.
- Stir, cover, and cook for the remaining hour or until the chicken is cooked through.