The amazing history of christmas will be told in 10 facts about medieval christmas. Public knew that christmas is a commemoration the birth of Jesus Christ which was on 25 December. This religion celebration held by christian in all over the globe and non-christian as well, as a culturally, thus in this big day decided as a public holiday in many of the world’s nations. The Western Christian Churc placed the date of Christmas on 25 December eventhoug no one know the exact date of Jesus’ birth. You can read more interesting information about the history of christmas in middle ages period below.
Facts about Medieval Christmas 1: Etymology
The word “Christmas” derive from Middle English Cristemasse, a phrase first recorded in 1131. Many people called the christmas by the abreviation which is Xmas. Xmas itself comes from Greek word. In addition to christmas, the holiday has been known by several other names throughout its history including Nativity, Yule, or in the late of the 14th century well-known as Noel.
Facts about Medieval Christmas 2: Nativity
Luke and Matthew as the canonical gospel, describe that Jesus as being born in Bethlehem in Judea, to a virgin mother. Based on the Luke account Gospel, Joseph and Mary travel from Nazareth to Betlehem for the cencus, then they found the Jesus born there and laid ina manger. On the other side, in the Matthew account, Magi follow a star to Betlehem to bring gifts to Jesus.
facts about medieval christmas
Facts about Medieval Christmas 3: History
In the gospel and Christian writers suggested various dates for the Jesus anniversary, Matthew and Luke are the prominent one. In 336, the first Christmas celebration was recorded in Rome. Then, Charles Dickens and other writers reinvented the holiday by emphasizing Christmas as the family time, religion, and gift-giving.
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Facts about Medieval Christmas 4: Be Wary
The majority of medieval world did not celebrate Christmas. Unfortunately, the medieval jew, Christmas could be a time of danger.
Facts about Medieval Christmas 5: Fast then Feast
For those who celebrate Christmas, people should fast a season covering at least the 12 days from 25 December. On the other hand, Christmas was preceded by a month of fasting in the season of advent.
Facts about Medieval Christmas 6: Yule Mumming from Scandinavia
From the Christmas eve until the twelfth night, young men in the northern parts of Europe would go about in the middle of the night for scaring people in the streets or in their farms.
facts about medieval christmas
Facts about Medieval Christmas 7: The Christmas Bishop
In parts of Western Europe one finds reports of the election of boy bishops, often on December 28th, which marked the feast of holy innocents massacred by King Herod.
Facts about Medieval Christmas 8: To Tree or Not to Tree?
Evergreen trees feature in the ritual life of many cultures, but medieval christmas trees are hard to trace.
Facts about Medieval Christmas 9: What to Eat?
In 1314, Christmas was also a time for charity and sharing food. One chief characteristic of medieval food was its seasonal variation, flavoured with spices like pepper, gingger, cloves and saffron.
facts about medieval christmas
Facts about Medieval Christmas 10: Build a Crib
Building a crib is one of christmas tradition during the medieval period.
The interesting facts about medieval christmas told above, how do you feel?
