History of Christmas in Timeline
Christmas, celebrated annually on December 25th, commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. Observed by billions globally, it holds religious significance for Christians as a liturgical feast, following Advent and commencing Christmastide. Beyond its religious importance, Christmas is a cultural celebration for many non-Christians, often marked as a public holiday and central to the broader holiday season.
1902: Evolution of Santa Claus
The modern depiction of Santa Claus, as we know it today, was largely shaped by American influences, particularly in New York City. The contributions of figures like Washington Irving and the cartoonist Thomas Nast played a key role in transforming the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas into the iconic Santa Claus.
1904: First Christmas Seal Issued
The world's first Christmas seal was introduced in Denmark in 1904. Its purpose was to raise funds and awareness for the fight against tuberculosis, marking an early instance of using holiday-themed items for charitable causes.
1914: Christmas Truce of World War I
During Christmas of 1914 during World War I, there were a series of unofficial ceasefires between opposing armies along the Western Front. These truces involved soldiers from both sides venturing out of the trenches to exchange greetings, sing carols, and even play games of football.
1914: Christmas Truce Football Match
One of the most enduring images of the 1914 Christmas truce during World War I is that of soldiers from opposing sides putting down their arms and engaging in friendly games of football in no man's land. This act of camaraderie amidst the horrors of war became a testament to the shared humanity even in times of conflict.
1917: Soviet Union Bans Christmas
After the Russian Revolution, the newly established Soviet Union, under its policy of state atheism, prohibited the public celebration of Christmas and other religious holidays. This ban remained in effect for several decades.
1923: Revised Julian Calendar Adopted
In 1923, a number of Orthodox Churches, including those in Constantinople, Greece, and Romania, adopted the Revised Julian calendar. This change aligned their Christmas celebration with the Gregorian calendar, resulting in their celebration of Christmas on December 25th.
1923: Armenian Apostolic Church Adopts Gregorian Calendar
In 1923, the Armenian Apostolic Church in Armenia adopted the Gregorian calendar. However, they retained the tradition of celebrating the Nativity of Jesus not as a separate holiday but on January 6th, combined with the celebration of his baptism (Theophany).
1929: Anti-Christmas Campaign in Schools
The League of Militant Atheists in the Soviet Union intensified its anti-religious campaign. On Christmas Day 1929, children in Moscow were urged to engage in acts of defiance against religion, such as spitting on crucifixes, as a form of protest against Christmas.
1946: Christmas Music in Film
The release of the film "It's a Wonderful Life" which featured the traditional carol "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" demonstrated the use of Christmas music in Hollywood films.
1965: Last Christmas Day Football Match
The last officially scheduled top-tier English football match to be played on Christmas Day took place in 1965. Blackpool secured a 4-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers in this match, marking the end of a long tradition.
1984: Lynch v. Donnelly Supreme Court Ruling
In 1984, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of Lynch v. Donnelly that a Christmas display, including a Nativity scene, owned and exhibited by the city of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, did not constitute a violation of the First Amendment.
1991: Christmas Reinstated in Russia
With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the ban on Christmas was lifted, and Orthodox Christmas was reinstated as an official state holiday in Russia. This marked the end of over seven decades of religious suppression.
2001: Christmas's Deadweight Loss
An economic analysis in 2001 estimated that Christmas resulted in a $4 billion deadweight loss in the US, calculated as the difference between what gift-givers spent and what recipients would have paid, raising questions about gift-giving practices within microeconomic theory.
2002: Christmas Tree Sales
In 2002, 20.8 million live Christmas trees were cut in the US, highlighting the holiday's impact on specific industries.
November 2004: Start of Christmas Shopping Season
The "Christmas shopping season" in the United States starts as early as October, and in November 2004, the US Census Bureau reported that expenditure in department stores nationwide rose from $20.8 billion in November 2004 to $31.9 billion in December 2004, an increase of 54 percent.
December 2004: Peak Christmas Shopping Season
December marks the peak of the Christmas shopping season in many nations. In December 2004, the US Census Bureau revealed that expenditure in department stores nationwide rose to $31.9 billion, a 54% increase from November 2004.
2004: Christmas Day Trading Act in England and Wales
The Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 came into effect in England and Wales, preventing all large shops from trading on Christmas Day.
2007: Christmas Day Trading Restriction in Scotland
Scotland passed legislation similar to the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004, restricting trading on Christmas Day.
2010: High Church Attendance During Christmas
A survey revealed that a significant majority of Americans attend church services during the Christmas season. This finding underscored the enduring importance of religious observance during the holiday.
2010: Online Christmas Shopping in the UK
In the UK, expectations for 2010 anticipated up to £8 billion being spent online for Christmas shopping, representing approximately a quarter of the total retail sales during the festive period.
2010: Ancient Church of the East Adopts Gregorian Christmas
The Ancient Church of the East, despite adhering to the Julian calendar, made the decision in 2010 to align its Christmas celebration with the Gregorian calendar date of December 25th.
2015: Christmas Church Attendance in UK
The Church of England reported an estimated attendance of 2.5 million people at Christmas services. This highlighted the continuing significance of religious tradition in the UK during the Christmas season.
December 2018: Suppression of Christmas in China
In December 2018, the Chinese government, known for its stance of state atheism and antireligious campaigns, raided and shut down Christian churches in the lead-up to Christmas, and forcibly removing Christmas decorations.
2019: Projected Christmas Spending
In 2019, projections indicated that the average US adult would spend $920 on Christmas gifts alone, underscoring the economic significance of the holiday.
2022: Ukraine Changes Christmas Celebration Date
In 2022, following the invasion by Russia, Ukraine officially shifted its Christmas celebration from January 7th to December 25th. This move aimed to distance itself from the Russian Orthodox Church, which supported the invasion, and align with the Gregorian calendar.
2023: Christmas Celebrations Cancelled in Bethlehem
Due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Palestinian Christian leaders made the decision to cancel public Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem. This decision highlighted the impact of the conflict on religious observances.
September 2024: Venezuela Moves Christmas to October
In a surprising move, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced the decision to reschedule Christmas from December 25th to October 1st.
2024: Orthodox Christmas and the Julian Calendar
As of 2024, several Eastern Orthodox Churches, including those in Russia, Georgia, and Serbia, continue to observe Christmas on January 7th according to the Julian calendar. This discrepancy arises from the 13-day difference between the Julian calendar and the Gregorian calendar, which is now the internationally accepted civil calendar.