As we move into the holiday season, most of us begin to think warmly in anticipation of the traditions that we bring to life this time of the year. Cookbooks and decorations galore will come flooding out of our attics and storage rooms to once again become a part of our daily lives at home, school, and work. Our senses and memories are roused from their annual slumber and engaged in a delightful dance with the past and present, bridging the divide between new and old in a nostalgic language all its own. Traditions take center stage reminding us of our shared values and beliefs drawing us closer together to celebrate who we are as individuals, as a family, and as a community, no matter the size or geography. The world over, cultures are inextricably defined by their traditions that are lovingly curated through food, art, and music culminating in celebrations that are passed down through generations, a legacy thoughtfully woven together timelessly. Traditions give us a sense of belonging, a feeling of comfort, and an identity. Take a moment and think- what traditions do you embrace and share from your childhood or better yet, what traditions have you created to eclipse the passage of time?
Some traditions become timeless due to their significance and meaning, ultimately spanning the globe, evolving, and creating a sense of connection with humanity, illustrating a shared love for one another. Christmas, for example, is celebrated throughout most of the world today. Multiple theories trace their roots back to Odin (aka Wodan), a god revered by the Germanic peoples in Northern Europe as early as 2 B.C. Odin was celebrated during Yule, a pagan holiday that took place in midwinter. During this time, Odin would lead the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession throughout the sky. It is unclear to the extent Odin influenced the evolution of Christmas, but as a bearded, cloaked man travelling through the winter night sky, he bears an uncanny resemblance to Santa Claus.
Our modern-day Saint Nicholas, the jolly, merry old man in a red suit who secretly gives gifts, is said to have originated as a Greek bishop/monk in the 4th century who lived in the city of Myra, now in present-day Turkey, where he was known far and wide for his generosity. As the story goes, his parents died in an epidemic when he was a young child, leaving him their fortune which he, in turn, used to serve God and others. A well-known legend describes his feats of generosity through the story of the Three Dowries, a tale of charitable kindness to a poor man who had three daughters. During this period, daughters without dowries were unlikely to marry and were possibly sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold was tossed through the window of the poor man’s home, landing in stockings or shoes of the daughters left before the fire to dry to save them from a life of slavery. This sense of generosity took hold and flourished throughout Europe during the Middle Ages until it evolved into a dedicated celebration in remembrance of Saint Nicholas as a feast day on December 6, the anniversary of his death. Over time, as this tradition was established, it became customary to leave gifts for Christian children on the evening of December 5, waking to presents in honor of Saint Nicholas on December 6.
Our Santa Claus here in the United States made his way over with the Dutch in the 17th century, where he was known as Sinterklaas. He was known to have a long white beard and wear a long red robe, similar to Saint Nicholas. However, unlike Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas carried a big red book full of children’s names who were naughty or nice. In addition, the new North American British colonies celebrated gift giving on December 24, which originated during the Protestant Reformation when Martin Luther encouraged the celebration to move to Christmas Eve, to associate the giving of gifts with Christ’s birth instead of a patron saint of the Catholic Church.
Today, in the United States, Santa Claus is a carefully hand-stitched pattern of the Germanic Odin, Greek Saint Nicholas, Dutch Sinterklaas, and English Father Time, combining many traditions into a melting pot of its own, indicative of our nation’s shared heritage. To see the wonder, hope, and delight in a child’s eyes in anticipation of Santa transports those of us a bit older back in time, once a year, to our childhood, reminiscent of our household traditions eagerly welcoming Santa into our home with a plate of cookies and milk. The sights, sounds and smells that are unique to our family’s traditions and legacy recipes to be passed down from generation to generation in hopes that, for at least one day of the year, our dreams will come true.
Here at home in America, even though our country is very young, we have established traditions to bring us together as a country. Thanksgiving was established by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War to promote a sense of unity in a deeply divided time. On July 1-3, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg resulted in the loss of 50,000 lives resulting in the hallowed Gettysburg address. With this in mind, on July 15, 1863, President Lincoln, issued a proclamation:
"…Now, therefore, be it known, that I do set apart Thursday, the 6th day of August next, to be observed as a national day of Thanksgiving, praise, and prayer and I invite the people of the United States to assemble on that occasion…"
Then on October 3, 1863, President Lincoln issued another proclamation, one of nine:
"…I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, …to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise... And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him …, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union…"
Even though Lincoln and most US Presidents since his time issued similar Thanksgiving proclamations, it was not until President Ronald Reagan that we, as a nation, officially designated the 4th Thursday of November, as our Thanksgiving holiday.
"...In this spirit, Thanksgiving has become a day when Americans extend a helping hand to the less fortunate. Long before there was a government welfare program, this spirit of voluntary giving was ingrained in the American character. Americans have always understood that, truly, one must give in order to receive. This should be a day of giving as well as a day of thanks…"
And so, in keeping with the spirit of the season, honor those who have come before you and those thereafter by giving the joy of a tradition all your own.
Long before there was a government welfare program, this spirit of voluntary giving was ingrained in the American character.