History's Humorous Amnesia
History is a funny thing. If it is not repeated, it is usually forgotten. Few people today know the true history of many of the emblems used in Christmas, and their origins are often rooted in a dark, pagan past.
But why should people know the "dark side" of things? Is it truly necessary to constantly dredge up the uncomfortable truths hidden beneath our most cherished traditions?
Today, all most people know about Christmas is that we are celebrating the birth of Christ. And it is celebrated in a light that is nothing but bright: it is connected with fun, family, and great Christian themes, despite its dark, pre-Christian origins. This remarkable shift is, perhaps, one of history's greatest feats of cultural engineering.
Pope Gregory and the Art of Assimilation
I think Pope Gregory the Great (Pope from 590 to 604 AD) had the right idea. He was playing the long game.
As Christianity expanded across Europe, confronting entrenched pagan practices, Gregory understood that outright prohibition was often ineffective. Instead, he advocated for a clever strategy of assimilation and transformation.
Gregory's most brilliant move was the deliberate, high-level decision to replace the most popular and culturally significant pagan festivals with Christian observances. He understood that if people repeated these practices often enough, even with a new meaning, they would become a permanent part of their new culture.
The Tammuz Connection
The most profound example of this strategy relates to the December 25th date itself. For centuries, various cultures across the Near East celebrated the death and rebirth of deities associated with the cycle of the seasons.
A key figure in this ancient tradition was Tammuz, a Mesopotamian god of fertility and agriculture whose annual descent to the underworld and subsequent return was widely mourned and celebrated in the winter months. By declaring December 25th as the birth of Christ—the ultimate figure of life and resurrection—Gregory ensured that the habitual winter festival became centered on Christianity.
This strategy wasn't just about shifting a date; it was about replacing the very focus of seasonal worship with the Son of God, effectively turning the celebration of Tammuz and similar winter deities into the celebration of Christ.
Gregory's famous advice to missionaries was to purify and repurpose existing pagan structures and feasts, such as encouraging converts to continue gathering for a dedicated feast rather than outright forbidding their assembly. This genius move allowed the familiar rhythms of pre-existing festivals to continue, easing the transition to the new faith.
Unpacking the Darker Past
This is where the pagan winter solstice celebrations that were intentionally overwritten come in:
The Date: The exact date of Jesus's birth is unknown. The early Church adopted December 25th because it coincided almost perfectly with the Roman festival of Saturnalia and the Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (Birthday of the Unconquered Sun), which celebrated the winter solstice. By planting the celebration of the "Son of God" directly on the feast of the "Sun God," the Church effectively co-opted the existing tradition.
The Evergreen: Before it was a symbol of Christ's eternal life, the evergreen tree, holly, and mistletoe were potent symbols of life and fertility in the deepest part of winter for many pagan groups. The practice of bringing evergreens indoors was a common pagan ritual to ward off winter spirits or celebrate the sun's return.
The Victory of Repetition
The strategy worked with spectacular success.
Today, the number of countries that recognize Christmas as an official national public holiday is estimated to be over 150 or even 160 of the world's approximately 195 countries. This is a monumental cultural feat.
It proves that the power of repetition, positive association, and cultural appropriation—in the truest sense of the word—is one of the most powerful forces in human history. The darkness of the pagan past was not forgotten as much as it was eclipsed by a brighter, more hopeful, and deeply ingrained tradition.
We don't need to dwell on the origins of the symbols to appreciate the holiday; the holiday's current meaning is its triumph.
No comments:
Post a Comment