The Unwrapped History of Christmas: From Banned Holiday to Global Phenomenon

Christmas is often painted as a purely cheerful season of perpetual goodwill. Yet, beneath the tinsel and twinkling lights lies a surprisingly controversial and fascinating history—a festival once considered so unruly that it was outlawed entirely.

Here is a deep dive into the shocking truths, cultural appropriations, and bizarre traditions that define the world's most celebrated holiday.

1. The Scandalous Origins: Christmas Was Once Illegal
The most shocking fact about Christmas is that it was not celebrated by early Christians and was later considered a public menace.

• The Puritan Ban (17th Century): In both England and parts of the American colonies (like Massachusetts Bay), the Puritan-led governments banned Christmas celebrations in the 1600s. They viewed the holiday as "dishonouring to God" due to its association with excessive feasting, drunkenness, gambling, and "pagan" revelry inherited from Roman festivals. A five-shilling fine was often imposed on anyone caught celebrating!
• The Unoriginal Date: The date December 25th was chosen by the Church in the 4th century not based on historical records, but to deliberately align with, and eventually absorb, existing Roman mid-winter festivals like Saturnalia (a feast of misrule) and the birthday of the sun god, Sol Invictus. This blend of Christian and pagan customs is why Christmas celebrations today are so boisterous.

2. Iconic Symbols: Built by Advertising and Folklore
Many of our most beloved Christmas symbols have non-religious, or even commercial, roots.

• The Commercial Santa: The image of Santa Claus as a jolly, round man in a bright red and white suit was largely standardized by a Coca-Cola advertising campaign in the 1930s. Before this, depictions of St. Nicholas (the Turkish bishop who inspired him) often showed him in green, brown, or blue robes.
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Rudolph was not part of the original folklore. He was invented in 1939 by a copywriter for the Montgomery Ward department store as a marketing gimmick for a children’s colouring book.
• The Christmas Tree’s Darker Roots: The evergreen tree is an adaptation of ancient pagan traditions that used greenery to symbolize life persisting through winter. The custom of decorating the tree gained widespread popularity in the 19th century when Queen Victoria’s German husband, Prince Albert, brought the tradition to England.

3. The World's Weirdest Christmas Traditions
Forget milk and cookies; here are some of the most bizarre and intriguing ways people celebrate around the globe:

-Austria / Bavaria :  The Krampus Run : Instead of a single kind Santa, children also face the Krampus, a terrifying, horned, half-goat demon. On December 5th (Krampusnacht), men dress up to chase and punish naughty children, serving as a terrifying counter-Santa.

-Catalonia, Spain : The Pooping Log (Tió de Nadal) : Children "feed" and keep a small wooden log warm for weeks. On Christmas Eve, they sing a song and beat the log with sticks to make it "poop" presents (candies and small gifts).

-Norway : Hiding the Brooms : On Christmas Eve, Norwegians hide all their brooms before going to bed. The ancient custom is a safeguard against witches and evil spirits who are believed to emerge on Christmas Eve to steal the brooms for midnight rides.

-Japan : KFC Feast : Due to a highly successful marketing campaign in the 1970s, eating a bucket of KFC fried chicken has become the de facto national Christmas dinner. Families reserve their buckets weeks in advance!

Ultimately, Christmas is a complex tapestry woven from religious faith, political maneuvering, ancient pagan rituals, and consumer culture. It’s a spectacular, messy, and ever-evolving holiday that, despite its contradictions, unites billions in a universal quest for joy, warmth, and a good feast.