A brief history of Father Christmas The earliest reckoning of a Father Christmas figure first appearing in Britain was during mid-winter festivals in pre-Christian times. Of course, he wasn’t referred to as Father Christmas then but was just another pagan character who happened to represent the coming of spring. He dressed up in a…
A brief history of Santa Claus The Origin of Saint Nicholas Saint Nicholas, otherwise known as Santa Claus, has long been steeped in the traditions of Christmas. He is considered to be a jolly fat man with a white beard, who dresses all in red, who brings…
A brief history of Christmas Day Christmas is a time celebrated by Christians (and increasingly non-Christians) around the world. According to tradition, it’s a time when family and friends come together, indulge in feasting, give (especially to children) and receive presents, and generally have a good time. However, the 25th December, Christmas Day, is one…
A Fleeting History of Easter and its Traditions We all know Easter is celebrated by Christians around the world as the period set aside to commemorate the death and then the miracle of the resurrection of Jesus. However, the history and traditions of Easter are a little more complex than first meets the eye….
A brief history of the birthday celebration It would seem almost unthinkable to have a birthday celebration without cards, a cake and candles, presents, and the time-honoured “happy birthday” song. While it may seem that the traditions that make up the observation of a birthday have been around forever, they obviously all started somewhere. The…
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