The Man who invented Christmas (rewatch)

[iamwhatiseem]

This is one of our new traditions to watch this show.
Probably the best Christmas movie made in the past 20 years.
Surely you have seen it, if not you certainly should.

 

[whitehall]

Dickens didn't invent Christmas. The birth of Christ was well established in history. What he did was to create a novel that translated the birth of Christ into a popular venue. You could say that the Coca Cola company invented the concept of the jolly old Santa back in the 30's.

 

[Zebra]

Luther invented the Christkind

 

[g5000]

There is only one Christmas movie.

 

[SaxonJackson]

This is one of our new traditions to watch this show.
Probably the best Christmas movie made in the past 20 years.
Surely you have seen it, if not you certainly should.

Christmas, in essence, was invented by Roman Emperor, Constantine. He followed Mithraism (sun or light worship). In order to win favor with both the growing Christian population as well as his pagan comrades, he blended the two religions. One of Mithraism's highest days of worship fell on the winter equinox (or winter solstice) which occurred (and occurs) in late December. Since Christ was seen as a "light unto the world" it made sense to celebrate His birth on the same day that sun worshippers celebrated the return of the sun.

Christ was likely born in late September which would have been after the harvest but before winter set in. So Christmas isn't really a "Christian" holiday. It is a Constantinian holiday which was adopted by the Roman Catholic church as one of its traditions.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

"The Man who Invented Christmas" - is not a literal title.
I think everyone knows he did not, literally, invent Christmas.
However his book ultimately and profoundly changed how Christmas is celebrated in western culture. Prior to the book, Christmas was a minor holiday. With many people not observing it at all. After his book came out, it then became the major holiday that it is.
Gift giving, holiday feasting with family. Christmas songs becoming popular etc.