Medieval Christmas (Intro)
Most holidays during the medieval period were determined by the Church including Christmas. Christmas in medieval England was very different to modern day Christmas. It was the church that ensured that it was celebrated as s true religious holiday instead of just being a simple feast for peasants to enjoy themselves.
Medieval Christmas History
There was no established imperial religion until the birth of Christianity. When Christianity took over the empire, the church needed to establish its own doctrines urgently. It also decided who Christ was although the official definition gradually came. At the Council of Nicaea it was agreed that Christ was both man and God. Modern scholars agreed that the 25th of December was decided as the date of Christmas as it represented a symbolic time for the pagan calendar. The Christmas feast was then celebrated in twelve days of recreation and leisure for the Christians. …show more content…
It was noted that some carolers danced in circular movement while singing these songs.
Medieval Christmas Traditions
There were pagan traditions that had become part of Christmas such as the burning of yule log. This custom was very common among several cultures in the middle ages. The significance of such tradition is basically with the iul or the wheel, which signifies the wheel of the year. Other cultures such as the Druids would even bless a lot and keep it burning for 12 days during the winter solstice while a part of the log was kept for the following year.
Some other customs were primarily developed as part of the Christian tradition and belief. Mince pies was one of them. They were based in oblong casing representing Jesus’s crib and had to include three spices, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, to represent the gifts that were given by the three wise men.
Medieval Christmas
Most holidays during the medieval period were determined by the Church including Christmas. Christmas in medieval England was very different to modern day Christmas. It was the church that ensured that it was celebrated as s true religious holiday instead of just being a simple feast for peasants to enjoy themselves.
Medieval Christmas History
There was no established imperial religion until the birth of Christianity. When Christianity took over the empire, the church needed to establish its own doctrines urgently. It also decided who Christ was although the official definition gradually came. At the Council of Nicaea it was agreed that Christ was both man and God. Modern scholars agreed that the 25th of December was decided as the date of Christmas as it represented a symbolic time for the pagan calendar. The Christmas feast was then celebrated in twelve days of recreation and leisure for the Christians. …show more content…
It was noted that some carolers danced in circular movement while singing these songs.
Medieval Christmas Traditions
There were pagan traditions that had become part of Christmas such as the burning of yule log. This custom was very common among several cultures in the middle ages. The significance of such tradition is basically with the iul or the wheel, which signifies the wheel of the year. Other cultures such as the Druids would even bless a lot and keep it burning for 12 days during the winter solstice while a part of the log was kept for the following year.
Some other customs were primarily developed as part of the Christian tradition and belief. Mince pies was one of them. They were based in oblong casing representing Jesus’s crib and had to include three spices, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, to represent the gifts that were given by the three wise men.
Medieval Christmas