Page 4 - Italian-American Herald - December 2024

4 ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM | DECEMBER 2024 ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERALD
TRADITIONS
“The Adoration of the Shepherds” by Giorgione.
Italian food: Mosaic of influences produced a style like to other
Continued from front page
While his military was devoted to the Sun
god Mithras, his mother Helen was devoted
to the teachings of Christ. By 337 A.D. the
new Bishop of Rome Julius I gave the newly
decreed holiday its own date of Dec. 25.
The most common theory for choosing
this date was because it was known as the
dies solis invicti nati (day of the birth of the
unconquered sun), when the Romans feted
the resurgence of the sun, the casting away of
winter and the impending rebirth of spring
and summer. Christian chronographers of
the 3rd century believed that the creation of
the world took place at the spring equinox,
then thought to be on March 25. They used
this date to conclude this was the day of
Jesus’ conception. Therefore, his birth would
have been nine months later on Dec. 25.
For centuries, the celebration of Jesus’ birth
was also observed in conjunction with his
baptism on Jan. 6.
Numerous pagan customs became
associated with Christmas. Christian stories
replaced those favored by pagans, but other
practices hung on. Candles continued to
be lit. Kissing under the mistletoe remained
common and the feasts and merriment
continued.
During the Middle Ages, Christmas
became extremely popular and this period
of history saw a broadening elaboration and
expansion of the liturgical life of Christians.
These rituals developed around the ancient
ceremonies of Easter, Pentecost, Christmas,
and Epiphany which were expanded upon
with a detailed calendar full of celebrations
and of commemorations and feasts of saints.
The practice of exchanging gifts began by the
15th century and became connected with
the name of St. Nicholas, a real but legendary
figure of 4th century Lycia in the province of
Asia. Nicholas was considered a charitable
man who threw gifts into homes.
In Italy during the Middle Ages, it was
customary for children to receive their gifts
from La Befana. Some scholars speculated La
Befana actually originated from pagan winter
solstice festivals dating to the 10 th - to 6th
centuries B.C. During the span of 12 nights
which followed the solstice, mysterious
female figures were believed to fly over the
fields on broomsticks to bless future harvests.
This is just one theory regarding her origins.
We will never know for sure where she came
from but we do know that she is truly loved!
Medieval festivities began on the eve
before Christmas and continued for 12 days
until Jan. 5. During this time, the people
enjoyed a long break from their agricultural
labor. They gathered ivy, holly leaves and
mistletoe. These greens were believed to be
symbols of fertility as well as protection from
evil spirits.
One of the oldest Christmas traditions
in Italy (and across Europe) is the Ceppo di
Natale, or Yule log. It dates to ancient Rome
when the male head of a household would
place a log in the fireplace on Christmas Eve
to burn from Christmas until Epiphany. It
was not recognized as a symbol of Christmas
until the beginning of the 10th century. In
Christian practice it symbolized the twigs the
shepherds used to keep the baby Jesus warm,
and the fire symbolizes the redemption of
Christ and the light of Christ entering the
world.
In Tuscany, during the 18th century, the
log was sometimes impersonated by a large,
masked man with a huge head full of thick,
The practice of
exchanging gifts
began by the
15th century and
became connected
with the name of
St. Nicholas, a
real but legendary
figure who threw
gifts into homes.