‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. OK – It’s more like 2 weeks before Christmas, I guess I got ahead of myself. Take a look at my latest holiday blog.
Christmas is celebrated by many people, both religious and non-religious. No matter which side you come down on I think everyone can agree that this time of year is filled with love, peace, family and giving. The spirit of the holiday can be found all around us. From the twinkling lights and the sweet smells of holiday baking to the giving of gifts and Christmas carols being sung. Let’s look at some of the history behind the holiday and where this celebration originated.
Mid-winter has long been a time for celebrating. Early Europeans celebrated the Winter Solstice, the shortest day and the longest night. The fact that they were able to start looking forward to longer daylight and more sun must have put them in the party mood. This is when the animals were slaughtered for feasts. (that way they didn’t have to feed them through the winter) and also the beer and wine made during the year was finally ready for drinking. Party! This year the return of the sun, aka: Winter Solstice, falls on December 21.
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By celebrating Christmas at the same time as the Winter Solstice the church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be accepted. On Christmas the believers would attend church services and then celebrate at rowdy, drunken festivals. (much like those in the paragraph above) The atmosphere of these celebrations is likened to our Mardi Gras today. Wow! Another interesting tradition during this time period is that the poor would go to the homes of the rich and demand there best liquor and food. If the homeowners didn’t comply then they would be terrorized. Sounds a little like The Purge if you ask me. {shudder}
In 1843 Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol was published. The message of which is the importance of charity and goodwill to all mankind. In 1870 Christmas was made an official federal holiday. Moving forward from this date our traditional Christmas celebration grew. Tree decorating, family get togethers, giving gifts, caroling and more.
PEACE – LOVE – FAMILY – HOPE – FAITH
It’s easy to get caught up in the shopping and stress of the holidays but take a moment to think about what truly matters. This video sums it up pretty perfectly. It only takes a couple of minutes to watch and it leaves you with a feel good message. You can’t beat that!
Rapid Pest Solutions would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a Merry Christmas.
