9 December 2006
Fascinating Festive Fact #9: Christmas Is Not Traditional
Cliff says:Victoooor-i-ans. Victoooor-i-ans. Victor-ians. Victor-ians.
You know, many of the things we celebrate at Christmas are relatively new.
All these people who say, "Oh, the old Christmas spirit is gone. Do you know you can get a Christmas falafel in Tesco? It's appalling..." etc, should be reminded that a lot of these so called traditionals at Christmas, only appeared in the 19th century. That's why we have a lot of the traditions which reflect Victorian values, like the hoarding everything you can, buying up mineral rights from chieftains and thrashing London's young street urchins.
Same with weddings. The big white dress, the cake, Dancing Queen - all Victorian inventions.
Before all this holly and ivy stuff, you've got to go back to pagan festivals or Romans when Christmas fell upon the winter solstice and slaves were allowed to spend time with their families.
Don't take that for granted when someone tells you the "true meaning of Christmas", because it's relatively recent history that they are trying their hardest not to move on from. Traditional has to start somewhere, but just because the Victorians gave us trees and cards, it doesn't mean you can't spread cheers with an online advent calender and an email.
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