Its original usage was far from romantic. Photo / Getty Images
Its original usage was far from romantic. Photo / Getty Images
A tree in the living room, mince pies with our tea, and Santa coming down the chimney: all are staples of the Christmas experience, yet we seldom stop to ask why.
Discussion of the origins of such festive customs tend to stall with: "Wasn't it all invented by the Victorians? Or the Germans? Or was it Coca-Cola?"
In fact many date back to ancient times and have been influenced along the way by everything from religion to pop culture.
Here are some of the reasons why we do the things we do at this time of year.
Romans used fir trees to decorate their temples during Saturnalia, a feast in honour of Saturn, the god of agriculture, and the predecessor to Christmas.
In northern Europe, people planted cherry or hawthorn plants, or created pyramids of fruit or candles.
Evergreen trees were thought to keep away evil spirits and illness, and were put up during the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, to remind them that the summer would return and plants would grow again.
In 16th century Germany and Latvia, trees were paraded around the streets and then set alight.
Another predecessor was the Paradise tree, a fir decorated with apples to represent the Garden of Eden on Adam and Eve's day, which fell on December 24.
It is thought the first person to bring a tree indoors was the German theologian Martin Luther.
Walking through a forest, he was so taken by the beauty of stars twinkling through the pines that he took a tree home and attached candles to each branch.
Germans decorated their trees with edible goods and glass decorations.
Tinsel was originally made in Germany from thin strips of silver.
Electric lights were first created in 1895 by Ralph Morris, an American telephonist.
Christmas trees made it to Britain in the 1830s, and in 1841, Prince Albert set up a tree in Windsor Castle.
In 1846, the royal family was sketched standing around their Christmas tree, after which the practice became very fashionable.
Electric lights were first created in 1895 by Ralph Morris, an American telephonist. Photo / 123RF
What's the story behind Father Christmas, and why do we have stockings?
The story of Father Christmas starts with Saint Nicholas, a bishop who lived in Myra, Asia Minor (what is now known as Turkey) in the fourth century.
He had a reputation for giving to the poor and being kind to children.
Later, his feast day became associated with December 25th.
An early example of Father Christmas in literature appears in Ben Jonson's play of 1616, Christmas, His Masque.
An old bearded man enters through the chimney, rather than the door, as this was the entrance for Pagan trespassers such as evil spirits.
His sons and daughters are named Carol, Misrule, Gambol, Minced-Pie and Baby-Cake.
The Victorians rediscovered the stories of Saint Nicholas and used the legend in poetry and prose.
In A Visit from St. Nicholas, a poem written by Clement Moore in 1822, he flew from house to house in a sleigh drawn by eight reindeer, to fill stockings.
Thomas Nash drew a series of cartoons of him living at the North Pole, with a workshop for building toys and a large book with the names of naughty and nice children.
It was Coca-Cola's adverts that created the image of the rotund, jolly, white-haired man we're all familiar with today. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Why does Santa wear red?
The legend goes that Santa's suit is red because of a hugely successful advertising campaign for Coca-Cola that featured a big Father Christmas wearing red robes with a white trim, the soft drink's colours.
But the red and white actually derive from the colours of Saint Nicholas.
Over time, the bishops' red and white robes were replaced by a fur-trimmed suit.
Historians argue that bishops' robes appeared in many different colours but the red one came to be linked to Father Christmas during the 19th century.
Saint Nicholas was drawn throughout history in various forms: thin, intellectual and even frightening.
It was Coca-Cola's adverts that created the image of the rotund, jolly, white-haired man we're all familiar with today.
Why is it called Boxing Day?
Boxing Day is not to do with Santa's discarded wrapping and boxes, but has its origins in the practice of giving presents and money to poor people.
One legend has it that the British upper classes gave tradespeople and servants boxes of food and fruit as a seasonal tip.
Others believe that boxes full of alms to give to the needy were left in churches over the Christmas period, and on Boxing Day these were collected and distributed.
Why do we kiss under mistletoe?
Its original usage was far from romantic: the parasitic plant was viewed by ancient cultures as a cure for ailments such as menstrual cramps and spleen disorders.
Eating the berries actually causes vomiting and stomach pain because they contain toxic substances.
Druids viewed it as a symbol of life as it grew even during the winter.
It was consumed to increase fertility and used to decorate houses during summer and winter solstices.
In Norse mythology mistletoe has connotations of love and friendship.
It is unclear exactly where the link between Christmas and mistletoe arose, however.
By the 18th century the practice of hanging mistletoe at Christmas began in Britain. It was bad luck if you refused to kiss someone under the mistletoe.
Charles Dickens described in the Pickwick Papers how young women "screamed and struggled, and ran into corners, and did everything but leave the room, until ... they all at once found it useless to resist any longer and submitted to be kissed with a good grace."
