Symbols of Christmas and Nostalgic Memories

It is that time of year when religious differences fade and everyone happily gets into the glad Spirit of the Season. Buddhists particularly among non-Christians, enthusiastically move from Christmas carols to parties and many have decorated pine branches in their homes.

First introduction to Christmas

I thank my wise parents for sending us siblings to Christian missionary schools. Not only were we educated in the three Rs and particularly English, but we were encouraged to be modest, polite and socially conscious. This was augmented by our Buddhist upbringing. Mother was very conservative and strict but she encouraged our full participation in school activities from learning Scripture and attending Christian prayer assemblies to church going. That is until CWW K, projected forwards by SWRD B, came along and decreed Sinhala only and participation in only one’s religion.

Many Burghers lived down Peradeniya Road, Katukelle, Kandy, where our family lived for long. We envied them: their general attitude to life of live well the day. Our friends had such pretty dresses and freedom to do most things taboo to us. Their mothers were very friendly and ready with advice and help. Generous were the trays of seasonal goodies received at Christmas. We were cautioned not to go play with our Burgher friends at this time so we peeked into their decorated sitting rooms with their glittering Xmas trees, and turned green with envy. Riotous parties would be in full swing; the aroma of roasts and plum pudding mixed with that of alcoholic drinks – arrack and home brewed wines.

Santa Claus

The old jolly Ho Ho Man visited our home for long years and the children believed in him. Their belief was encouraged by yours truly. Santa has a long history. His first British appearance was in the mid 17th century. The Puritan controlled English government had legislated to abolish Christmas considering it was papist, and had outlawed its traditional customs, Royalist political pamphleteers, lining the popular old traditions with their cause, adopted Old Father Christmas as the symbol of the old days of feasting and good cheer.

Then his popularity declined until Victorian times when the old figure was brought back at Christmas, now turned a child-centric festival. He became a gift bringer. By the 1880s new customs had become established with the nocturnal visitor, sometimes known as Santa Claus and sometimes as Father Christmas, who came down chimneys to fill hung stockings. In Europe, he was known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, growing out of traditions surrounding the historical Saint Nicholas, a fourth century Greek bishop of Myra, known for his generosity.

Our in-house Mr Claus took childish delight in visiting toy shops along Front Street, Pettah, particularly Seneviratne’s and bought the two kids much more than one present. They hung stockings but the gifts being bulky and numerous, they were often laid under the tree or along the balcony of the flat we lived in. The younger was timid and would creep into his brother’s room the night the white bearded visitor was expected.. He was afraid of the man whose day time geniality as exhibited by Santas in many a large department stores and Xmas parties turned to night time mystery.

The Christmas Tree

One of the more significant of symbols came down from mid-winter Roman festivals of Saturnalia to Viking and Saxon worship of trees and Martin Luther’s (1483-1546) first X’mas tree lit with candles. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “the use of evergreen trees, wreaths and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a custom of the ancient Egyptians, Chinese and Hebrews. Tree worship was common among the pagan Europeans and survived their conversion to Christianity.”

Husband started the practice of a decorated tree no sooner the elder was two years old. Men gathered in Kollupitiya streets and elsewhere selling branches of evergreens from Up Country. Our tree was modest but delighted the kids until they were in their early teens. The best was one Husband decorated while we were on holiday in Bandarawela. The house was filled with the smell of the sap of the cut branch and the bulbs sparkled extra bright against the pitch dark of the mountain night. The cool of the air enhanced the feeling of Christmas and it was not too much a stretch of imagination to visualize white snow against which the red robin and crimson berries with green holly leaves sparkled.

Holly & Mistletoe

Red symbolizes blood hence life itself. Symbols of Christmas that exhibit this colour are holly and the red breasted robin which appear in greeting cards and on Yule logs. The bird’s inclusion in Christmas festivities is said to be because a robin perched on Jesus’ shoulder singing, trying to alleviate his pain as The Son of God suffered on the cross.

We do not have holly and mistletoe hence no kissing under the latter either. They are both believed to have mystical powers and bestow life-energy and fertility. Some peoples considered the two as antidotes against poison, others as an aphrodisiac, yet others to symbolize love and fertility. Kissing under mistletoe was first associated with the Greek festival of Saturnalia and later with primitive marriage rites. They probably originated from two beliefs: it could bestow fertility and power. Poinsettia (Euphorbia Pulcherrima)) is a much used Xmas decoration in our part of the world, due to its colour. The Aztecs used it to dye clothing and cure fevers; the color red a symbol of purity.

Nostalgia is inevitable in homes such as mine that have been emptied. The nest is bare, even of the mate. Mercifully Christmas cheer is catchy and Christian friends generous in their sharing of rich cake, invitations and camaraderie. Thus nostalgia turns away from twinges of loneliness and sadness and moves to joyful remembering We move on, as we must, but memories are sweet and consoling. I end with two quotes:

 “Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind.”

“Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing, but of reflection.” And sharing and giving, I add.

We all firmly believe in the Nativity and are moved by it. We remember missionaries; we remember family; and we must always remember each other as equal and deserving of peace and goodwill.