History

Christmas Gift Bringers

Following yonder star the Three Magi travel towards their Epiphany

FOR AT LEAST TWO MILLENNIA, THE END OF THE YEAR HAS BEEN A TIME TO GIVE GIFTS. HOW HAS THIS CHANGED, AND WHO BRINGS THE GIFTS?

The Romans were especially fond of gift-giving at New Year. There were several festivals around this time, such as Saturnalia and Sol Invictus (the festival of the Unconquered Sun – a Mithraic celebration of the solstice), which were celebrated with feasting and a general relaxation of social strata (this still carries over today in the tradition of the upper ranks serving the lower at Christmas meals in the British Armed Services). The season was especially appreciated by Emperors, who expected to receive gifts from their subordinates. At first this was a token – a branch of a tree from the Sacred Grove, for example - but soon it became far more lavish, with careful records being kept of who had given which costly gift. Other cultures also gave gifts at this time. The Northern races, especially, beset by short daylight hours and cold nights, needed to cheer themselves and their children up. The parents, though, for whatever reason, made it clear that the gifts were from Odin, not themselves, as a reward for the children’s good behaviour. Often a sort of “punisher” would accompany the gift-giver, to dole out spankings or unpleasant gifts (rotten fruit or stale sweets) to naughty children. When Christianity took over the New Year as the time to celebrate the birth of the Saviour, gift-giving was a good thing to incorporate. “Do not change their rituals, but make them new”, advised St Gregory and other missionary leaders, so this was done. Out went Odin, but then a new giftbringer was needed. The obvious candidate was the Christchild. This was an early belief, and still holds good in parts of Germany and central Europe. The Liebes Christkind, or beloved Christ-child still brings gifts here, and when German families went to America, they took him with them. In the course of time the German name was misunderstood and forgotten, and transformed into Kriss Kringle, which is a name now often (wrongly) given to Santa Claus. Santa Claus himself also appeared fairly early on. Saint Nicholas was a bishop of Myra (now Demre in Anatolia) in the 4th Century. Little is known about him. He attended the Great Council in Nicea (after which the Nicene Creed, used at Holy Communion, is named), and is celebrated for boxing the ears of another delegate named Arius, with whom he disagreed. However, legend associated him closely with children, and with giftgiving, and he came on the scene only about 50 years after Christianity was made the official religion of Rome, so he was an obvious candidate. He became a prime mover in the distribution of gifts, and when the Dutch settled in America, their name for him, Sinteklaas, was transmuted into Santa Claus. From America a sanitised, new-made Santa Claus with a strong commercial instinct was reexported to Europe (and elsewhere) with a red robe, sleigh and reindeer. In Europe, strange things had happened to St Nicholas. In many countries, he had been teamed up with an “Anti-Santa” who, harking back to the Norse tradition, doled out un-festive punishment to naughty children. Even France linked Père Noël with Père Fouettard, or Father Flog, who laid about miscreants with a whip. Many countries had similar “helpers”, many of positively terrifying aspect! In some countries, children got a second bite of the cherry. The feast of St Nicholas falls on 6th December, and sometimes the good saint would hand out a helping of gifts on this day, as well as Christmas Eve! In England, the Reformation swept away saints. They were not compatible with the new theology. Bye, bye, Saint Nicholas; but with what do we replace him? Someone had the bright idea of promoting Father Christmas, or Sir Christmas, or whatever was the name of the Personification of Christmas who had been lurking in more rural traditions and mummers’ plays for centuries. This chap was a red-faced, definitely pagan, club-

Even France linked Père Noël with Père Fouettard, or Father Flog, who laid about miscreants with a whip

Father Christmas, but definitely not very saintly!

wielding reprobate, crowned with phallic holly. The Reformers had let loose a thoroughly disreputable old scallywag. It is small wonder the Puritans banned Christmas in the 17th Century! At the Restoration, many Christmas traditions, like the Lords of Misrule, Boy Bishops and some of Father Christmas’ less-endearing habits, were quietly forgotten. The American Santa Claus had a ready market when he surfaced in the early 19th century. Meanwhile, a lot of other gift-givers had been quietly going about their business. The Three Kings, the Magi, were obvious candidates as gift-bringers; after all, that is what they are chiefly known for, and from the Bible, no less! Indeed, in Spain and most Spanish-speaking countries, especially in South America, Los Reyes Magos bring the gifts, though they tend to do it at Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, and the children leave out a carrot for the camel, not the reindeer. Linked with the Three Kings are some ladies, Befana in Italy and Baboushka in Eastern Europe and pre-revolutionary Russia. These ladies represent elderly housekeepers from whom the Magi asked directions to Bethlehem, and who were urged to come along too. They stayed to finish their housework first, though, and thus missed the way. Now they wander abroad on Christmas Eve, seeking the stable and leaving gifts in case they have passed the vital house. Russia for much of the early 20th Century tried to ban all trace of Christmas, but it couldn’t be done. Instead, the authorities sanctioned Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) a Santa-like character in a blue robe and fur hat who distributes gifts at New Year. He is sometimes accompanied by his grand-daughter, Snegurotchka (Snow-maiden). Saint Nicholas, dressed in the red robes of his Office as Bishop. The three balls on his book represent the money-bags of his role as a gift-giver

A German version of Père Fouettard (Father Flog), punisher of naughty children

Tió de Nadal, the "gift-log" of Catalonia, sporting his jolly Catalan hat Julbock (Christmas Goat) decoration traditionally made of straw

Norwegian Nisser, wondering when their bowl of porridge will arrive

In Norway, the gifts are distributed by the Nisser, who are gnomes who abandon their mischief-making for the Christmas period and leave gifts for children. One thanks them by leaving them a bowl of porridge! In Iceland there are thirteen “Demons” or “Trolls”, the jólasveinar. For thirteen days leading to Christmas, children leave a shoe out on the window-sill to receive a sweet or treat. Originally the trolls had various names like “Milk-stealer” and would spend the thirteen days before Christmas doing the things their names suggested, then reversing the process for the thirteen days after Christmas, which seems a curious procedure. Perhaps the oddest benevolent creature is the Yule Goat: Joulupukki in Finland and Julbock in Sweden. This now-welcome visitor seems to be a new incarnation of a former punisher of bad children, who had a very frightening aspect. Now he brings gifts, and straw models of him are made, in all sizes, some to go on the Christmas tree, others on the festive board and, these days, huge creations to stand in the market-places of towns. Sadly, these last, a Swedish speciality, have spawned a spate of “goat-burning” evenings, which were not originally part of the plan and which the authorities are trying to stop. The Catalan region has perhaps the strangest gift-bringer of all. Called Tió de Nadal, or more commonly Caga Tió, this is a hollow log propped up on wooden legs, and with a smiling face at the front topped off by a red Catalan hat. He is filled with gifts, but he must be cared for, so for days leading up to Christmas the children of the house wrap him in a blanket to keep him warm. On Christmas Eve they must whip him with sticks to aid his digestion so that he will “expel” the presents easily on Christmas morning. No laxative needed. So, one way and another, the children are quite well catered for, with a choice of gift-bringers of human or animal form – or sometimes worryingly non-human! May I wish you all a very Happy Christmas, and a good encounter with your gift-bringer!