“We Need a Little Christmas” from Jerry Herman’s musical “Mame” begins with the lyrics, “Haul out the Holly, put up the tree before my spirits fall again.”
Many of us experience falling spirits and even seasonal depression when the days get progressively shorter, but for the primitive people of Northern Europe, decreasing hours of daylight must have been terrifying — all the leaves were brown and the skies were grey.
Well, not all of the leaves were brown.
Holly, mistletoe, pines, firs and spruce were evergreen, so without the benefit of science, superstitious people of the far northern regions concluded that these plants were magical, having the power of light over darkness.
They also hoped that if they created bonfires of huge logs in the celebration of Yule on the longest night, they might entice the sun to come back warm the Earth.
They certainly were not the only people to celebrate around the Solstice.
People of the Jewish faith held a Festival of Lights called Hanukkah. In Rome, starting with Winter Solstice and continuing for a full month, Saturnalia was a hedonistic celebration for rich and poor alike. And Early Christians celebrated Easter, but nothing during the depressing days around the Solstice.
Besides, nobody really knew when Jesus was born.
By in the year 336, Emperor Constantine could see that Christian numbers were dropping.
Folks were drifting into back into pagan ways so they could celebrate amongst the dark winter months.
So he must have thought to himself, “We need a little Christmas.”
Pope Julius I declared that December 25 was to be the day for celebrating Jesus' birth.
Christmas. And like those of other traditions of the ancient world, Christians began lighting lights and decking halls, or at least as story has it.
Whatever our beliefs this dark time of year, we need candles at the window, we need a little music, we need a little laughter, and most of all, we need a little hope.
