Education changes with each generation; our grandmothers were taught homecraft and when I started teaching Clause 28 limited the curriculum. One topic of study which has fallen out of favour in most modern Religious Studies' courses is the development of the Christian Church but this was a course I taught, usually to Year 8, almost every year of my career. There are a number of reasons for this; having been inspired by my own A level covering this period (Thank you Mr P) it has always been a favourite, it lends itself to the development of the all important skill of evaluation and it is an excellent vehicle to introduce students to the academic scholarship of Christian theology. One of the key topics is the establishment of Christianity as the ‘religio licita’ of the Roman Empire after several centuries of persecution. There is scholarly debate as to whether the Emperor Constantine, who was responsible for this historical act, was actually converted to the Christian faith or whether he adopted Christianity in order to use the growing strength and popularity of the faith to his political advantage and unite his empire. One crucial piece of evidence in this discussion is the triumphal arch built to commemorate his victory over Maxentius which, instead of being decorated with Christian symbols as you might expect from a newly converted emperor, is rather decorated with Roman deities.
There is an irony to the fact that having taught about this debate for so many years it was in my first half-term post teaching that I finally visited Rome and saw the arch for myself! I have also learnt more about the possible reasons for the iconography which are, not surprisingly complex and themselves subject to scholarly debate. What we do know is that when Christianity was made the official religion of the Roman empire, there was a job to be done to persuade citizens away from their pre-Christian religious devotion and to join the Christian faith. The mid-winter festival was a crucial tool in this - instead of attempting to ban the celebrations of the winter solstice, Constantine reinterpreted them, giving them Christian significance. There is no suggestion among Christian scholars that Jesus was born on 25 December but this was the day chosen by the church to mark the occasion. The emphasis on the darkness of winter being conquered by the now lengthening days was easily modified to symbolise the light of the world entering to overcome the darkness of sin and ignorance.
The use of evergreen trees, holly and mistletoe to adorn homes was well established as was the burning of a yule log during several days of festivities. Indeed it is the pre-Christian nature of the origins of the festival that lies behind some denominations eg the Jehovah’s Witnesses refusing to celebrate Christmas. By using traditions already familiar to people, the Church cleverly shifted people’s allegiance without going into all out battle with them. Christmas is not the only example of such amalgamation of ideas - Halloween, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day are thought to have pre-Christian origins which were adapted by the church to harmonise popular celebration with Christian theology (see blog).
Although interesting in itself, the reason I find such examples of amalgamation so fascinating is that it shows that festivals and the traditions around them evolve. What suits one community is not necessarily right for another. In modern Britain, which is both more multi-cultural and more secular than ever before, Christmas is changing - for significant sectors of our society, Christmas is not a religious festival it is a cultural one. Like any tradition it links us to our predecessors and expresses important truths although it's fair to say that for many people these truths are more about the value of family and friendship than they are about the incarnation of God. A few years ago I had the privilege of attending a conference in Shanghai - it was December and the shops, restaurants and hotels were beautifully decorated with spectacular Christmas trees. Despite a relatively small Christian community and it not being a public holiday in China, Christmas is a big deal for the Chinese. It has become a popular time for proposals and a tradition has emerged of gifting apples to family and friends.
Festivals and the ceremonies associated with them change over time and geography. As an independent celebrant, I relish this recognition that ceremony and tradition remain relevant to us despite the evolution they may undergo. (See my blog on The Importance of Ceremony) When I create a bespoke ceremony for an individual, couple or family to mark a significant occasion, be that a naming, wedding or funeral ceremony, the ceremony may contain some familiar elements and some that are completely unique; my study of Christian history tells me this is in keeping with a long tradition.
By Catrina Young, Leicestershire Heart-led celebrant, Marking Life’s Moments.
©Hardingstone Ceremonies, December, 2024
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