Christmas or Noël
Christmas, or Noël (exact origin of the name is uncertain), is celebrated from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day.
This holiday is very important in France, where the majority of the population identifies as Catholic, even if not all practice the faith. It is a time associated with joy and peace!
Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, although his precise birth date remains unknown. The unofficial celebration of Jesus’ birth began at the end of the 1st century AD. In 137 AD, the Church of Rome decreed that the birth of Jesus should be officially celebrated, but it wasn’t until 350 AD that December 25th was chosen as the official date.
Traditionally, it is believed that Jesus was born at night, which is why Midnight Mass is celebrated on Christmas Eve, at midnight, to commemorate his birth. The term “Christmas” itself comes from “Cristes Maesse“, which means “Christ’s Mass“.
Why December 25?
The first Western Europeans celebrated the winter solstice, which takes place on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere. In 46 BC, Emperor Julius Caesar fixed December 25th as the official date of the winter solstice in his Julian calendar.
The pagan celebration of the winter solstice was of great importance. Ancient people believed that evil spirits, ghosts, and witches thrived during the short, dark, and cold winter days. Uncertainty lingered regarding the return of the sun in spring and the victory of light over darkness. That is why special celebrations and rites were deemed necessary to ensure the sun returns.
When the Romans colonised France around 2000 years ago, they imported their own pagan deities. At this time of year, they celebrated Saturn, the god of harvests, agriculture, and fertility. The Saturnalia celebrations began in mid-December and ended on January 1st. It was a joyous celebration marked by masquerades, gift exchanges between friends, and grand feasts. During the Saturnalia, social norms were turned upside down: masters and slaves exchanged roles, morality was set aside, and traditional rules of conduct were ignored. This great pagan festival coincided with the winter solstice.
In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine signed the Edict of Milan, which granted freedom of worship. The Catholic Church adopted some traditions of the Saturnalia (but certainly not all) for the celebration of Christmas and the Nativity of Jesus. This integration aimed to facilitate the transition from paganism to Christianity by harmonising the new Christian festival with familiar festive customs.
