Saint Nicholas

If you ask someone what their favorite time of the year is, probably they’ll say it’s Christmas. While it is highly stressful amidst all the Christmas shopping, it is also a time for families to get together and spend time enjoying one another. While for some it is a blissful event in commemoration of Jesus’ birth which often overlooked due to the surge of commercialism. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that people wonder about the roots of Christmas, most especially the tradition of gift giving.

Christmas celebration is rooted in the ancient winter festivals. During this time, Christianity was gaining popularity and Church leaders were trying to eliminate the tradition, as well as get people to convert. However, they soon realized that they would get more people if the latter do not lose their adored winter festivals.

During the Middle Ages, people celebrate Christmas by drinking, feasting and caroling. However, Puritans found these activities as offensive as they were seemingly using the name of Christ. Thus, a self-styled Lord Protector by the name of Oliver Cromwell cancelled Christmas in 1645 because of these reasons. Alternatively, presents were traditionally swapped on New Year’s Day.

Essentially, the first thing that comes to a child’s mind when we talk of Christmas is no other than Santa Claus (also known as Pere Noel, Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas and Father Christmas).  The picture that we imagine him to be was created by a cartoonist in 1863 — Thomas Nast. This was later standardized by advertising in 1920s.  Santa Claus’ legend possibly sprang from the stories of Saint Nicholas (although drunkenness and merriment was popularly thought of him in Britain from the 15th century). He is now regarded as a big fat man in red suit who sneaks in to the tight chimneys at Christmas Eve, bringing with him presents for nice kids who are on his lists. However, in South America, he is believed to make the toys and baby Jesus delivers them.

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The main question here is the one regarding Christmas, furthermore the answer is not that complicated at all. Christmas gift giving takes its roots to the time when the wise men brought gifts to the infant on the manger. In actual fact, some Orthodox Churches and European countries still observe the conventional date when the Magi arrived (January 6th), and do exchange gifts. In addition, the Romans exchanged Christmas gifts as part of their Saturnalia festival. While in the 13th century, French nuns gave presents to the less fortunate on St. Nicholas’ Eve.

The gift giving we know of today on the other hand, did not really conceptualize as it is until the late 18th century. In other words, the tradition was meant to remind the people of the magi’s presents to the baby Jesus, and that of God’s gift to mankind — His Son Jesus Christ. As we know it today, the societal side of gift exchange has ruled over as a way of showing warmth to friends and family alike. However, it should always be kept in the mind and heart that Christmas gift exchange is a religious Christian tradition.

As we shift our focus on the commercial aspect of this holiday season, one cannot really deny that Christmas has turned into a highly profitable niche, as the tradition of exchanging presents continues to live on. Shops advertise up to the wee hours just to avoid disappointment on last minute shoppers. As internet gained popularity, so does online shopping which leads to further simplification on the shopping side of gift exchange practice. Along with this is the wide array of choices in online shopping without the hassle of crowd and long lines. Moreover, personalized gifts are widely available on the internet and more creative presents such as flying experience and spa weekends are more easily booked online.

With all these changes, it is safe to pronounce that the tradition of gift giving has come a long way from Epiphany to what it has become today.

Originally published here.

Christmas is joyous season. No wonder many people have it as their favorite time of the year. Putting aside the strain on gift exchanges, Christmas is a time of reunion, as families get together and enjoy. For some, it is a festive commemoration of the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, as Christmas comes face to face with commercialism, religious basis of the celebration is often forgotten. But, a lot of people wonder as to how Christmas had begun, and the gift giving in particular.

The original celebration of Christmas takes its roots from ancient winter festivals. At that time, Christianity was gaining popularity and Church leaders were trying to get people to convert along with curbing the winter tradition. But they soon grasped that more people would follow the religion if they won’t have to lose their beloved winter festivals.

In the Middle Ages, Christmas celebration was composed of feasting, drinking and caroling. But the Puritans disliked these that were supposedly in Christ’s name. For these reasons, Oliver Cromwell, a self-styled Lord Protector, cancelled Christmas in 1654. On the other hand, in England, Christmas gifts were traditionally exchanged on New Year’s Day.

It is undeniable that the most popular icon of Christmas is, of course, Santa Claus himself, who is also known for other name as Sinterklaas, Pere Noel, Father Christmas, and Saint Nicholas. The big and fat guy on a red suit that we know him of today was envisioned by a cartoonist Thomas Nast in 1863, and later in 1920s it was standardized by advertising. The myth surrounding Santa Claus has probably sprung from the stories of Saint Nicholas, though the image was popularly thought to symbolize merriment and drunkenness in 15th century Britain. In the present time, Santa is known to be the man who creeps into the living room at Christmas Eve to drop the gifts, though the South American legend tells that he makes the toys and baby Jesus delivers them.

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The perception of Christmas gift exchange is a concern here, and not surprisingly it has a simple answer. The tradition has its roots on the scene of Nativity where the magi brought gifts to baby Jesus. Indeed, some European nations and Eastern Orthodox Churches still memorialize the traditional date, when the magi arrived — 6th of January, by exchanging presents. Looking into history, the Romans swapped gifts in commemoration of their Saturnalia festival. Furthermore in the 13th century, French nuns offered presents to the poor on St. Nicholas’ Eve.

But the customary giving of Christmas gifts that we are familiar with today hadn’t really come about until the late 18th century. Thus, the act of giving gifts was meant to be a memento to us all of the magi’s gifts to the infant Jesus who lay on the manger, and not to forget God’s gift to mankind — His Son Jesus Christ. Nowadays, as we know it, the more social part of gift giving took over, as a means of showing gratitude and care to loved ones, such as family and friends. However, one should always remember that gift giving is a Christian religious tradition.

Looking on the commercial aspect of the gift giving custom, it is highly noticeable that the niche has become a gigantic and highly profitable operation which is primarily due to the persistence of the tradition. Several shops advertise up to wee hours to ensure that last minute Christmas shoppers do not get frustrated. With the birth of internet, the shopping portion of gift exchange has been further simplified with stress free browsing. Furthermore, an extensive array of selection makes this method more attractive, not to mention the high availability of personalized and more creative gifts such as spa weekends and flying experience.

To sum up, it is fair enough to say that giving gifts during Christmas has come a long way from the magi’s presentation of gifts to what it is today.

Originally published here.

Patron saint medals are popular religious jewelry articles and are loved by thousands of people all over the world. Some saints are known to be the supporters of certain places, concepts, professions and people. Medals are designed to hold up the patronage of these saints and are worn by religious men to show their dedication and commitment to a certain cause. Feast days are also celebrated in memory of some famous saints who gave up their lives in preaching their faith to those who were ignorant. One can find patron saint medals related to almost all saints. In addition to these, Sacred Heart of Mary and Our Lady medals can also be found.

Among these beautiful medals, Saint Gerard, Saint Anthony, Saint Nicholas, Saint Joseph, Saint Michael, Saint Anne and Saint Francis medals are quite popular all over the world. On these medals are the images of different saints engraved. The medals can be worn by men and women alike if they believe that these saints can help them in the time of need. Saint Gerard is the patron saint of pregnancy and childbirth. Expectant women wear St. Gerard medal during pregnancy to avoid all kinds of complications. People also give this medal or pendant to pregnant women as a beautiful gift.

Saint Anthony is the patron saint of lost things. People wear St. Anthony medallions to find their lost belongings. Similarly, other medals in the category of religious jewelry are also worn by people who believe. You can also find wonderful medal accessories along with these medals and medallions. These accessories include stainless steel, silver and gold endless chains. Special medals such as Holy Trinity, Guadalupe, Lourdes Water, and Fatima Earth medals can also be found in this category. All these medals are unique and simply beautiful.

These medals are available in a variety of materials including pewter, bronze, copper, gold and silver. Two-tone and enamel-image medals are also very popular. Other than patron saint medals, rosaries and rosary bracelets are commonly used religious jewelry articles. Bead rosaries are made by using different materials including glass, crystal, precious and semi-precious gemstones, wood, and metal alloys such as sterling silver and pewter. All these rosaries are quite attractive.

One can find various items in this category including rosary pouches, necklaces, and bracelets. Rosary sets are also available out there which are composed of Communion and Confirmation sets. You can find Miracle, Pope Benedict, Guadalupe, and Papal rosary sets made in different countries. Rosary bracelets are made by using different kinds of beads including metal beads and glass beads. Rosary necklaces are beautiful and highly appreciated the world over. These necklaces are often complemented with a dangling cross or crucifix. Multicolored crystals and gemstones are used to make these one-of-a-kind necklaces. One-decade rosaries are popular and quite affordable.

Saint medals and rosaries are two of the important and indispensable religious jewelry articles and people love to wear them. You can find various designs and shapes of medals as well as rosaries and wear or use them as per need.

Originally published here.