The holiday known globally as Christmas has evolved into a multifaceted celebration, deeply intertwined with cultural and religious influences from across the globe. While predominantly recognized by Roman Catholics and Protestants as the commemoration of Jesus’ birth on December 25th, its roots and interpretations extend far beyond a single religious observance. Some Orthodox Christians, adhering to the Julian calendar, mark Christmas around January 6th, highlighting the diverse expressions of this holiday within Christianity itself. To truly understand How do native americans celebrate Christmas?, we need to delve into the complex history of the holiday and its intersection with indigenous cultures.
The formal inclusion of Christmas as a religious feast day within the Roman Catholic Church calendar occurred in the fourth century A.D. However, the timing of this celebration coincided with pre-existing significant dates in various early cultures. December 25th held importance for ancient Babylonians, who believed it to be the birthdate of the son of the queen of heaven. Egyptians celebrated the birth of the son of Isis, the fertility goddess, on the same day. Ancient Arabs marked December 24th as the birth of the moon. The Romans held Saturnalia, a feast honoring Saturn, the god of agriculture, on December 21st. These overlapping celebrations suggest a potential confluence of cultural and religious traditions that ultimately contributed to the establishment of Christmas as we know it.
Before European contact, the indigenous tribes of North America had no knowledge of Jesus Christ or the Christmas holiday. However, the subsequent Christianization of many Native American communities over several centuries resulted in the integration of Christmas customs into their existing cultural frameworks. Missionaries played a significant role in introducing these customs, which were then adapted and woven into the fabric of Native American traditions. Today, these adapted Christmas celebrations are an integral part of many Native American communities, reflecting a unique blend of indigenous heritage and Christian influences.
Many Native American people found resonance in the story of Christmas and Christ’s birth, perceiving it as a fulfillment of tribal prophecies and aligning with the truths passed down through generations. The message of Jesus, emphasizing love, compassion, and community, found common ground with the values already deeply embedded in Native American cultures.
It’s important to note that Christmas wasn’t always universally embraced in the United States. The Puritans of Massachusetts, for instance, actively suppressed Christmas celebrations, imposing fines on those who observed the holiday. Connecticut even had laws prohibiting Christmas celebrations and the baking of mincemeat pies. While some early settlers did celebrate Christmas, it was far from a widespread or universally accepted holiday during the colonial era.
Before the Civil War, attitudes towards Christmas were divided along North-South lines. Many Northerners viewed it as a sinful display, while Southerners considered it an important social occasion. The first three states to declare Christmas a legal holiday were all in the South: Alabama in 1836, followed by Louisiana and Arkansas in 1838. It wasn’t until 1870 that Christmas became a US National holiday, highlighting the gradual and often contested acceptance of the holiday across the nation.
The popularization of Christmas celebrations and traditions as we know them today gained momentum in the mid-1800s. The introduction of Christmas services in Sunday schools helped to mitigate religious opposition to a secular festival, transforming it from a somber religious day into a more inclusive celebration. Charles Dickens’s novel A Christmas Carol played a significant role in popularizing the holiday as a family event, while women’s magazines promoted the idea of decorating for the holiday, further solidifying its place in American culture.
Some scholars theorize that the choice of December 25th as the date for celebrating Christ’s birth was a strategic decision aimed at facilitating the conversion of pagan tribes. By aligning the celebration with existing pagan beliefs about the birth of the sun and referring to Jesus as the "light of the world," Christians may have sought to bridge the gap between existing pagan traditions and the new Christian message. The ancient "return of the sun" philosophy was thus gradually replaced by the "coming of the son" message of Christianity.
Many Native Americans in North America, along with Aboriginal groups in other parts of the world and followers of pagan religions like Wicca, observed celebrations around the time of the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, which falls on December 21st or 22nd. This event was celebrated in the Americas long before European influence. Different Native American tribes associated various beliefs and rituals with the Winter Solstice.
For example, the Hopi tribal celebrations, known as Soyal, are dedicated to supporting the sun’s return and strengthening new life. This 20-day ceremony involves prayerstick making, purification rituals, and a concluding rabbit hunt, feast, and blessings. These indigenous celebrations highlight the deep-rooted connection to nature and the cycles of life that predate and coexist with Christmas traditions.
The First Native American Christmas Carol
The first written Native American Christmas carol was composed by Friar Jean de Brebeuf, a Jesuit missionary priest, around 1640-41 for the Huron Indians. The Hurons constructed a small chapel of fir trees and bark in honor of the manger at Bethlehem, creating a "stable" where Jesus was born. Some Hurons traveled for as long as two days to attend the Christmas celebration. The animals at the manger were represented by the Fox, the Buffalo, and the Bear, all significant animals in Huron culture. The Hurons also constructed a traditional tent of skins, and their nativity figures were dressed as Native Americans, further blending their cultural identity with the Christmas story. This Huron Carol, originally written in the Huron language and later translated into French, has become a well-known and cherished carol today, showcasing the early integration of Native American culture with Christian traditions.
Santa Claus, St. Nicolas, or Handsome Fellow: A Native American Santa
The American version of St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus, evolved from the Dutch tradition of Sinter Klaas, brought to New Amsterdam (New York) by Dutch settlers. Clement C. Moore’s Christmas poem A Visit From St. Nicholas, written in 1823, significantly shaped our modern image of Santa Claus. Thomas Nast’s illustrations further solidified this image, contributing to the widespread recognition of Santa as a jolly, gift-giving figure.
The legend of St. Nicholas, the Patron Saint of Giving, is rich with stories of generosity and kindness. He is revered as the patron saint of Russia, Moscow, Greece, children, sailors, prisoners, bakers, pawnbrokers, shopkeepers, and even wolves. His association with gift-giving likely stems from his reputation as a friend of children and his anonymous donations of gold coins to those in need. His cult spread throughout Europe, and Christmas presents were traditionally distributed on December 6th, the celebration of St. Nicholas.
According to legend, St. Nicholas was born in Patara and traveled to Palestine and Egypt in his youth. He was imprisoned by Emperor Diocletian but later released by Emperor Constantine. He reportedly attended the first Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. and died around 350 A.D. His relics are housed in the Basilica of St. Nicola in Bari, Italy, after being stolen from Myra in 1087 A.D., leading him to be sometimes known as St. Nicholas of Bari. The mythology surrounding St. Nicholas is shared within both Western and Eastern Christian Churches.
There are many names for Santa around the world, reflecting the diverse cultural interpretations of this figure. But what about Native American traditions? There is a mysterious figure known as "Handsome Fellow" who wears white buckskins and brings gifts to Native American children. This figure embodies the spirit of generosity and gift-giving inherent in many Native American cultures. While gift-bringers may appear at different times of the year, often during the summertime, the act of giving is always a central element of American Indian culture, regardless of the occasion.
Interestingly, there was a real Native American man in the 1800s named Chief Hobbythacco, a prominent leader and warrior in the Creek tribe. His Indian name, Hobbythacco, translates to "Handsome Fellow." Chiefs in Native American cultures often received many gifts, which they would then share with less fortunate members of the tribe, embodying the principle of communal sharing and generosity.
Handsome Fellow, Fanni Mico, and later, White Lieutenant, were leaders of a Creek settlement named Okfuskee and were deeply involved in Creek-British diplomatic relations throughout the colonial period. Chief Hobbythacco (Handsome Fellow) initially supported the English but later sided with the Cherokees during the Cherokee War, leading an attack on English traders in Georgia.
Native American Christmas Customs
Looks For Buffalo, an Oglala Sioux spiritual leader, explains the meaning of Christmas to traditional Indian people: "Traditional American Indians are raised to respect the Christian Star and the birth of the first Indian Spiritual Leader. He was a Star Person and Avatar. His name was Jesus. He was a Hebrew, a Red Man. He received his education from the wilderness. John the Baptist, Moses, and other excellent teachers that came before Jesus provided an educational foundation with the Holistic Method."
He emphasizes that "Everyday is our Christmas. Every meal is our Christmas. At every meal we take a little portion of the food we are eating, and we offer it to the spirit world on behalf of the four legged, and the winged, and the two legged. We pray – not the way most Christians pray – but we thank the Grandfathers, the Spirit, and the Guardian Angel."
Looks For Buffalo further explains that "The Indian Culture is actually grounded in the traditions of a Roving Angel. The life-ways of Roving Angels are actually the way Indian People live. They hold out their hands and help the sick and the needy. They feed and clothe the poor. We have high respect for the avatar because we believe that it is in giving that we receive." This highlights the fundamental importance of generosity and compassion in Native American culture.
He describes that "We are taught as Traditional children that we have abundance. The Creator has given us everything: the water, the air we breathe, the earth as our flesh, and our energy force: our heart. We are thankful every day. We pray early in the morning, before sunrise, to the morning star, and the evening star. We pray for our relatives who are in the universe that someday they will come. We also pray that the Great Spirit’s son will live again." This illustrates the deep spiritual connection and gratitude for the gifts of nature and the universe.
He also notes that "To the Indian People Christmas is everyday and they don’t believe in taking without asking. Herbs are prayed over before being gathered by asking the plant for permission to take some cuttings. An offer of tobacco is made to the plant in gratitude. We do not pull the herb out by its roots, but cut the plant even with the surface of the earth, so that another generation will be born its place." This highlights the respect for nature and the interconnectedness of all living things.
Looks For Buffalo emphasizes the importance of preserving these traditions, stating that "It is really important that these ways never be lost. And to this day we feed the elders, we feed the family on Christmas day, we honor Saint Nicholas. We explain to the little children that to receive a gift is to enjoy it, and when the enjoyment is gone, they are pass it on to the another child, so that they, too, can enjoy it. If a child gets a doll, that doll will change hands about eight times in a year, from one child to another." This demonstrates the emphasis on sharing and communal enjoyment of gifts.
He concludes by saying that "Everyday is Christmas in Indian Country. Daily living is centered around the spirit of giving and walking the Red Road. Walking the Red Road means making everything you do a spiritual act. If your neighbor, John Running Deer, needs a potato masher; and you have one that you are not using, you offer him yours in the spirit of giving. It doesn’t matter if it is Christmas or not."
Christmas Dances
Many tribes, including the Laguna Indians, who embraced Christianity centuries ago, practice dances on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, offering gifts at the Manger. These dances often depict scenes of gifts brought to braves in the fields by the great Thunderbird or representations of the wise men replaced by chiefs representing the great Nations.
These examples illustrate the diverse ways in which Native American communities have integrated Christmas into their cultural practices, creating unique celebrations that reflect both their indigenous heritage and their Christian beliefs. Ultimately, the question of How do native americans celebrate Christmas? is answered by looking at each individual tribe and community.