Giving presents at the end of the year: an old idea
Gifts for Christmas: photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: pressmaster via depositphotos.com
The Romans were already doing it.
In December, the Romans celebrated Saturnalia, decorating the house with holly and other decorations. It was also traditional to give pleasure by giving gifts: small presents for children who didn't go to school on that day, and a sweet or a small terracotta figurine for the richer ones. Adults also gave each other gifts, and slaves were given a day off. This tradition lasted for some time, even after the arrival of Christianity, since the date of Christmas was not fixed at 25 December until the fourth century.
The Roman god Saturn. Illustration chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: engraving by Hendrick Goltzius in the 17th century, copied from a fresco by Polydoro da Caravaggio in the 16th century.
Then a long eclipse before the return of the presents
With the end of Roman traditions came the end of Saturnalia, and for a long time Christmas was simply a religious festival during which no gifts were given. It was not until the end of the Middle Ages that the end of the year again became a time for giving gifts. In some parts of Europe (Germany, Austria, etc.) and in the Duchy of Lorraine, which was not yet French, Saint Nicholas's Day wascelebrated on 6 December.In some regions close to Spain, gifts were given on Epiphany, just as the Magi had given gifts to the infant Jesus in the manger. In the 17th century, gifts were reserved for an elite.It was rare for a poor child to receive anything at Christmas. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Christmas came to be a time for giving presents to children. Not always dolls, by the way, but sometimes sweets, the rare orange in the north.
Who gives the presents?
Saint Nicolas distributes sweets. Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: Muro via dépositphotos.
Saint Nicholas before Father Christmas
Before Father Christmas came into his own after the 2nd World War, there were many characters who gave presents at the end of the year. In Lorraine, Alsace and Northern France, as well as in neighbouring Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Austria, it was Saint-Nicolas who gave presents to well-behaved children. Accompanied by his mule, he passes through on the night of 5 to 6 December. In Lorraine and Alsace, he is accompanied by Père-Fouettard, a dark and deceitful being who punishes children who have not been good. In Franche-Comté, it's a woman who gives the presents, a kindly witch called Tante Arie. In Quebec, it's the baby Jesus himself who gives presents on Christmas Eve, while in Spain you have to wait for the Three Wise Men at the beginning of January. In Lorraine, we continue to wait for Saint Nicolas, who gives sweets and small gifts to well-behaved children.
Father Christmas in the 19th century
Santa is now giving out presents. Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: Hasloo via depositphotos.
In Anglo-Saxon countries, it was Father Christmas who made the delivery in the 19th century. A distant heir to the old Father Winter, an old man who came to keep warm on the night of the Winter Soltice, but also to Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus), who had become magical and no longer religious because Protestantism rejected the cult of saints, Father Christmas emerged in the 18th century. He was mentioned by Charles Dickens in 1843. He was not unknown in France, mind you, and the author Georges Sand mentioned him in a letter in 1855. It was with the arrival of the American soldiers of the First World War that Father Christmas began to make a name for himself in France. But not everywhere. In Lorraine, people continued to wait for Saint-Nicolas, a character who was half secular and half religious. The Second World War brought Father Christmas to the fore with the arrival of the Americans, who had made him very popular in the 19th century. Initially of varying colours, including green and blue in a 1900 Parisian catalogue, Santa's costume became red just before 1914 and has remained so ever since.
Please note that there may be some translation errors. Our translator has gone Christmas shopping and seems to be having trouble finding what he's looking for. We had to replace him with the cook, and she only knows Latin.
