The Full History of Christmas - Documentary

In this video, we take a look at origins of the world's most popular holiday, from the first Christmas, to the raucous Medieval Christmases, to the development of the modern holiday and its major traditions, and more.
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The following music performed by Kevin Macleod Available under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.
Download available at incompetech.com
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies
Deck The Halls B
Fairytale Waltz
Heavy Heart
Teller of The Tales
Silent night
Angels We Have Heard
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Jingle Bells Calm
What Child is This
Frost Waltz
Up on a Housetop
These songs provided by the KZbin audio library
Tribal War Council
No. 8 Requiem
The First Noel
Yonder Hill and Dale
Simple Gifts
Joy To The World
12 Days of Christmas
Harpsichord Fugue
Deck The Halls (Instrumental)
Jingle Bells
Oh Christmas Tree
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Sources
Picture Attributions can be viewed by everyone here for free:
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[@rueisblue]

Been up all night and going to take a nap, I'm excited to watch this when I wake. Just wanted to say how much I respect your work and how clearly your effort and passion shines through in your videos. You're desire to be factual but also to be able communicate new topics to your audience is laudable. Cheers, Justin

[@Fireoflearning]

Thank you!

[@Echowhiskeyone]

This is the best 'history of Christmas' documentary I have seen. Granted I already knew most of it, this video tied it all together nicely.

[@Fireoflearning]

Thank you!

[@patrickfennell6372]

I agree, very well done.

[@AnnhilateTheNihilist]

@@dnkal2875 as opposed to?

[@Pollicina_db]

@@AnnhilateTheNihilist Probably countires like Ethiopia that also celebrate Christmas, cuz most people are christian there

[@lordgiraffe]

Wake up babe! New fire of learning vid just dropped

[@kelleysnyder1647]

You have a great channel, your documentaries are so concise and unbiased. Thanks for putting this all together for us, very interesting!

[@Fireoflearning]

Thank you!

[@fatherjack3088]

I love these documentaries. Interesting, and full of great writing!

[@Fireoflearning]

Thank you!

[@kingfish114]

@@Fireoflearning 我，我都唔係。。咁就！！佢有幾好人類最大：、唔可以再見👋

[@robinsss]

@@Fireoflearning logically the Christians moved Christmas to December to coincide with the yule celebration

[@Fireoflearning]

@@robinsss It's probable that the first Christians who set the date had no idea what Yule was

[@robinsss]

@@Fireoflearning why would you think that?

[@SarahGreen523]

This is the most inclusive, complete compilation of Christmas that I have ever experienced. Incredibly well researched from excellent source material! Well done! Better than some college professors I've had.

[@Fireoflearning]

Thank you!

[@d.esanchez3351]

@@cowafungus8104 I think he meant in the sense of "organic'

[@darthvenator2487]

@@Fireoflearning Great man your video is from this point on my Christmas tradition.

[@Fireoflearning]

@@darthvenator2487 Thank you!

[@darthvenator2487]

@@Fireoflearning I have to thank you for giving everyone this beautiful and perfect pearl. God blessed you with a gift and with this you gave us this wonder that not only deserves to be publicized but deserves to be preserved. I want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

[@tfh5575]

can’t imagine life without christmas. i just love the vibes

[@miguellopes2605]

Not everything that glitters is gold

[@cnrsfilms]

Been watching Fire Of Learning a lot recently, love this historical content

[@richardkim9952]

"It's the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" mentions "scary ghost stories" and A Christmas Carol has the 3 ghosts visiting Scrooge.

[@pollypocketfan7837]

Christmas had a longer and more complex history than I thought. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday.

[@demisemedia]

Yesss! Finally, a fire 🔥 of learning for Christmas! I love your Halloween documentary. It’s currently December 12, 2021. Cold, windy and rainy outside. Happy holidays everyone! 🎄

[@SpeakDaTruth7]

BREAKINGNEWS# SPOIL ALERT kzbin.info/www/bejne/poOZc3h6jJ19ftk

[@Mr.internet.Lag.]

Justin are you just not going to talk about that one time a green guy literally stole all our presents and decorations all by himself, I mean sure he gave it back but still kinda messed up.

[@tolgacetiner1243]

Extremely well made, thank you for this, Justin! A very merry Christmas to you!

[@bettygagnon2130]

You have great documentaries so instructive and historical love them

[@SpeakDaTruth7]

BREAKINGNEWS# SPOIL ALERT kzbin.info/www/bejne/poOZc3h6jJ19ftk

[@Angela-qr8wl]

Historical - Yes--🎄

[@sitdowntwice]

Fantastic video. You've armed me with so much knowledge going into the holiday period!

[@peekodafreeko3949]

thank you! was very much looking forward to!

[@aaronjohnstone2800]

Great work. This will like all the Christmas movies will be viewed millions of times throughout the years to come. 🌲✨

[@DonnaBrooks]

Thank you for such a COMPREHENSIVE documentary. I'm impressed with all the RESEARCH you put into this & the variety of sources you used! You also presented a more nuanced view of the history of the holiday & how cultures influenced the development of Christmas, Santa, etc. into the traditions of today, including figures & celebrations that were combined, dropped entirely, or evolved into something different. You actually told me things I hadn't heard before, even though I've been binge watching vids on the history of Christmas traditions & Santa for the last couple of days. I'm putting your video into one of my Christmas playlists to share with others.

[@MrZooop]

"I'm not saying you have to agree with each other, but we do have to use an objective and fair definition..." i LOVE that line. we as a society need to apply that much more broadly than just to christianity.

[@pamelalc63]

God does not compromise. It is HIS WAY

[@starseeing]

​@@pamelalc63If God is so intent that we follow one specific way, why does he not descend onto Earth and clarify it for us?

[@mattbl0x410]

​@@starseeing You think your entitled to the sight of God? Humble yourself

[@pamelalc63]

)@@starseeing He did when Yeshua (Jesus) to the earth

[@starseeing]

@@mattbl0x410 Yes, I think I'm entitled to see the person I'm asked to live in indentured servitude to.

[@Bobby1Hines]

Thank you for making this video! I listened to the audio while working to get into the Christmas Spirit. Very informative and entertaining!

[@kayluv5926]

I just have to say your videos have become my new addiction! I appreciate the topics and your explanation. I truly enjoy every video! 👏🏾👏🏾

[@Fireoflearning]

Thank you!

[@SpeakDaTruth7]

BREAKINGNEWS# SPOIL ALERT kzbin.info/www/bejne/poOZc3h6jJ19ftk

[@pamelalc63]

how unfortunate for you

[@schoenwettersl]

The Christkind/Christkindle/Christkindl is also popular amongst southern German protestants. This includes the protestants amongst the alemannic germans like the Swiss, Swabians and other alemannic germans in Baden-Württemberg and Bavarian Swabia, but also Franconians. I believe it's even a common conception in the Palatinate and the Middle German region of Hesse.

[@rueisblue]

That's very fascinating. I imagine protestants in southern germany have a host of interesting traditions being such a minority as they are

[@schoenwettersl]

@@rueisblue For sure! There are actually some bigger regions that have been mostly protestant including today's Middle Franconia (including Nuremberg, Erlangen, ...) and the area of Württemberg north of the danube (Stuttgart, Swabian alb, all north west of Ulm). Lower Franconia is rather catholic, I believe. Upper Franconia is mixed, as far as I know. Some former free imperial cities have had major protestant populations too, despite being surrounded by pretty much catholics only: Augsburg (over 90% until The Thirty Years War; so quite long ago. After that it was down big time). The famous Swabian medieval town of Nördlingen had a small majority of protestants up until 1900. Generally the area around there (Ries and Danube-Ried) is split into catholics and protestants. Those people of different confessions have different conventions for baking the "same" cake too. As for Nuremberg: since it and Augsburg fought for the spot of second biggest German city around the time many German Christmas conventions formed (16th century), it's obvious it must have been rich. And rich they were, which they didn't leave unattributed: Lebkuchen (ginger bread) and other baked goods contained a heck ton of spices (Old term: Pfefferkuchen; pfeffer referring to "Spice", but means pepper today) An alternative to Lebkuchen is Magenbrot, but formed way later (at least the sweet variant, as it is consumed today). The kind known today (rather sugary and with cocoa) is believed to have come up in the alemannic culture region, probably Switzerland (also quite protestant) sometime in the 1700s. Previously it was rather a product made of herbs (thus the name: Magenbrot meaning stomach bread; attributed by the health-enhancing capabilities of herbs)

[@kathyk5589]

See this important message to the saints now kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYKnhXxpgtdlrq8

[@riograndedosulball248]

Also, as Germans migrated into South America, the Christkind kinda surpassed religious barriers in the isolated communities. It was entirely possible to see Nikolaus, the Christkind, Krampus and the fanfarres of the Three Magi Kings (portuguese influence) enter a home in the same night, because why not

[@jenwys3191]

you are correct! i live in southwest Germany, it is originally protestant but today almost only Catholics celebrate it and ive been told das Christkind also brings presents to children in Catholic Germany and Austria and also Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Slovenia and norty Croatia

[@carrols.hawkins7770]

This documentary is so full of history and well written that I will listen again soon. The illustrations are beautiful.. Thank you.

[@pamelalc63]

This information is so watered down that you deserve what will befall you if you don't turn away from catholic lies and seek Jesus.

[@anniefinch6843]

I remember this narrator and he spoke about Halloween. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays.

[@Angela-qr8wl]

☃️🎄💥🍭🎁🙏

[@loretta5432]

Very cool! Now look into the similarities between Gandalf and Father Christmas!! I love feeling that Tolkien intended for Gandalf to kind of represent that character in life... Who knows, but it's worth pondering! Happy Holidays to you!

[@SpeakDaTruth7]

BREAKINGNEWS# SPOIL ALERT kzbin.info/www/bejne/poOZc3h6jJ19ftk

[@aymanissam7077]

This was the most prestigious and definite oration of the definition of Christmas 🎄 of our time. Begin a podcast library it is commonly referred and is much needed as well. Cross platforms and continue to change the world by teaching. Thank you again

[@lindamaxie]

Thank you! This actually restored some of my delight in Christmas.

[@spiritcode55]

Very interesting documentary! I commend your unbiased views on a religious holiday. Doesnt matter who you are, what you believe in, I myself am agnostic but I always look forward to this time of year. Have a good whatever you choose to celebrate everyone, and remember to be kind.

[@billsharer1876]

I have similar beliefs and wish you the same!

[@pamelalc63]

Well I do not believe you will be able to discuss that with God at the white throne judgement.

[@aaronjaben7913]

Great information. I love you, Man!

[@k1i6m61]

Loved it ! MERRY CHRISTMAS ☃️🎄🥂

[@carolbulmer8253]

Thank you! This was a wonderful description of Christmas🙏🌟

[@AfuraNefertiti]

So well done! Thanks for sharing!

[@alextremodelnorte1905]

I enjoyed watching this video from beginning to end.

[@Fireoflearning]

Did you watch on 50x speed?

[@alextremodelnorte1905]

Fire 😏 I used my time machine 😎🏎️

[@sablewright8053]

I love ❤️ this. Thank You for posting this.

[@bootsarmstrong8421]

Thank you for the well researched video. Excellent job.

[@Amcsae]

Great job as always, Justin! Thank you 😊

[@Amcsae]

Also, the mention on Alsace at 52:12, as a region in modern France, but previously belonging to Germany- I'm sure that was a totally peaceful, non-confrontational transition, right? 😉

[@Fireoflearning]

@@Amcsae Totally!

[@lilianneweinhandl8493]

I think your pronunciation of the Dutch and German words in this video sound great. I don't know enough about German and Austrian culture to know all the facts, but I do know that what you've told about Sinterklaas and zwarte Piet is correct, it seems like you know where to get your information about facts and how to pronounce all the names.

[@Fireoflearning]

Thank you!

[@annastinehammersdottir1290]

Great work: about as comprehensive as it gets. Merry Christmas.

[@susiefairfield7218]

5:30 The Winter Hunt was retold by Sir Terry Pratchett in a wonderful book called Hog Father a highly recommended book to read around Christmas Time

[@Spindlegrind]

One of my favourites. Most of his books parody some ancient tradition somewhere.

[@Warped9]

This is an excellent documentary! I greatly enjoyed it! And the images and illustrations were fantastic!

[@Angela-qr8wl]

I enjoyed the illustrations as well!☃️

[@DisWldFrk90]

Very decent job you did on this documentary! I quite enjoyed it.

[@tai-yomaruno3680]

Good to see you back mate!

[@higginswalsan]

Amazing video, love celebrating Christmas with a full history of Christ’s Mass!

[@roonilwazlib3089]

Never been so excited to see an upload 🥳🎄

[@anthonyeder8360]

Good research. Excellent documentation. Merry Christmas to you and to all.

[@josephboulet4477]

Really good info here, but I'm surprised there was no mention of the Amanita Muscaria and its relation to conifer trees, reindeer, Santa, yurts and magic.

[@mbww8572]

Very nice. Covered all the bases and very factual. Thanks!

[@kathymetzger5862]

Thank you so much for giving me a history of Christmas and Santa Claus. I didn’t know about some of those things that you spoke of. It was very interesting.

[@davidbryden7904]

Thank you for this informative video. Merry Christmas !!

[@3idontknow3]

Happy Saturnalia

[@donwhitman1118]

Amazing video. Thank you so much!

[@darkstar18498]

I really liked your documentation. Well done. I subscribed. Merry Christmas to you and yours

[@danhamilton2193]

Much enjoyable, thank you.

[@dannybonsai7102]

this makes me love the festival more, all those cultures in the history of human existence, it all culminates in this time, and as cultures evolved and mixed over the millennia we have modern Christmas now. I like to remember ancient people in this time and feel connected to a deep universal human experience.

[@bddulli]

I like the way you organized the content in this video. Happy St. Lucy’s Day! The presence of lights in the Christmas tree, comes from today’s feast. They used to put actual burning candles in trees. Now we use electric lights. Legend says that St. Lucy was set on fire, but she was not consumed. So she was like a candle to light up the darkness for Christ. The Nativity scene is credited to St. Francis of Assisi. There is so much Christmas lore to explore!

[@lordofhostsappreciator3075]

That Nativity Scene is technically false. Christ was born in a cave (which were used to keep animals and could even be used as downright living spaces/houses). The Orthodox Catholic Church has preserved this Tradition.

[@juanitwo66]

Very Merry Christmas to you too Justin!

[@Manuel-gu9ls]

Yo ho-ho what a bundle of joy for me to enjoy this thanks man🎅 ☃️ 🎄

[@Viridianmet]

I had to literally RUN and get a hot choco just to watch this one! I discovered your channel two weeks ago and have been devouring the entire list, almost running out of them. I was wondering how long would it take before your next video, thank you for updating, excellent work

[@Fireoflearning]

Thank you!

[@carsonwieker]

Very well done! Cheers

[@biggusgibbus8144]

Exceptionally well presented history of the holiday. I was half expecting yet another, "Christmas is Saturnalia, Christians. Haha, suck it!" video. The one single quibble I had with it was the implication that the British colonies were started, founded, or even heavily influenced in the early years by the Puritans. America began at Jamestown, not at Plymouth Rock.

[@SpeakDaTruth7]

BREAKINGNEWS# SPOIL ALERT kzbin.info/www/bejne/poOZc3h6jJ19ftk

[@dougwickstrom9870]

For that matter, the Plymouth Colony was not Puritan. The Puritans came later, at the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

[@aarondemiri486]

haven't seen your videos for a while but they are as great as ever

[@YeshuaIsTheTruth]

I've heard a lot of people talk about Christmas either as some wonderful Christian festival or as a horrible pagan nightmare of a Trojan horse, but until now I've never heard such an even-handed and fair approach to the history of Christmas. Good job, man

[@alcarbo8613]

Thank you for making such a well researched video on the origins on Christmas, it's very common these days for Atheists and even some more extreme Protestants (bizarrely trying to tear down their own religion to somehow stick it to Catholics) to spread misinformation on the "pagan" origins of Christmas, and I'm glad you spoke the truth, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

[@Angela-qr8wl]

Happy Birthday JESUS 💥

[@kevinlawler2571]

Yes! One of my favorite channels has new content. 👍

[@blazko1908]

Halfway through and I love it, I’m going out into the woods and celebrating Yule this year 😂😂

[@SusanLS08]

Happy Holiday. Thank you.

[@wtfRyantater]

Woo almost an hour! I'm diving in!

[@adithyathennakoon6950]

Great stuff :)

[@theotherone7556]

Where does Die Hard fit into this?

[@gypsy1588]

Very enjoyable video. Thank you.

[@jongilchrist7229]

Very informative. thank you

[@kalif404]

Awesome Story. Thank you

[@medavog]

Thanks for the video

[@medhelal]

Amazing!!

[@chesbaret]

Great documentary 🤘🏽🤘🏽

[@wonderpandimonium]

Thanks so much for this video! It was well-written, enlightening, and well-read! Your voice is very soothing.

[@mrskitkatlady]

You did an excellent job on this! Thank you for all the hours you dedicate to researching. It is appreciated! Merry Christmas from Dixie.

[@johnmachenzie1613]

Another great video

[@PakBallandSami]

Fire of learning has uploaded my day is made lol

[@mehmehmeh360]

Excellent video, Merry Christmas!

[@3idontknow3]

Happy Saturnalia

[@janereich5170]

Yesssssssss I love this!

[@garethscott3399]

YOU DID IT!! YOU LISTENED TO MY COMMENT ON YOUR HALLOWTIDE DOCUMENTARY!! YOU DID MY FAVOURITE HOLIDAY!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! 😁😁😁🎄🌲❄️⛄️❤️😁😁

[@anniefinch6843]

I remember celebrating this holiday with my family.

[@lynnehalbert]

Thanks for sharing. I shared with my granddaughter. Perhaps she will share with her friends❤️

[@ZAYAZOfficial]

Great vid. Thanks 🙏

[@alextremodelnorte1905]

Amazing

[@patl7311]

Man I love your videos so much. Thanks bud, keep pumping out content. You're gonna be very successful

[@Fireoflearning]

Thank you!

[@redblaze8700]

🎵And today we’re all brothers Tonight we’re all friends Our moment of peace in a war that never ends Today we’re all brothers We drink and unite Now Christmas has arrived and the snow turns the ground white Hear carols from the trenches We sing O Holy Night Our guns made to rest among snowflake A Christmas in the trenches A Christmas on the front far from home 🎵 *- Christmas Truce, Sabaton, 2021*

[@SpeakDaTruth7]

BREAKINGNEWS# SPOIL ALERT kzbin.info/www/bejne/poOZc3h6jJ19ftk

[@CwL-1984]

Splendid 👍👍

[@BadgerMushroom2]

Here in 2022. Just put the little ones to bed and enjoying every bit of this video!

[@herculeskoutalidis1369]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎄

[@davialex46]

Favorite KZbin channel!!!

[@Fireoflearning]

Thank you!

[@danmiller6462]

Very interesting and informative.

[@imgoingtodosomething5074]

Thank you for making this all ways wanted to know the history of Christmas Keep up the great work

[@jjones7396]

Great video. It gives a balanced view of Christmas from different cultures in different places in different times.

[@derekwest4245]

Honestly either way it’s still my favorite! It’s about what the holiday means to you

[@sunsetnwaves]

This was excellent that’s for sharing I’m gonna have my son, watch it today.

[@JonasUllenius]

Marrychristmas and a happy ending to the year and a happy new year to you as well :)

[@PakBallandSami]

Iam not a Christian so this topics of other religions holy day's is interesting to me even tho Christmas in the most well know Christian holy Day out there I know jack s*it about it I only know surface level stuff but iam interested to learn more about it and you covering it make me happy iam about to learn a lot of things about it

[@IncredulousIndividual]

Pakistan belong India.

[@magimon91834]

Are you just going through my subscription list and commenting on their videos?

[@dilipniraj6521]

Jack shit!!? Which religion do you belong to that allows such words for religion, yours or others!?

[@Ali-gt8wj]

@@dilipniraj6521 he said I know jack shit about Christmas he is saying he dose not mush about it he didn't called Christmas shit lol

[@dilipniraj6521]

@Leo the British-Filipino I know, just couldn't get it that Islam that is so possessive about anything related to their religion can be so offensive against others

[@TheDarthranc0r]

I think the whole been in a Cake thing very interesting, being from Louisiana it's part of the whole King Cake aspect of Mardi Gras. Which really just seems like that same ceremony on a different day still related to Christ. Very interesting historically.

[@grefthesmef6265]

Merry Christmas Fire of Learning! Thank you for your gift of knowledge to the world!