From Yule Logs to Christmas Trees: The Journey of Traditions

Church History

In this episode of the Church History podcast, host Lorelee Siemens takes us through Christmas celebrations from the Middle Ages to the Reformation and beyond. Discover how December 25th became the celebration of Jesus' birth and how traditions like the Yule log, Christmas trees, and carols evolved. We also explore the impact of the Reformation on Christmas traditions, the Puritans' ban on the holiday, and the revival of Christmas carols. Learn about the fascinating origins of the Christmas tree and the enduring legacy of beloved carols like "The First Noel" and "Joy to the World." Join us for a historical deep dive into the festive season and its rich traditions. Chapters: (10:36) The First Noel is one of the earliest known Christmas carols (16:11) The Puritans outright canceled Christmas in England in 1642 Music: The First Noel Christmas sing-along - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3vx6RGoXSo The Hound and The Fox - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az8iKzl0YPE Abby and Annalie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NvLZU5DNvQ Joy to the World Nat King Cole - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgAZVgfUxcg Episode Sponsor: The church is corrupted https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKFSXQTR The church is born https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BGLZ7C1 Alexander Henry Coffee https://alexanderhenrycoffee.ca Use CODE: churchhistory for 20% off Links: https://linktr.ee/loreleesiemens If you enjoyed this episode, listen to these as well: The History of the Hymns: https://loreleesiemens.com/podcasts/hymns Martin Luther Part 1: https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-2484677/martin-luther-part-one Martin Luther Part 2, Here I Stand: https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-2516277/luther-part-two-here-i-stand-i-can-do-no-other Martin Luther Part 3, The Good Bad & Ugly: https://loreleesiemens.com/media/771671-3210084-2547502/luther-part-three-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly