The First Christmas - Part 1

 Background

This is a short story in two parts about the first recorded Christmas celebrated in Rome in 336AD.  The record of that first Christmas is just a few words in a list of dates.  I have added in some events and customs from around that time period.  My apologies for any anachronisms.

Preparation

“What are we doing this year?” the old woman asked.  The question was directed at no one in particular.  She was sitting on a stool in the corner of the room, using two lamps to light her sewing.

The two small children ignored her and continued with their game in the middle of the floor, vaguely supervised by their mother, while an older boy appeared to be studying a scroll.  On the other side of the room, her son, the father of the three children, was snoozing.  Noticing this, the old woman repeated herself with a louder tone.

“What are we doing this year? You know, for the festivities?  It is only a month away and we need to make plans.” She paused and watched her son open his eyes and look at her.  “Well, Gaius, what are we doing for Saturnalia?”

Gaius jumped up and peered into the dark corners of the room. “Mother, not Saturnalia.”

“Sol Invictus then,” she rolled her eyes “but I prefer the older ways.”

“No, mother, it is called Christmas now.  We are good Christians, like the Emperor.”

“Are we?” The old woman asked, uncertain.

“Yes, we go to church and do as the priests and the Bishop tells. The old gods are dead.”  Gaius explained. 

“The Bishop is dead too.” She commented. “And the Emperor is getting on in years.”

“Well, yes, but they will appoint a new Bishop soon.”  Gaius looked around the room to see who else was paying attention to his mother’s almost treasonous comments. His wife showed no sign of hearing the conversation.

The most recent Bishop of Rome, Mark, had only survived for ten months in office. He died several weeks ago, from natural causes.  They had all stood in the street to watch the funeral procession pass by.

“Mother, don’t you remember Father Ambrose telling us about the new festivals that are being added to the calendar for Christian celebrations instead of following the old pagan ways.”

“I remember Diocletian.  He killed lots of Christians.  He wouldn’t have allowed this new-fangled Christmas.”  The old woman glanced at her daughter-in-law.

“My grandparents were killed in the persecutions, Flavia.  Please don’t mention that evil man’s name.” The daughter-in-law was listening into the conversation after all.

“Yes, Mother, you know what he did to Julia’s relatives and many others.  The rest of her family were lucky to survive.” Gaius supported his wife against his mother. Gaius’s family had converted only after the Emperor Constantine had had his vision some twenty years earlier.

“Well then, what are we doing for this Christmas?  How do we celebrate it?” Flavia persisted with her questioning about the special occasion, while at the same time accepting that she had pushed things far enough with her daughter-in-law.

“We have the biggest dining room, so we will invite the family here for a feast.” Julia replied. “My sisters, your daughters and their families will all come, I am sure.  My brother is in the South, though, so won’t be here.”

“What about my brother, Flavius?” Flavia asked.

Gaius and Julia exchanged glances before Gaius spoke, “Of course Uncle Flavius and cousin Titus are welcome to join us.”

Uncle Flavius was rather too fond of wine and his son Titus was an awkward guest, but they were family.

“Do we do gifts?” Flavia wasn’t done.

“I like gifts.” The younger boy spoke up.

“Do I get a holiday from School?” asked the older boy at the table.

Gaius and Flavia looked at each other again.  Flavia grimaced and shrugged.

“Er, Yes. I think there will be gifts, Secondus, and a holiday, Primus.” Gaius stated with a lot more confidence than he felt.  Gifts were part of the natal story in the scriptures, so it made sense to him that gifts could be part of the festival.  And, festivals were always days of no work or school.  Tomorrow he would ask his neighbours and work colleagues what they were doing for Christmas.  He thought that they should check with the priest at church on Sunday, too, just to make sure they were doing it right. 

“So, it will be just like Saturnalia.” said Flavia, with some satisfaction.

“No, we will go to church and… light candles.” Gaius said, grasping at anything he could think of to distinguish it from the old ways.  He vaguely knew that in the Jewish quarter, they had a Festival of Lights around this time of year and it seemed right that to him that there would be some Jewish aspects to the celebration of the birth of someone who was Jewish.

“Will there be singing? I like singing.” His daughter asked.  Her singing often echoed around the house.

“Of course! We always sing in church. They might have special songs because Christmas is a special day.” Gaius was much more confident about this.

“What is Christmas?” The young boy’s question drew a laugh from Flavia.

“It is a special Mass and a special day to celebrate the birth of the Christ, Jesus.”  explained Gaius.

“So, it’s kind of a birthday party?”

“Yes, Secondus, it is an extra special birthday party.”  Gaius decided it was a good an explanation as any for a four-year-old child.

“And we keep celebrating it because he didn’t die? Isn’t that what the priest said.” asked the older boy, knowing that birthday celebrations were normally only for living people.

“I think so, Primus.” Gaius now felt out of his depth and wondered if he should go to church to talk to the priest tomorrow rather than waiting for Sunday.

***************

The following morning, Gaius was up early.  After a quick breakfast prepared by two of their slaves, he left for work.  As he left the house, he saw his neighbour and colleague Junius just ahead of him.

“Junius, wait up.” Gaius called.

Junius stopped and looked back with a smile. “Gaius my friend, how are you today?”

“I am doing well.  I have a question for you.  What is your family doing for this new festival, Christmas?”  Gaius asked as he joined Junius and they continued on their way to work.

“The wife and I were only talking about it last night.  We thought about getting the family together for a feast.  She suggested gifts.  It fits with the scripture story.  Maybe some candles or lanterns?” Junius paused, “Oh, and of course we will go to church.”

“We thought similar.” Gaius nodded with relief.  “The family are all coming around to ours, even Uncle Flavius.”

 “We all have an Uncle Flavius.” Junius laughed.  “By the way, have you asked Father Ambrose about it?  Is there anything extra we should be doing?  We want to make sure we don’t do anything wrong.”

“Not yet, but I was planning to talk to him on Sunday.”  Gaius decided it could wait until Sunday if others were doing similar to him.

“Hail, friends.” A familiar voice sounded behind them, another colleague.  Gaius and Junius waited for him to catch up.  “I have a question for you…”

The conversation was repeated several times over on their way to work as more colleagues joined them.  It seemed like the various mothers, grandmothers and Aunts had coordinated interrogating their families about the upcoming holiday.  The consensus was going to church, singing, dancing, a feast, gift and lights.

***************

On the next Sunday, the family went to church. Father Ambrose stood and looked over his congregation.  They were particularly attentive today.  He smiled, aware of the conversation that had been circulating around the community in recent days.

“Before we start the service, I know some of you were wondering about how we should mark the Messiah’s birth with Christmas, as instructed by Pope Mark before his passing. It is a solemn occasion but also a time of celebration. The day will, or course, start with a special church service that you will all attend.  After the service, you might have family feast, maybe fish or lamb; both are symbolic of the Messiah.  You may continue the tradition of giving gifts to the poor.” He paused for a moment and winked at some of the children, “Because we are all poor in spirit, you may give gifts to family and friends, also.  This recognises the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh the wise men gave the baby Jesus. You may also want to light candles and lamps to symbolise the light coming into the world.  It is a new celebration and should be celebrated in new ways.”

Gaius felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.  His thinking was aligned to that of Father Ambrose, so he must be on the right path.  He sung with extra fervour that morning.

 See my next post to find out what happened on Christmas Day.