A TIMELINE OF CHRISTMAS
By Tim Lambert
354 AD 25 December is made the official birthday of Jesus
11th Century The word Christmas is first used (previously it was called Yule). However Christmas is just one of many festivals and is not particularly important.
16th Century In Central Europe Christmas trees are decorated with candles, wax ornaments and gingerbread. In England people eat mince pies at Christmas. (Originally they actually were made with mince).
17th Century In Europe Christmas trees are decorated with tinsel
1647 In England the Puritans ban Christmas. Some people resist the Puritans by continuing to eat mince pies. They also eat plum pottage (the ancestor of Christmas pudding).
1660 Christmas and other festivals are restored
1752 New Years Day is moved from 25 March to 1 January
18th Century A few people in England have a Christmas tree but the idea does not catch on
1843 The first Christmas card is designed by John Horsley
1847 Christmas crackers are made for the first time by a confectioner named Tom Smith
1848 Victoria and Albert are shown in a picture in the Illustrated London New with a Christmas tree. As a result Christmas trees become common in England
1860 The 'bang' is added to Christmas crackers
1862 Cartoonist Thomas Nast creates our modern image of Santa Claus
1871 Christmas Day is made a bank holiday
1882 Christmas tree lights are invented
Late 19th Century Christmas cake was originally eaten on 6 January but at this time people began to eat it at Christmas
1974 New Years Day is made a bank holiday in Britain