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Christmas

 Subject
Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Scope Note: Refers to the Christian feast and festival observed on December 25 to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Its observance is first documented in Rome in 336. The practice of celebrating on December 25 began in the 4th century in the Western church as a Christian replacement for the pagan festival held on the winter solstice to celebrate the birth of the unconquered sun. The East originally gave the date of January 6 for the nativity but the date of December 25 was generally accepted by the 5th century; the Armenian Church, however, still celebrates on January 6. Christmas took on the festivity (i.e. decorations and gift-giving) of the Roman Saturnalia and other pagan festivals of that time of year. Christmas has continued to accumulate traditions over the centuries; many of the customs associated with the holiday are of non-Christian origin. Evergreens, for example, are symbols of survival and have been associated with Christmas ever since the European Middle Ages. Christmas is traditionally regarded as a festival of the family and of children. In many countries presents are exchanged in the name of or in the spirit of the holiday's patron, Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus.

Found in 102 Collections and/or Records:

Theater program for "The Christmas Story," by the Nightingale-Bamford School, 1936 Dec 18

 Item — Box 01113: [Barcode: 10128000001856]
Identifier: 001 008 000 11 0018
Scope and Contents From the Series: The Drama Records series includes playbills / programs, photographs, and video recordings of dramatic theater performances and classes featuring Nightingale students. Group portraits of Canterbury Club are in Student Life / "Clubs" series. Because it is difficult to ascertain whether a dramatic production is presented by a club, alumnae association, or Interschool, most drama records and photographs are found in this series, although those with an identified entity may be included in that...
Dates: 1936 Dec 18

Theater program for "The Christmas Story," by the Nightingale-Bamford School, 1936 Dec 20

 Item — Box 01122: [Barcode: 10128000003738]
Identifier: 001 008 000 11 0052
Scope and Contents From the Series: The Drama Records series includes playbills / programs, photographs, and video recordings of dramatic theater performances and classes featuring Nightingale students. Group portraits of Canterbury Club are in Student Life / "Clubs" series. Because it is difficult to ascertain whether a dramatic production is presented by a club, alumnae association, or Interschool, most drama records and photographs are found in this series, although those with an identified entity may be included in that...
Dates: 1936 Dec 20