The history of Christmas remains a topic of hot debate worldwide. Particularly, December 25 (Christmas Day) has been substantially controversial. Some people view it as the anniversary of Jesus Christ, and others see it as a time to share gifts and meals with friends and families. Most historic American Newspapers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries indicate equally intriguing and surprising accounts of Christmas. Notably, there are striking similarities and distinctive differences between the newspapers’ stories and general histories of Christmas.
General accounts of Christmas described December 25 as an ideal time for the upper-class individuals to repay imagined or real “debt” to the community by entertaining the poor. As a result, the less fortunate would storm wealthy people's homes to demand their finest drinks and best food. Similarly, historical U.S Newspapers of the late nineteenth century depict stories of a Christmas season that was marred by turmoil and class conflict between the poor and the rich. During this time, those in the upper class were subjected to constant gang riots and robbery with violence, leading to an urgent need to change the culture of Christmas celebrations in the U.S.
General Christmas’s histories perceive this period as commonly influenced by a convergence of ancient Rome’s Saturnalia and northern Europe’s Yule winter festivals. This merger led to celebrations characterized by livestock slaughtering, drinking, feasting, and social gatherings to celebrate Christmas birth. On the contrary, the U.S newspapers of the early twentieth century show differing Christmas festivals, which are also prevalent in contemporary America. In this era, newspaper headlines were filled with the typical merry Christmas messages from various organizations and influential people across America. Moreover, this period signaled the introduction of sending gifts to loved ones and the less fortunate, with Santa Clause becoming the central figure.