Christmas Beard

A beard grown during the holiday season, usually from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. Also known as the Advent Beard, the term "Christmas Beard" came into common usage in order to facilitate widespread acceptance among those adherents who do not follow the traditional church calendar closely. The best data seems to indicate that the Christmas beard first gained popularity in the Western Reserve area of Northeast Ohio when a Presbyterian Pastor encouraged the men in his church to grow beards during the time leading up to Christmas. The Christmas Beard symbolizes purity, devotion, and a spirit of expectation during the time of Advent, when Christian believers celebrate the nativity of Jesus Christ.

In the Bible, the beard is considered a symbol of integrity, manhood, and purity as for instance in Psalm 133. The growing of the beard for a time, is pictured in the Old Testament under the stipulations of the "Nazirite Vow." According to Numbers 6:1-21, the Nazirite Vow is taken when a man separates himself to the glory of God, thereby forsaking the [...] of hair and the beard. 21:5 says, "All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the LORD, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of his head grow long." Conversely, the tearing, pulling out, or humiliating shaving of the beard was considered a measure of repentance, grief, or disgrace (cf. Ezra 9:3; 2 Samuel 10:5; and Isaiah 15:2).

Noted beard wearers are many among the Reformation Era theologians as well as the Puritans; John Calvin, John Knox, and Charles Spurgeon (among others) were known to wear them. Whether the beards of these men bear any identification with today's "Christmas Beard" is unknown. Among them, Calvin's beard is known for its particular beauty, extending nearly one foot past the jowl line.

According to common usage today, a Christmas beard must grow from ear to ear, including the mustache area. No goatees, fu-manchus, or other decorative combinations are acceptable. However, the cheeks and the neckline May Be trimmed or cleaned up. GeneRally the design must be "as wide as possible yet clean as necessary."