THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS
Christmas come from pagan and Roman cultures. The Romans really celebrated two occasions within the month of December. The first was the Saturnalia, which was a two-week festival in honor of their god of agriculture, Saturn. On December 25, they celebrated the birth of Mithras, their sun god. Both celebrations were exuberant, drunken parties.
Also in December, the darkest day of the year, pagan cultures lit fires and candles to keep the darkness at bay. The Romans moreover incorporated this convention into their possess celebrations.
As Christianity spread across Europe, Christian clergy were unable to curtail pagan customs and celebrations. Since no one knew the date of Jesus’ birth, they adapted a pagan ritual to celebrate His birthday. – (The History of Christmas)
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CHRISTMAS TREES
As part of the solstice celebrations, pagan cultures decorated their homes with greenery in anticipation of the coming spring. Evergreen trees stayed green during the coldest and darkest days, so they were thought to have special powers. The Romans also decorated their temples with firs during the Saturnalia and decorated them with pieces of metal.
The tree tradition we are used to today comes from Northern Europe, where Germanic pagan tribes decorated evergreen trees to worship the god Woden with candles and dried fruit.- (The History of Christmas)
BABY JESUS
Inspired by Saint Nicholas, this Christmas tradition has Christian roots rather than pagan. Born in southern Turkey around 280, he was a minister within the early Christian church and endured mistreatment and detainment for his confidence He came from a affluent family and was eminent for his generosity towards the destitute and disenfranchised.
There are legends almost him, but the most popular is how he spared three daughters from being sold into subjugation. There was no dowry to make a man marry them, so this was their father’s last resort. Saint Nicholas is said to have thrown gold through an open window into the dwellings, thus saving them from their fate. Legend has it that the gold landed in a sock that was drying by the fire, so children started hanging stockings by the fire in the hope that Santa Claus would throw presents into them.- (The History of Christmas)
Questions and answers about Christmas.
When is Christmas Day?
25th December.
Where was Jesus Christ born?
Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem.
What age is known as the year of Jesus?
A “year of Jesus” is 33 years.
When was Christmas first born?
The first official mention of December 25 as a holiday in honor of Jesus’ birthday appears in the early Roman calendar of 336.
What was Christmas originally called?
Christmas owes its roots to the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, which was a pagan festival celebrated every year from December 17 to 25. This custom was modified and absorbed into Christmas, and this allowed the early Christians to gradually erase these old pagan holidays.
Why was December 25 chosen for Christmas?
The Roman Christian historian Sextus Julius Africanus dated Jesus’ conception to March 25 (the same date the world was created), resulting in a December 25 birth after nine months in his mother’s womb.- (The History of Christmas)
What is the true meaning of Christmas?
Enjoy the season, but don’t forget to rejoice too! The true meaning of Christmas, after all, is to celebrate God’s ultimate gift: the birth of Jesus, the Christ child
Who created Santa Claus?
Cartoonist Thomas Nast
What is Santa Claus’ full name?
Long ago, Santa was known to his peers as Saint Nicholas because he was so kind to others and often gave gifts to those in need.
Reasons why we celebrate Christmas
“The birth of the Messiah Jesus Christ
“Spread positive vibes
“A festival without limits
“The path of purity
“Keep people from sinning
“Light up the whole planet
“Mutual love and brotherhood
“Luck
What are Christmas symbols and what does mean?
When you’re decorating for the holiday season, there are certain symbols you’ll want to include in your design scheme. They perfectly represent Christmas. Here are a few to include and what they mean. – (The History of Christmas)
Star
A popular symbol for the top of a tree, the star represents the star that appeared on the night of Jesus’ birth.
Christmas trees
Christmas trees are often the central element of decorating schemes. They are evergreen and do not turn brown during winter, making them a symbol of eternity. They also point toward heaven and point to the religious aspects of the holiday.- (The History of Christmas)
Wreath
The evergreen leaves of the wreath also represent eternal life. This is further emphasized by its endless circular shape.
Candy Canes
Candy sticks are fun candies to eat during the holidays. But did you know they can have a deeper religious meaning?
After they were popularized, many saw the red stripes as a symbol of the blood that Jesus shed when he was crucified, while the white symbolized his purity. The peppermint flavor was also thought to represent the hyssop plant, which was used for purification in the Bible.
Christmas stars
This winter flower is known to signify purity, good spirits and success.
Dove
Doves are supposed to be messengers of peace on earth coming from Jesus.
Lights
The lights are used to depict the Star of David that appeared in Bethlehem the night Jesus was born. Many also see them as a way to remind us to follow the way of Christ.
angels
The angels represent the role they played in the birth of Jesus Christ.
Stockings
Stockings are another popular symbol of Christmas. However, they do not represent much more than what they really are. They date back to 1823 (at least) when they were mentioned in the poem “A Visit from Santa Claus”. They are traditionally hung by the fireplace to receive gifts from Santa Claus.- (The History of Christmas)
Represents
Giving gifts at Christmas reminds us of the gifts that the wise men gave to Jesus.
Snowflakes
Snowflakes are a symbol of cold winter and represent purity.
Why is Christmas important to Christians?
For Christians, Christmas is about God sending his son into the world as part of his plan to bring salvation to people all over the world. Christians also think about the “incarnation” – literally “in the flesh” when God became human in the form of the baby Jesus.- (The History of Christmas)