Explain why Christmas is an important festival for Christians, and Identify and explain ways in which a Christian might commemorate and celebrate.

Gods messengers, the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was going to give birth to the Son of God, it was another angel that told his Father Joseph, and she reassured him that the baby was Gods son as Mary was a virgin. Also Angels told Shepard’s at watch in their fields that Mary was to give birth to baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Christians have many different ways of commemorating and celebrating Christmas. Lots of things stand as symbols during the Christmas time for example presents show the gifts the three wise men gave Jesus at birth Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, they also are a symbol for love. I believe that at Christmas there are three different categories in which things we associate Christmas with go into Bible, Church and Traditional. Many symbols go into more than one category.  One of the first ways Christians celebrate Christmas is at advent.  At Church during advent candles are lighted for four weeks leading up to Christmas day. Each candle represents things that Christians should remember when the candle is lit. Patriarchs, Prophets, John the Baptist and Mary are the people that the lighting of a candle represents. On Christmas day Christians think about Jesus. Christmas is a happy, special and important time of year. During Advent, Advent calendars are often used to count down the days until Christmas day; they are very popular with Children.  You open a door every day until Christmas day. The original Advent calendar would have a Nativity seen on them and when you opened a door you would seen a religious picture for example Jesus in the manger or an Angel. Although people still use them many companies and shops exploit this idea and now most Advent calendars have pictures of Pop groups or cartoon characters on them and when you open a door you will receive a chocolate, although this is fun it does not show people the reason they are counting down the days until and what is so special about Christmas. Everything at Christmas symbolises something for example, evergreen represents ever-lasting life. Evergreen is things like Christmas trees, mistletoe and ivy. Christmas lights represent Jesus being the Light of the World. During Christmas time there are many Church services to help Christians celebrate and remember the real meaning of Christmas time. Midnight mass is a very popular service; it takes place on Christmas Eve and goes on into the early hours of the morning. There are many other church service that take place at Christmas time among them are family services and carol services, also nativity plays play an important part of showing people what actually happened on the very first Christmas. Children often take part in nativity plays. The manger other wise known as the crib is seen a lot at Christmas as this is what Jesus was laid in when he was born, it shows that although Jesus was Gods son he did not expect to be treated differently. The manger can often be seen in a Church service, a nativity play or things like Christmas cards, or advent calendars. Christmas cards are a way of showing people that you are thinking of them. They often have religious pictures on and when received are put up as decorations around the house. Friends and Family are very important so giving out cards shows you are thinking of them during that very special time of year. Also giving out presents shows you care about the person who is receiving the present from you. Giving and receiving presents represents the gifts the three wise men gave Jesus when he was born, Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.      Christmas day is the most important day during Christmas as it is the day that everyone has been looking forward to during Advent. Some Christians go to Church on Christmas day and gifts are given and received. It is also remembered that the Shepard’s came to Jesus and gave him a lamb, Angels told the Shepard’s where Jesus was. Christmas does not end on Christmas day as dates are celebrated like the visit of the three wise men to Jesus this is called Epiphany it is also remembered that they were led by a star and when they went to King Herods castle they promised to return telling the King of Jesus’ whereabouts. Angels told them that they should not return as if they were to tell the King where Jesus was he would kill him, so they did not return. Christingle can be celebrated in December through to the middle of January, although it can also be celebrated at other times of the year. Christingle is celebrated by making a Christingle. It is an orange with a red ribbon around the middle with things like sweets or raisons on cocktail sticks also around the middle, on the top there is a candle. The orange represents the World and the ribbon is Jesus’ blood also the sweets are things are things that people have given. The candle is there because it reminds people that Jesus is the light of the World.                There are many different ways that Christians celebrate Christmas all other the World. Carols are sung at Christmas they contain the story of Jesus’ birth, as well as being a way to remember the important event you are celebrating at Christmas they are also very fun. Christmas is considered as a fun, caring time of year where families get together and remember the very special reason why they are together, Jesus’ birth. By Gemma Simmons