The Story of Christmas and the Christ Child
The Story of Christmas and the Christ Child When Rome was a great Empire ruled by Caesar Augustus and Israel was governed by King Herod, in the village of Nazareth lived Joseph and Mary. Joseph was a carpenter and Mary was a young virgin who would become his wife. Mary told Joseph of a dream in which she was visited by an angel who told her she had been chosen to bear the Son of God and his name was to be Jesus. One day the emperor sent notice that all persons were to register for a new tax. They were instructed to return to the towns of their birth. Joseph and Mary left Nazareth for Bethlehem. Mary who was with child, and close to the birth, rode on a donkey while Joseph walked beside her. They traveled for many days and only rested at night. When they reached Bethlehem it was night. They looked for a place to rest but Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. No one knows the exact date of Christ's birth, but most Christians observe Christmas on December 25. On this day, many go to church, where they take part in special religious services. During the Christmas season, they also exchange gifts and decorate their homes with holly, mistletoe, and Christmas trees. The word Christmas comes from Cristes maesse, an early English phrase that means Mass of Christ. The story of Christmas comes chiefly from the Gospels of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew in the New Testament. According to Luke, an angel appeared to shepherds outside the town of Bethlehem and told them of Jesus' birth. Matthew tells how the wise men, called Magi, followed a bright star that led them to Jesus. The first mention of the celebration of Christmas occurred in A.D. 336 in an early Roman calendar, which indicates December 25 as the day of observance. This celebration was probably influenced by pagan (non-Christian) festivals held at that time. The ancient Romans held mid-winter celebrations to honour Saturn, their harvest god; and Mithras, the god of light. Various peoples in northern Europe held festivals in mid-December to celebrate the end of the harvest season. As part of all these celebrations, the people prepared special foods, decorated their homes with greenery, and joined in singing and gift giving. These customs gradually became part of the Christmas celebration. In the late 300's, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. By 1100, Christmas had become the most important religious festival in Europe. Saint Nicholas, a bishop who died in the A.D. 300's and was honoured as the patron saint of children, was a symbol of gift giving in many European countries. During the 1400's and 1500's, many artists painted scenes of the Nativity, the birth of Jesus. The popularity of Christmas grew until the Reformation, a religious movement of the 1500's. This movement gave birth to Protestantism. During the Reformation, many Christians began to consider Christmas a pagan celebration because it included nonreligious customs and during the 1600's Christmas was outlawed in England and in parts of the British colonies in America. However, people continued to exchange Christmas gifts and soon started to follow the other old customs again. In the 1800's, two more Christmas customs became popular--decorating Christmas trees and sending Christmas cards to relatives and friends. Many well-known Christmas carols, including "Silent Night" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," were composed during this period. In Western countries, Santa Claus replaced Saint Nicholas as the symbol of gift giving. The celebration of Christmas became increasingly important to many kinds of businesses during the 1900's. Today, companies manufacture Christmas ornaments, lights, and other decorations throughout the year. Other firms grow Christmas trees, holly, and mistletoe. Consumers buy many costly items to give each other as Christmas gifts. Many shops and other businesses hire extra workers during the Christmas season to handle the increase in sales. The word Xmas is sometimes used instead of Christmas. This tradition began in the early Christian church. In Greek, X is the first letter of Christ's name. It was frequently used as a holy symbol. Christmas is the happiest and busiest time of the year for millions of Christians and some non-Christians throughout the world. People of different countries celebrate the holiday in various ways, depending on national and local customs. In Britain, Canada, Ireland, and the United States. Many Christmas customs are common to people living in Britain, Canada, Ireland, and the United States. A number of these customs originated in Britain and were taken to North America by early colonists. But some began in colonies and were brought to Britain by visiting or returning colonists. In the French parts of Canada, people follow customs that developed in France. In the south western United States, people of Hispanic origin follow Spanish traditions. Many black Americans combine Christmas with Kwanzaa, an Afro-American holiday. In Britain, people decorate their homes with holly, mistletoe, coloured lights, and paper bells and streamers. They set up Christmas trees in their hallways or living rooms, and decorate them with ornaments, tinsel, and coloured lights. City streets sparkle with lights at Christmas time, and the sounds of bells and carols fills the air. Many people attend special carol services or carol concerts. In the days before Christmas, children and adults go from house to house singing carols. The children sing for pocket money. The adults usually sing for charity. For several weeks before Christmas, children write letters to Santa Claus (who is also known as Father Christmas) and tell him what presents they would like to receive. Many large department stores hire people to wear a Santa Claus costume and listen to children's requests. People share holiday greetings by sending Christmas cards to
relations and friends. The Christmas tree is the main attraction in most homes. Presents are placed under the decorated tree on Christmas Eve. Many children grow up believing that Santa Claus brings these presents. He arrives on a sleigh led by reindeer that fly through the air. The sleigh lands on a roof, and Santa comes down the chimney and leaves the presents. Many children hang up stockings so that Santa can fill them with sweets, fruit, and small gifts. Families open their presents on Christmas morning. Many people attend church services on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. Churches are ...
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relations and friends. The Christmas tree is the main attraction in most homes. Presents are placed under the decorated tree on Christmas Eve. Many children grow up believing that Santa Claus brings these presents. He arrives on a sleigh led by reindeer that fly through the air. The sleigh lands on a roof, and Santa comes down the chimney and leaves the presents. Many children hang up stockings so that Santa can fill them with sweets, fruit, and small gifts. Families open their presents on Christmas morning. Many people attend church services on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. Churches are decorated with greenery. In many churches there is a model of the Nativity scene known as a crib. Churchgoers listen to readings from the Bible and sing Christmas carols. A traditional Christmas dinner in Britain includes roast, stuffed turkey with bread sauce, boiled or roast potatoes, and other vegetables. The eating of turkey is a custom introduced from what is now the United States. Before the 1600's people used to eat roast goose for Christmas dinner, and some families still do. Dessert includes mince pies with brandy butter, or Christmas pudding (a type of plum pudding) with cream or a sweet white sauce made with cornflour. After dinner adults may drink port or brandy. Parents and children enjoy pulling Christmas crackers (paper rolls containing a small explosive that goes off when the roll is pulled apart to reveal a small gift or joke). During Christmas afternoon many British people watch their monarch giving a speech on television. In North America, people observe most of the customs listed above. A traditional Christmas dinner in the United States includes roast, stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and a variety of other dishes. Some families have ham or roast goose instead of turkey. Favourite desserts include mince pie or pumpkin pie, plum pudding, and fruit cake. Eggnog (a thick, creamy drink made with eggs, cream, sugar, cinnamon, and rum) is a popular Christmas beverage. In many parts of North America, carollers walk from house to house at Christmas time singing popular Christmas songs. This may be traditional carols or modern popular songs such as Irving Berlin's "White Christmas". Some people give the singers money or small gifts or invite them in for a warm drink. In France, children put their shoes in front of the fireplace so Pere Noel (Father Christmas) can fill them with gifts. Many families attend midnight Mass and then have a festive supper called Le reveillon. Large numbers of French families also decorate their homes with small Nativity scenes. In these scenes, clay figures called santons (little saints) portray the story of Jesus' birth. Some people put additional santons in their Nativity scenes every year. They buy these figures at special holiday fairs that are held before Christmas. In Germany, Saint Nicholas visits children's homes on Saint Nicholas Eve, December 5, and delivers different types of sweets to be opened on December 6, Saint Nicholas Day. Saint Nicholas also collects children's lists telling what gifts they wish to receive from the Christkindl (Christ child). The Christkindl does not appear in person. Instead he sends Weihnachtsmann (Christmas Man), the German version of Father Christmas, who delivers the presents on Christmas Eve. Most German families have a Christmas tree that they decorate with lights, tinsel, and ornaments on Christmas Eve. Spicy cakes called lebkuchen are made in various shapes and used as decorations. In Spain, people dance and sing in the streets after midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Most Spanish homes and churches display a miniature Nativity scene called a Nacimiento. During the evening of January 5, children put their shoes on a balcony or near a window. The next day is Epiphany, the last day of the Christmas season. It celebrates the visit of the Magi (wise men) to the infant Jesus. According to legend, the wise men arrive during the night before Epiphany and fill the children's shoes with small gifts. See EPIPHANY. In the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, according to legend, Saint Nicholas gives presents to children on the eve of December 6. Wearing a red robe, he arrives on a boat from Spain and rides down the streets on a white horse. On the night of December 5, Saint Nicholas travels along the house roofs, while his servant, Zwarte Piet (Black Pete), accompanies him. Saint Nicholas goes down the chimney of each house and leaves gifts in shoes that the children have put by the fireplace. In Italy, most homes and churches have a presepio (Nativity scene). On Christmas Eve, the family prays while the mother places a figure of the Bambino (Christ child) in the manger. Many Italians serve eels for dinner on Christmas Eve. They also bake a Christmas bread called panettone, which contains raisins and candied fruit. Italian children receive gifts from La Befana, a kindly old witch, on the eve of Epiphany. In Poland, people attend Pasterka (Shepherd's Mass) at midnight on Christmas Eve. Many Polish families follow the Christmas tradition of breaking an oplatek, a thin wafer made of wheat flour and water. Nativity scenes are stamped on the oplatek. The head of the family holds the wafer, and each person breaks off a small piece and eats it. The Christmas Eve meal features fish, sauerkraut, potato pancakes, and beetroot soup. In Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, Christmas dinner includes rice pudding, called julgrot, which has an almond in it. According to tradition, whoever gets the almond will have good luck throughout the new year. Santa Claus is a familiar figure in the Scandinavian countries. But many children there believe that a lively elf brings them gifts from Santa on Christmas Eve. The Danes and Norwegians call this elf Julenissen, and the Swedes refer to him as Jultomten. The Christmas season in Sweden begins on St. Lucia Day, December 13. In the morning of this day, the oldest daughter in the home dresses in white, wears a wreath on her head, and carries seven lighted candles. She serves the other members of the family coffee and buns in bed. A popular Christmas custom in Norway is ringe in Julen (ringing in Christmas). Throughout the country, people ring church bells at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve. In Denmark, people decorate their Christmas tree with small paper cones filled with sweets. Children are not allowed to see the tree until Christmas Eve. In Australia and New Zealand, December comes during the summer. Many people celebrate Christmas by going on a picnic or to the beach. Schoolchildren have a six-week summer holiday at Christmas time. Carolling takes place in many cities and towns. Popular Christmas foods include turkey and plum pudding. Both Father Christmas and Santa Claus are popular symbols of gift giving in Australia and New Zealand. In Latin America. The nine days before Christmas have special importance in Mexico. These days are called posadas, which means inns or lodgings. On each day, Mexicans reenact Mary and Joseph's search for lodgings on the first Christmas Eve. Two children carrying figures of Mary and Joseph lead a procession of people to a particular house. The people knock on the door and ask for lodgings. They are refused at first but finally are admitted. After each posada ceremony, Mexicans feast and celebrate. Children enjoy trying to break the pinata, a brightly decorated paper or clay figure containing sweets and small gifts. The pinata may be shaped like an animal, an elf, a star, or some other object. It is hung from the ceiling, and the children take turns trying to hit it with a stick while blindfolded. When someone breaks the pinata, the gifts and sweets fall to the floor, and the children scramble for them. In Venezuela, people have a late supper after returning from midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Most of these meals include hallacas, which are corn-meal pies stuffed with chicken, pork, beef, and spices. A favourite Christmas dish in Argentina is ninos envueltos (wrapped children). It consists of rolled beef slices filled with seasoned mincemeat. Children in some Latin-American countries, including Brazil, Colombia, and parts of Mexico, receive gifts on Christmas Day. In Argentina, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and most areas of Mexico, the wise men leave the presents on the eve of Epiphany. In Asia. Relatively small numbers of Christians live in the countries of Asia, and so Christmas is not widely celebrated there. In areas where Christmas is observed, people follow such Western customs as attending religious services, giving presents, singing carols, and decorating Christmas trees. Many department stores display a huge Christmas tree. People dressed as Santa Claus mingle with the crowds of shoppers. In the Philippines, people attend Misas de Gallo (Masses of the Cock), which are celebrated early each morning on the nine days before Christmas. On Christmas Eve, Filipinos parade through the streets carrying colourful star-shaped lanterns called parols. These lanterns are also displayed in the windows of most Filipino homes. On Christmas Eve, Christians from throughout the world gather for midnight Mass in Bethlehem, the town near Jerusalem where Jesus was born. They kneel to kiss the silver star that is set in the ground at the spot where Jesus' birth is believed to have taken place. In Africa, as in Asia, the celebration of Christmas is not widespread because most of the countries have a small Christian population. Missionaries took Christmas customs to Africa and so people in the Christian communities generally follow Western traditions. However, Africans may sing carols and hymns in their own languages or in the language of the church. In Ethiopia, members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church hold religious services at Christmas, on January 7. The major celebration takes place nearly two weeks later at Epiphany. Religious practices. For most Christians, the Christmas season begins on the Sunday nearest November 30. This date is the feast day of Saint Andrew, one of the 12 apostles of Christ. The nearest Sunday is the first day of Advent, a four-week period during which Christians prepare for the celebration of Christmas. The word advent means a coming and refers to the coming of Jesus on Christmas Day. Many Christians have an Advent wreath in their homes during the holiday season. Most of these wreaths are made of evergreen or holly branches and may lie on a table or hang on a door. Four candles, one for each Sunday of Advent, are placed among the branches. On the first Sunday, the family lights one candle and joins in prayer. They repeat this ceremony on each Sunday of Advent, lighting one additional candle each time. Three of the candles are dark purple, and the fourth is pink or light purple. It remains unlit until the third Sunday, when people celebrate the beginning of the second half of Advent. A large red candle, which symbolizes Jesus, is added to the wreath on Christmas Day. In many countries, people use special Advent calendars or Advent candles to keep track of the 24 days before Christmas. An Advent calendar has a colourful Christmas scene, and each date is printed on a flap. One flap is lifted daily to uncover a holiday picture or a Biblical verse. On an Advent candle, the dates appear in a row down the side. Each evening, the candle is lit and then burned down to the next date. By Christmas Day, the entire candle has melted. During the Christmas season, many churches display a crib or creche (Nativity scene). It shows figures of Mary and Joseph praying over the infant Jesus in the stable. Figures of the Magi, angels, shepherds, and various animals surround the Holy Family. For many Christians, the Christmas season reaches a climax at midnight Mass or other religious services on Christmas Eve. Churches are decorated with candles, lights, and evergreen branches. People sing Christmas carols and listen to readings from the Gospels of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew. Priests and ministers speak to the congregations about the coming of Christ and the need for peace and understanding among all people. Most churches also hold services on Christmas Day. The Christmas season ends on Epiphany, January 6. In Western Christian churches, Epiphany celebrates the coming of the Magi to the Christ child. Among Eastern Christians, this day celebrates Jesus' baptism. Epiphany falls on the 12th day after Christmas. The song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" refers to the 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany. Gift giving. The custom of giving gifts to relatives and friends on a special day in winter probably began in ancient Rome and northern Europe. In these regions, people gave each other small presents as part of their mid-winter celebrations. By 1100, Saint Nicholas had become a popular symbol of gift giving in many European countries. According to legend, he brought presents to children on the eve of December 6. Nonreligious figures replaced Saint Nicholas in certain countries soon after the Reformation, and December 25 became the day for giving gifts. Today, Santa Claus brings presents to children in many countries, including Australia, Canada, parts of Europe, New Zealand, and the United States. Other countries have their own versions of Santa Claus, such as Father Christmas in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland, Pere Noel in France, and Weihnachtsmann in Germany. Saint Nicholas still brings presents on December 6 in some countries, including the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, and parts of Germany. Children fill shoes with straw and carrots for his horse and place them in front of the fireplace. By morning, the straw and carrots have been replaced by presents. Youngsters in many Spanish-speaking nations have a similar custom. However, they leave the food for the camels of the Magi and put the shoes outside a window on the eve of Epiphany. The Magi place small gifts in the shoes during the night. The custom of hanging stockings by the fireplace probably developed from those traditions. In some areas of northern Germany, Saint Nicholas' assistant, Knecht Ruprecht (Servant Rupert), gives presents to good children. He gives whipping rods to the parents of bad ones. In Sweden, many children receive presents from the elf Jultomten, called Julenissen in Denmark and Norway. In Italy, La Befana brings presents on the eve of Epiphany. According to legend, the Magi asked the kindly old witch to accompany them to see the infant Jesus. She refused, saying she was too busy and had to clean her house, and so she missed the wondrous sight. Each year, La Befana goes from house to house, leaving gifts and looking for the Christ child. In Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and parts of Canada, the day after Christmas Day is called Boxing Day. Traditionally, people exchanged presents on this day. This custom may have originated in ancient Rome, where apprentice workers received money gifts in small boxes from their employer's customers. In Ireland, Boxing Day is called Saint Stephen's Day. Christmas feasting. The mid-winter festivities of ancient European peoples included huge feasts, many of which lasted for several days. The preparation of special foods later became an important part of the Christmas celebration throughout the world. At the first Christmas feasts, people roasted boars, pigs, and peacocks over large open fires. Today, roast turkey is the most popular main course in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Fish is the feature of Christmas Eve dinner in a number of countries. For example, Austrians eat baked carp and Norwegians dine on lutefisk (dried cod). Vegetables, relishes, hot breads, and a variety of other dishes accompany the main course of the Christmas feast everywhere. Popular beverages served especially at Christmas time include eggnog in the United States. Many people in Sweden drink glogg, a hot punch made with spices, sweet liquors, raisins, and nuts. Favourite Christmas desserts in many countries include fruitcake, mince pie, and pumpkin pie. Plum pudding is traditional in Canada and the United Kingdom. The French serve a Christmas cake called buche de Noel, which looks like a miniature log. Italians finish their meal with torrone, a sweet made of egg whites, honey, and nuts. Fruit-filled breads called stollen are favourites in Germany. In Mexico and other Latin-American countries, Christmas dinner includes thin, round pastries called bunuelos, which are usually eaten with cinnamon and sugar. Christmas decorations. The traditional colours of Christmas are green and red. Green represents the continuance of life through the winter and the Christian belief in eternal life through Christ. Red symbolizes the blood that Jesus shed at His Crucifixion. Christmas decorations that feature these colours include the Christmas tree, which is decorated with lights and balls, the Christmas wreath, holly, and mistletoe. The Christmas tree probably developed in medieval Germany from the "Paradise Tree," a type of evergreen. This tree, decorated with red apples, was used in a popular Christmas play about Adam and Eve. By 1605, many German families decorated their homes with evergreens for Christmas. They decorated the trees with fruit, nuts, lighted candles, and paper roses. Later decorations included painted eggshells and various biscuits and sweets. In the United Kingdom, Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, is often regarded as the person who introduced the Christmas tree from his native Germany. The first Christmas trees in the United States were used in the early 1800's by German settlers in Pennsylvania. Today, some form of Christmas tree is part of every Christmas celebration. Decorations include tinsel, bright ornaments, and sweets. A star is mounted on top of many Christmas trees and other Christmas displays. It represents the star that led the wise men to the stable in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The Christmas wreath, like the evergreens used as Christmas trees, symbolizes the strength of life overcoming the forces of winter. In ancient Rome, people used decorative wreaths as a sign of victory and celebration. The custom of hanging a wreath on the front door of the home probably came from this practice. Holly is an evergreen tree with sharply pointed, glossy leaves and bright red berries. It is used in making Christmas wreaths and other decorations. Early Christians decorated their churches with holly at Christmas time. They called it the holy tree, and the word holly may have come from this name. The needlelike points of the leaves were thought to resemble the crown of thorns that Jesus wore when He was crucified. The red berries symbolized the drops of blood He shed. Mistletoe is an evergreen plant with dark leaves and shiny white berries. Ancient Celtic priests considered the plant sacred and gave people sprigs of it to use as charms. The custom of decorating homes with mistletoe probably came from its use as a ceremonial plant by early Europeans. In many countries, a person standing under a sprig of mistletoe may be kissed by someone of the opposite sex. Christmas carols. The word carol came from an old French word and originally referred to a ring dance accompanied by song. People originally performed carols on several occasions during the year. By the 1600's, carols involved singing only, and Christmas had become the main holiday for these joyful songs. Most of the carols sung today were originally composed in the 1700's and 1800's. They include "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." The words of the famous carol "Silent Night" were written on Christmas Eve in 1818 by Joseph Mohr, an Austrian priest. Franz Gruber, the organist of Mohr's church, composed the music that same night, and the carol was sung at midnight Mass. "O Holy Night," another famous carol, was introduced at midnight Mass in 1847. Adolphe Adam, a French composer, wrote the music. Popular nonreligious Christmas songs include "Jingle Bells" and "White Christmas." Christmas cards. The first Christmas card was created in 1843 by John Calcott Horsley, an English illustrator. It resembled a postcard and showed a large family enjoying a Christmas celebration. The message on the card read, "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You." About 1,000 of the cards were sold. By 1860, the custom of exchanging Christmas cards had spread throughout the United Kingdom and soon spread to other countries. The first Christmas cards manufactured in the United States were made in 1875 by Louis Prang, a German-born Boston printer. Other customs. In some countries, especially the UK, France, and the Scandinavian nations, many families burned a Yule log at Christmastime. The log was a large piece of a tree trunk, and people kept an unburned part of it which they used to light the next year's log. Early Europeans believed the unburned wood had magic powers. Many people thought that bad luck would follow if the Yule log fire went out. Large numbers of people enjoy reading Christmas stories and poems during the holiday season. For example, A Christmas Carol (1843) by the English novelist Charles Dickens ranks as one of the most famous tales ever written. The poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (1823), popularly known by its first line, " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas," is read aloud in many homes on Christmas Eve in the United States. Clement Moore, an American scholar, supposedly wrote this poem as a Christmas present for his children. Several musical productions are also Christmas traditions. They include The Nutcracker, a ballet by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky of Russia, and Amahl and the Night Visitors, an opera by Gian Carlo Menotti of Italy. In Britain, Boxing Day (the day after Christmas Day) marks the start of the pantomime season (see PANTOMIME). It is also a traditional day for hunting and sports events such as soccer matches. When was the first Christmas card created?there were no empty rooms when they reached the inn. As they were being turned away Joseph mentioned his wife was with child and close to birth. The inn keeper took pity on them and told them of some caves in the nearby hills that shepherds would stay with their cows and sheep.So Joseph and Mary went up into the hills and found the caves. In one cave was a stable room. Joseph cleaned it and made beds of fresh hay. He found a feeding trough which he cleaned and filled with hay to use as a crib. The next night Mary gave birth to a son and they named him Jesus, as the angel had said. When the child was born a great star appeared over Bethlehem that could be seen for miles around. In the fields nearby shepherds were tending their flocks. An angel appeared to them surrounded by bright light. The shepherds were frightened and tried to run. "Fear Not," said the angel, "For I bring you tidings of great joy. For unto you is born this day in Bethlehem - a Saviour who is Christ the Lord." And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." Suddenly the sky was filled with angels, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men."After the angels departed the shepherds set out for Bethlehem. When they reached the cave they found the stable and inside was the child wrapped in swaddling clothes.As the star shined over Bethlehem, in the east three kings would see it. They knew it was a sign and they set off to follow the star. There was Caspar - the young King of Tarsus, Melchior - a long bearded old man and leader of Arabia, and Balthazar - the king from Ethiopia. They traveled on camels for many days over the mountains, and through the deserts, and plains. Always following the bright star. When they finally arrived in Bethlehem they found the child in the manger. The 3 kings bowed to their knees and offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They would stay the night in the cave and the next day returned to their lands to spread the news.
