Why and How Christmas is Celebrated? Know True Meaning, Rituals, Traditions and Much More...
The most significant holiday for Christians worldwide is Christmas, which is observed in remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ, whom they see as the Son of God. People celebrate a Happy Christmas Day 2023 with their family, friends, and other relatives with joy and affection.
There are many traditions and interpretations of the festival and what is celebrated. The term “Christmas” comes from the Mass of Christ (or Jesus). A mass service, also called Communion or Eucharist sometimes, where Jesus died for his people and returned to life. This is why the 'Christ-Mass' is the only service that took place after dusk, i.e. sunset, and before sunrise the next day, so people had it at midnight. This is the way we got the name Christ-Mas, which is Christmas.
Keywords:
Christmas, X-Mass, Rituals, Traditions, Jesus, Santa Claus, Gifts, Good Wishes, Greetings
Learning Outcomes
After undergoing this article you will be able to understand the following
1. What is exactly a Christmas?
2. History: Origin of Christmas Day and its significance
3. The 12 Days of Christmas countdown and Santa Claus
4. The Rituals
5. The facts of Christmas
6. Conclusions
FAQs
References
1. What is exactly Christmas?
A long time ago, in a world filled with beliefs and customs, there was a special day that echoed through history. It was Christmas, a celebration filled with love, marking the birth of Jesus Christ, a respected leader in Christianity. Every year, people from all around the world, who follow Christianity, gathered to honor this important day, remembering the miraculous event of Jesus being born. Christmas wasn't just about religion; it became a worldwide celebration, bringing joy and goodwill to everyone and weaving itself into the cultural traditions of different nations.
2. History: Origin of Christmas Day
Christmas is an annual event which holds immense religious and cultural significance. The name Christmas is derived from the words 'Mass of Christ'.
As per record, the first recorded date of celebration of Christmas was in 336; it was during this time of Roman Emperor Constantine, who happens to be the first Christian Roman Emperor.
Why is 25 December Christmas day on each year? Most people think it is celebrated as the birth date of Jesus Christ, but no one knows the real birth date of Jesus. The Bible has no date regarding the birth of Jesus. The early Christians had many arguments regarding the birth of Jesus.
The development of Christmas has occurred as follows:
1. The first recorded date of celebrating Christmas in the Roman Church was on 25 December in 336 AD, during the time of Roman Emperor Constantine.
2. He was the first Christian Roman Emperor who had adopted Christianity as the effective religion of the empire. This was when Christmas started, and people started following the new religion.
3. Later in 529 AD, Pope Julius I declared Happy Christmas Day a civic holiday and announced the date of December 25th to be the date to celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth.
4. However, there are many different traditions and arguments towards the background of 25 December Christmas Day.
5. According to a primitive Christian tradition, the day when Mary was informed that she would give birth to a special child, Jesus (called the Annunciation), was on March 25th.
6. The Roman Christian historian Sextus Julius Africanus estimated Jesus’s conception to this date, which, after 9 months, is December 25th.
This way the day is celebrated as Happy Christmas day. So, when was Christmas Day first celebrated? The answer is it was in Rome on December 25, AD 336, by Roman Emperor Constantine.
3. Significance of Christmas
Christmas is a day of religious significance for those who have faith in Christianity. On this day these people remember Jesus Christ, recall his sacrifices and do a mass service.
In the mass service, Christians remember how Jesus died and how he comes back to life later.
Many believe this day to be the truth of spiritual life. They believe that before the birth of Jesus the world was full of hatred, greed, and hypocrisy; however the birth of Jesus eradicated all the evil things and prevailed happiness in the world.
4. A Festive Countdown: The 12 Days of Christmas
In a magical holiday time, the "12 Days of Christmas" kicked off, spreading joy and tradition. From December 25th to January 5th, each day brought a unique gift, like partridges in pear trees, shiny golden rings, and lords who loved to dance. Families joyfully followed this festive countdown, exchanging gifts and sharing happiness throughout the season. It was a special time when everyone came together, creating cherished memories filled with laughter and the warmth of holiday traditions.
5. Why Christmas Tree installed in Churches, Homes
Long ago, during the ancient times, Christmas had a different story to tell. It was a time when people, following various traditions, celebrated the winter solstice by decorating their homes with greenery. The green symbolized hope for prosperity and the promise of spring. Among these Christmas day decorations, the evergreen Fir trees held a special place, believed to possess unique powers. Romans, during their festive Saturnalia, adopted this tradition, adorning their homes with Fir trees decked in ornaments. The Greeks, too, seemed to have a similar custom, decorating trees in honor of their gods. It's a tale that connects diverse cultures through shared festive practices.
Do you know that the first ever decorated Christmas tree took place in Riga, Latvia, in 1510? In Germany, people decorated the first Christmas tree with apples, wafers, and sweets. It was in the 19th century, the first artificial Christmas tree was developed.
7. Santa Claus - The Life of St Nicholas
1. The origin of Santa Claus is based on the life of Saint Nicholas, a real-life, historical follower of Jesus Christ.
2. St. Nicholas was born in Turkey around 280 AD and became a saint after giving away all his wealth to aid the poor and the needy.
3. He is popularly known as the patron saint of children and is remembered on December 6th.
4. On Christmas eve, Santa Claus distributes gifts to the kids. People eat cakes, feast, and express joy and happiness.
8. Christmas or Xmas?
Xmas is another name for Christmas. But why? The Greek letter chi/X is the letter that resembles an X in the Greek alphabet. It is Christ's initial in the Greek alphabet. Christians utilised the letter X as a symbol to identify themselves as members of the historic Christian church. Because Christmas is a combination of “Christ” and “mas”, Xmas and Christmas imply the same thing in Greek.
9. The Rituals: How is Christmas Celebrated?
People celebrate this day with delight, cheerfulness and excitement. On the occasion, people go to church, sing carols, exchange gifts, decorate their homes in Christmas themes and enjoy family feasts together.
Additionally, people exchange greeting cards and gifts with friends and family.
One of the major attractions of Christmas day 2023 is the nativity play, where people re-enact the nativity of Jesus. Giant Christmas trees are adorned with the traditional colours of the festivities in red, green, and gold. These colours signify various aspects associated with the life of Jesus Christ.
Christmas is celebrated as a festival in the Lutheran Church with a grand feast. It is very common on this day. On Christmas Eve, many churches organize exceptional candlelight services.
10. Christmas Day Mass:
On Christmas, many people take a moment to say a special prayer. It's like having a heart-to-heart conversation with a friend, but instead, it's with a higher power. People might thank the universe, God, or any spiritual force for the love and happiness in their lives. They also often ask for blessings for their family and friends, and for peace and goodwill to spread all over the world. It's a way of sharing gratitude and spreading positive vibes.
12. Greetings and wishes in Christmas Day :
Wishing someone a "Happy Christmas" is like giving them a big, warm hug through words. People share wishes to spread happiness and good feelings. You might wish someone a joyful and peaceful Christmas, or you could say something like, "May your days be merry and bright." It's a way of letting people know you care about them and want them to have a wonderful time during the holiday season. Wishes can be as simple as a kind message or as elaborate as a heartfelt card, all with the aim of making someone's Christmas extra special.
In essence, both prayers and wishes during Christmas are about sharing love, expressing gratitude, and sending positive vibes to those around us. It's a beautiful way to connect with the spirit of the season and show kindness to others.
13. Facts of Christmas: Every interested should know:
1. Santa's Many Names: Santa Claus goes by different names around the world.
2. In England, he's Father Christmas, while in France, he's known as Père Noël. No matter what you call him, he's the jolly guy who brings gifts to children on Christmas Eve.
3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The story of Rudolph, the reindeer with a shiny red nose, was created in 1939.
4. Rudolph became a star in a Christmas song and a popular character in Christmas stories.
5. Rudolph's bright nose helps Santa navigate through the night sky!
6. Christmas Colors: Red and green are the traditional colors of Christmas.
7. Mistletoe Tradition: Kissing under the mistletoe is a fun tradition.
8. It's believed that Christmas brings good luck and love.
9. Christmas Stockings: Hanging stockings for Santa to fill with gifts is a charming tradition.
10. Christmas has originated from a legend about a kind man named St. Nicholas, who helped three poor sisters by leaving gold coins in their stockings.
11. Christmas Cards: The custom of sending Christmas cards started in the 19th century in England.
12. Today, people all over the world exchange festive cards to spread love, peace and happiness.
13. The Biggest Christmas Present: The largest Christmas present ever was the Statue of Liberty.
14. France giftedStatue of Liberty to the United States in 1886 as a symbol of friendship, and it arrived on American shores on Christmas Day.
15. Christmas Cookies: Baking cookies during the holiday season is a sweet tradition.
16. Gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies, and candy canes are some popular treats that people enjoy making and sharing.
16. The 12 Days of Christmas festivity concludes.
17. The countdown starts to the days between Christmas Day and the Epiphany on January 6th, celebrating the arrival of the Magi or Wise Men.
14. Popular Christmas Greetings Lines
Well Here It Is Merry Christmas
Holiday greetings
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Wishing you a Merry Christmas
Enjoy the holiday season
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas?
Sparkle And Shine This Christmas
Wishing you a blessed Christmas
Merry Christmas With Lots Of Love
Blessed Tidings
Happy holidays
Seasons greetings
Tis the season to be jolly
Be merry
Happy New Year
Meet Me Under the Mistletoe
Warm wishes
Wishing you joy
Cheers To Warm Holiday Memories
Joyeux Noël
Merry Christmas
Wishing you warmth and good cheer
Christmas is coming
Have a Cool Yule?
15. Conclusion
It's a time of celebration, particularly for kids who eagerly anticipate gifts from family and the beloved Santa Claus, a central figure in Christmas festivities. Make the day even more special by celebrating with your family and engaging your children in delightful Christmas arts and crafts activities. It's a wonderful way to add an extra touch of excitement and creativity to their holiday experience.
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