Christmas story

Christmas story from the Gospel of St. Luke and St. Matthew in the New Testament. According to Luke, an angel told the shepherds bring himself outside the city of Bethlehem and told them of the birth of Jesus. Matthew also tells how the wise men, called the Magi, followed a bright star to show them where Jesus was.


The first record is warning Christmas Day in 336 AD in the ancient Roman calendar, the date of December 25. This celebration is most likely influenced by the celebration of the pagan (non-Christian) at the time. As part of these celebrations, the people prepared special meals, decorate their homes with green leaves, singing together and exchange gifts. These customs gradually became part of the Christmas celebration. At the end of the year 300 AD Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.

Christmas in the year 1100 has become the most important religious festival in Europe, in many countries in Europe with Saint Nicholas as a symbol of gift giving. The famous Christmas Day until the Reformation, a religious movement in the 1500's. This movement gave birth to Protestantism. At the time of the Reformation, many Christians began to call Christmas as pagan as involving religious habit without legal basis. In the 1600's, due to the uneasy feeling that, Christmas was banned in the UK and many British colonies in America. However, people still continue the habit of exchanging gifts and soon returned to the original habit.

In the 1800's, there are two new custom made at Christmas, decorate the Christmas tree and send cards to relatives and friends. In the United States, Santa Claus (Father Christmas) replaced Saint Nicholas as a symbol of gift giving. Since the 1900's, the celebration of Christmas has become increasingly important for a wide range of businesses.

Root

The word Christmas (Christmas Day) comes from the word Cristes maesse, the English phrase that means Mass of Christ (Christ's Mass). Sometimes shortened to Xmas Christmas said. The tradition was started by the early Christian Church. In Greek, X is the first word in the name of Christ (Christos). This letter is often used as a sacred symbol. Christmas is a Christian feast day to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. No one knows the exact date of the birth of Christ, but most Christians commemorate Christmas on December 25. On that day, most people who go to church for a special religious celebration. During the Christmas season, they exchange gifts and decorate their homes with holly, mistletoe, and Christmas trees. Christmas celebrations in every state celebrated with fanfare different.

Religious celebrations

For most Christians, the Christmas season starting on Sunday closest to November 30. Today is the feast day of Saint Andrew, one of the twelve apostles of Christ. Sunday is called the first day of Advent, the period of 4 weeks when Christians prepare for Christmas celebrations.

The word Advent means coming, and refers to the coming of Jesus at Christmas. To celebrate Advent, four candles, each symbolizing Sunday of Advent, placed in a circle of leaves. On the first Sunday, the family lit a candle and pray in unison. They repeat this activity every Sunday of Advent, by adding one more candle each time. A big red candle which symbolizes Jesus, was added to the circle of leaves it on Christmas Day.

For many Christians, Advent peaking at midnight Mass or other religious warnings on the night before Christmas (Christmas Eve), December 24. Churches are decorated with candles, lights, and green leaves and flowers pointsettia. The Christmas season ends on Epiphany, January 6. For the Western Christian churches, the Epiphany is the arrival of the Magi in the presence of the baby Jesus. According to Eastern Christians, this day is a celebration of the baptism of Christ. Epiphany falls 12 days after Christmas Day.

Swap gifts

The habit of exchanging gifts to relatives and friends on a special day in the winter likely originated in Ancient Rome and Northern Europe. In these areas, people give gifts to each other as part of the celebration of the end of the year. In 1100, in many European countries, Saint Nicholas was a symbol of giving. According to legend, Saint Nicholas brings gifts to children on the night before the celebration, December 6. The characters are not religious replaced Saint Nicholas in various countries shortly after the reform, and on December 25 a day for exchanging gifts. Today in the United States, Santa Claus brought gifts for the children.

Christmas Eve

Because Christmas Eve is basically a religious holiday, the day is not seen as an official holiday. Churches held a celebration on that night. People noticed the creche (replica of the fold where Jesus was born, with statues of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, shepherds and animals) while singing Christmas carols.

The adults drink eggnog, like milk eggs honey, which is a mixture of cream, milk, sugar, beaten eggs and brandy (a kind of alcoholic beverage) or rum. He said that on Christmas Eve, Santa Claus climbing sleigh full of presents, pulled by eight reindeer tail. Santa Claus flew into the clouds to deliver presents to children around the world. To prepare for the visit Santa, American children listen to their parents read The Night Before Christmas (Night Before Christmas) before going to bed on Christmas Eve. The poem was composed by Clement Moore in 1832.

First, children hang stockings or socks above the fireplace. Santa down the chimney and leaves candy and gifts in socks for children. Today, the tradition is still continued, but the socks were replaced by a red cloth bag shaped socks. Christmas is also traditionally a time to stop bickering. Christmas Day (Christmas Party) December 25 Today is a religious holiday or secular. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.

Christmas Celebration

Because Christmas is actually a religious holiday, the first day is not an official holiday. However, because most Americans are Christian, it was the day when most businesses are closed, and the day on which most of the workers, including government employees, were closed. Going home (including returning home) is a highly respected custom. Apart from the very nature of religious traditions, most custom at Christmas is also done by people who are not religious or do not convert to Christianity. Usually, Christians celebrate Christmas in the tradition of their church.

There are all kinds of religious worship in the church is done by families before their round to visit relatives and friends.

American Christmas tradition
The exchange of gifts, sending greeting cards
This activity became popular since the 1800s. Christmas songs, called carol, sung and played during the holiday period. Become popular since the 1800s. Decorate the house. Most Americans decorate the Christmas tree, the pine tree or an artificial tree, at their homes. The lights and circular leaves of the tree four seasons, mistletoe and Christmas greeting placed inside and outside many homes. Become popular since the 1800s.

Christmas Dinner

Often with turkey. Moreover, many of which hold banquet just before and after Christmas.

Santa Claus

Santa Claus comes from an old story about a saint named Nicholas and Christian from Norway god named Odin. The immigrants brought Father Christmas or Saint Nicholas to the United States. His name was gradually changed to Santa Claus, from the Dutch name for Father Christmas to the fourth century, Sinter Claas. Although the origin of the pre-Christian Norse mythology, the cast of the new Santa Claus we know today in the United States. Americans gave a white beard, dressed with a red shirt and makes a jolly old with red cheeks and a light in his eyes. Santa Claus is a mythical figure who is said to live at the North Pole, where he makes toys all year round.

Sources: http://id.wikipedia.org/