After the rough year 2020, we all look forward to the most wonderful time of the year when people from all over the world come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25. Each year, families meet; some visit friends and have memorable parties to celebrate the holiday season. Christmas is a time of joy and warmth, surrounded by the love of family and the camaraderie of friends. Over the years, it has become much more than just celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ; it is now seen to embody the spirit of generosity and affection that one carries with him for the rest of the year and is also celebrated by people of all faiths.
Even with the ongoing pandemic and new strains threatening another lockdown, the Christmas festival brings joy and hope along with it. Celebrations may have to be kept to a minimum and large gatherings may seem nearly impossible, but these difficulties can hardly slow the spirit of the holiday season.
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History and meaning
Christmas or the Feast of the Nativity is celebrated annually on December 25 in commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The festival has immense religious and cultural significance for billions of Christians and non-Christians alike. The English term “Christmas” has a fairly recent origin and is translated as “mass on the day of Christ”. Different countries around the world have different names for this celebration, in Germany it is known as ‘Yuletide’, which may have been derived from Germanic jōl or Anglo-Saxon geōl. In Spanish it is known as Christmas, Natale in Italian and Noël in French.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, the celebration of Christmas has become much more secular and familiar than religious, yet all practitioners of the faith go to mass organized in the church, participate in various charity events and even go to sing. Christmas carols for glory. of the Holy Trinity.
In the first two centuries of Christianity, there was strong opposition to the celebration of the birth of Christ, as he was considered a martyr for all people. It was commonly believed that saints and martyrs should be honored on the day of their martyrdom, which was considered their true birthday, rather than the day they were born.
It is a common tradition among Christian children to perform the Nativity for all the elders of the family. The Nativity play tells the story of the Nativity of Jesus, or his birth as described in the biblical gospels of Luke and Matthew. The two different accounts agree that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea, his mother Mary was married to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David but was not the biological father of the Lord Jesus, since his birth is considered divine. intervention.
Celebrations
Christmas, as we celebrate it now, is a fairly modern interpretation of ancient pagan celebrations. Currently, it focuses heavily on the mythical figure of Santa Claus. Also known as Kris Kringle, Santa Claus is the traditional patron of Christmas in the United States and other countries. Its popular image is based on the traditions associated with Saint Nicholas, a 4th century saint. Santa is rumored to live at the North Pole, along with his many helper elves. Every year, Santa Claus watches over the children of the world and gives gifts to all those who have been good in the past year. He rides his sleigh from the North Pole, giving gifts to children around the world on Christmas Eve.
Exchanging gifts, decorating the house with sparkling lights and ornaments, cooking a great meal are modern traditions surrounding the celebration of Christmas. The festival marks the close of the year and symbolizes all things heartwarming and joyful as it is a time when people from all over the world visit their families and spend time together. Even amid the pandemic, families are hosting Zoom gatherings and dinners online to get a semblance of normalcy during the holiday season.
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