Updated: December 24, 2020 4:25:26 pm
Merry Christmas 2020: The day is all about happiness, good spirit, lights and love! (Source: Pixabay)
Merry Christmas 2020: All over the world, the feast of Christmas is celebrated on December 25 as a sacred religious holiday and as a commercial occasion. The atmosphere is festive, as it is a joyous day that marks the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings formed the basis of the religion of Christianity. As such, it is an important day for the Christian community around the world, but non-Christians also celebrate it with great enthusiasm.
History
It is said that centuries before Jesus, the first Europeans commemorated both the light and the birth in the darkest days of winter, mainly in December. People rejoiced during the winter solstice, because they could expect longer days, longer hours of sunlight, and shorter nights.
It is believed that in the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday and not Christmas; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. It was in the 4th century that church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday, celebrating Christmas at the same time as the winter solstice festivals.
The story of Jesus’ birth is as follows: he was born in a manger in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph. However, there is no record that the birth actually took place on December 25, as the modern Gregorian calendar did not exist then, and the Bible does not mention the exact date of his birth either. It was Emperor Constantine, known as the first Christian Roman Emperor, who declared December 25 as ‘Christmas’ and a day to celebrate Christ. A few years later, Pope Julius I declared that the day would mark the birth of Christ.
The celebrations begin on December 24 (Christmas Eve) and continue until December 26 (Boxing Day).
Meaning
The day has great significance for the Christian community. It is believed that God sent his Son to earth to sacrifice himself and save all mankind and absolve them of their sins. The crucifixion of Jesus, therefore, is a symbol of the supreme sacrifice. Typically, people attend midnight mass in churches followed by an elaborate Christmas party on this day. Christmas carols are also sung.
This year, due to the pandemic, there are many restrictions.
The day is also synonymous with folklore and celebrations of personable fictional characters like Santa Claus and his elves, for the enjoyment of children.
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