Christmas is the annual Christian festival rejoicing the birth of Jesus Christ, held on December 25 in the Western ecclesiastical. The ancient or traditional date of 25ft of December goes back as far as A.D.270. Two pagan holidays honouring the universe were also celebrated on the same day, and it is possible that this day/date was chosen to offset the inspiration of paganism. Up to date, some individuals feel uncomfortable with the whole Christmas festival because they think it is somehow linked to paganism.
However, Christians have long held and believe that the gospel not only outdoes culture it also helps to transform the way we look at things. In the ancient theologian, this concern was answered by nothing but as a day of worship and remembrance of the Christian king who was born by the virgin marry with the help of God as a saviour of the world. An old tablet written back in the A.D.320 says,” we hold and to this holy day, not as them/pagans but because of the birth of our light Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.”
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The Christmas Dates
Two theories are surrounding the use of December 25;
The Saturnalia festival Theory
First, religions and people celebrated some festivals around that time, from Chanukah, the old Jewish tribe to Pagan Solstice to Roman Dies Solis (the Birth of Sun) to Germanic yule. The sheer number of this day gives it a necessary form of celebration by having decorations, mistletoe, trees, and feasts seem to indicate a season of happiness to which all Christians call the birth of Christ.
December 25 was an ancient Saturnalia festival of gift-giving, triumph of light, and emancipation after a long night or season. The whole light thing is then reflected in the Christian life by linking the morning with the birth of Jesus; Christ as the lamp and the light of the universe, his triumph over hard times and the night of world sins. (Luke 1 verse 78 to 79) …” And because of the Lord’s mercy and that of our God, by which the next day the sun will rise and shine unto you living in the shadow of death and sins, it will guide your peace and feet to eternity.”
The Birth Theory
The 2nd Christmas theory centres itself around the date accepted by the Old Western apostles of March 25 as the Immaculate and Annunciation of Jesus in the blessed Mary, and December 25 is exactly nine months later and thus chosen as the holy day. Regardless of the point that the Christian calendar was set in Constantine’s time and regime, the day has flourished to all churches in the East and the world.
The Origin of Christmas Eve
For years, Christmas was celebrated not as a one-day but as a season in some parts of the world. The beginning of the 12th month is considered the Christmas holiday, and December 24 is the Eve of the great day. Perhaps the whole practice of having fun and celebrating the evening before the primary day is a sign or an echo from Jewish reckoning. In modern Jewish culture, a day starts as early as six in the morning and runs until the next evening up to the time Moses the great prophet in the old testament wrote; ‘Evening and morning are the start and end of a day.” Christmas is derived from Christ, the son of God and Mass, meaning the celebration of the great king and light of the world. Although the dates and days are still in doubt, the ancient observing methods take us back to the 4th century. Under the influence of Western churches, apostle culture replaced paganism festivals throughout the world. Often the old ways of celebrating the day, including the Yule Log, feast, decoration, and gifts, are still carried out in modern Christmas.
The meaning behind the Ancient Traditions
Evergreen trees with decoration; This is a symbol of eternal life, according to Martin Luther King on the Reformation of the church and the as a symbol of love that our Christ brought to the world. The tree represents God’s gift to the world by sending her Only son through a human birth to the world. Many people celebrate Christmas with trees simplifying the blessing the world receives.
- Candles; Symbolize the light, Christian culture consider Jesus as the Light of the world and it all began on the day he come unto the world which is Christmas.
- Holly: Symbolize the thorns in the Christ crown
- Red; Symbolize the blood of Christ and his death for our sins.
- Gifts: These are the reminders of the gift of life baby Jesus brought to the world and each of its sections speaks on the incarnation and his Majesty’s life. (Matthew 2:1) He is God’s ideal and perfect gift to the world.
- Bells; Are linked with news bearers symbolizing the good news of Jesus’s birth.
Christmas Carols
As the 12th-month ushers in, some songs mark the holidays, and the story behind them takes us back to the English author Dickens Charles who created some holiday classic tales. Songs that will remind people and pass the most important message to humankind about their king and Savior. The songs also convey the importance of good doings and charity to others as the whole world celebrates this day. The entire mystery is surrounded by delivering the message, giving people hopes and reasons for the day.
Back in the pagan’s time, they used some celebration songs where famous artists could write poems or scripts to praise their Gods for ending the long night and ushering in a new day of favours and life. So, the whole song thing was copied from the first celebration, all bringing in the good news that the long night is over and finally the light has come.
Some of The Carols that Tell the Christmas Story are described below.
The 1st Noel
Noel is derived from a Latin word meaning born and dragged down to the French reference as Christmas. Defining it means Christmas song, and some sources think that this tale has been played since early 1200. Its additions and extensions have been done by the great Davies and were officially published in 1820. The song narrates the whole story from the gospel of Luke as the angels bring the message to the three wise shepherds that the world saviour has been born and they should sing and rejoice.
Embracing the Noel tales sends us back to the old era where our Savior was born like an ordinary man. The song describes the day and all events that came after making it the anthem of the occasion. Though we are told that angels sang for his coming, we can share the joy and happiness of the same today through the Noel song.
”Joy to the World”
Watts penned the song lyrics, but the Highest ordained the message throughout all of its stanzas. Plasms 96 to 98: 11-13and the Old Testament all work hard by embracing the beauty of these holidays, and since 1718 we have all melody the same on the coming of Christ, the joy of the world.
And so let us all resound in joy and gladness and let the happiness and joy be the earth’s song as the heaven and sea and all life in its roar. Let the land grow in celebration and triumph for a grand jubilee for all that enjoy and live there. Let all the plants of the fields dig in and reach high breezing songs of happiness and joy before the great king of the world (Psalms 96 verse 11 to 12)
We can conclude that the phrase joy to the earth and the world is a repetition of the Lord’s promises and the one that we should always remember in the Christmas celebration. In addition, the initial definition of joy is something that brings happiness, so it is a source of something, and in our case, it is a joy because our God has got something that will liberate us from dark sins to eternal life.
Santa Claus
The tales of Santa Claus can be tracked and traced back to an ancient monk called St. Nicholas, who was born 280 A.D in Turkey. This Saint gave away all of her wealth and moved around his town and countryside, helping the sick and the poor, and due to these philanthropic ways, he became the protector of sailors and children. St. Nicholas found his way to Western culture in the 18th century during the anniversary of Sinterklaas, and its abbreviation drew the name Santa Claus.
Fun Facts about Christmas
- Each year, 40 million real trees are sold in the US alone and there are 30,000 Christmas tree shops in the United States alone and each tree grows for at least 15 years before being sold. So, the tree you will buy this coming holiday was planted 15 years ago.
- Back in the middle age, the holiday was raucous and rowdy more like today’s Mardi summer parties.
- The Christmas celebration was once canceled and people were fined if found to go against the rule, but later it was outlawed in US Boston and the breakers were fined 5 dollars.
- Christmas was made a federal holiday in Europe and across the US on the 6th of June 1870
- Poinsettia trees are named after R. Joel Poinsett, the Us minister to Mexico who brought the green and red plant from the city of Mexico to the USA in 1828
- Rudolph who is considered the most famous reindeer in the history of Christmas was a link and extension of Robert May’s imagination in early 1938. The songwriter wrote a poem about the whole reindeer system to help lure clients into the great Montgomery store.
Conclusion
Christmas is all about happiness and joy that many Christian and other people who believe in Christianity have in common. This season takes it to friends people who need help, the sick or the poor and bring them hope because the whole season is meant to bring light to those who are in the most profound state of life and need some lights, as Christ has shown us.