| 1. History
Jesus "Christ" is known as the founder or central figure of "Christianity." Christmas
is a Christian holiday on December 25 that commemorates the birth of
Jesus. Ancient Romans also commemorated Jesus' birth by marking a division
of the calendar still in use today.
Christmas literally means the Mass (celebration) of Christ. "Christ" is a Greek word and title,
meaning "anointed" or one set apart by God for a special purpose. "Christ" is equivalent to the
Hebrew word "Messiah." Based on the words of ancient prophets, the first century Jewish people
expected the arrival of the Messiah promised by God as a great deliver of the people.
2.Santa Claus and other bringers of gifts
Santa Claus hands out gifts during the US Civil War in Thomas Nast's first Santa Claus cartoon,
Harper's Weekly, 1863.
In Western culture, where the holiday is characterized by the exchange of gifts among friends
and family members, some of the gifts are attributed to a character called Santa Claus (also
known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas or St. Nikolaus, Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle, Joulupukki,
Weihnachtsmann, Saint Basil and Father Frost).
The popular image of Santa Claus was created by the German-American cartoonist Thomas Nast
(1840-1902), who drew a new image annually, beginning in 1863. By the 1880s, Nast's Santa had
evolved into the form we now recognize. The image was standardized by advertisers in the 1920s.
Father Christmas, who predates the Santa Claus character, was first recorded in the 15th century, but was associated with holiday merrymaking and drunkenness.[35] In Victorian Britain, his image was remade to match that of Santa. The French Père Noël evolved along similar lines, eventually adopting the Santa image. In Italy, Babbo Natale acts as Santa Claus, while La Befana is the bringer of gifts and arrives on the eve of the Epiphany. It is said that La Befana set out to bring the baby Jesus gifts, but got lost along the way. Now, she brings gifts to all children.
3.Christmas tree and other decorations
The Christmas tree is often explained as a Christianization of pagan tradition and ritual
surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of evergreen boughs, and an
adaptation of pagan tree worship.The English language phrase "Christmas tree" is first
recorded in 1835 and represents an importation from the German language. The modern Christmas
tree tradition is believed to have begun in Germany in the 18th century though many argue
that Martin Luther began the tradition in the 16th century.From Germany the custom was
introduced to England, first via Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, and then more successfully by Prince Albert during the reign of Queen Victoria. Around the same time, German immigrants introduced the custom into the United States.Christmas trees may be decorated with lights and ornaments. |
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