The Meaning of Christmas
Merry Christmas!
As you know Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon.
For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature.
Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, The Savior of mankind whose teachings form the basis of their faith.
Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive.
December 25th Christmas Day, has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.
The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus,
Early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice,
When the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.
In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated.
In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date for his birth.
Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring, why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?
It is commonly believed that the early church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the Feast of the Nativity,
The custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread all the way to Scandinavia.
Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day.
This is the day it is believed that the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger.
By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals,
Church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated.
By the Middle Ages, Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion. On Christmas, believers attended church, then celebrated a beggar or student being crowned the “lord of misrule”
And eager celebrants played the part of his subjects. The poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food and drink.
If owners failed to comply, their visitors would most likely terrorize them with mischief.
Christmas became the time of year when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined “debt” to society by entertaining less fortunate citizens.
The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were orthodox in their Puritan beliefs.
As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681,
Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown settlement,
Captain John Smith reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident.
After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas.
In fact, Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.
It wasn’t until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas.
Americans re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a family-centered day of peace and nostalgia.
The early 19th century was a period of class conflict and turmoil.
During this time, unemployment was high and gang rioting by the disenchanted classes often occurred during the Christmas season.
In 1828, the New York city council instituted the city’s first police force in response to a Christmas riot.
This catalyzed certain members of the upper classes to begin to change the way Christmas was celebrated in America.
Also around this time, English author Charles Dickens created the classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol.
The story’s message of importance of charity and good will towards all humankind-struck a powerful chord in the United States,
And England and showed members of Victorian society the benefits of celebrating the holiday.
The family was also becoming less disciplined and more sensitive to the emotional needs of children during the early 1800s.
Christmas provided families with a day when they could lavish attention-and gifts-on their children without appearing to “spoil” them.
As Americans began to embrace Christmas as a perfect family holiday, old customs were unearthed.
People looked toward recent immigrants and Catholic and Episcopalian churches to see how the day should be celebrated. In the next 100 years,
Americans built a Christmas tradition all their own that included pieces of many other customs, including decorating trees, sending holiday cards and gift-giving.
Although most families quickly bought into the idea that they were celebrating Christmas how it had been done for centuries,
Americans had really re-invented a holiday to fill the cultural needs of a growing nation.
Christmas Facts:
Each year, 30-35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States alone.
There are 21,000 Christmas tree growers in the United States, and trees usually grow for about 15 years before they are sold.
In the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day.
This is the day it is believed that the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger.
The first eggnog made in the United States was consumed in Captain John Smith’s 1607 Jamestown settlement.
Poinsettia plants are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister to Mexico,
Who brought the red-and-green plant from Mexico to America in 1828.
The Salvation Army has been sending Santa Claus-clad donation collectors into the streets since the 1890s.
Rudolph, “the most famous reindeer of all,” was the product of Robert L. May’s imagination in 1939.
The copywriter wrote a poem about the reindeer to help lure customers into the Montgomery Ward department store.
Construction workers started the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition in 1931.
Long before there was a Grinch who stole Christmas, there was Krampus, the devilish half-man, half-goat,
That helps out St. Nicholas by stuffing naughty children in sacks and dragging them to pusnishmment.
The War on Christmas begins around the same time each year, when stores start peddling plastic Christmas trees and giant Santa Claus inflatables.
Depending on which media talking head is speaking, the war is either a subversive effort by left-wing liberals to erase all traces of Christmas!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when cooks around the country take to their kitchens to bake cookies galore.
Whether you prefer gingerbread men, crisp springerle or crunchy biscotti, chances are you’ll enjoy some fresh baked Christmas cookies this holiday season.
Santa Claus
The man we know as Santa Claus has a history all his own.
Today, he is thought of mainly as the jolly man in red, but his story stretches all the way back to the 3rd century.
1941
Bing Crosby introduces “White Christmas” to the world
“White Christmas,” written by the formidable composer and lyricist Irving Berlin receives its world premiere.
It went on to become one of the most commercially successful singles of all time,
MOST IMPORTANT:
Here is the History of Christmas as told by the Scripture.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; Because he was of the house and lineage of David: To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with Child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, And wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, and the glory of the LORD shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the LORD hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
LUKE 2:1-20
Of the increase of His Government and peace there shall be no end, upon the Throne of David, and upon His Kingdom,