Christmas (Christmas) also known as Christmas, Jesus' birthday, translated as "Christ Mass", is a Western traditional festival, originated from Christianity, on December 25 every year.
An important Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus. Christmas customs spread to Asia mainly in the middle of the 19th century, Japan, South Korea and so on are affected by the Christmas culture. Nowadays, it has become a common custom in the west to give each other gifts at Christmas, such as Lighted Lantern Snow Globe, hold a joyous banquet, and add festive atmosphere with Santa Claus and Christmas tree. Christmas has also become a public holiday in the Western world and many other parts of the world.
Commemorating the birth of Jesus
It is said that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. God also sent Gabriel to Joseph in a dream, telling him not to abandon Mary because she was unmarried and pregnant, but to marry her and name the child Jesus, which meant that he would save the people from their SINS.
When Mary was about to give birth, the Roman government ordered all the people to Bethlehem must declare household registration. Joseph and Mary had to obey. When they arrived in Bethlehem, it was already dark, but two people could not find a hotel to spend the night, only a stable can stay. Just then Jesus was going to be born. So Mary gave birth to Jesus only in the manger. Later generations to commemorate the birth of Jesus, will set December 25 for Christmas, annual hope Mass, to commemorate the birth of Jesus.
Roman church establishment
At the beginning of the 4th century, January 6 is the eastern part of the Roman Empire churches to commemorate the birth and baptism of Jesus double festival, known as the "Epiphany" (Epiphany), also known as the "Epiphany", that is, God through Jesus to show himself to the world. The only exception at that time was the church in La Leng, which only commemorated the birth of Jesus and not his baptism. After historians in the Roman Christian practice of the calendar found in AD 354 on December 25 page recorded: "Christ was born in Bethlehem in Judah." After the study, it is generally believed that December 25 accompanied by Christmas may begin in 336 AD the Roman church, about in 375 AD to Asia Minor Antioch, 430 AD to Egypt Alexandria, the church of the Lucarum to accept the latest, and the Armenian church is still insist on January 6 Epiphany is the birthday of Jesus.
December 25 Japan is the Persian sun god (that is, the god of light) Mithra (Mithra) birthday, is a pagan festival, at the same time the sun God is also one of the gods of the Roman state. This day is also the winter solstice festival of the Roman almanac, pagans worship the sun God took this day as the hope of spring, the beginning of all things recovery. For this reason, the Roman Church chose this day as Christmas. This was one of the early attempts of the Church to Christianize pagan customs. Later, although most churches accept December 25 for Christmas, but also solid around the church to use the almanac is different, the specific date can not be unified, so the December 24 to the next year on January 6 as Christmas festival (Christmas Tide), the local church can according to the specific situation in this period of the festival to celebrate Christmas. Since December 25 was recognized as Christmas by most churches, the original Epiphany on January 6 was only to commemorate the baptism of Jesus, but the Catholic Church put January 6 as the "three Kings to the festival", in order to commemorate the birth of Jesus three Kings of the East (that is, three doctors) to worship the story. With the wide spread of Christianity, Christmas has become an important festival for Christians of all denominations, even the majority of non-Christians.
Santa Claus
In the fourth century, Nicholas was born in Asia Minor in the city of Badala, a wealthy family, parents are very enthusiastic Catholic friends, unfortunately, his parents died young. Nicholas grew up, then the rich property, all donated to the poor and poor people, he is a monastic, dedicated to the church, life for social service. Nicholas became a priest and was raised to bishop. During his life, he did a lot of charity work, he liked to secretly help the poor, Santa Claus is his later nickname, this name is from his secret send money, help three girls story.
After his death, Nicholas was honored as a saint. He was an old man with a white beard and a red hat. Every Christmas he came from the north on a sleigh pulled by a deer, entered the house by the chimney, and hung the Christmas presents in stockings on the children's beds or in front of the fire.
development
Christmas is a religious holiday. In the nineteenth century, the popularity of Christmas cards, Santa Claus, so that Christmas began to gradually popular. After Christmas celebrations became popular in northern Europe, Christmas decorations incorporating the Northern Hemisphere winter also appeared.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the whole of Europe and America began to have Christmas. And derived the corresponding Christmas culture.
Christmas spread to Asia in the middle of the 19th century, Japan, Korea, China and so on are affected by Christmas culture.
After the reform and opening up, the spread of Christmas in China is particularly prominent, to the early 21st century, Christmas organically combined with Chinese local customs, the development of increasingly mature. Eating apples, wearing Christmas hats, sending Christmas cards, attending Christmas parties, Christmas shopping and so on have become part of Chinese life.
Christmas decorations
Christmas socks, the earliest before is a pair of red socks, the size of the informal. Because Christmas stockings are to be used to pack gifts, so it is the children's favorite thing, at night they will hang their socks on the bed, waiting for the next morning; Christmas hat, is a red hat, said to wear at night to sleep in addition to sleep and a little warm, the next day will be found in the hat a little more beloved gift; Christmas tree, usually before and after Christmas people put an evergreen plant (such as pine) into the house or put it outdoors, decorated with Christmas lights and colorful ornaments, and put an angel or star on the top of the tree, Christmas tree originated in Germany; CHRISTMAS ring, Western countries during the Christmas period hanging on the door used decorations, usually with green branches and leaves or rattan (pine hair, pine needles, etc.) and silver metal and gold bells with red ribbon composed of the main color, with green, white, yellow, red four colors on behalf of joy, also written with MERRY CHRISTMAS or simply X'mas words, Christmas rings first appeared in Finland.