Christmas is fast approaching,33 days before christmas, i saw lantern and colored lights everywhere,and the cuty things is that,kids are caroling and my coins almost rans out..oh well i need more i guess till christmas day.shopping malls are all decorated with beautiful christmas decors,but what i love the most on the yulletide season is,lots of gifts,and food as well,but ofcourse is not only material things,for me christmas is time of forgiveness,a time to spend with the family,and a time to renew our faith,coz christ our saviour was born for us to save from our sin.as a catholic i strongly believed and have faith for jesus christ his only son is the only way of our salvation.
Origin why we celebrate christmas
For members of the Christian faith, Christmas is the traditional day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The actual date of Jesus' birth is not known, but December 25 became the date to commemorate the occasion. The date was chosen by the Romans to coincide with the winter solstice and other winter festivals as a way to convert the Romans to Christianity without forcing them to give up their pagan feasts.
The word Christmas comes from the old English "Christ's mass." It is often called Xmas because the first letter for Christ in the Greek New Testament is X. During the Middle Ages, the celebration of Jesus' birth became a time of feasting and gift giving. The celebration of this holiday was popular at some times in history, and at other times it was forgotten.
In the western world, the celebration of Christmas as we know it can be traced to the influence of two writers. In the United States, Clement Clarke Moore published the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas (otherwise known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas) in 1823, and helped popularize the celebration of Christmas and the legend of Santa Claus. Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843, and it helped to revive the celebration of Christmas in England. The book also focused the celebration into one of charity and family.
Christian meaning
To Christians, Christmas and Easter are the two most important days of the year. One commemorates the birth of Christ; the other remembers His death and resurrection. In order to honor the meaning of Christmas, many Christians decorate with Nativity scenes. Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary and her betrothed, Joseph, in the town of Bethlehem in Israel. Angels appeared to shepherds in the nearby hills to announce his birth, and the shepherds rushed to find the baby who was lying in the manger. Magi, or Wise Men, from the East also visited the Christ-child, bringing Him gifts to acknowledge His deity.
Many churches have a Christmas Eve service, including carols and candlelight. The traditional Christmas carols, like Silent Night, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Away in a Manger all tell the story of Jesus' birth, and the songs are played and sung every year at Christmas time. Some Christian traditions honor the month leading up to Christmas, called Advent, by lighting candles on a wreath and reading Scripture passages.
