Christmas is traditionally a festive time of year. It is the biggest holiday of the year for Christians. Christmas has both a strong religious and traditional meaning. Most historians agree that Christmas (Christ-Mass), as we know it today, began in Germany, though Catholics and Lutherans still disagree about which church celebrated it first. Christmas celebrates humanity and mankind and conveys message of love, tolerance, brotherhood and the spirit of giving. It is celebrated on the 25th December, the date when Jesus Christ was born. Christmas is not simply a national or world holiday. It is a deeply personal event for every Christian. It is the time to stop and think about these important questions. Christmas is celebrated in many different ways around the world. In the United States and other countries, many churches and homes display a Nativity scene. Christmas trees are part of a long tradition of greenery being taken into the home at Christmas to brighten the dreary winter. They became common in Norway from around 1900. The custom of having Christmas trees is originally from Germany. Mistletoe was popular with Druid priests because it remained green throughout winter.On the Eve of Christmas, it is traditional for all family members to gather to share a special meal. Christmas carols are also popular as they expressed joyful and merry themes in their carol lyrics as opposed to the normal, more sombre, Christian lyrics found in hymns. Despite the many cultural differences, there are Christmas customs and traditions that can be considered universal. Gift giving is one of these. You may not receive any gift on your birthday, but expect to receive at least one gift on Christmas. You cannot afford not to give your loved ones gifts as well. Christmas gifts, no matter how simple or extravagant they are, never fail to touch the hearts of their recipients. Indeed, gift giving is one way of making Christmas memorable. We love keeping those small things given to us in our shoe boxes of memories. Looking at those little presents make us remember how we are given importance and loved by the people who gave them to us. Christmas is one of the most joyous traditions and in colder climates, it's fun to look forward to the holiday season when it's so bleak and freezing outside!
Happy Holidays ...hohoho!
Christmas In Our Hearts
