The origin of Christmas

Excerpt from Sohu’s “historical story”

December 25 is the day when Christians commemorate the birth of Jesus, which is called “Christmas”.

Christmas, also known as Christmas and Jesus’ birthday, is translated as “Christ mass” , is a traditional western festival and the most important festival in many western countries. At this time of year, cheerful Christmas songs are flying in the streets and alleys, and the shopping malls are full of colorful and dazzling, filled with a warm and happy atmosphere everywhere. In their sweet dreams, children are looking forward to Santa Claus falling from the sky and bringing their dream gifts. Every child is full of expectations, because children always fantasize that as long as there are socks at the head of the bed, there will be gifts they want on Christmas day.

Christmas originated from the Roman god of agriculture festival to welcome the new year, which has nothing to do with Christianity. After Christianity prevailed in the Roman Empire, the Holy See incorporated this folk festival into the Christian system to celebrate the birth of Jesus. However, Christmas Day is not Jesus’ birthday, because the Bible does not record the specific day Jesus was born, nor does it mention such festivals, which is the result of Christianity’s absorption of ancient Roman mythology.

Most catholic churches first hold midnight mass on Christmas Eve on December 24, that is, in the early morning of December 25, while some Christian churches will give good news, and then celebrate Christmas on December 25; Today, Christmas is a public holiday in the western world and many other regions.

1、 The origin of Christmas

Christmas is a traditional western festival. On December 25 every year, people get together and have a feast. The most common saying about the origin of Christmas is to commemorate the birth of Jesus. According to the Bible, the holy book of Christians, God decided to let his only Son Jesus Christ be born into the world, find a mother, and then live in the world, so that people can better understand God, learn to love God and love each other.

1. Commemorating the birth of Jesus

“Christmas” means “celebrate Christ”, celebrating the birth of Jesus by a young Jewish woman Maria.

It is said that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born by the Virgin Mary. Maria is engaged to carpenter Joseph. However, before they lived together, Joseph found that Maria was pregnant. Joseph wanted to break up with her quietly because he was a decent man and didn’t want to embarrass her by telling her about it. God sent the messenger Gabriel to tell Joseph in a dream that he would not want Mary because she was unmarried and pregnant. The child she was pregnant with came from the Holy Spirit. Instead, he would marry her and name the child “Jesus”, which meant that he would save the people from sin.

When Maria was about to be in the process of production, the Rome government ordered that all the people in Bethlehem must declare their registered residence. Joseph and Mary had to obey. When they arrived in Bethlehem, it was dark, but they couldn’t find a hotel to spend the night. There was only a horse shed to stay temporarily. Just then, Jesus was about to be born. So Mary gave birth to Jesus only in the manger.

In order to commemorate the birth of Jesus, later generations set December 25 as Christmas and looked forward to mass every year to commemorate the birth of Jesus.

2. Establishment of the Roman Church

At the beginning of the 4th century, January 6 was a double festival for churches in the eastern part of the Roman Empire to commemorate the birth and baptism of Jesus It is called epiphany, also known as “Epiphany”, that is, God shows himself to the world through Jesus. At that time, there was only the church in naluraleng, which only commemorated the birth of Jesus rather than the baptism of Jesus. Later historians found in the calendar commonly used by Roman Christians that it was recorded on the page of December 25, 354: “Christ was born in Bethlehem, Judah.” After research, it is generally believed that December 25 accompanied by Christmas may have started in the Roman Church in 336, spread to Antioch in Asia Minor in about 375, and to Alexandria in Egypt in 430. The church in Nalu Salem accepted it the latest, while the church in Armenia still insisted that Epiphany on January 6 was the birthday of Jesus.

December 25 Japan is Mithra, the Persian Sun God (the God of light) Mithra’s birthday is a pagan festival. At the same time, the sun god is also one of the gods of the Roman state religion. This day is also the winter solstice festival in the Roman calendar. Pagans who worship the sun god regard this day as the hope of spring and the beginning of the recovery of all things. For this reason, the Roman church chose this day as Christmas. This is the customs and habits of pagans in the early days of the church One of the measures of education.

Later, although most churches accepted December 25 as Christmas, the calendars used by churches in different places were different, and the specific dates could not be unified, Therefore, the period from December 24 to January 6 of the next year was designated as Christmas tide, and churches everywhere could celebrate Christmas during this period according to local specific conditions. Since December 25 was recognized as Christmas by most churches, the Epiphany on January 6 only commemorated Jesus’ baptism, but the Catholic Church designated January 6 as the “three kings’ coming festival” To commemorate the story of the three kings of the East (i.e. three doctors) who came to worship when Jesus was born.

With the wide spread of Christianity, Christmas has become an important festival for Christians of all sects and even non Christians.

2、 The development of Christmas

The most popular saying is that Christmas is set up to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But the Bible never mentioned that Jesus was born on this day, and even many historians believe that Jesus was born in spring. It was not until the 3rd century that December 25 was officially designated Christmas. Nevertheless, some orthodox religions set January 6 and 7 as Christmas.

Christmas is a religious holiday. In the 19th century, the popularity of Christmas cards and the emergence of Santa Claus made Christmas gradually popular. After the popularity of Christmas celebration in northern Europe, Christmas decoration combined with winter in the northern hemisphere also appeared.

From the beginning of the 19th century to the middle of the 19th century, Christmas began to be celebrated throughout Europe and America. And derived the corresponding Christmas culture.

Christmas spread to Asia in the middle of the 19th century. Japan, South Korea and China were influenced by Christmas culture.

After the reform and opening up, Christmas spread particularly prominently in China. At the beginning of the 21st century, Christmas organically combined with Chinese local customs and developed more and more mature. Eating apples, wearing christmas hats, sending Christmas cards, attending Christmas parties and Christmas shopping have become a part of Chinese life.

Today, Christmas has gradually faded its original strong religious nature, becoming not only a religious festival, but also a western traditional folk festival of family reunion, dinner together and gifts to children