| The history and origin of this most popular holiday of | | | | A.D, the Bishop of Rome, Pope Julius I, fixed |
| the year, Christmas, can be traced to something | | | | December 25 as the official day for Christmas. This |
| above 4000 years back in time, and is associated | | | | date, the day of the winter solstice, was wisely |
| with the early Mesopotamians. It is widely believed | | | | chosen with the intention to outweigh the popular |
| that many traditions and ceremonial aspects of | | | | pagan Roman holiday of Saturnalia. |
| Christmas can be found at a time long before Christ | | | | Story Of Christ |
| was born, the time when the early Mesopotamians | | | | Jesus Christ's coming to this world was predicted by |
| lived. The history of Christmas is, therefore, way | | | | the prophets years before His birth. The Old |
| back in centuries. | | | | Testament has in it, over 300 such prophecies. And, |
| The Mesopotamians had a twelve day-long New | | | | you'll be truly surprised to know that all of these |
| Year's festival called the Zagmuk, which was | | | | proved true-from Christ's miraculous birth, His sinless |
| celebrated to help their chief god Marduk in his battle | | | | life, His atrocious death to His astounding resurrection. |
| against the monsters of chaos. Each year in winter, | | | | Now, if you want to know the complete story of |
| the Mesopotamian king traditionally visited Marduk's | | | | Christ, read on. |
| temple and at the end, the custom was to kill the | | | | There lived in the village of Nazareth a carpenter |
| king who would then go with Marduk in the | | | | called Joseph, who married a young virgin named |
| battlefield. However, the real king was spared and a | | | | Mary of the same village. Mary once had a beautiful |
| mock king (who was almost always a criminal | | | | dream in which an angel came to her and said that |
| dressed in royal robes) was slain. | | | | she had been chosen to bear the Divine Child, Jesus, |
| Sacaea was a similar celebration of the Persians and | | | | the Son of God. But the young couple was forced to |
| Babylonians where roles were reversed for a | | | | leave Nazareth and return to their towns of birth |
| day--slaves became masters and masters slaved | | | | following a whimsical declaration of the emperor |
| about as servants. | | | | there. And so, they set off for Bethlehem. |
| Much in the same street as Zagmuk and Sacaea, the | | | | It was a very long journey spanning several days and |
| ancient Greeks had a festival to help their god | | | | nights. Mary, who was bearing Jesus at the time, was |
| Kronos in his battle against Zeus and his Titans. | | | | carried by a donkey, and Joseph walked beside her. |
| The Scandinavians had a festival called Yuletide which | | | | After some days, they reached Bethlehem. |
| celebrated the return of the sun after a long, | | | | Desperately looking for shelter, they were turned |
| lightless, chilly winter. Special feasts were held around | | | | down by every potential host. At last, the fatigued |
| big bonfires made with the Yule log. | | | | couple chanced upon a cave in the hills, with a stable |
| Romans were no exception either. They had their | | | | in it. Joseph made a bed of hay for his weary wife. |
| god Saturn to celebrate. Starting mid-December and | | | | The next night, Mary gave birth to the Son of God |
| ending January 1, the Roman festival Saturnalia, | | | | and named Him Jesus, as was instructed by the angel |
| featured boisterous shouts "Jo Saturnalia", elaborate | | | | in her dream. |
| masquerades, exchanging gifts, holding special feasts, | | | | The birth of Jesus was marked by the appearance |
| decking up halls with laurel wreaths and putting up | | | | of a bright star over Bethlehem, which could be seen |
| candles on evergreens. This Saturnalia festival has a | | | | from miles around. In the hilly fields nearby, some |
| close similarity with today's Christmas celebrations | | | | shepherds were managing their flocks, when an angel |
| and hence the history of Christmas is heavily linked | | | | appeared before them and told them that a Savior |
| to this ancient Saturnalia. But the Christians refused | | | | was born in Bethlehem. The shepherds were also told |
| to honor the pagan Roman god Saturn. The early | | | | that they were to find the babe in a manger, |
| Christians couldn't come to terms with such a frantic | | | | wrapped in swaddling clothes. They soon reached the |
| Christmas celebration, and wanted to observe the | | | | place where Jesus was born to Joseph and Mary. |
| birthday of their Lord with devout offerings and | | | | Also, following the shining star in the sky, came the |
| sincere devotion. | | | | Three Wise Men from the east, who are more |
| However, as time went on and Christianity spread to | | | | popularly known as the Magi. Bowing before the |
| every nook and corner of the world, the Church | | | | newborn, they offered gifts of gold, frankincense |
| slowly loosened up a little, and came to accept the | | | | and myrrh to Him. These gifts had a special symbolic |
| merry-making during Christmas. Today, Christmas is | | | | significance. The gold symbolized Kingship- that He |
| really incomplete without those decorations of tinsel | | | | would be a King. Frankincense symbolized His Divine |
| and streamers, the lights and candles, the piping hot | | | | nature, and myrrh stood for a life of suffering and |
| turkey with pies around, the decked halls, the | | | | sacrifice. |
| mistletoe on the doorway, the holly, and the | | | | Do you know where the word 'Christmas' sprang |
| stockings over the fireplace, the bells on the | | | | from ? Christmas is derived from the words 'Cristes |
| Christmas tree and the colorful greetings and gifts. | | | | Maesse', meaning Christ's Mass. It is also sometimes |
| Now ever wondered why Christmas is celebrated on | | | | referred to as Xmas. This 'X' in the word stands for |
| December 25 ? Is it the day when Jesus Christ was | | | | 'Xristos', and means Christ in Greek. Xristos Mass is |
| born ? Well, nobody knows for sure exactly when | | | | shortened to Xmas. However, this shouldn't be |
| Christ was born. There had been a lot of dispute | | | | looked upon as a move to bump off Christ's name |
| over fixing December 25 as Christmas. In the 2nd | | | | from Christmas. It's simply another way of referring |
| century A.D, Hippolytus claimed this day as Christ's | | | | to Christmas. So wish a 'Merry Christmas' to your |
| birthday. Then January 6 was declared by the | | | | loved ones and dive into celebrating the holidays ! |
| Eastern Church as the day of His birth. Finally, in 350 | | | | |