Christmas is Not Pagan

8/3/2019 Christmas is Not Pagan

1/51

Christmas isNotPagan - Part IV

By Dr. Richard P. Bucher

The Arguments Put Forth By Those Who Oppose Christmas

(3) The date of Christmas (December 25), and its many customs all come from pagan sources.Therefore Christmas is pagan.

It is when the "Christmas is pagan" literature examines the origin of the dating of Christmas on Dec. 25,that the anti-Christmas advocates become convinced that Christmas is wholly pagan. This is their strongestargument. The argument goes like this: Since no one knows when Jesus was born, where did the Churchget the idea of celebrating it on Dec. 25? From the pagans who had several festivals the time of the wintersolstice which honored pagan gods. Where did the pagans at the time of the Roman empire get the idea? Itcame from the paganism of ancient Babylon, a paganism begun by Nimrod and his wife.

One example of this argument is "Are Christianity and Christmas Compatible?" by Adam Wiemers:

Why is Christmas celebrated on Dec. 25th? The answer is rather surprising.

Just a little research reveals that Christmas was actually adapted from a Roman celebration

called Saturnalia. The Encyclopedia Romana* explains that "at the time of the winter solstice(December 25 in the Julian calendar), Saturnus, the god of seed and sowing, was honored with a

festival." The encyclopedia goes on to state that "the Saturnalia did continue to be celebrated as

Brumalia (from "bruma," winter solstice) down to the Christian era, when, by the middle of the

fourth century AD, its rituals had become absorbed in the celebration of Christmas."

Isn't that alarming? The very ways that Christmas is celebrated are directly borrowed from a

festival to a god of the Romans!

This is only partially true. It is certainly well known that the Bible does not tell us the exact date of Christ's

birth. As we saw in the previous section, Christians have been trying to pinpoint that date since the earlycenturies of the Church. Nevertheless, no one can say for certain which date is accurate.

The Romans, like many other cultures at the time of the winter solstice, had various festivals. Saturnalia,was a festival that honored Saturn, the god of agriculture, from Dec. 17-24. It was the most popular festivalof the year and did involve merrymaking, gift-giving, relaxed morality, and temporary freedom for slaves,who were allowed to do and speak whatever they wanted. But not unlike many of our Christmas feaststoday, by the early Fourth Century, the religious aspect of Saturnalia had faded, and the secularmerrymaking had come to the fore. It is not likely, however, that Christians chose Dec. 25 to celebrateChrist's birth on the basis of Saturnalia.

The earliest extant record of Christ's birth being observed on December 25 is the Chronography in 354A.D. This document was based upon a calendar that dated it to about 336 (Herman Wegman, Christian

Worship in East and West, New York: Pueblo Publishing, 1985, 103).The Chronography was a documentof the Church of Rome that listed the various martyrs' feasts for the year. By the time that Chrysostom wasBishop of Constantinople (398-404), Christ's birth was being observed on Dec. 25 throughout Christendom,though the Church in Armenia observed it on January 6.

But how did it happen that the early Christians began observing Christmas on December 25? Why thisdate? There are two theories about why December 25 was chosen.


2/51

(1) The first theory holds that after careful research, Julius (337-352), Bishop of Rome, determined thatChrist had been born on December 25; or at least he determined that December 25 was the bestauthenticated date in the Tradition. John Chrystostom states this in one of his writings (John Chrysostom,Homil. Diem Natal., 2; PL, 49, 552ff.). Chrysostom claims that Julius, after he had been requested by Cyrilof Jerusalem, had the official records of the Roman census examined and determined that December 25 wasthe correct date. As Weiser points out, however, there is no evidence to back this up; in fact, "it wasexpressly stated in Rome that the actual date of the Saviour's birth was unknown and that differenttraditions prevailed in different parts of the world" (F. Weiser, Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs -New York: Harcourt, Brace, and Company, 1958, 61.).

(2) The second theory states that the Church of Rome deliberately chose December 25 as the date ofChrist's birth to turn people away from a pagan feast that was observed at the same time. Since the time ofthe Roman emperor Elagabulus (218-222), the god Sol Invictus (he Unconquered Sun god), had been oneof the chief deities worshiped by the Romans. When emperor Aurelian (270-275) came to power, he soughtto restore the worship of the Sun god to prominence and make him the chief deity. In the last years of hisreign, Sol was hailed as "The Lord of the Roman Empire." Sol, along, with Jupiter, appeared on the coinsAurelian had minted. In 274, the emperor built a magnificent temple to Sun god, and established a newcollege of senators which he named "the priests of the Sun god." Finally, December 25 was observed as"the birthday of the Sun god" (natalis solis invicti). Because the Sun god was identifed with Mithra, apopular Persian god that also was viewed as the Sun god, pagan celebrations occurred throughout theempire on Dec. 25 (see Clement A. Miles, Christmas, New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1912, 23).The Church at Rome seems to have chosen this date to counteract this pagan feast of the sun god and turnpeople instead to the "Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings" (Malachi 4:2; Luke 1:78). Or putanother way, Julius chose December 25 so that the Son of God rather than the Sun god would beworshiped. Though there no direct evidence that proves that the Church of Rome deliberately choseDecember 25 so that Christ's birth would replace "the birthday of the sun," we do have sermons fromfathers of the church who soon after this used this line of reasoning. For example, Augustine (354-430) inhis sermon 202 and Leo the Great (440-461 -- PL 54 Sources chrtiennes 22) gives this line of reasoning.

Therefore, the second theory seems to be the probable one. December 25 was chosen not because it hadsomehow been proven from extra-biblical sources that Christ was definitely born on December 25. Ratherthe date was chosen to counteract a very popular pagan holiday that already had been occurring on thisdate.

Given what we learned about emperor Constantine in the previous section, it is likely that his embracing ofChristianity and example influenced the Church of Rome in doing what they did. But there is no evidenceof Constantine's direct involvement.

Now does the fact that the Church of Rome chose the same date to celebrate Christ's birth as a popularpagan festival mean that "Christmas is based on a pagan festival" or that "Christmas is pagan"? I don't thinkso! What kind of reasoning is that? It simply means that they chose the same day - why, we don't exactlyknow. Perhaps they chose it to keep Christians from taking part in the pagan festivities, or perhaps to enticepagans to join the Christian faith. If a group of Christians chose to celebrate Christ's birth on Halloween oron some well known Satanic day, would it be fair or right to accuse them of basing Christ's birth onpaganism, so that from then on Christmas would be forever pagan? Of course not! In this case the

Christians might be doing this to give themselves something Christian to celebrate on the day. Is thatwrong? Placing a Christian feast on a well known non-Christian day does not make the Christian feast non-Christian. They are merely sharing the day. We worship our God on Sunday, which in Roman times, wasthe day dedicated to the Sun-god. Does that make our worship on Sunday pagan? Perhaps we shouldworship on Saturday. But that day in Roman times was named in honor of the god Saturn. Would that makeour festivals on Saturday pagan? Of course not. But this is the kind of faulty logic used by the "Christmas ispagan" crowd.

It gets worse. The "Christmas is pagan" argument typically asks a further question: Where did the Romansget their pagan festivals at the time of the winter solstice? Answer: From the paganism of ancient Babylon,


3/51

which was initiated by Nimrod and his wife, Semiramus. A classic example of this argument is found in atract by the World Wide Church of God entitled, "The Plain Truth About Christmas," here quoted at somelength.

But if we got Christmas from the Roman Catholics, and they got it from paganism, where did the

pagans get it? Where, when, and what as its real origin? It is a chief custom of the corrupt system

denounced all through Bible prophecies and teachings under the name of Babylon. And it startedand originated in the original Babylon of ancient Nimrod! Yes, it stems from roots whosebeginning was shortly this side of the Flood! Nimrod, grandson of Ham, son of Noah, was the real

founder of the Babylonish system that has gripped the world ever since . . . . Nimrod built the

tower of Babel, the original Babylon, ancient Nineveh, and many other cities. He organized this

world's first kingdom. The name Nimrod, in Hebrew, is derived from "Marad," meaning "he

rebelled." . . . Nimrod was so evil, it is said he married his own mother, whose name was

Semiramis. After Nimrod's untimely death, his so-called mother-wife, Semiramis, propagated the

evil doctrine of the survival of Nimrod as a spirit being. She claimed a full-grown evergreen tree

sprang overnight from a dead tree stump, which symbolized the springing forth unto new life thedead Nimrod. On each anniversary of his birth, she claimed, Nimrod would visit the evergreen

tree and leave gifts upon it. December 25th was the birthday of Nimrod. This is the real origin of

the Christmas tree. Through her scheming and designing, Semiramis became the Babylonian

"Queen of Heaven," and Nimrod, under various names, became the "divine son of heaven."

Through the generations, in this idolatrous worship, Nimrod also became the false Messiah, son

of Baal the Sun-god. In this false Babylonish system, the "Mother and Child" (Semiramis and

Nimrod reborn) became chief objects of worship. This worship of "Mother and Child" spread over

the world. The names varied in different countries and languages. In Egypt it was Isis and Osiris.In Asia, Cybele and Deoius. . . . Thus, during the fourth and fifth centuries, when the pagans of the

Roman world were "accepting" the new popular "Christianity" by the hundreds of thousands,

carrying their old pagan customs and beliefs along with them, merely cloaking them with

Christian-sounding names . . . . The real origin of Christmas goes back to ancient Babylon. It is

bound up in the organized apostasy which has gripped a deceived world these many centuries! In

Egypt, it was always believed that the son of Isis (Egyptian name for "Queen of Heaven") was

born December 25th. Paganism celebrated this famous birthday over most of the known world for

centuries before the birth of Christ. December 25th is not the birthday of Jesus the true Christ!

So goes the argument, which is repeated by many different anti-Christmas authors. Where in the world didsuch an argument come from? This was the thesis of Alexander Hislop, who in the Nineteenth Centurywrote a book entitled, "The Two Babylons: Or the Papal Worship Proved to be the Worship of Nimrod andHis Wife." It was Hislop's thesis that the Roman Catholic Church was a direct descendent of the paganismof Nimrod and ancient Babylon. One of his arguments was that some of the chief holy days of the RomanCatholic Church, such as Christmas, prove this to be so. The stamp of Hislop's thesis is found all over mostof the anti-Christmas literature that I've seen. But is his argument sound?

Hardly. I have no doubt that Hislop consulted a vast amount of sources in writing his book. This is obviousin reading it. But some of its key arguments are flawed. He makes many philological leaps of faith to provehis points. For example, his entire argument rests on making the Babylonian "Ninus" the same person asthe Biblical "Nimrod." (Nimrod is mentioned in only three places in the Scriptures, Gen. 10:8-12, 1 Chr.1:10, and Micah 5:6). Only then can he claim that the wife of Nimrod was Semiramis, and that both wereworshiped as divine mother and son, etc. Hislop himself recognizes how important this is, in this veryinteresting sentence:

Now, assuming that Ninus is Nimrod, the way in which that assumption explains what is otherwise

inexplicable in the statements of ancient history greatly confirms the truth of the assumption itself

(The Two Babylons, 25).

Got that? The point is that this turns out to be a big assumption. In other ancient literature, the father ofNinus was Bel, and it is said that he built the city of Nineveh. The Bible on the other hand says that Nimrod


4/51

built Nineveh, and that Cush was his father. The way in which Hislop attempts to reconcile thiscontradiction is a truly remarkable example of literary gymnastics that is hardly convincing. He argues thatBel is the same as Hermes/Mercury, and the same as Janus/Chaos, which is the same as Cush. Right. (Seefor yourself by reading the "The Two Babylons," 25-29).

It is possible that Nimrod, the grandson of Cush, led people into pagan worship. But the argument that all

paganism, and especially that all pagan festivals at the time of the winter solstice, can be traced back toNimrod, just doesn't hold. To say it is a scholarly stretch is an understatement. Yet most of the "Christmasis pagan" literature bases its arguments on Hislop's thesis.

Isn't it more likely, that many primitive cultures and religions would choose to celebrate the birth of theirgods at a time when the sun began to grow stronger, and thus be reborn? Isn't it much more likely that thisis the reason that so many pagan religions have festivals at the time of the winter solstice? I'll let you decidewhich thesis is stronger.

The last part of the third anti-Christmas argument to be considered is that the origin of the customs werepagan and therefore Christmas is pagan. It is well known that most of the customs of Christmas were alsoobserved in pagan culture and religion. Lights and mistletoe, trees and gift-giving, merry-making andrevelry, yule logs and holly, and yes, Santa Claus, all found use or expression in ancient pagan religion and

culture (The reader is encouraged to read my articles on "The Origin of the Christmas Tree," "The Origin ofSanta Claus and the Christan Response," and the "Christian Customs FAQ.").

But is similarity the same as dependence or derivation? In other words, just because we use similar customsdoes it mean in every case that these are directly derived from pagan religions? Cultures all over the worldhave used lights and trees, gift-giving and revelry for their celebrations. Why is it assumed that becauseChristians use these things at Christmas that they have taken them directly from paganism? If it isdiscovered that pagans drank milk or hugged their families at their pagan festivals, does that mean that ifChristians do so, they are engaging in paganism? But this is the kind of logic used by the anti-Christmascrowd.

Of course some Christmas customs are certainly taken from paganism. The use of the word yule and thevarious customs associated with it, for example, come from pagan culture. The word probably came the

Anglo-Saxongeol, which meant "feast." It is thought that among the Anglo-Saxons, the time of the wintersolstice was a time of a great feast.

But so what? Is everything that was once used by paganism centuries ago, now off limits when Christiansapply them to Christmas or other Christian festivals? Are we prepared to strictly apply that to everythingwe do? Why can't we use some of the same words, symbols or customs, which long ago ceased to be usedin the worship of false gods? We need to remember that before pagans coopted them centuries ago, Godhad given many of the things used in custom, as good gifts to be enjoyed by his people. Why then canChristians not redeem these good gifts for their use as they celebrate Christmas? In my opinion, it issufficient to point out to people the origin of these customs, and distinguish these "winter customs" fromthe true Christmas celebration, which has to do with the birth of God's Son, Jesus Christ. In my perfectworld, people would call all of those customs "winter customs" or "holiday customs" rather than"Christmas customs." "Christmas" would only be used to refer to the Christian holy day that remembers

Christ's birth. But I don't see that happening any time soon.

We cannot and should not stop the peoples of the world from celebrating at the time of the winter solstice.There is obviously something in us that makes us want and need to celebrate at this time of the year.Therefore we should not be surprised that at this time of the year even non-Christians are celebrating"Christmas," that is, using many of the customs now called Christmas customs.

I have not written this essay to condemn the "Christmas is pagan" crowd. And I certainly haven't written itto convince them that they must celebrate Christmas. Christians have never been commanded to celebrate


5/51

Christ's birth annually. Therefore they are free to do so or not do so. I have written this essay, however, tothose dear Christians who have been falsely taught that celebrating Christmas is celebrating paganism, andthey are wracked with guilt because of it. My message to them is: you are doing nothing wrong to celebratethe birth of God's Son; in fact, praising and thanking God for the gift of His Son is beautiful worship in thesight of God. There is also nothing wrong with using some of the winter customs, provided you keep themin perspective and don't allow them to bury the celebration of Christ's birth.

May all who read this, have a truly joyous Christmas celebration.

Christmas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation,search"Christmas Day" redirects here. For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation) andChristmas Day (disambiguation).

Christmas

Christmas decorationson display.

Also called

Christ's MassNativityNoelFeast of the Nativity

Observed byChristiansMany non-Christians[1]

Type Christian, cultural

Significance Traditional birthday ofJesus

DateDecember 25 (alternatively January 6,7 or 19)[2][3][4](see below)

ObservancesGift giving, church services, familyand other social gatherings, symbolicdecorating

Related toAnnunciation, Advent,Epiphany,Baptism of the Lord

Christmas orChristmas Day is a holiday[5] [6] [7] generally observed on December 25(with alternative days of January 6, 7 and 19[2]) to commemorate the birth ofJesus, the
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#mw-headhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#mw-headhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#p-searchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_(disambiguation)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Day_(disambiguation)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_decorationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_decorationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-nonXians-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_and_New_Style_dateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-altdays-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Jan7-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-4Dates-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Using_the_Julian_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annunciationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism_of_the_Lordhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holidayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holidayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-altdays-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nativity_tree.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#mw-headhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#p-searchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_(disambiguation)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Day_(disambiguation)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_decorationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-nonXians-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_and_New_Style_dateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-altdays-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Jan7-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-4Dates-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Using_the_Julian_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annunciationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism_of_the_Lordhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holidayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-altdays-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus


6/51

central figure ofChristianity.[8][9]The exactbirthday of Jesus is not known, and historiansplace his year of birth some time between 7 BC and 2 BC. Narratives of his birth areincluded in two of the Canonical gospels in theNew Testament of the Bible.

The date of Christmas may have initially been chosen to correspond with either the day

exactly nine months after Christians believe Jesus to have been conceived,[10]

the date ofthe Romanwinter solstice,[11] or one of various ancient winter festivals.[10][12] Christmas iscentral to the Christmas and holiday season, and in Christianity marks the beginning ofthe larger season ofChristmastide, which lasts twelve days.[13]

Although nominally a Christian holiday, Christmas is celebrated by an increasing numberof non-Christians worldwide,[1][14][15]and many of its popular celebratory customs havepre-Christianorsecularthemes and origins. Popular modern customs of the holidayinclude gift-giving, music, an exchange ofChristmas cards, church celebrations, a specialmeal, and the display of various decorations; including Christmas trees,lights,garlands,mistletoe, nativity scenes, and holly. In addition, several figures, known as Saint

Nicholas, Father Christmas, and Santa Claus, among other names, are associated withbringing gifts to children during the Christmas season.[16]

Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightenedeconomic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, the holiday has become asignificant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impactof Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily over the past few centuries in manyregions of the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-CathChrit-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-CathChrit-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Jesus#Birthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canonical_gospelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Testamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annunciationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-bib-arch.org-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-bib-arch.org-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solsticehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Newton-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_winter_festivalshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-bib-arch.org-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-bib-arch.org-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-SolInvictus-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_and_holiday_seasonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmastidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmastidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Days_of_Christmashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-CRI-Christmastide-12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-nonXians-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Christianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Christianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_economyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_treehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_lights_(holiday_decoration)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_lights_(holiday_decoration)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_lights_(holiday_decoration)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistletoehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_scenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Christmashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-CathChrit-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Jesus#Birthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canonical_gospelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Testamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annunciationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-bib-arch.org-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solsticehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Newton-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_winter_festivalshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-bib-arch.org-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-SolInvictus-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_and_holiday_seasonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmastidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Days_of_Christmashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-CRI-Christmastide-12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-nonXians-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Christianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_economyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_treehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_lights_(holiday_decoration)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistletoehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_scenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Christmashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-15


7/51

Contents

[hide]

1 Etymology

2 Celebrationo 2.1 Date of celebration

2.1.1 Using the Julian calendaro 2.2 Commemorating Jesus birth

o 2.3 Decorations

o 2.4 Music and carols

o 2.5 Food

o 2.6 Cards

o 2.7 Stamps

o 2.8 Gift giving

2.8.1 Legendary gift-bringing figures 3 History

o 3.1 Pre-Christian background

3.1.1 Dies Natalis Solis Invicti 3.1.2 Winter festivals

o 3.2 Christian feast

3.2.1 Feast established 3.2.2 Middle Ages

o 3.3 Reformation into the 19th century

4 Controversy and criticism 5 Economics 6 See also 7 References and notes

o 7.1 Further reading

8 External links

Etymology

The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning "Christ's Mass". It is derivedfrom the Middle EnglishChristemasse andOld EnglishCristes msse, a phrase firstrecorded in 1038.[9] "Cristes" is from Greek Christos and "msse" is from Latinmissa (the holy mass).

Celebration

Further information:Christmas worldwide

Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival andpublic holiday in countries around theworld, including many whose populations are mostly non-Christian. In some non-Christian countries, periods of former colonial rule introduced the celebration (e.g. Hong
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Etymologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Celebrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Date_of_celebrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Using_the_Julian_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Commemorating_Jesus.E2.80.99_birthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Decorationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Music_and_carolshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Foodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Cardshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Stampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Gift_givinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Legendary_gift-bringing_figureshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Pre-Christian_backgroundhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Dies_Natalis_Solis_Invictihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Winter_festivalshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Christian_feasthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Feast_establishedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Middle_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Reformation_into_the_19th_centuryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Controversy_and_criticismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Economicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#References_and_noteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Further_readinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_(liturgy)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Englishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-CathChrit-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_(liturgy)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_worldwidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_worldwidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Konghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Etymologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Celebrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Date_of_celebrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Using_the_Julian_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Commemorating_Jesus.E2.80.99_birthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Decorationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Music_and_carolshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Foodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Cardshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Stampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Gift_givinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Legendary_gift-bringing_figureshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Pre-Christian_backgroundhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Dies_Natalis_Solis_Invictihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Winter_festivalshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Christian_feasthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Feast_establishedhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Middle_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Reformation_into_the_19th_centuryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Controversy_and_criticismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Economicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#References_and_noteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#Further_readinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_(liturgy)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Englishhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-CathChrit-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_(liturgy)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_worldwidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong


8/51

Kong); in others, Christian minorities or foreign cultural influences have led populationsto observe the holiday. Countries such as Japan and Korea, where Christmas is populardespite there being only a small number of Christians, have adopted many of the secularaspects of Christmas, such as gift-giving, decorations and Christmas trees.

Notable countries in which Christmas is not a formal public holiday include People'sRepublic of China, (excepting Hong Kong andMacao), Japan,Saudi Arabia,Algeria,Thailand,Nepal,Iran, TurkeyandNorth Korea. Christmas celebrations around the worldcan vary markedly in form, reflecting differing cultural and national traditions.

Among countries with a strong Christian tradition, a variety of Christmas celebrationshave developed that incorporate regional and local cultures. For Christians, participatingin a religious service plays an important part in the recognition of the season. Christmas,along with Easter, is the period of highest annual church attendance.

In Catholic countries, the people hold religious processions orparadesin the days

preceding Christmas. In other countries, secular processions or parades featuring SantaClaus and other seasonal figures are often held. Family reunions and the exchange ofgifts are a widespread feature of the season. Gift giving takes place on Christmas Day inmost countries. Others practice gift giving on December 6, Saint Nicholas Day, andJanuary 6, Epiphany.

The Nativity by Charles-Franois Poerson, 1667.

Date of celebration

For centuries, Christian writers accepted that Christmas was the actual date on whichJesus was born.[17]John Chrysostompreached a sermon in Antioch c. 386 whichestablished the date of Christmas as December 25 on theJulian calendarsince theconception of Jesus (Luke 1:26) had been announced during the sixth month ofElisabeth's pregnancy with John the Baptist (Luke 1:10-13) as dated from the duties
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Konghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People's_Republic_of_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People's_Republic_of_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Konghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algeriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algeriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkeyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkeyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Koreahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles-Fran%C3%A7ois_Poersonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chrysostomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chrysostomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chrysostomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NativitySceneCharlesPoerson.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NativitySceneCharlesPoerson.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Konghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People's_Republic_of_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People's_Republic_of_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Konghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algeriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkeyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Koreahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles-Fran%C3%A7ois_Poersonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chrysostomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar


9/51

Zacharias performed on the Day of Atonement during the seventh month of theHebrewcalendarEthanim or Tishri (Lev. 16:29, 1 Kings 8:2) which falls in September-October.[9]

In the early 18th century, scholars began proposing alternative explanations. IsaacNewton argued that the date of Christmas was selected to correspond with the winter

solstice,[11]

which the Romans called bruma and celebrated on December 25.[18]

In 1743,German Protestant Paul Ernst Jablonski argued Christmas was placed on December 25 tocorrespond with the Roman solar holidayDies Natalis Solis Invicti and was therefore a"paganization" that debased the true church.[12]In 1889, Louis Duchesne suggested thatthe date of Christmas was calculated as nine months after Annunciation, the traditionaldate of the conception of Jesus.[19]

The December 25 date may have been selected by the church in Rome in the early 4thcentury. At this time, a church calendar was created and other holidays were also placedon solar dates: "It is cosmic symbolism...which inspired the Church leadership in Rometo elect the winter solstice, December 25, as the birthday of Christ, and the summer

solstice as that of John the Baptist, supplemented by the equinoxes as their respectivedates of conception. While they were aware that pagans called this day the 'birthday' ofSol Invictus, this did not concern them and it did not play any role in their choice of datefor Christmas," according to modern scholar S.E. Hijmans.[20]

However, today, whether or not the birth date of Jesus is on December 25 is notconsidered to be an important issue in mainstream Christian denominations;[21][22][23]

rather, celebrating the coming ofGod into the world in the form of man to atonefor thesins of humanity is considered to be the primary meaning of Christmas.[21][22][23]

Using the Julian calendar

Eastern Orthodox national churches, including those ofRussia, Georgia,Ukraine,Macedonia,Montenegro, Serbia and theGreek Patriarchate of Jerusalemmark feastsusing the olderJulian calendar. December 25 on the Julian calendar currentlycorresponds to January 7 on the internationally-used Gregorian calendar. However, otherOrthodox Christians, such as the churches ofGreece, Romania,Antioch, Alexandria,Albania, Finland and the Orthodox Church in America, among others, began using theRevised Julian calendarin the early 20th century, which corresponds exactly to theGregorian calendar.[4]

These Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on the same day asWestern Christianity.

Oriental Orthodoxchurches also use their own calendars, which are generally similar tothe Julian calendar. TheArmenian Apostolic Church celebrates the nativity incombination with the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6. Armenian churchescustomarily use the Gregorian calendar, but some use the Julian calendar and thuscelebrate Christmas Day on January 19, and Christmas Eve on January 18 (according tothe Gregorian calendar).[4]

Commemorating Jesus birth
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Atonementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-CathChrit-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Newtonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Newtonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solsticehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solsticehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Newton-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-SolsticeDate-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dies_Natalis_Solis_Invictihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-SolInvictus-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-SolInvictus-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Duchesnehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Roll87-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Roll87-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Hijmans-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_denominationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Joan_Chittister.2C_Phyllis_Tickle-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Voice-Christmas-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Harvard_University-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Trinityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarnation_(Christianity)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atonement_in_Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atonement_in_Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Joan_Chittister.2C_Phyllis_Tickle-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Voice-Christmas-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Harvard_University-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodoxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montenegrohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Patriarch_of_Jerusalemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Patriarch_of_Jerusalemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Patriarch_of_Jerusalemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Church_of_Alexandriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Church_of_Alexandriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Autocephalous_Church_of_Albaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Church_of_Finlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Church_in_Americahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-4Dates-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Orthodoxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Orthodoxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Apostolic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Apostolic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Epiphanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-4Dates-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Atonementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-CathChrit-8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Newtonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Newtonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solsticehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solsticehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Newton-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-SolsticeDate-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dies_Natalis_Solis_Invictihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-SolInvictus-11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Duchesnehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Roll87-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Hijmans-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_denominationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Joan_Chittister.2C_Phyllis_Tickle-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Voice-Christmas-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Harvard_University-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Trinityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarnation_(Christianity)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atonement_in_Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Joan_Chittister.2C_Phyllis_Tickle-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Voice-Christmas-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Harvard_University-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodoxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montenegrohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Patriarch_of_Jerusalemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Church_of_Alexandriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Autocephalous_Church_of_Albaniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Church_of_Finlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Church_in_Americahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-4Dates-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Orthodoxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Apostolic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Epiphanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-4Dates-3


10/51

Main articles: Annunciation,Nativity of Jesus, andChild Jesus

Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus to theVirgin Mary as a fulfillment of the OldTestament's Messianic prophecy.[24] The Bible contains two accounts which describe theevents surrounding Jesus' birth. Depending on one's perspective, these accounts either

differ from each other or tell two versions of the same story[25]

[26][27][28]

Thesebiblicalaccounts are found in the Gospel of Matthew, namely Matthew 1:18, and theGospel ofLuke, specifically Luke 1:26 and 2:40. According to these accounts, Jesus was born toMary, assisted by her husband Joseph, in the city ofBethlehem.

According to popular tradition, the birth took place in a stable, surrounded by farmanimals, though neither the stable nor the animals are specifically mentioned in theBiblical accounts. However, a mangeris mentioned in Luke 2:7, where it states, "Shewrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for themin the inn." Early iconographic representations of the nativity placed the animals andmanger within a cave (located, according to tradition, under the Church of the Nativityin

Bethlehem). Shepherds from the fields surrounding Bethlehem were told of the birth byanangel, and were the first to see the child. [29]

The Gospel of Matthew also describes a visit by several Magi, or astrologers, who bringgifts ofgold, frankincense, andmyrrh to the infant Jesus. The visitors were said to befollowing a mysterious star, commonly known as theStar of Bethlehem, believing it toannounce the birth of a king of the Jews.[30] The commemoration of this visit, theFeast ofEpiphany celebrated on January 6, is the formal end of the Christmas season in somechurches.

Anbetung der Hirten(Adoration of the Shepherds) (c. 150010), by Italian painterGiorgio da Castelfranco

Christians celebrate Christmas in various ways. In addition to this day being one of themost important and popular for the attendance of church services, there are otherdevotions and popular traditions. In some Christian denominations, children re-enact theevents of the Nativity with animals to portray the event with more realism or sing carolsthat reference the event. Some Christians also display a small re-creation of the Nativity,known as aNativity scene or crche, in their homes, using figurines to portray the keycharacters of the event. Prior to Christmas Day, the Eastern Orthodox Churchpractices
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annunciationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Maryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Maryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Testamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Testamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_and_Messianic_prophecyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_and_Messianic_prophecyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Messianic-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Larry_W._Hurtado-25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-TEKTON-26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Richard_Bruce-27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Matthewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Matthewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Lukehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Lukehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Lukehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Josephhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Josephhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethlehemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethlehemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangerhttp://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Luke&verse=2:7&src=KJVhttp://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Luke&verse=2:7&src=KJVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iconhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Nativityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Nativityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoration_of_the_Shepherdshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-28http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_magihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankincensehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrrhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrrhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Bethlehemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Bethlehemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgionehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_denominationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_scenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Giorgione_014_crop.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Giorgione_014_crop.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annunciationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Maryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Testamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Testamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_and_Messianic_prophecyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Messianic-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Larry_W._Hurtado-25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-TEKTON-26http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Richard_Bruce-27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Matthewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Lukehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Lukehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Josephhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethlehemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangerhttp://bibref.hebtools.com/?book=%20Luke&verse=2:7&src=KJVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iconhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Nativityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoration_of_the_Shepherdshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-28http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_magihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankincensehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrrhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Bethlehemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgionehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_denominationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_scenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church


11/51

the 40-dayNativity Fast in anticipation of the birth of Jesus, while much ofWesternChristianity celebrates four weeks ofAdvent. The final preparations for Christmas aremade on Christmas Eve.

A long artistic tradition has grown of producing painted depictions of the nativity in art.

Nativity scenes are traditionally set in a barn or stable and include Mary, Joseph, thechild Jesus, angels, shepherds and the Three Wise Men: Balthazar, Melchior, and Caspar,who are said to have followed a star, known as the Star of Bethlehem, and arrived afterhis birth.[31]

Decorations

Main article: Christmas decorationSee also: Christmas tree, Christmas lights, Christmas stocking, and Christmas ornament

Clifton Mill in Clifton, Ohio is the site of this Christmas display with over 3.5 millionlights.

The practice of putting up special decorations at Christmas has a long history. From pre-Christian times, people in the Roman Empire brought branches from evergreen plantsindoors in the winter. Decorating with greenery was also part of Jewish tradition : "Nowon the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branchesand boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before theLORD your God for seven days. " (Leviticus 23:40)

Christians incorporated such customs in their developing practices. In the 15th century, itwas recorded that in London it was the custom at Christmas for every house and all theparish churches to be "decked with holm, ivy,bays, and whatsoever the season of theyear afforded to be green".[32] The heart-shaped leaves ofivy were said to symbolize thecoming to earth of Jesus, while holly was seen as protection against pagans and witches,its thorns and red berries held to represent the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus at thecrucifixion and the blood he shed.[33][34]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_Fasthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Evehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Evehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesus_in_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Bethlehemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-30http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_decorationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_treehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_lightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_stockinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_stockinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_ornamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_ilexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_leaveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-31http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-31http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_of_Thornshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-32http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Ace_Collins-33http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Clifton_Mill_Christmas_2005.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Clifton_Mill_Christmas_2005.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_Fasthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Christianityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Evehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesus_in_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Bethlehemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-30http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_decorationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_treehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_lightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_stockinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_ornamenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_ilexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_leaveshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-31http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_of_Thornshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-32http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Ace_Collins-33


12/51

A Christmas treeat Rockefeller Center, New York City

Nativity scenes are known from 10th-century Rome. They were popularised by SaintFrancis of Asissi from 1223, quickly spreading across Europe.[35] Different types ofdecorations developed across the Christian world, dependent on local tradition andavailable resources. The first commercially produced decorations appeared in Germanyin the 1860s, inspired by paper chains made by children.[36] In countries where arepresentation of theNativity Scene is very popular, people are encouraged to competeand create the most original or realistic ones. Within some families, the pieces used tomake the representation are considered a valuable familyheirloom.

The traditional colors of Christmas aregreenandred.[37]White, silverand goldare also

popular. Red symbolizes the blood of Jesus, which was shed in his crucifixion, whilegreen symbolizes eternal life, and in particular the evergreen tree, which does not lose itsleaves in the winter.[34][37]

The Christmas treeis considered by some as Christianisation ofpagantradition and ritualsurrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use ofevergreen boughs, and anadaptation of pagan tree worship.[38]The English language phrase "Christmas tree" is firstrecorded in 1835[39] and represents an importation from the German language. Themodern Christmas tree tradition is believed to have begun in Germany in the 18thcentury[38] though many argue that Martin Lutherbegan the tradition in the 16th century.[40][41]

From Germany the custom was introduced to Britain, first viaQueen Charlotte, wife ofGeorge III, and then more successfully by Prince Albert during the reign ofQueenVictoria. By 1841 the Christmas tree had become even more widespread throughoutBritain.[42] By the 1870s, people in the United States had adopted the custom of putting upa Christmas tree.[43] Christmas trees may be decorated with lights and ornaments.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_treehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_treehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockefeller_Centerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Asissihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Collins47-34http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Collins83-35http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_Scenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heirloomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heirloomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Christmasmagic-36http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_(color)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_(color)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_(color)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_(color)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_(color)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Ace_Collins-33http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Christmasmagic-36http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_treehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_treehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Solsticehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evergreenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_worshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_worshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Shaman-37http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Harper-38http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Shaman-37http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Lutherhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Christmas_Archives-39http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Fashion_Era-_Christmas-40http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Charlottehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Charlottehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_IIIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_IIIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Lejeune.2C_Marie_Claire_p.550-41http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Shoemaker-42http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_lights_(holiday_decoration)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_ornamentshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rockefeller_Center_christmas_tree_cropped.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rockefeller_Center_christmas_tree_cropped.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_treehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockefeller_Centerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Asissihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Collins47-34http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Collins83-35http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_Scenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heirloomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Christmasmagic-36http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_(color)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_(color)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_(color)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Ace_Collins-33http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Christmasmagic-36http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_treehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Solsticehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evergreenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_worshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Shaman-37http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Harper-38http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Shaman-37http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Lutherhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Christmas_Archives-39http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Fashion_Era-_Christmas-40http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Charlottehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_IIIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoriahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Lejeune.2C_Marie_Claire_p.550-41http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-Shoemaker-42http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_lights_(holiday_decoration)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_ornaments


13/51

Saint Anselm Collegedecorates with traditional candles in each window and a largeChristmas wreath

Since the 19th century, thepoinsettia, a native plant from Mexico, has been associatedwith Christmas. Other popular holiday plants include holly,mistletoe, red amaryllis, andChristmas cactus. Along with a Christmas tree, the interior of a home may be decoratedwith these plants, along with garlandsand evergreen foliage. The display ofChristmasvillageshas also become a tradition in many homes during this season. The outside ofhouses may be decorated with lights and sometimes with illuminated sleighs,snowmen,and other Christmas figures.

Other traditional decorations includebells, candles, candy canes,stockings,wreaths, andangels. Both the displaying ofwreaths and candles in each window are a more traditionalChristmas display. The concentric assortment of leaves, usually from an evergreen, makeup Christmas wreaths and are designed to prepare Christians for the Advent season.Candles in each window are meant to demonstrate the fact that Christians believe thatJesus Christ is the ultimate light of the world.[44] Both of these antiquated, more subdued,Christmas displays are seen in the image to the right ofSaint Anselm College.

Christmas lights and banners may be hung along streets, music played from speakers, andChristmas trees placed in prominent places.[45] It is common in many parts of the worldfor town squares and consumer shopping areas to sponsor and display decorations. Rollsof brightly colored paper with secular or religious Christmas motifs are manufactured forthe purpose of wrapping gifts.

In some countries, Christmas decorations are traditionally taken down on Twelfth Night,the evening of January 5.

Music and carols

Main article: Christmas music
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Anselm_Collegehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Anselm_Collegehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poinsettiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistletoehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistletoehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaryllishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_cactushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garland_(decoration)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garland_(decoration)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evergreenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_villagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_villagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_villagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_villagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sledhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sledhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowmenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowmenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_(instrument)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_caneshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_caneshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_stockinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreathshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreathshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evergreenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Anselm_Collegehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Anselm_Collegehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelfth_Night_(holiday)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Saint_Anselm_College_SNOW.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Saint_Anselm_College_SNOW.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Anselm_Collegehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poinsettiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexicohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistletoehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaryllishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_cactushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garland_(decoration)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evergreenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_villagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_villagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sledhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowmenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_(instrument)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candleshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_caneshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_stockinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreathshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evergreenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Anselm_Collegehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelfth_Night_(holiday)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_music


14/51

Christmas carolers inNew Jersey.

The first specifically Christmas hymns that we know of appear in 4th century Rome.Latin hymns such as Veni redemptor gentium, written by Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan,were austere statements of the theological doctrine of the Incarnation in opposition toArianism. Corde natus ex Parentis (Of the Father's love begotten) by the Spanish poetPrudentius (d. 413) is still sung in some churches today.[46]

In the 9th and 10th centuries, the Christmas "Sequence" or "Prose" was introduced inNorth European monasteries, developing underBernard of Clairvaux into a sequence ofrhymed stanzas. In the 12th century the Parisian monk Adam of St. Victor began toderive music from popular songs, introducing something closer to the traditionalChristmas carol.

By the 13th century, in France, Germany, and particularly, Italy, under the influence ofFrancis of Asissi, a strong tradition of popular Christmas songs in the native languagedeveloped.[47] Christmas carols in English first appear in a 1426 work ofJohn Awdlay, aShropshire chaplain, who lists twenty-five "caroles of Cristemas", probably sung bygroups ofwassailers, who went from house to house.[48]

The songs we know specifically as carols were originally communal folk songs sungduring celebrations such as "harvest tide" as well as Christmas. It was only later thatcarols began to be sung in church. Traditionally, carols have often been based onmedieval chord patterns, and it is this that gives them their uniquely characteristicmusical sound. Some carols like "Personent hodie", "Good King Wenceslas", and "TheHolly and the Ivy" can be traced directly back to the Middle Ages. They are among theoldest musical compositions still regularly sung.Adeste Fidelis(O Come all ye faithful)appears in its current form in the mid-18th century, although the words may haveoriginated in the 13th century.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jerseyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prudentiushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_of_Clairvauxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanzahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanzahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_carolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Asissihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Audelayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shropshirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wassailinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-47http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-47http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medievalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personent_hodiehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_King_Wenceslashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holly_and_the_Ivyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holly_and_the_Ivyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adeste_Fidelishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adeste_Fidelishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chant%27tie_d%27Cantiques_d%C3%A9_Nou%C3%A9_D%C3%A9zembre_2009_J%C3%A8rri_a.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chant%27tie_d%27Cantiques_d%C3%A9_Nou%C3%A9_D%C3%A9zembre_2009_J%C3%A8rri_a.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jerseyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambrosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prudentiushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_of_Clairvauxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanzahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_carolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Asissihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Audelayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shropshirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wassailinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-47http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medievalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personent_hodiehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_King_Wenceslashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holly_and_the_Ivyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holly_and_the_Ivyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adeste_Fidelis


15/51

Child singers in Bucharest, 1841.

Singing of carols initially suffered a decline in popularity after the ProtestantReformation in northern Europe, although some Reformers, like Martin Luther, wrote

carols and encouraged their use in worship. Carols largely survived in rural communitiesuntil the revival of interest in popular songs in the 19th century. The 18th century EnglishreformerCharles Wesley understood the importance of music to worship. In addition tosetting many psalms to melodies, which were influential in theGreat Awakening in theUnited States, he wrote texts for at least three Christmas carols. The best known wasoriginally entitled "Hark! How All the Welkin Rings", later renamed "Hark! the HeraldAngels Sing".[49]

Felix Mendelssohn wrote a melody adapted to fit Wesley's words. In Austria in 1818Mohr and Gruber made a major addition to the genre when they composed "Silent Night"for the St. Nicholas Church, Oberndorf. William B. Sandys'Christmas Carols Ancient

and Modern (1833) contained the first appearance in print of many now-classic Englishcarols, and contributed to the mid-Victorian revival of the festival. [50]

Completely secular Christmas seasonal songs emerged in the late 18th century. "DeckThe Halls" dates from 1784, and the American, "Jingle Bells" was copyrighted in 1857.In the 19th and 20th century, African American spirituals and songs about Christmas,based in their tradition of spirituals, became more widely known. An increasing numberof seasonal holidays songs were commercially produced in the 20th century, includingjazz and blues variations. In addition, there was a revival of interest in early music, fromgroups singing folk music, such as The Revels, to performers of early medieval andclassical music.

Food

Further information:Christmas dinner
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucharesthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Lutherhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Wesleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Awakeninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Awakeninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hark!_the_Herald_Angels_Singhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hark!_the_Herald_Angels_Singhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Mendelssohnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Nighthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_B._Sandyshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_B._Sandyshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deck_the_Hallshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deck_the_Hallshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingle_Bellshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_dinnerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_dinnerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Steaua,_Bucharest,_1842_crop.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Steaua,_Bucharest,_1842_crop.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucharesthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Lutherhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Wesleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Awakeninghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hark!_the_Herald_Angels_Singhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hark!_the_Herald_Angels_Singhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Mendelssohnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Nighthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_B._Sandyshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-49http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deck_the_Hallshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deck_the_Hallshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingle_Bellshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_dinner


16/51

Christmas pudding

A special Christmas family mealis traditionally an important part of the holiday'scelebration, and the food that is served varies greatly from country to country. Someregions, such as Sicily, have special meals for Christmas Eve, when 12 kinds of fish areserved. In England and countries influenced by its traditions, a standard Christmas meal

includes turkey or goose, meat, gravy, potatoes, vegetables, sometimes bread and cider.Special desserts are also prepared, such as Christmas pudding,mince pies and fruit cake.[51][52]

In Poland and other parts of eastern Europe and Scandinavia, fish often is used for thetraditional main course, but richer meat such as lamb is increasingly served. In Germany,France and Austria, goose and pork are favored. Beef, ham and chicken in various recipesare popular throughout the world. The Maltesetraditionally serveImbuljuta tal-Qastan,[53] a chocolate and chestnuts beverage, afterMidnight Massand throughout theChristmas season. Slovaks prepare the traditional Christmas breadpotica,bche de Nolin France,panettonein Italy, and elaborate tarts and cakes. The eating of sweets and

chocolates has become popular worldwide, and sweeter Christmas delicacies include theGermanstollen, marzipancake or candy, and Jamaican rum fruit cake. As one of the fewfruits traditionally available to northern countries in winter, oranges have been longassociated with special Christmas foods.

Cards

Main article: Christmas card

Christmas cards are illustrated messages of greeting exchanged between friends andfamily members during the weeks preceding Christmas Day. The traditional greeting

reads "wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year", much like that of thefirst commercial Christmas card, produced by Sir Henry Cole in London in 1843.[54]Thecustom of sending them has become popular among a wide cross-section of people withthe emergence of the modern trend towards exchanging E-cards.

Christmas cards are purchased in considerable quantities, and feature artwork,commercially designed and relevant to the season. The content of the design might relatedirectly to the Christmas narrative with depictions of the Nativity of Jesus, orChristian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_puddinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_dinnerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_dinnerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_puddinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_puddinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mince_piehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit_cakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-50http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-51http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltese_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltese_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbuljuta_tal-Qastanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbuljuta_tal-Qastanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-52http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Masshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Masshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poticahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poticahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%BBche_de_No%C3%ABlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panettonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panettonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stollenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marzipanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marzipanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_card#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_card#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Henry_Colehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-53http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-53http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-53http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesus_in_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_symbolshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_pudding.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_pudding.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_puddinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_dinnerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_puddinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mince_piehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit_cakehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-50http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-51http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltese_peoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbuljuta_tal-Qastanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-52http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Masshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poticahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%BBche_de_No%C3%ABlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panettonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stollenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marzipanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_card#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Henry_Colehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-53http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesus_in_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_symbols


17/51

symbols such as the Star of Bethlehem, or a white dovewhich can represent both theHoly Spirit and Peace on Earth. Other Christmas cards are more secularand can depictChristmas traditions, mythical figures such as Santa Claus, objects directly associatedwith Christmas such as candles, holly and baubles, or a variety of images associated withthe season, such as Christmastime activities, snow scenes and the wildlife of the northern

winter. There are even humorous cards and genres depicting nostalgic scenes of the pastsuch as crinolined shoppers in idealized 19th century streetscapes.

Some prefer cards with a poem, prayer orBiblical verse; while others distancethemselves from religion with an all-inclusive "Season's greetings".

Stamps

Main article: Christmas stamp

A number of nations have issued commemorative stamps at Christmastime. Postalcustomers will often use these stamps to mailChristmas cards, and they are popular withphilatelists. These stamps are regularpostage stamps, unlikeChristmas seals, and arevalid for postage year-round. They usually go on sale some time between early Octoberand early December, and are printed in considerable quantities.

In 1898 a Canadian stamp was issued to mark the inauguration of the Imperial PennyPostage rate. The stamp features a map of the globe and bears an inscription "XMAS1898" at the bottom. In 1937, Austria issued two "Christmas greeting stamps" featuring arose and the signs of the zodiac. In 1939,Brazil issued foursemi-postalstamps withdesigns featuring the three kings and astar of Bethlehem, an angeland child, the

Southern Cross and a child, and a mother and child.

Both the US Postal Service and the Royal Mail regularly issue Christmas-themed stampseach year.

Gift giving

See also: Gift economy

The exchanging ofgiftsis one of the core aspects of the modern Christmas celebration,making the Christmas season the most profitable time of year forretailers and businesses

throughout the world. Gift giving was common in the Roman celebration ofSaturnalia,an ancient festival which took place in late December and may have influencedChristmas customs.[55] Christmas gift giving was banned by theCatholic Church in theMiddle Agesdue to its suspectedpagan origins.[55] It was later rationalized by the Churchon the basis that it associatedSt. Nicholaswith Christmas, and that gifts of gold,frankincense and myrrh were given to the infant Jesus by the Biblical Magi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_symbolshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Bethlehemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dovehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dovehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Spirithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_traditionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crinolinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_versehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_stamphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commemorative_stamphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philatelyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postage_stampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postage_stampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_sealhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_sealhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiachttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-postalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-postalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_kingshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Bethlehemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Bethlehemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Crosshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Postal_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Mailhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_economyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gifthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gifthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retailhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Romehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturnaliahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-OriginMyth-54http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-OriginMyth-54http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nicholashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nicholashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nicholashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_symbolshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Bethlehemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dovehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Spirithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peacehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_traditionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crinolinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_versehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_stamphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commemorative_stamphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philatelyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postage_stampshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_sealhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiachttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-postalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_kingshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Bethlehemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Crosshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Postal_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Mailhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_economyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gifthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retailhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Romehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturnaliahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-OriginMyth-54http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ageshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas#cite_note-OriginMyth-54http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nicholashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magi


18/51

Legendary gift-bringing figures

Main articles: Santa Clausand Father ChristmasSee also: Saint Nicholasand Saint Basil

SinterklaasorSaint Nicholas, considered by many to be the original Santa Claus.

A number of figures of both Christian and mythical origin have been associated withChristmas and the seasonal giving of gifts. Among these areFather Christmas, alsoknown as Santa Claus, Pre Nol, and the Weihnachtsmann; Saint NicholasorSinterklaas; the Christkind; Kris Kringle; Joulupukki; Babbo Natale;Saint Basil; andFather Fr

Documents

Christmas is Not Pagan