All About Christmas
The word "Christmas" means "Mass of Christ," or, as it came to be shortened, "Christ-Mass." It came to the modern world from the Roman Catholic Church. They, in turn, got it not from the Bible, but from paganism.
"Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church . . . The first evidence of the feast is from Egypt." "Pagan customs centering around the January calends [the pagan calendar] gravitated to Christmas."--Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911 ed., article: "Christmas."
Origen, an early Catholic writer, said this about celebrating birthdays in the Bible:
"In the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his [Christ's] birthday. It is only sinners [like Pharaoh or Herod] who make great rejoicings over the day in which they were born into this world."--Catholic Encyclopedia, 11th ed., art: "Natal Day."
How did Christmas start?
Yes, where did Christmas come from? It did not begin at the birth of Christ; it began earlier! The December 25 celebration had nothing to do with His birth. It is an interesting story; one I think you will be interested in.
Since about 400 AD, Christians have celebrated the birth of Jesus. 'Christ' means 'Messiah' or 'Anointed One' - the title given to Jesus - and 'Mass' was a religious festival.
In the West today, the real meaning of Christmas is often forgotten. It has become a non-religious holiday! More children believe in Father Christmas than in Jesus. Christmas Day is a time for eating and drinking too much and watching television.
But the real Christmas story is found in the Christian Bible. It is told in two different books: Matthew and Luke chapters 1 and 2. If you have no Bible, you can read these chapters online. You may think that the story of the birth of Jesus, and the way that the West celebrates Christmas today, do not seem to have many connections.
Mary says "yes"
Arrival in Bethlehem brought worry and upset: there was no room for them to stay at the hotel. There was only space in the stable - the animal house for travellers' donkeys and horses.
Jesus was born that night, and as they had no bed for him, they used an animal feeding box filled with the dry grass the animals ate.
Christmas cards and pictures today make it all seem very nice. In truth, it must have been dirty and frightening for a young couple, far from their home and families. Possibly the birth was premature after the stress of the journey. This was a very poor place for Jesus to start his life on earth.
God's plan?
Christians believe that it was exactly God's plan that things happened this way. They say that it shows that Jesus came as a humble, poor person and not as a strong, rich king. They also claim that the birth of Jesus was told many years before in the books of the prophets.
Five hundred years before, the prophet Micah had said,
"But you Bethlehem, though you are small, out of you will come for me, one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
The prophet Isaiah had written,
"A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler.
He will be called, "Wonderful Counsellor," "Mighty God," "Eternal Father," "Prince of Peace." His royal power will continue to grow; his kingdom will always be at peace.... He will rule as King David's successor, basing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of time."
These are only two of many prophetic words that told of the birth and life of Jesus, written hundreds of years before His birth.
The shepherds are frightened
At that time, sheep farmers were seen by other people as low and of no value. Yet it was to these shepherds that the birth of Jesus was first announced in an amazing dramatic way:
"That night there were some men looking after sheep in the fields nearby.
Suddenly they saw a great light. It was an angel, who said,
'Don't be afraid. I have good news for you, and for all people. Someone great has been born today. He is Christ, the great King you have been waiting for. He will save you from all that is wrong and evil. You will find him dressed in baby clothes, lying on a bed of dry grass.'"
The story of the wise men
After Jesus was born, wise men came to look for Him, from an area which is now in either Iran or Saudi Arabia. Although they are often called the "Three Kings", the Bible does not say how many there were, or that they were kings. Three is only a guess because they brought with them three gifts.
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh
They were certainly men of learning - probably today we would call them philosophers or scientists. They had seen an unusual new star in the sky, and knew that it told of the birth of a special king. (The star they saw was probably a exploding "supernova" and is known from astronomical records.) They followed the direction of the star- East - and eventually found the place where Mary, Joseph and Jesus were staying. To bring honour to the child, they brought rich gifts: gold, frankincense (a resin which burns with a beautiful smell), and myrrh (plant oil with a very strong sweet smell). These gifts tell us in pictures three key things about Jesus:
Gold: a gift fit for a King
Frankincense: burnt in worship of God
Myrrh: a sign of mortal human-ness - it was used to bury the dead
Jesus a refugee
Herod, the evil king of the area, heard about the child, saw Him as a threat, and sent soldiers to kill Jesus. But God told Joseph in a dream to take Mary and the baby and escape to Egypt. They lived there till King Herod died and then went back to live in Nazareth. We read nothing more about the life of Jesus, except for one story when he was 12, until He reached 30. By the way - note one important thing: Jesus was not a white European, and Christianity is not a Western religion. Christmas cards from different countries often show Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the landscape of that country, and with the racial appearance of that nationality, be it black African, Indian, or Japanese. This is good and right - Jesus came to identify with every racial group. He is "Everyman" for us all.
The end of the story?
Here is a newspaper cartoon printed some years ago, showing Father Christmas reading the Christmas story to a child. "But how did it end?" the child asks. Behind them, you can see the Cross (execution pole) on which Jesus was killed at the age of 33.
Jesus was indeed "the man born to die". But that was not the end of the story. It is still going on, and you can be part of the story, if you wish.
"But how did it end?"
with permission: courtesyThe Guardian/Observer
No other person has had such an effect on human lives as Jesus. He came back to life again, and millions say they know Him today as a friend and helper in their lives. You owe it to yourself to find out more about Him. Is He who He claimed to be? Can He help us in our lives today? You have nothing to lose! Christmas is the time to stop and think about these important questions.
The old man with the sack - Who is he??
'Father Christmas' (or 'Santa Claus') has become the human face of Christmas. Pictures will be seen everywhere of the old man with long white beard, red coat, and bag of toys. Children are taught that he brings them presents the night before Christmas (or in some countries on December 6th - St. Nicholas' Day), and many children up to the age of 7 or 8 really believe this is true. In most countries, it is said that he lives near the North Pole, and arrives through the sky on a sledge (snow-cart) pulled by reindeer. He comes into houses down the chimney at midnight and places presents for the children in socks or bags by their beds or in front of the family Christmas tree.
In shops or at children's parties, someone will dress up as Father Christmas and give small presents to children, or ask them what gifts they want for Christmas. Christmas can be a time of magic and excitement for children.
Father Christmas is based on a real person, St. Nicholas, which explains his other name 'Santa Claus' which comes from the Dutch 'Sinterklaas'. Nicholas was a Christian leader from Myra (in modern-day Turkey) in the 4th century AD. He was very shy, and wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing about it. It is said that one day, he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney. It landed in the stocking which a girl had put to dry by the fire! This may explain the belief that Father Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts in children's stockings.
The Myth & story and Father Christmas:
Once upon a time, when no-one was looking and the world was very young, it was a place full of magic ?of elves and gnomes and dragons and all sorts of other enchanted things. The North Pole however, wasn't so very different from what it is now. It was icy and desolate and nobody much wanted to live there because it was so cold. There was one fairy there though, (because there's usually at least one fairy everywhere my dears!), and she was called Snowstar. She was rather an unusual fairy to tell the truth, because she wasn't flesh and bone like you, her whole body was made up of starlight and when she danced across the dark snowy ground and in-between the mountains each night, she looked just like a shooting star.
Mind you, although Snowstar was happy in the North Pole, she was also rather lonely because she had no-one to talk to. She talked to herself of course, but that can get boring after a while, so she started making people to talk to, out of snow. They were a lot like snowmen ?the sort of things you might build yourself on a cold winter day ?only they were much better than the ones you and I would make, because Snowstar was a very clever sculptress and made them look real. She enjoyed making them so much that she made hundreds and hundreds, all shapes and sizes, then she would dance between them singing and laughing and chattering away to her hearts content. (But of course none of them ever sang or laughed or chattered back.)
Bit by bit, Snowstar began to tire of her snow people and feel unhappy again. Then, one night when she was feeling particularly lonely, she decided to cheer herself up by making the best, most lifelike snowman she possibly could. I shall make him an old, old man,?she thought, with the kindest face you've ever seen and a jolly smile to cheer up the saddest corners of the earth.?
Excited, she set to work at once. She began by gathering snow from the all over the North Pole. Did you think that snow was all the same colour my dears? Well, you were wrong! It depends on where you get it from. Snowstar knew this, so first she went to the mountain tops at sunset, where the snow was deep red. With this colour, I'll make him some fine red clothes!?she said to herself and filled her fairy bucket full of it straight away.
Now, here I have to tell you something else. Snowstar didn't know it, but as she filled her bucket up she wasn't quite as alone as she thought. She was being watched. By the Great Fire Dragon, the king of all dragons, who was looking down from his realm in the sun. Hello?!?he crackled to himself, What's this? A little fairy pinching the snow lit up so beautifully! I wonder what she wants it for.? So he yawned like a big furnace and left his home to follow Snowstar and see what she was up to.
Next, Snowstar went in search of the right snow to make the snowman's boots and buttons. She climbed into deep dark caves at midnight, where the snow was blackest black. What she didn't realize however, was that down there in those very caves, Mother Earth (who you might have heard of) was taking her winter nap.
Unfortunately, the starlight that shone from Snowstar woke her up.
My Goodness!?muttered Mother Earth, all of a fluster, Right? Is it spring already? I must have overslept!? When she realised that the light was only a small fairy she calmed down, but decided to join the Great Fire Dragon and follow her as well.
For the snowman's eyes, Snowstar decided sparkling blue would be the best colour, so she swam down into the ocean and found some beautiful blue ice. However, little did she know that the very piece of ice she wanted was actually part of somebody's house! That somebody was the Waterwatcher, a magical lady who nobody much has heard of up here, but who is in charge of all the lakes, rivers and seas in the world. She happened to be taking a break in her icy holiday home in the seas of the North Pole, because she had been working very hard all year and needed peace and relaxation and somewhere without too many fish. When she heard someone breaking bits off her house, she came rushing outside to chase them away. Luckily for Snowstar, the Great Fire Dragon and Mother Earth stopped her and persuaded her to join them.
How I need snow so fresh and white that it hasn't touched the ground!? thought Snowstar. So she flew up into the sky and scooped some fresh snow from a cloud. As she put it in her fairy bucket the North Wind, who happened to be whistling by, caught sight of her.
This is most puzzling!?he puffed as he watched her take off with her newly gathered snow. It must blow down to the ground and see what's happening!? So he too joined the others and followed Snowstar back to her snowman.
They all watched as she made him hair and a long, soft beard, so white that it shone. Finally, she put some of her own starlight in his blue eyes and stood back to view her work. It was wonderful! I wish he were real!?the little fairy breathed.
My Goodness!?murmured Mother Earth as they all surveyed the snowman. That a beautiful creation!?that a pity he's not real,?said the Waterwatcher, such a kind, jolly, round face. The world could do with a person like that!?
The North Wind looked thoughtful, then whispered, You know, I had seen this fairy before, dancing and singing about the friends she had like to have. And now look at her, wishing with all her heart that her snowman was alive! I do believe she's lonely. What do you say we grant her wish??
It's a long time since I had been in the habit of granting wishes,?mumbled the Waterwatcher.
That's because you spend too much time surrounded by nothing but fish!?laughed the Great Fire Dragon. I say we should do it!?
But if we make him real, what will he do??asked Mother Earth. I mean everyone must have something to do in the world.?
I know!?blew the North Wind suddenly, since it's Christmas next week, let's give him the job of bringing Christmas presents to children. All the children in the world.? The others agreed and so it was decided. They collected together all their powers and cast them at the snowman.
To her utter amazement, Snowstar saw the snowman blink. Then he saw his smile get bigger and bigger until it turned into a laugh. Ho, ho, ho!?laughed the snowman, who was a snowman no longer. He gave Snowstar a big hug and she felt that he was warm and alive. She had never been so happy in all her life! The two became best friends and as far as I know they are still are. Snowstar is one of Father Christmas's most important helpers, she no longer makes snowmen, she helps the elves make toys. And he delivers them.
So that's how Father Christmas came to be. You see my dears, he really is from the snow and ice of the North Pole, in fact he was made of it!
ok enough of Xmas... gtg.. tata
posted by Attitude Princess at
10:04 PM
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