Merry Christmas!
Today is a special day! Today is Christmas (Old
English: Crīstesmæsse, meaning "Christ's Mass"). Christmas
is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and
a widely observed holiday, celebrated generally on December 25 by
billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical
year, it closes the Advent season and initiates the twelve days of Christmastide. Christmas is a civil holiday in many
of the world's nations, is celebrated by an increasing number of
non-Christians, and is an integral part of the Christmas and holiday season.
Christmas
Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in countries
around the world, including many whose populations are mostly non-Christian. In
some non-Christian countries, periods of former colonial rule introduced the
celebration (e.g. Hong Kong); in others, Christian minorities or foreign
cultural influences have led populations to observe the holiday. Countries
such as Japan, where Christmas is popular despite there being only a small
number of Christians, have adopted many of the secular aspects of Christmas,
such as gift-giving, decorations and Christmas trees.
Countries
in which Christmas is not a formal public holiday include China,
(excepting Hong Kong and Macao), Japan, Saudi Arabia,Algeria, Thailand, Iran, Turkey and North
Korea. Christmas celebrations around the world can vary markedly in form,
reflecting differing cultural and national traditions.
Among
countries with a strong Christian tradition, a variety of Christmas
celebrations have developed that incorporate regional and local cultures. For
Christians, participating in 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,
people hold religious processions or parades in the days preceding
Christmas. In other countries, secular processions or parades featuring Santa
Claus and other seasonal figures are often held. Family reunions and the
exchange of gifts are a widespread feature of the season. Gift giving takes
place on Christmas Day in most countries. Others practice gift giving on
December 6, Saint Nicholas Day, and January 6, Epiphany.
P.S. With
all my heart I hope you will be happy!
If you want to know more about Christmas, go to our blog: http://newka-christmas2012.blogspot.ru/
Today is the birthday of Ann Lennox. "Annie" is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s as part of the New Wave band The Tourists, she and fellow musician David A. Stewart went on to achieve major international success in the 1980s as Eurythmics. Lennox is the most recognized female artist at the Brit Awards, winning a total of eight awards. She has also been named the "Brits Champion of Champions".
ReplyDeleteBackground
ReplyDeleteThe original meaning of Christmas is a special church service, or mass, to celebrate the birth of Christ. The story of the Nativity, or the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, are particularly important in religious celebrations of Christmas. However, many traditions that are around today have their roots in pre-Christian winter festivals. These include the importance of candles and decorations made from evergreen bushes and tree, symbolizing everlasting light and life.
In Roman times, a mid-winter festival was held. This was a relaxing time with a lot of parties and merry making. It was also common to give other people small gifts, such as dolls for children and candles for adults. This festival culminated with the celebration of the winter solstice, which fell on December 25 in the Roman calendar. In Scandinavia, a festival called Yule and lasting up to twelve days was held in late December and early January. In this time people burnt logs and held parties. These customs have influences how Christmas Day is celebrated today in the United States.
The Bible does not give a precise date for the birth of Jesus. It is also unclear when December 25 became associated with the birth of Jesus, although it may have been around two hundred years after his birth. In the early centuries of Christianity, the anniversary of the birth of Jesus was not a cause for celebrations. The idea of turning this day into a celebration started in the early Middle Ages in Europe.
During Reformation and up until the middle of the 1800s, Christmas was often not celebrated because partying and merry making was seen as unchristian. From about 1840, celebrating Christmas became more widespread. December 25 was declared a federal holiday in the United States in 1870. Since then Christmas Day has become a steadily more important holiday.
Symbols
A wide range of people and objects represent Christmas. These include baby Jesus, the Nativity and the Three Kings, but also Santa Claus, reindeer and elves. Common objects at this time of year are pine trees, holly, decorations, fairy lights, candles and presents. Christmas Day is now truly a mix of religious celebration and commercial interests.