Christmas: Significance, Beliefs, Celebrations Related To The Birth of Jesus Christ
Getty Images It’s that time of the year and celebrations have gripped the world. Come Christmas and the festive season engulfs people, everyone. And with the festival followed by New Year, celebrations are always double-fold. With Christmas being just a little more than a week away, people have started decorating their Christmas trees with everything pretty. And with the festivities happening in full swing, people have already started practising carols and learning the latest plum cake recipes. And of course our love for Santa Claus who never gets old! While that is the celebratory part, Christmas is annually celebrated on December 25 commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. The day celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and hence the name.
While Christmas is observed majorly by Christians around the world, over the years it is celebrated by people of different beliefs and traditions. Christmas has now become an integral part of the holiday season with the Christmas Eve becoming a major celebration. Christmas is also said to be the short form of Christ’s mass. The word ‘Christmas’ has been derived from the old English word ‘Cristes Maesse’, which means the Mass of Christ.
Christmas Significance
Christmas is celebrated as the birth of Jesus Christ witnesses masses and special prayers being held in churches across the globe. According to Christians, Bible says that Jesus, the son of God was born to Mother Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem around 2000 years ago. December 25 is considered as Christmas has a lot of legends and stories attached to it. The Romans chose December 25 as it marked the winter solstice, the shortest and darkest day of the year as it would also mark the beginning of longer days. On these days, the Sun would be present for a longer spell in the sky.
Scriptures also state that the December 25 was chosen as it fell exactly nine months after angel Gabriel in a vision conveyed Virgin Mary about the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. Following Christmas, the Nativity fast begins initiating the season of Christmastide during which believers fast for 12 days which concludes on what is called the twelfth night. According to the Bible, Jesus was born in a meadow to Virgin Mary. It is believed that Angles were present there where he was proclaimed the saviour of all people.
Christmas celebrations
Getty ImagesFrom buying gifts to decorating the mandatory Christmas tree, the celebrations are always fun. Christians visit the church a day before the festival to attend the Midnight Mass. Meeting family and friends are an integral part of the celebrations. Food also has great significance for Christmas celebrations. People bake cakes a day before and the lunch on the day includes goose, turkey, chicken, bread, vegetables, potatoes, cream and other food items. Plum cakes are the star attraction in the desserts along with pies, fruit cakes and puddings.
Santa Claus is a personality that is almost synonymous with Christmas for children. The tradition of Santa Claus sneakily coming down people’s house bearing gifts for children is a widely observed concept and a part of the popular culture. It is believed that Santa Claus lives in the North Pole and rides on reindeers. Santa Claus which is depicted as joyous, white-bearded man wearing a red and white coat with fur who carries a bag full of presents for children. Let the celebrations begin, we at India.com wish everyone a Merry Christmas!
12-14-2017, 05:37 PM
Christmas: Significance, Beliefs, Celebrations Related To The Birth of Jesus Christ
