What Is Christmas And Why Is It Celebrated?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Christmas is

an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ

, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration by billions of people around the world.

What is the purpose of celebrating Christmas?

Merry Christmas: Christmas is a

celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ

, who in the Christian religion, is also known as ‘The Son Of God'. Christmas is one of the most important as well as popular festivals celebrated throughout the year.

What is Christmas and why do we celebrate it?

For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate

Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth

, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion.

What is the origin of Christmas?

The origins of the date

back to pagan celebrations of fertility rites and the coming of spring

. After the Norse were Christianized, the pagan celebration became combined with the legend of St. Walburga, an English-born nun who lived at Heidenheim monastery in Germany and later became the abbess there.

Why do we celebrate Jesus birth on December 25?

The Roman Christian historian

Sextus Julius Africanus dated Jesus' conception to

March 25 (the same date upon which he held that the world was created), which, after nine months in his mother's womb, would result in a December 25 birth.

What is the true message of Christmas?

The message of Christmas is that

where there is hope, love, light and life, the plan and purpose of God will reach

.

What Christmas festival symbolizes?

Christmas is an annual festival

commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ

, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration by billions of people around the world.

What does God say about Christmas?

As Jesus said in Luke 16:15, “

That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God

.” More importantly, though, Christians are commanded in Galatians 4:10-11 to not observe days of the year such as Christmas, for they are an abomination to the Lord God.

Is it good to celebrate Christmas?

For centuries, Christians around the world have celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ with traditional religious practices as well as holiday fervour. … Irrespective of your religion, Christmas is

a great festival to celebrate

, especially with children, because of its beautiful spirit!

How long does Christmas last?

Christmastide, commonly called the Twelve Days of Christmas, lasts

12 days

, from 25 December to 5 January, the latter date being named as Twelfth Night. These traditional dates are adhered to by the Lutheran Church and the Anglican Church. However, the ending is defined differently by other Christian denominations.

Which country has Christmas first?


New Zealand

is the first country on the western side of the International Date Line, the place where each day begins. The International Date Line is an imaginary line on the surface of the Earth that sits mostly on the 180o line of longitude in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

When was Jesus actually born?

The date of birth of Jesus is not stated in the gospels or in any historical reference, but most biblical scholars assume a year of birth

between 6 and 4 BC

.

What does the word Christmas literally mean?

The word Christmas comes from Middle English Cristemasse, which in turn comes from Old English Cristes-messe, literally meaning

Christ's Mass

. Of course, we are not talking about the physical mass of Christ's body. The origin of mass, in the Christian sense of the word, is not entirely clear.

Is Christmas God's birthday?

But was Jesus really born on December 25? The short answer

is no

. It is not believed Jesus was born on the day Christmas is globally celebrated. … The holiday was celebrated as the Roman pagan solstice, or “birthday of the unconquered sun,” which began on December 17 and ended December 25.

Is December 25th Jesus birthday?

Dec. 25

is not the date mentioned in the Bible

as the day of Jesus's birth; the Bible is actually silent on the day or the time of year when Mary was said to have given birth to him in Bethlehem. The earliest Christians did not celebrate his birth. … 25 became known as Jesus's birthday.

What happened on 25th December in history?

On the 25th December 1066 in Westminster Abbey,

William was crowned King of England becoming the country's first Norman king

, ending a period of over 600 years of Anglo-Saxon rule.

Maria Kunar
Author
Maria Kunar
Maria is a cultural enthusiast and expert on holiday traditions. With a focus on the cultural significance of celebrations, Maria has written several blogs on the history of holidays and has been featured in various cultural publications. Maria's knowledge of traditions will help you appreciate the meaning behind celebrations.