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1. ChristmasBy Robert J. MyersRead by James Guarendi
2. Christmas Christmas is a Christian holiday that
celebratesthe birth of Jesus Christ. No one knows the exactdate of
Christs birth, but most Christians observeChristmas on December 25.
On this day, many goto church, where they take part in
specialreligious services. During the Christmas season,they also
exchange gifts and decorate theirhomes with holly, mistletoe, and
Christmas trees.The word Christmas comes from Cristes maesse,an
early English phrase that means Mass ofChrist.
3. Christmas The story of Christmas comes chiefly from
theGospels of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew inthe New Testament.
According to Luke, anangel appeared to shepherds outside thetown of
Bethlehem and told them of Jesusbirth. Matthew tells how the wise
men, calledMagi, followed a bright star that led them toJesus.
4. Christmas The first mention of December 25 as the birth date
ofJesus occurred in A.D. 336 in an early Roman calendar.The
celebration of this day as Jesus birth date wasprobably influenced
by pagan (unchristian) festivalsheld at that time. The ancient
Romans held year-endcelebrations to honor Saturn, their harvest
god; andMithras, the god of light. Various peoples in
northernEurope held festivals in mid-December to celebrate theend
of the harvest season. As part of all thesecelebrations, the people
prepared special foods,decorated their homes with greenery, and
joined insinging and gift giving. These customs graduallybecame
part of the Christmas celebration.
5. Christmas In the late 300s, Christianity became theofficial
religion of the Roman Empire. By 1100,Christmas had become the most
importantreligious festival in Europe, and Saint Nicholaswas a
symbol of gift giving in many Europeancountries. During the 1400s
and 1500s, manyartists painted scenes of the Nativity, the birthof
Jesus.
6. Christmas The popularity of Christmas grew until
theReformation, a religious movement of the 1500s.This movement
gave birth to Protestantism.During the Reformation, many Christians
beganto consider Christmas a pagan celebrationbecause it included
nonreligious customs. Duringthe 1600s, because of these feelings,
Christmaswas outlawed in England and in parts of theEnglish
colonies in America. The old customs offeasting and decorating,
however, soonreappeared and blended with the more Christianaspects
of the celebration.
7. Christmas In the 1800s, two more Christmas customs became
populardecoratingChristmas trees and sending Christmas cards to
relatives and friends. Many well-known Christmas carols, including
"Silent Night" and "Hark! The Herald AngelsSing," were composed
during this period. In the United States and other countries,Santa
Claus replaced Saint Nicholas as the symbol of gift giving. The
celebration of Christmas became increasingly important to many
kinds ofbusinesses during the 1900s. Today, companies manufacture
Christmasornaments, lights, and other decorations throughout the
year. Other firms growChristmas trees, holly, and mistletoe. Many
stores and other businesses hire extraworkers during the Christmas
season to handle the increase in sales. The word Xmas is sometimes
used instead of Christmas. This tradition began in theearly
Christian church. In Greek, X is the first letter of Christs name.
It wasfrequently used as a holy symbol.
8. Christmas around the world In the United States and Canada,
people decorate their homes withChristmas trees, wreaths, and
ornaments. City streets sparkle with coloredlights, and the sound
of bells and Christmas carols fills the air. During the weeks
before Christmas, children write letters to Santa Clausand tell him
what presents they would like to receive. Many departmentstores
hire people to wear a Santa Claus costume and listen to
childrensrequests. People share holiday greetings by sending
Christmas cards torelatives and friends. Many companies give
presents to their employees. A Christmas tree is the main
attraction in most homes. Relatives andfriends may join in trimming
the tree with lights, tinsel, and colorfulornaments. Presents are
placed under the tree. Many young childrenbelieve the presents are
brought by Santa Claus, who arrives on ChristmasEve in a sleigh
pulled by reindeer. Some youngsters hang up stockings soSanta can
fill them with candy, fruit, and other small gifts. Families
opentheir presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.
9. United States and Canada In many parts of the United States
and Canada, groups of carolers walkfrom house to house and sing
Christmas songs. Some people give thesingers money or small gifts
or invite them in for a warm drink. A traditional Christmas dinner
includes stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes,cranberry sauce, and a
variety of other dishes. Some families have ham orroast goose
instead of turkey. Favorite desserts include mince pie orpumpkin
pie, plum pudding, and fruitcake. Eggnog is a popular
Christmasbeverage in many homes. In some parts of the United States
and Canada, various ethnic groupsobserve Christmas customs of their
ancestors. For example, Spanishtraditions are popular in the
Southwestern United States. Many families inthe province of Quebec
follow French customs. Some black Americanscombine Christmas with
Kwanzaa, an African American holiday. Kwanzaalasts seven days, from
December 26 through January 1. Each day, familieslight a candle
symbolizing one of seven principles, including creativity,faith,
and unity
10. Ireland Scotland and Wales In England, Ireland, Scotland,
and Wales. Many Christmas customs originated in England, Ireland,
Scotland, and Wales. Thesecustoms include sending Christmas cards
and hanging a sprig of mistletoe in a room or hallway. According to
tradition, aperson may kiss anyone standing under the mistletoe. On
Christmas Eve, children hang up stockings for Father Christmas,the
British version of Santa Claus, to fill with presents. On the
afternoon of Christmas Day, most British families watch
theirmonarch give a special Christmas message on television. In
England, dinner on Christmas Day features roast turkey anddessert
of mince pie and plum pudding. During the days before Christmas,
children or groups of adults go from house to house singing
Christmas carols. Children askfor money for themselves, but adults
usually ask for money for charity. This tradition began many years
ago, when visitorssang carols in return for a drink from the
wassail bowl. The bowl contained hot punch made from ale, apples,
eggs, sugar,and spices. The word wassail comes from Was haile, an
old Saxon greeting that means Be healthy. Today, English people
atlarge parties still drink punch, but it is usually made from wine
and other alcoholic beverages, fruit, and spices. In Ireland,
people put a lighted candle in their window on Christmas Eve as a
sign of welcome to Mary and Joseph. In Wales,people have caroling
contests during the weeks before Christmas. Roast turkey is the
main course for dinner. People inScotland also have roast turkey
and exchange small gifts. Some Scottish families decorate a
Christmas tree and sing carols,but most hold their main
celebrations on New Years Day.
11. France In France, children put their shoes in front of
thefireplace so Pere Noel (Father Christmas) can fillthem with
gifts. Many families attend midnightMass and then have a festive
supper called Lereveillon. Large numbers of French families
alsodecorate their homes with small Nativity scenes.In these
scenes, clay figures called santons (littlesaints) portray the
story of Jesus birth. Somepeople put additional santons in their
Nativityscenes every year. They buy these figures atspecial holiday
fairs that are held before
12. Germany and Spain In Germany, Saint Nicholas visits
childrens homes on St. Nicholas Eve,December 5, and delivers candy
and other sweets to be opened onDecember 6, St. Nicholas Day.
According to one tradition, the Christkind(Christ child) sends the
gifts on Christmas Eve. This tradition is mostpopular in the mainly
Roman Catholic region of southern Germany. In thenorthern, mainly
Protestant areas, parents usually say theWeihnachtsmann (Christmas
Man) brings the gifts. Most German families have a Christmas tree
that they decorate withlights, tinsel, and ornaments. Spicy cakes
called lebkuchen are made invarious shapes and used as decorations.
In Spain, people dance and sing in the streets after midnight Mass
onChristmas Eve. Most Spanish homes and churches display a
miniatureNativity scene called a Nacimiento. During the evening of
January 5,children put their shoes on a balcony or near a window.
The next day isEpiphany, the last day of the Christmas season. It
celebrates the visit ofthe Magi to the infant Jesus. According to
legend, the Wise Men arriveduring the night before Epiphany and
fill the childrens shoes with smallgifts.
13. Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg In the Netherlands,
Belgium, and Luxembourg,according to legend, Saint Nicholas
givespresents to children on St. Nicholas Eve,December 5, which
they open on December 6,St. Nicholas Day. Wearing a red robe,
hearrives on a boat from Spain and rides downthe streets on a white
horse. His servant,Swarte Piet (Black Pete), accompanies him.Saint
Nicholas goes down the chimney of eachhouse and leaves gifts in
shoes that the
14. Italy and Poland In Italy, most homes and churches have a
presepio (Nativityscene). On Christmas Eve, the family prays while
themother places a figure of the Bambino (Christ child) in
themanger. Many Italians serve eels for dinner on ChristmasEve.
They also bake a Christmas bread called panettone,which contains
raisins and candied fruit. Italian childrenreceive gifts from La
Befana, a kindly old witch, on the eveof Epiphany. In Poland,
people attend Pasterka (Shepherds Mass) atmidnight on Christmas
Eve. Many Polish families follow theChristmas tradition of breaking
an oplatek, a thin wafermade of wheat flour and water. Nativity
scenes arestamped on the oplatek. The head of the family holds
thewafer, and each person breaks off a small piece and eats it.The
Christmas Eve meal features fish, sauerkraut, potatopancakes, and
beet soup.
15. Denmark, Norway, and Sweden In Denmark, Norway, and Sweden,
Christmas dinner includes rice pudding, calledjulgrot, which has an
almond in it. According to tradition, whoever gets thealmond will
have good luck throughout the new year. Santa Claus is a familiar
figure in the Scandinavian countries. But many childrenthere
believe that a lively elf brings them gifts from Santa on Christmas
Eve. TheDanes and Norwegians call this elf Julenissen, and the
Swedes refer to him asJultomten. The Christmas season in Sweden
begins on Luciadagen (St. Lucia Day), December13. On the morning of
this day, a daughter of the family traditionally dresses up asLucy.
The family celebrates with a traditional Luciadagen breakfast that
includescoffee and special saffron buns. A popular Christmas custom
in Norway is ringe in Julen (ringing in Christmas).Throughout the
country, people ring church bells at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
InDenmark, people decorate their Christmas tree with small paper
cones filled withcandy. Children are not allowed to see the tree
until Christmas Eve.
16. Australia and New Zealand In Australia and New Zealand,
Decembercomes during the summer. Many peoplecelebrate Christmas by
going on a picnic or tothe beach. Schoolchildren have a
six-weeksummer vacation at Christmastime. Carolingtakes place in
many cities and towns. PopularChristmas foods include turkey and
plumpudding. Both Father Christmas and SantaClaus are popular
symbols of gift giving inAustralia and New Zealand.
17. Latin America In Latin America. The nine days before
Christmas have special importance in Mexico. These days are
calledposadas, which means inns or lodgings. On each day, Mexicans
reenact Mary and Josephs search for lodgingson the first Christmas
Eve. Two children carrying figures of Mary and Joseph lead a
procession of people to aparticular house. The people knock on the
door and ask for lodgings. They are refused at first but finally
areadmitted. After each posada ceremony, Mexicans feast and
celebrate. Children enjoy trying to break the piata, a
brightlydecorated paper or clay figure containing candy and small
gifts. The piata may be shaped like an animal, anelf, a star, or
some other object. It is hung from the ceiling, and the children
take turns trying to hit it with astick, sometimes while
blindfolded. When someone breaks the piata, the gifts and candy
fall to the floor, andthe children scramble for them. In Venezuela,
people have a late supper after returning from midnight Mass on
Christmas Eve. Most of thesemeals include hallacas, which are
corn-meal pies stuffed with chicken, pork, beef, and spices. A
favoriteChristmas dish in Argentina is ninos envueltos (wrapped
children). It consists of rolled beef slices filled withseasoned
mincemeat. Children in some Latin-American countries, including
Brazil, Colombia, and parts of Mexico, receive gifts onChristmas
Day. In Argentina, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and most areas of
Mexico, the wise men leave thepresents on the eve of Epiphany.
18. Asia In Asia. Relatively small numbers of Christians live
in the countries of Asia, and soChristmas is not widely celebrated
there. In areas where Christmas is observed,people follow such
Western customs as attending religious services, givingpresents,
singing carols, and decorating Christmas trees. In Japan,
Christians are a minority, yet the popular aspects of Christmas
areincreasingly seen. Gifts are exchanged, lights decorate business
districts, anddepartment stores often display Christmas trees. Even
Santa Claus makes hisappearance in the crowded stores. In the
Philippines, people attend Misas de Gallo (Masses of the Cock),
which arecelebrated early each morning the nine days before
Christmas. On Christmas Eve,Filipinos parade through the streets
carrying colorful star-shaped lanterns calledparols. These lanterns
are also displayed in the windows of most homes. On Christmas Eve,
Christians from throughout the world gather for midnight Massin
Bethlehem, the town near Jerusalem where Jesus was born. They kneel
to kissthe silver star that is set in the ground at the spot where
Jesus birth is believed tohave taken place.
19. Africa In Africa, as in Asia, the celebration ofChristmas
is not widespread because most ofthe countries have a small
Christianpopulation. Missionaries brought Christmascustoms to
Africa and so people in theChristian communities generally
followWestern traditions. However, Africans singcarols and hymns in
their own languages. InEthiopia, members of the Ethiopian
OrthodoxChurch hold religious services on Christmas,January 7. The
major celebration takes placenearly two weeks later at
Epiphany.
20. The first Christmas tree The Christmas tree probably
developed in part from the "ParadiseTree." This tree was an
evergreen decorated with apples used in apopular play about Adam
and Eve held on December 24 in medievalGermany. By 1605, some
Germans decorated their homes withevergreens for Christmas. They
trimmed the trees with fruits, nuts,lighted candles, and paper
roses. Later decorations includedpainted eggshells, cookies, and
candies. The first Christmas trees in the United States were used
in the early1800s by German settlers in Pennsylvania. During the
mid-1800s,the custom of trimming Christmas trees spread rapidly
throughoutthe world. Today, some form of Christmas tree is part of
everyChristmas celebration. Decorations include tinsel, bright
ornaments,and candy canes. A star is mounted on top of many
Christmas treesand other Christmas displays. It represents the star
that led thewise men to the stable in Bethlehem where Jesus was
born.
21. The Christmas Wreath, Holly, Mistletoe The Christmas
wreath, like the evergreens used as Christmas trees,symbolizes the
strength of life overcoming the forces of winter. Inancient Rome,
people used decorative wreaths as a sign of victoryand celebration.
The custom of hanging a Christmas wreath on thefront door of the
home probably came from this practice. Holly is an evergreen tree
with sharply pointed, glossy leaves andred berries. It is used in
making Christmas wreaths and otherdecorations. The needlelike
points of the leaves were thought toresemble the crown of thorns
that Jesus wore when He wascrucified. The red berries symbolized
the drops of blood He shed. Mistletoe is an evergreen plant with
dark leaves and shiny whiteberries. Ancient Celtic priests
considered the plant sacred and gavepeople sprigs of it to use as
charms. The custom of decoratinghomes with mistletoe probably came
from its use as a ceremonialplant by early Europeans. In many
countries, a person standingunder a sprig of mistletoe may be
kissed.
22. Christmas Carol Christmas carols. The word carol came from
a Greek dance called achoraulein, which was accompanied by flute
music. The dance laterspread throughout Europe and became
especially popular with theFrench, who replaced the flute music
with singing. People originallyperformed carols on several
occasions during the year. By the1600s, carols involved singing
only, and Christmas had become themain holiday for these songs.
Most of the carols sung today were originally composed in the1700s
and 1800s. They include "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and"Hark! The
Herald Angels Sing." The words of the famous carol"Silent Night"
were written on Christmas Eve in 1818 by JosephMohr, an Austrian
priest. Franz Gruber, the organist of Mohrschurch, composed the
music that same night, and the carol wassung at midnight Mass. "O
Holy Night" was introduced at midnightMass in 1847. Adolphe Adam, a
French composer, wrote the music.Popular nonreligious carols
include "Jingle Bells" and "WhiteChristmas."
23. Christmas Cards and Feasts Christmas cards. The first
Christmas card was created in 1843 by John Callcott Horsley, an
English illustrator. It resembled a postcardand showed a large
family enjoying a Christmas celebration. The message on the card
read, "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Yearto You." About 1,000
of the cards were sold. By 1860, the custom of exchanging Christmas
cards had spread throughout the UnitedKingdom. The first Christmas
cards manufactured in the United States were made in 1875 by Louis
Prang, a German-born Bostonprinter. Christmas feasting. The
year-end festivities of ancient European peoples included huge
feasts, many of which lasted for several days.The preparation of
special foods later became an important part of the Christmas
celebration throughout the world. At the first Christmas feasts,
people roasted boars, pigs, and peacocks over large open fires.
Today, roast turkey is the most popularmain course in the United
States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United Kingdom
and Ireland, people serve roast goose.Fish is the feature of
Christmas Eve dinner in a number of countries. For example,
Austrians eat baked carp and Norwegians dine onlutefisk (dried
cod). Vegetables, relishes, hot breads, and a variety of other
dishes accompany the main course of the Christmas feasteverywhere.
Popular beverages served especially at Christmastime include eggnog
in the United States and hot, spicy wassail in England. Manypeople
in Sweden drink glogg, a hot punch made with spices, liquors,
raisins, and nuts. Favorite Christmas desserts in the United States
include fruitcake, mince pie, and pumpkin pie. Plum pudding is
traditional in Canada,the United Kingdom, and Ireland. The French
serve a Christmas cake called buche de Noel, which looks like a
miniature log. Italiansfinish their meal with torrone, a candy made
of egg whites, honey, and nuts. Fruit-filled breads called stollen
are favorites in Germany.In Mexico and other Latin-American
countries, thin, round pastries called bunuelos are usually eaten
with cinnamon and sugar.
24. Gift Giving Gift giving. The custom of giving gifts to
relatives and friends on a special day in winter probably began in
ancient Romeand northern Europe. In these regions, people gave each
other small presents as part of their year-end celebrations. By
1100, Saint Nicholas had become a popular symbol of gift giving in
many European countries. According to legend, hebrought presents to
children on the eve of his feast day, December 6. Nonreligious
figures replaced Saint Nicholas incertain countries soon after the
Reformation, and December 25 became the day for giving gifts.
Today, Santa Claus brings presents to children in many countries,
including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Anumber of
other countries have their own versions of Santa Claus, such as
Father Christmas in the United Kingdom andIreland, Pere Noel in
France, and Weihnachtsmann in Germany. Saint Nicholas still brings
presents in some countries, including the Netherlands, Austria,
Belgium, and parts of Germany.Children fill shoes with straw and
carrots for his horse and place them in front of the fireplace. By
morning, the strawand carrots have been replaced by presents.
Youngsters in many Spanish-speaking nations have a similar
custom.However, they leave the food for the camels of the Wise Men
and put the shoes outside a window on the eve ofEpiphany. The Magi
place small gifts in the shoes during the night. The custom of
hanging stockings by the fireplaceprobably developed from those
traditions. In some areas of northern Germany, Saint Nicholass
assistant, Knecht Ruprecht (Servant Rupert), gives presents to
goodchildren. He gives whipping rods to the parents of bad ones. In
Sweden, many children receive presents from the elfJultomten,
called Julenissen in Denmark and Norway. In Italy, La Befana brings
presents on the eve of Epiphany. According to legend, the Wise Men
asked the kindly old witchto accompany them to see the infant
Jesus. She refused, saying she was too busy and had to clean her
house, and so shemissed the wondrous sight. Each year, La Befana
goes from house to house, leaving gifts and looking for the Christ
child
25. Copyright All of it was taken of the internet not my work.
It did take me a couple of hours to get thisthing typed up though..
Myers, Robert J. "Christmas." World BookAdvanced. World Book, 2012.
Web. 19 Dec.2012.