Today Christians all over the world celebrate Christmas. Christmas or Christmas Day means ‘Christ's Mass’ and it is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is a religious and cultural day meant to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Both Christians and non-Christians engage in this celebration because it has grown in popularity over the years as a time to make merry and to be with loved ones.
Christmas Day is important because it reminds people of the day the savior of the world was born. Christians believe that Jesus Christ was born to save all human beings from going to hell and that is why this day is highly regarded.
During Christmas celebrations, it is common for various families to have meals together and to share in the giving of gifts. People also remember the less fortunate in society by providing things such as food, clothing, medication and shelter to those who may not be able to afford them. The day is made colorful by decorations that include Christmas trees, lights, nativity scenes, garlands, mistletoe and wreaths.
Most Christians attend church services during the eve of Christmas and on the day of Christmas. Sermons are usually based around the birth of Jesus and its importance to all humankind. The day is also commemorated by singing popular carols with various communities engaging in different festival activities.
The first recorded Christmas celebration was on December 25th 336 A.D. Just a few years later, Pope Julius I declared that Jesus’ birth would be celebrated on that day every year. Since the actual date of Jesus’ birth is unknown, many theories exist questioning why that day was chosen. Since long before Jesus of Nazareth's birth, many ancient societies celebrated the winter solstice as a time to reflect on the winter past and the spring to come.
Because the Bible provides no date for Jesus’ actual birth, it is presumed that church officials aligned the Christmas festivities with pagan traditions as a means to gain popular approval. In fact, Easter was the main observance of the Christian church until the fourth century when priests decided to permit Christmas as a holiday. The celebration of Christmas day incorporated all sorts of pagan rituals. It built in the feasting of the Norse Yule celebration, the good behavior brought by the German worship of Odin, and the altruism of the Roman Saturnalia.
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