The Day Of Christmas:
Now, it doesn't need to be said that Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior of the world. Christians all over the world look forward to this day throughout the year with much hope 'n enthusiasm. But did you ever wonder why Christmas is celebrated on December 25? Is it the day when Christ was born?
Well, nobody knows for sure exactly when Jesus was born. There had been a lot of dispute over fixing December 25 as Christmas. In the 2nd century AD, Hippolytus claimed this day to be the day when Christ was born. Then January 6 was declared by the eastern Church as Christ's birthday. And finally, in 350 AD, the Bishop of Rome, Pope Julius I, fixed December 25 as the official day for Christmas. This date, the day of the winter solstice, was wisely chosen with the intention to outweigh the popular pagan Roman holiday of Saturnalia. The latter celebrated the Roman god Saturn, beginning from mid-December 'n ending on January 1. Saturnalia was a festival marked by wild masquerades 'n frenzied excitement that was totally befitting to the solemn and deeply religious occasion of Christmas. The early Christians could never come to terms with such a frantic Christmas celebration, which would be in the same street as the pagan Saturnalia. They wanted to observe the birthday of their Lord with devout offerings 'n sincere devotion.
However, as time progressed 'n Christianity spread to every nook 'n corner of the world, the Church slowly loosened up a little 'n came to accept the merry-making during Christmas. Today, Christmas is really incomplete without the decorations of lights 'n streamers, the glowing candles, the steaming hot turkey with pies 'round, decked halls, the mistletoe on the doorway, the bells on the Christmas tree, the boughs of holly, the stockings over the fireplace, the colorful greetings 'n gifts 'n many more such favorite things! So get set to enjoy Christmas like there's no tomorrow!
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