Christmas
History
Christmas season typically begins in most traditions on Christmas Eve, December 24, and lasts through January 5th. This is the 12 days of Christmas. January 6th is Epiphany.
The origins of Christmas
Christmas (Christ's Mass), began in European Christendom in the 3rd Century. The early feasts or masses, were not held on a specific day nor were they widespread at the time. It wasn't until the 4th century when Christians began to accept the date as December 25th.
There has been debates over the date of Christmas as the date when Jesus was born and that he was most likely born in the springtime. Therefore the day that Christmas is celebrated is not Jesus' actual birthday, but a day to commemorate the event.
The date, December 25th may have originated because in Roman Culture, December 25th was the day of the winter solstice (which is Dec 22 on our calendar). This was a pagan celebration of the birth of the sun and marked the change of seasons. Because of this, many Christians were reluctant to celebrate the birth of Jesus on that date. By the 4th century, it became accepted as a Christian festival celebrating the birth of Christ.
Through the ages Christmas was not always a peaceful, family holiday. There are many stories of ancient Christmas being a time of drinking and riotousness. And there are even stories of Christians, Jews and others being treated unfairly and not being able to celebrate the ways in which they wanted. For some, Christmas was even banned. But keep in mind that Christmas was not the only time when these bad things happened. What is important is to remember what Christmas stands for. Christmas has taken on many new fesivities and beliefs over the years and people all over the world celebrate this most popular holiday in their special ways.
It wasn't until the 18th Century when Christmas first began to take on more of the modern Characteristics of todays celebrations. With the publication of "The Night Before Christmas" at a time when children were becoming more of a focus in the family and when writers and artists were free to explore their creativity, Christmas grew into a holiday for not only focusing on Jesus' birth, but on families, gift giving and festivities.
See also:
References & Resources
How Christmas Works origin and meaning of many Christmas customs and traditions
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