Why do people think that Christmas is wonderful? Most never reflect on why
they believe what they believe or do what they do. We live in a world
filled with customs, but few ever seek to understand their origin. We
generally accept them without question. Most people basically do what
everyone else does—because it is easy and natural!
Let's carefully examine the roots of Christmas. Let's look at why people follow the customs associated with it. Why is it kept on December 25th?
Let's carefully examine the roots of Christmas. Let's look at why people follow the customs associated with it. Why is it kept on December 25th?
Christmas is for joy, for giving and
sharing, for laughter, for coming together with family and friends, for
tinsel and brightly decorated packages... But mostly, Christmas is for
love.
It was this love for which Jesus came to this world and
sacrificed his life.
December 25th was not selected because it was
the birth of Christ or because it was even near it. It was selected
because it coincided with the idolatrous pagan festival Saturnalia—and this celebration must be carefully examined. In any event, we do not know the exact date of Christ's birth. While God certainly could have made it known, He chose to hide it from the world's eyes!
Thus Christmas is a celebration of love
and mirth symbolized by the Nativity, the Santa, the caribou, the
poinsettia and the evergreens. All that bring home the spirit of love
and life.
And this is the spirit that makes Christmas so popular throughout the
world.
The whole world goes into the celebration
mood during the mid winters. Long back even before the arrival of
Jesus, Europeans started celebrating the light in the gloomiest days of
winter. During the winter solstice, many of the Europeans began to
celebrate because the tough time of winter was behind them and they felt
it was the period of prolonged hours of sunlight.
The Story in the Bible
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be
taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took
place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his
own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1-7
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1-7
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