Apart from the fun and enjoyment, knowing the religious aspect of Christmas is equally important. As per the Bible, there is no set of rules or procedure, according to which Christmas has to be celebrated. Thus, there is an immense number of customs that surround Christmas, and it varies from country to country. Many aspects, such as the Christmas tree, the Yule Log and the exchange of gifts are taken from the earlier pagan holiday of Romans. In most Western countries, Christmas celebrations have both religious and secular aspects.
Because of the lack of Biblical instructions, Christmas rituals have been shaped by the religious and popular traditions of each culture that celebrates the holiday. Traditionally, the sacred Christmas season starts with Advent, which begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continues to Christmas Day. The sacred season ends on Epiphany, January 6.
The Advent : During Advent, Christians make preparations for the commemoration of Jesus’ birth on December 25. Each of the four weeks symbolises a different way in which believers perceive Christ: through the flesh, the Holy Spirit, death, and Christ’s judgment of the dead. The Advent wreath, which consists of four candles anchored in a circle of evergreen branches, originated with German Lutherans; the tradition has been adopted by many churches and families. At the beginning of each of the four weeks preceeding Christmas, Christians light an Advent candle as they say a prayer.
Christmas Eve : On the Christmas Eve, churches around the world hold evening services. At midnight, most Catholic and many Protestant churches hold special candlelight services.
The Catholic ‘Midnight Mass’ was first introduced by the Roman Catholic Church in the 5th century. Christmas Masses are sometimes solemn and sometimes buoyant, depending on the particular culture that conducts them. On this day the worshipers enter the church in communal processions. Church services often feature candlelight and music. Some also include a dramatisation of the Biblical story of Jesus’ birth.
Christmas Day : Christmas observances have also assimilated remnants of ancient rituals such as the custom of burning Yule logs; the Yule log symbolises the victory of light over the darkness of winter. The tradition of lighting the Yule log is still observed, especially by Europeans. Families light the log on Christmas Eve and keep it burning until Epiphany.
The exchange of gifts : Christians traditionally exchange gifts as a reminder of God’s gift of a savior to humankind. Gift giving also recalls an ancient Roman custom of exchanging gifts to bring good fortune for the new year. In most cultures that celebrate Christmas, a mythical figure delivers gifts to children. Since the 19th century, Santa Claus and other mythical gift givers have become increasingly gentle, generous, and forgiving.
No Biblical figure attract the kind of devotion that the Virgin Mary attains and her image flourishes among many of the Catholic faithful. Mary’s virginity stems from the belief that she had no children after Jesus and remained a virgin throughout her life. The follower of Christanity appreciate the blessed Virgin Mary and her role in the history of salvation. Mary was a disciple of Christ before she was his mother, for had she not believed, she would not have conceived.
Her name was Mary, a form of the name Miriam, the famous sister of Moses. The name was common among Jewish women in those days. A well-known tradition says she was born in Jerusalem, the daughter of Joachim and Ann. Other early sources say Mary was born in Nazareth. Wherever she was born, Mary’s life most likely unfolded in the staunch Jewish settlement of Nazareth in the hills of Galilee, not far from the important caravan routes linking Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Mary was not merely the point of Christ’s entrance into the world but also acted as the channel through which he tried to revolutionise the world with his message. She was the mother who cared for the physical needs of Jesus the boy, nursed him, nurtured and taught him the ways of the Lord. Doubtless she was the one who taught him to pray, as he grew in wisdom and stature.
People have invoked her, trusted in her mercy and sought to appease Christ through her.
She deserves to be called blessed, for God has accorded her a singular distinction, to prepare his son for the world, in whom she was spiritually reborn. She is called blessed not because of her virginity or even her humility, but because she was chosen as the person and place where God’s glory would enter most deeply into the human story.
The tradition of gifting is the best way to celebrate the festive season that make every moment memorable. The day of Christmas comes with the message of peace for the home, the nation and the world as Jesus Christ taught the humanity about giving peace and happiness to others. The effervescent mood of Christmas gets an added zest with the exchange of gifts, how so ever small or simple it may be.
The tradition of giving gifts in this season owes its origin to the Magi who came from the east of Jerusalem to greet the Jesus in the manger with gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. The Magi were wise men and their gifts were emblematic of tribute, worship and death of Christ. Though Magi are associated more with the Feast of Epiphany on January 6, they can be regarded as the pioneer in gift-giving tradition following the birth of Jesus.
The gifts manufactured specially for the Christmas day are presented in a range of dazzling creations with timeless beauty. From stars to bells to ice cream cones to a snowman, all gifts are inspired by Christmas motifs that infuse joy and happiness. The gift of Christmas also symbolises purity and simplicity. The elegance of Christmas gifts appeals to all taste that bring a glow to the festival.
Selecting a present and exchanging it with a special person can be a most delightful aspect of the Christmas season. As simple as a bunch of nice flowers, or a basket of season’s fruits; a box of candy or a pack of chocolates; a piece of toy or a rare species of sprouting plant; an item of trivia or an object d’art; sheer utilities like a set of cutlery or something that pampers luxury like a box of jewelry …the list is endless. However, it ultimately rests on the tastes of both the gift-giver and the recipient’s, the background of their relationship, along with their age and the social background.
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