Difference between revisions of "Christmas"

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Nativity narratives feature prominently in both Matthew and Luke. Early Christians had a great deal of interest in establishing the date of the birth of Jesus. But no evidence could be found in the gospels. They proposed a wide variety of dates. In 221, Sextus Julius Africanus gave March 25 as the date of the first day of Creation and of the conception of Jesus in his universal history. This conclusion was based on solar symbolism, with March 25 the date of the equinox. It implies a birth in December. Such solar symbolism was justified by the identification of Jesus as the "sun of righteousness" mentioned by Malachi.<ref>Malachi 4:2</ref>
 
Nativity narratives feature prominently in both Matthew and Luke. Early Christians had a great deal of interest in establishing the date of the birth of Jesus. But no evidence could be found in the gospels. They proposed a wide variety of dates. In 221, Sextus Julius Africanus gave March 25 as the date of the first day of Creation and of the conception of Jesus in his universal history. This conclusion was based on solar symbolism, with March 25 the date of the equinox. It implies a birth in December. Such solar symbolism was justified by the identification of Jesus as the "sun of righteousness" mentioned by Malachi.<ref>Malachi 4:2</ref>
  
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The first recorded Christmas celebration was in 336 in Rome.<ref name="Chrono354">[http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/chronography_of_354_12_depositions_martyrs.htm "The Chronography of 354 AD. Part 12: Commemorations of the Martyrs"], ''The Tertullian Project''. 2006. Retrieved November 24, 2011.</ref> This celebration is mentioned in a document called the Chronography of 354. Christmas played a prominent role in the Trinitarian controversy of the fourth century. Once that controversy died out, the status of Christmas declined. In the Early Middle Ages, Christmas was overshadowed by Epiphany (January 6). The holiday regained prominence in the time of Charlemagne, who was crowned as Frankish emperor on December 25, 800.  
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The first recorded Christmas celebration was in 336 in Rome. This celebration is mentioned in a document called the Chronography of 354.<ref name="Chrono354">[http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/chronography_of_354_12_depositions_martyrs.htm "The Chronography of 354 AD. Part 12: Commemorations of the Martyrs"], ''The Tertullian Project''. 2006.</ref> The creation of the feast may be response to the Trinitarian controversy that was raging at the time. Christmas has a unique three-mass liturgy that gives a priest three opportunities to inveigh against heretics. Once Arianism die out, the status of Christmas declined. In the Early Middle Ages, Christmas was overshadowed by Epiphany (January 6). The holiday regained prominence in the time of Charlemagne, who was crowned as emperor on December 25, 800.  
  
 
With the Reformation, Christmas fell into disrepute. It was banned under Cromwell. In the early 19th century, the Oxford Movement led a revival of the holiday. Many of the customs we have come to associate with Christmas developed in Victorian England, notably the Christmas Tree, which originated in Germany and was introduced in England by Prince Albert. The concept of Christmas as a family-centered celebration and a time of generosity, good will, and friendliness to neighbors, was promoted and codified by Charles Dickens in ''A Christmas Carol.''  
 
With the Reformation, Christmas fell into disrepute. It was banned under Cromwell. In the early 19th century, the Oxford Movement led a revival of the holiday. Many of the customs we have come to associate with Christmas developed in Victorian England, notably the Christmas Tree, which originated in Germany and was introduced in England by Prince Albert. The concept of Christmas as a family-centered celebration and a time of generosity, good will, and friendliness to neighbors, was promoted and codified by Charles Dickens in ''A Christmas Carol.''  

Revision as of 02:48, December 25, 2017

Merry Christmas.gif

Christmas is a holiday which celebrates the birth of Jesus. It is celebrated on December 25. The word "Christmas" comes from "Christ's mass." The Russian and Ukrainian churches also celebrate on December 25, but according to the Julian calendar. This corresponds to January 7 on the Gregorian calendar.

The story of the birth of Christ is told in the opening chapters of the Gospel of Luke and the Gospel of Matthew. Each contains different elements of the Christmas story. The visit of the Archangel to the shepherds and the birth of Jesus in a manger are from Luke. The story of the Star of Bethlehem and the visit from the Wise Men bringing gifts of "gold, and frankincense and myrrh" are from Matthew.

The Bible does not give a date for the birth of Jesus. The holiday is exactly nine months following Annunciation on March 25. On the Roman calendar, March 25 was marked as the spring equinox while December 25 was considered the date of the winter solstice. Both of these dates are traditional and merely approximate.[1] According to an ancient Jewish tradition, the equinox is the anniversary of the first day of Creation. Influenced by this tradition, Christians in the Middle Ages celebrated New Year's Day on March 25.

The first recorded Christmas celebration was in Rome in 336.[2] The feast was introduced to the Eastern Roman Empire after the death of Emperor Valens, who favored the Arian heresy, in 378. So the holiday was associated with Rome and orthodoxy at this time.

In Western countries, during the Christmas season people generally hang up colored lights, place a Christmas tree (typically an evergreen tree) in their house, sing carols (songs), and exchange gifts. Gift-giving commemorates the gifts given to the Christ child by the Wise Men and is symbolic of the fact that Jesus came as gift to mankind from God.

History

The Holy Virgin with her Child

Nativity narratives feature prominently in both Matthew and Luke. Early Christians had a great deal of interest in establishing the date of the birth of Jesus. But no evidence could be found in the gospels. They proposed a wide variety of dates. In 221, Sextus Julius Africanus gave March 25 as the date of the first day of Creation and of the conception of Jesus in his universal history. This conclusion was based on solar symbolism, with March 25 the date of the equinox. It implies a birth in December. Such solar symbolism was justified by the identification of Jesus as the "sun of righteousness" mentioned by Malachi.[3]

The first recorded Christmas celebration was in 336 in Rome. This celebration is mentioned in a document called the Chronography of 354.[4] The creation of the feast may be response to the Trinitarian controversy that was raging at the time. Christmas has a unique three-mass liturgy that gives a priest three opportunities to inveigh against heretics. Once Arianism die out, the status of Christmas declined. In the Early Middle Ages, Christmas was overshadowed by Epiphany (January 6). The holiday regained prominence in the time of Charlemagne, who was crowned as emperor on December 25, 800.

With the Reformation, Christmas fell into disrepute. It was banned under Cromwell. In the early 19th century, the Oxford Movement led a revival of the holiday. Many of the customs we have come to associate with Christmas developed in Victorian England, notably the Christmas Tree, which originated in Germany and was introduced in England by Prince Albert. The concept of Christmas as a family-centered celebration and a time of generosity, good will, and friendliness to neighbors, was promoted and codified by Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol.

In the United States, the image of Santa Claus (i.e. Saint Nicholas) and his reindeer has been shaped by Clement Moore's poem, "A Visit from Saint Nicholas" (with the famous opening line "'Twas the night before Christmas.") In other countries, the depiction of Santa vary widely. For instance, in The Netherlands, Santa Claus is shown in a Catholic bishop's miter. In some countries, Saint Nicholas is not associated with the holiday at all; for example, in Spain it is the Three Wise Men who bring gifts to children, and in Hawaii it is the jolly native Kamaunamauna. However, the tradition of Christmas gift-giving is prevalent in all cultures.

In the United States, during the twentieth century, gift-giving assumed a greater and greater role, and by mid-century had become of great commercial importance, to the point where some felt the religious aspects were becoming forgotten. As Stan Freberg put it[5] in 1958, "There are two S's in Christmas and they're both dollar signs." The single week before Christmas currently accounts for 25 percent to 30 percent of all retail sales.

Relationship to pagan festivals

It is sometimes suggested that Christmas is an "appropriation" of a pagan festival, a view that can be traced back to the Puritans. According to this view, the Church placed Christmas on December 25 as a marketing strategy to absorb pagan solstice festivals into Christianity. The cycle of solstice and equinox is a natural phenomena significant to religions of widely varying character. Pagan Rome had many holidays and the fact that Christmas is on the same date as a pagan holiday is not necessarily significant.

The end of the year was a time of celebration in pagan Rome. Saturnalia began on December 17 and lasted for several days. It was followed by Dies Natalis Solis Invicti on December 25 and Kalends on January 1 to January 4. Saturnalia was exclusive to Italy while Natalis Solis Invicti was prominent only under Aurelian. Both were overshadowed by Kalends, a new year celebration. While there is no trace of either Saturalia or Natalis Solis Invicti persisting into Christian times, various churchmen noted how difficult it was to suppress Kalends.[6] The Roman end-of-year celebrations transferred to Epiphany in the Early Middle Ages and later to the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Modern-day cultural significance

Santa Claus 1.jpg

See also: War on Christmas and Atheism and Christmas

The tension between religious and secularized Christmas has waxed and waned periodically over the years. The pendulum swung toward secularization in the middle of the twentieth century. One marker was the emergence of songs like I'll Be Home For Christmas (1943), The Christmas Song, (1946), and Silver Bells (1951), which have become a beloved part of Christmas in America despite their lack of any religious content. Bing Crosby, a devout Catholic, initially was reluctant to sing the secular 1942 song White Christmas, which was to become his biggest hit.[7]

In recent years, the celebration of Christmas has become part of the "culture wars." Fox News analysts John Gibson and Bill O'Reilly claim that Christmas has come under attack by liberals. Some Christian conservatives want an increased recognition of the religious core of the holiday, and want to maintain a separation between Christmas and other holidays occurring at the same time of year.

Outside of America, in Britain for example, powerful lobbies are trying to remove all the Christian connotations in the name of being politically correct.[8] This is similar to the idea of CE in that it ignores the religious/historical basis of Christmas. See also: War on Christmas and Atheism and Christmas

Biblical Mentions

Christmas trees may be mentioned in the book of Jeremiah as pagan idols, in verses strikingly similar to the popular Christmas song, "Deck the Halls".

Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Jeremiah 10:2-5 (KJV)

Rejection

Some Christian churches, sects, and communities reject the observance of Christmas for theological reasons. Christian sects that don't celebrate Christmas include Jehovah's Witnesses[9]; Armstrongites[10]; some adherents of Messianic Judaism; most Sabbatarian denominations, such as the True Jesus Church and the Church of God (7th-Day); the Iglesia ni Cristo; the Christian Congregation in Brazil; the Christian Congregation in the United States; certain reformed and fundamentalist churches of various persuasions, including some Independent Baptists,[11] Holiness Christians, Oneness Pentecostals,[12] Amish-Mennonites, and Churches of Christ congregations.[13][14][15][16][17]

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ Sosigenes of Alexandria intended March 25 to be the date of the equinox when he designed the Julian calendar. The calendar was introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC. By modern calculations, the equinox is on March 21 or 22. A calendar reform by Augustus is responsible for much of the misalignment. It is possible there was also an error present from the beginning.
  2. ↑ "Christmas and its cycle", New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2nd edition, 2002, Catholic University of America Press. vol. 3, pp. 550–557.
  3. ↑ Malachi 4:2
  4. ↑ "The Chronography of 354 AD. Part 12: Commemorations of the Martyrs", The Tertullian Project. 2006.
  5. ↑ in a recording, "Green Christmas"
  6. ↑ "In 578 CE a church Council at Auxerre, Burgundy, forbade disguisings, and another Council, in the year 614, stated it was “unlawful to make any indecent plays upon the Kalends of January, according to the profane practices of the pagans.” (Pennick, Nigel, Pagan Magic of the Northern Tradition: Customs, Rites, and Ceremonies, 2015.)
  7. ↑ Still Dreaming of a White Christmas, NPR story
  8. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/6726491/Bishop-of-Ludlow-warns-that-secular-Britain-wants-to-do-away-with-the-manger-at-Christmas.
  9. ↑ Jehovah's Witness on Christmas. www.jw.org. Retrieved on 1 January 2013.
  10. ↑ {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3___tE12R0
  11. ↑ Wilson, Greg. The Truth about Christmas.
  12. ↑ Jesus Name Apostolic Holiness Church - Oneness Pentecostal.
  13. ↑ Messianic Judaism: The Followers of Christ Who Do Not Celebrate Christmas. The Christian Post (8 December 2011). Retrieved on 1 January 2013.
  14. ↑ Is Christmas Biblical?. tjc.org. Retrieved on 1 January 2013.
  15. ↑ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). churchofgod-7thday.org. Retrieved on 1 January 2013.
  16. ↑ All About Iglesia ni Cristo: Frequently Asked Questions. iglesianicristowebsite.com. Retrieved on 1 January 2013.
  17. ↑ "'Christ' in Christmas?: Churches of Christ and the Holiday Season", Christian Chronicle. Retrieved on 22 January 2017. 
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