Changes

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. Christmas is often connected to pagan festivals such as Yule, especially by those who oppose Christian traditions. However, the symbolism of a solstice date appealed to the Church Fathers for reasons unrelated to the various pagan festivals that were celebrated at this time of year.  

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. Christmas is often connected to pagan festivals such as Yule, especially by those who oppose Christian traditions. However, the symbolism of a solstice date appealed to the Church Fathers for reasons unrelated to the various pagan festivals that were celebrated at this time of year.  

In Western countries, during the [[Advent]] of Christmas season, and before the arrival of Christmas Day, people in anticipatory celebration generally hang up colored lights, place a [[Christmas tree]] (typically an evergreen conifer tree) in their house, sing [[carol]]s, and exchange gifts. Gift-giving commemorates the gifts given to the Christ child by the magi and is symbolic of the fact that Jesus came as gift to mankind from [[God]]. Most towns and cities do this on an elaborate scale in public places, putting a large tree in the public square, and hanging large arrangements of lights with Christmas themed designs over the streets weeks before Christmas Day, removing the tree within a few days or the week following, often leaving the other forms of public decoration and display in place for weeks afterward, even to the end of January.

In Western countries, during the [[Advent]] of Christmas season, and before the arrival of Christmas Day, people in anticipatory celebration generally hang up colored lights, place a [[Christmas tree]] (typically an evergreen conifer tree) in their house, sing [[carol]]s, and exchange gifts. Gift-giving commemorates the gifts given to the Christ child by the magi and is symbolic of the fact that Jesus came as gift to mankind from [[God]]. Most towns and cities do this on an elaborate scale in public places, putting a large tree in the public square, and hanging large arrangements of lights with Christmas themed designs over the streets weeks before Christmas Day, removing the tree within a few days or the week following Christmas Day and safely discarding it, often leaving the other forms of public decoration and display in place for weeks afterward, even to the end of January.

==History==

==History==