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[[Image:Merry Christmas.gif|right|260px]]

[[Image:Merry Christmas.gif|right|260px]]

'''Christmas''' is a [[holiday]] which celebrates the birth of [[Jesus Christ]], literally Christ's mass. [[The mass]] is celebrated after sundown on the 24th of [[December]] by the [[Roman Catholic]] church and most [[Protestant]] denominations. The day is recognized on January 6th by some [[Eastern Orthodox Church]](s) who combine the day with Ephiphany. Orthodox practice a Christmas Fast--lasting 40 days (November 15 to December 24).

'''Christmas''' is a Christian [[holiday]] which celebrates the birth of [[Jesus Christ]]. Christmas is typically celebrated on December 25th. The word Christmas comes from "Christ's mass," and the [[Roman Catholic]] church and most [[Protestant]] denominations practice this [[mass]] after sundown on the 24th of [[December]]. Some [[Eastern Orthodox Church]](s) practice it on January 6th, combining the day with Ephiphany. Orthodox practice a Christmas Fast--lasting 40 days (November 15 to December 24).

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 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.  

In Western countries, during the Christmas season people generally hang up colored lights, place a Christmas (i.e. pine) 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]].

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]].{{Fact}}<!-- This is just the second bit, although references for facts are always a good thing. I was brought up taught that it was just the former. -->

==History==

==History==

Festivals have always been celebrated around the time of the solstice. Two thousand years before Christ, the early Mesopotamians celebrated a 12 day new year around that time, which is still reflected in our custom of the 12 Days of Christmas. Their chief god, Marduk, was supposed to battle annually against the forces of chaos, which the Mesopotamians assumed were making the sunlight dwindle. The [[Mesopotamian]] King was supposed to be killed to go fight at Marduk's side. However, the king usually substituted a condemned prisoner and let him spend a day as the king. He was treated like the king for a day, then at the end of the day he was stripped and killed in the king's stead.

Festivals have always been celebrated around the time of the solstice. Two thousand years before Christ, the early Mesopotamians celebrated a 12 day new year around that time, which is still reflected in our custom of the 12 Days of Christmas. Their chief god, Marduk, was supposed to battle annually against the forces of chaos, which the Mesopotamians assumed were making the sunlight dwindle. The [[Mesopotamian]] King was supposed to be killed to go fight at Marduk's side. However, the king usually substituted a condemned prisoner and let him spend a day as the king. He was treated like the king for a day, then at the end of the day he was stripped and killed in the king's stead.

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.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=850892 Still Dreaming of a White Christmas], NPR story</ref>

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.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=850892 Still Dreaming of a White Christmas], NPR story</ref>

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 "[[liberal]]s." 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.

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 "[[liberal]]s." 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.  

 

*[[Santa Maria]]

*[[Santa Maria]]