Buzz
1. What is Christmas?
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, also known as Noel or a day commemorating the birth of Jesus. According to most Christian believers, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea, around 7 BC and 2 BC.
Christmas is usually celebrated on the evening of December 24th (Christmas Eve) and December 25th (Christmas Day). Eastern Orthodox Christians still use the Julian calendar to determine the date, so they celebrate Christmas on January 7th according to the Gregorian calendar.
Christmas belongs to Christians, who hold ceremonies, and gradually Christmas has become an internationally recognized holiday that many people around the world pay attention to and celebrate, not just for Christians.
2. Meaning of Christmas Symbols
Christmas Tree: In winter when most trees shed their leaves and lose vitality, the Christmas tree remains green. Hence, ancient people regarded the fir tree as a symbol of resurrection. The image of the Christmas tree - a symbol mentioned in 1605 in a German almanac and in the early 19th century the tradition of decorating Christmas trees became popular throughout Germany and later spread to Northern European countries and America.
Nowadays, nearing Christmas, people often procure a Christmas tree and adorn it with stars, baubles, glittering tinsels, flowers... The Christmas tree is seen as a symbol of hope and new life in welcoming the New Year festival. The brightest star placed atop symbolizes Jesus - the light of the world.
Along with the Christmas tree, the image of Santa Claus is always associated with Christmas. For most children worldwide, the interesting thing about Christmas is the image of Santa Claus with his big sacks of gifts, sitting on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. And the gifts received from those stockings hung for obedient children. “Santa Claus” or Saint Nicholas began in Turkey in the 4th century AD. Saint Nicholas is particularly praised for his love for children and his generosity.
The image of Santa Claus as a jolly old man always dressed in red symbolizes generosity, warmth, and sincerity. Nowadays, besides gifts for children, Christmas Day has become a day for each of us to express love, to give gifts to relatives and friends.
Nativity Scene: is a miniature model symbolizing the image of Jesus, Mother Mary, Saint Joseph - surrounded by angels, shepherds, and livestock. According to Christianity, the manger or crib is a unique part of Christmas. In each country, the manger has different names: Italians call it presepio, Spaniards call it nacimiento, the British call it manger scene, while the French call it crèche. Most mangers appear in churches and in each family, carrying profound meanings. The manger is placed in an important position in the family before Christmas Day and prayed before on the festival day.
Christmas Cards: In ancient Egypt and Rome, people used to send New Year's greetings on pieces of wood. But today, those pieces of wood are replaced by beautiful cards to give to friends and family on Christmas.
Advent Wreath: According to Christianity, the advent wreath is made of green leaves often placed on a table or hung high. The wreath, in the form of a circle, symbolizes eternal life and endless love of God along with the green color of hope from the savior to humans. Nowadays, people often encounter laurel wreaths as a symbol of Christmas.
Christmas Markets: are traditional markets held at Christmas appearing at the end of the medieval period - originating from Germany and northeastern France. And now, the unique tradition of Germany, Austria, northeastern France as well as many countries around the world.
Christmas Star: The star in Christmas has a special significance, according to tradition when Jesus was born, a bright star appeared. The light radiated hundreds of miles still visible. From the distant regions of the east now Iran and Syria, there were 3 kings who received the revelation that by following the light of the star, they would surely encounter a miracle called the feast of the kings.
From there, the 3 followed the guiding light to reach Bethlehem where Jesus was born. These kings knelt before the Lord, offering the Lord frankincense and precious gold and silver items.
The star becomes a meaningful symbol in Christmas and is hung in the most elegant places in churches, religious institutions on Christmas Eve to remember the legend above. Because the meaning of the star also symbolizes the miracle of the Almighty.
3. Meaning of Names
Many countries around the world build the image of Christmas to help people understand religion and express respect for God, hope for a better life. In every country in the world, there are customs and ways of organizing Christmas differently. But the common point of these countries is that they all use the phrase 'Merry Christmas' during Christmas.
Christmas is a combination of 'Christ' (Greek) which is the title of Jesus and 'mas' meaning holy mass. So when combined Christmas means the holiday of Christ or known as the birth of Jesus. Besides, people also use some names like Xmas - originating from Greek and nowadays Xmas is considered as an abbreviation of Christmas.
Noel is a French word derived from Latin meaning (day) birth or some opinions suggest that Noel originates from the title Emmanuel (Hebrew) meaning God is with us (written in the book of Matthew gospel).
Apart from the meaning according to Christianity, Noel is a family holiday, a day for everyone in the family to attend meals, enjoy, and sing together. Noel is also a message of peace “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'
