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1. When is Christmas?
Christmas, also known as the Nativity, Xmas, or Noel (from the French Noël, derived from the root Emmanuel, meaning 'God is with us'), is a significant celebration in the Christian calendar. On this day, people gather at churches to attend the holy service commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.
Today, Christmas is not only popular among Catholics but also attracts people of various faiths and beliefs, who participate in festive activities and entertainment.
Despite its global prevalence, some non-Christians, including in Vietnam, may not accurately know the date of Christmas.
Christmas is typically celebrated over two days, starting from the evening of December 24th until the end of December 25th. The official day is the 25th, also known as the 'main day,' while the celebration on the night of the 24th is referred to as the 'eve.'
Therefore, Christmas in 2022 will fall on a Sunday, on the 25th of December.
2. Origin of the Christmas Holiday
According to the beliefs of Christians, Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, in the region of Judea, which was part of the land of the Jews (now a city in Palestine) around the middle of 7 BCE and 2 CE. During that time, Judea was under the rule of the Roman Empire.
The story of Jesus' birth is described in the New Testament as follows: In the town of Nazareth, a virgin named Mary was engaged to a carpenter named Joseph. Both of them were descendants of King David, the great king of the Jews.
One day, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, announcing: 'You will be blessed with a son named Jesus. He will be exalted and called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David, and he will reign over the house of Israel forever; his kingdom will never end.'
Mary shared the news with Joseph, and despite being a virgin, she became pregnant. While Joseph was pondering this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, explaining the divine grace of God. Consequently, he married Mary without any hesitation.
Jesus was born to mother Mary during a journey to the town of Bethlehem.
Although the exact birth date of Jesus is unknown, the church in the early 4th century established his birth date as the 25th of December, corresponding to the Roman calendar's Winter Solstice.
Christmas is officially celebrated on the 25th of December but is often observed from the evening of the 24th, as per the Jewish calendar, where a day begins at sunset rather than midnight.
3. Meaning of the Christmas Holiday
Religiously, Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. Additionally, it is a time for families to gather, share stories of joy and sorrow from the past year.
Christmas also becomes a magical day in the memories of the little ones. It's a day when children can make their wishes and eagerly anticipate receiving gifts from Santa Claus tucked in their stockings.
Here is an article answering when Christmas (Noel) is, its origin, and the meaning of the Christmas holiday. We hope the information shared by Mytour has helped you understand more about this special day.
