A Christian holiday honoring the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas has evolved over two millennia into a worldwide religious and secular celebration, incorporating many pre-Christian, pagan traditions along the way. Today, Christmas is a time for family and friends to gather and exchange gifts.
The biblical account of Jesus' birth describes how, during the reign of Caesar Augustus, a census was ordered that required everyone to return to their ancestral towns to register. So Joseph and his betrothed, Mary, traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the town of David, where Mary gave birth to Jesus. Unable to find room at an inn, they took shelter in a manger, where the baby was laid in a feeding trough and wrapped in swaddling cloths.
While the exact date of Jesus' birth is unknown, many scholars believe it likely occurred not in December, but during the autumn Jewish festival of Sukkot. At that time, the hills around Bethlehem would have been populated by shepherds tending their flocks, as described in the Nativity story. The cold and snow of winter make it less plausible that the shepherds would have been out on the hills, lending support to the theory of an autumn birth. Regardless of the precise timing, the Nativity narrative remains a cherished part of the Christmas tradition, with its themes of hope, joy, and the promise of new life.
The word for Christmas in late Old English was "Cristes Maesse" or "the Mass of Christ," first found in 1038, and "Cristes-messe" in 1131. In Dutch, it is "Kerstmis," in Latin "Dies Natalis," from which the French "Noël" and Italian "Il natale" derive. In German, it is "Weihnachtsfest," from the preceding sacred vigil. The term "Yule" is of disputed origin and unconnected to any word meaning "wheel." In Anglo-Saxon, the name was "geol," meaning "feast," and "geola," the name of a month (cf. Icelandic "iol," a feast in December).
Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. Irenaeus and Tertullian omitted it from their lists of feasts, and Origen, perhaps alluding to the discreditable imperial "Natalitia," asserted that in the Scriptures, only sinners, not saints, celebrate their birthdays. Arnobius could still ridicule the "birthdays" of the gods.
Everybody Loves Christmas:
"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." - Calvin Coolidge
"Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas." - Dale Evans
"The two most joyous times of the year are Christmas morning and the end of school." - Alice Cooper
"The thing about Christmas is that it almost doesn't matter what mood you're in or what kind of a year you've had - it's a fresh start." - Kelly Clarkson
"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!" - Charles Dickens
"I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph." - Shirley Temple
"Faith is salted and peppered through everything at Christmas. And I love at least one night by the Christmas tree to sing and feel the quiet holiness of that time that's set apart to celebrate love, friendship, and God's gift of the Christ child." - Amy Grant
"I don't think Christmas is necessarily about things. It's about being good to one another, it's about the Christian ethic, it's about kindness." - Carrie Fisher
"At Christmas, I am always struck by how the spirit of togetherness lies also at the heart of the Christmas story. A young mother and a dutiful father with their baby were joined by poor shepherds and visitors from afar. They came with their gifts to worship the Christ child." - Queen Elizabeth II
"I remember a great America where we made everything. There was a time when the only thing you got from Japan was a really bad cheap transistor radio that some aunt gave you for Christmas." - Cher
"On Christmas morning, before we could open our Christmas presents, we would go to this stranger's home and bring them presents. I remember helping clean the house up and putting up a tree. My father believed that you have a responsibility to look after everyone else." - George Clooney
"I throw a Christmas party at my house. It's not really a Christmas party, because I don't want to call it a Christmas party. But let's just say I put a lot of Christmas trees around the house, so it smells good." - Bill Murray
The Christmas Truce
During the American Revolution, Patriot General George Washington crossed the Delaware River with 5,400 troops, hoping to surprise a Hessian force celebrating Christmas at their winter quarters in Trenton, New Jersey. The unconventional attack came after several months of substantial defeats for Washington's army, which had resulted in the loss of New York City and other strategic points in the region.
Around 11 p.m. on Christmas, Washington's army began crossing the half-frozen Delaware River at three locations. The 2,400 soldiers led by Washington successfully braved the icy and freezing river, reaching the New Jersey side just before dawn. However, the other two divisions, comprising some 3,000 men and crucial artillery, failed to reach the meeting point on time.
The iconic song "White Christmas," written by the renowned composer and lyricist Irving Berlin, received its world premiere on this day in 1941 on Bing Crosby's weekly NBC radio program, The Kraft Music Hall. The song went on to become one of the most commercially successful singles of all time, surpassing even Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997" as the top-selling single. "White Christmas" took its first steps toward becoming a beloved American standard when Crosby first performed it publicly on Christmas Day, 1941. The song's immense success likely did not surprise Berlin, who had confidently declared it "the best song I ever wrote...the best song anybody ever wrote" when rushing to have his musical secretary transcribe it in January 1940. However, it was nearly two years later that Crosby finally premiered the song on live radio, and another year after that before Crosby's recording of "White Christmas" became a smash pop hit.
For early Christians, and many today, the most important holiday was Easter, commemorating the death and resurrection of Jesus. However, as Christianity spread in the Roman world during the early fourth century, church leaders had to contend with the popular pagan holiday celebrating the "birthday of the unconquered sun" (natalis solis invicti) - the Roman term for the winter solstice.
Christmas traditions vary widely across the globe, but they all share a common purpose: to spread joy during the holiday season. While baking cookies and decorating trees are common practices in the U.S., each state has its own unique traditions. Texas is no exception - the Lone Star State boasts a rich array of cherished Christmas customs.
New Mexico's holidays are deeply influenced by its Spanish and Mexican heritage. Early European missionaries introduced the story of Mary, Joseph, and the birth of Jesus, which later inspired the state's traditional novenario celebrations.
When the holidays arrive, Southern California may not be the first place that comes to mind. However, this sunny region knows how to get into the festive spirit. From the beaches of San Diego to the snowy retreats of Big Bear Lake, SoCal offers an array of charming Christmas towns that are sure to delight and warm your heart. In this guide, I'll introduce you to seven of these magical holiday destinations that are guaranteed to infuse your season with joy and merriment.
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