How is Christmas Celebrated Around the World?
Author: Dominique Halet
Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. This feast was created by the pope to promote Christianity and remove pagan festivals celebrated at the winter solstice.
During the IVth century, the pope decided to bring the Christmas day on December 25th
Christmas has always been represented by religious ceremonies and gifts and
greetings exchange.
Here are some Christmas symbols:
* The Advent consists of a burning candle each Sunday four weeks before Christmas;
which symbolize the rebirth of light after the winter solstice.
* The December 24th Christmas Mass; which celebrates the birth of Jesus.
* The Christmas Crib; which symbolizes the birth of Jesus in Christian homes.
* The Christmas tree, a symbol from the pagan celebration and representing life.
* The Yule log; which represents the log that we put in the fireplace to warm up on Christmas Eve.
* Santa Claus, an American creation, inspired by the Christian Saint Nicholas (celebrated in Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Alsace. This character wears a luxurious red cape, he has a long white beard and wears a red miter, he also holds a golden crosier. Saint Nicholas rewards good children while his companion Pere Fouettard/Black Pete punishes nasty children) and the elf Yule Goat, celebrated in Scandinavian countries.
Over the centuries, Christmas has evolved and Christmas Eve with our family, replaced the religious ceremonies.
The gift exchange: luxurious for the rich people and useful - sometimes only one orange - for the poor people, has been replaced by the modern marketing. People not only buys gifts but also spend lots of money in decoration items, food, drink...
The secularization of our society removed the true meaning of Christmas Time; which is, obviously, becoming a pagan feast.
