Christmas 2023: Another year is approaching its end with the Holiday Season in effect. As we traverse through the last month of the year, we look forward to December 25th in anticipation. Every year more than 2.83 billion Christians around the globe celebrate the joyous occasion of Christmas. However, with the addition of modern elements over the years, many people do not have much clarity about the festival, the rituals related to it, its significance, etc. Here’s an overview of the festival.
Christmas 2023: Meaning, significance, and date of the festival
Christmas is one of the biggest festivals celebrated all around the globe. The ringing bells, decorated Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and other such modern elements often tend to shift our attention from the real meaning of Christmas. Originally, Christmas is celebrated in remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ in the history of humankind.
2023 years ago, in the little town of Bethlehem, one of the most significant persons in world history. According to the Old Testament or the Hebrew Bible, there are recorded prophecies about a messiah sent from God who was to become the savior of humankind. In the New Testament of the Christian Bible, all those prophecies came true in the person of Jesus Christ.
Thus, Christmas marks the celebration of the birth of this Saviour of humankind. It is impossible to pinpoint the exact date of the birth of Jesus since it was not considered ethical by the early Church to celebrate the birthdays of martyrs. However, 25th December was chosen as the day after being influenced by a Pagan festival signifying the casting away of winter and rebirth of the sun. Since Jesus was widely recognized by the New Testament writers as the Son of God, the ‘rebirth of the sun’ was seen as parallel to the ‘rebirth of the Son’.
Rituals associated with Christmas celebrations
Over time, Christmas came to be recognized as a festival celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike. In Christian circles, the celebration revolves around the birth of Jesus Christ. Consequently, Christians all around the world observe December 24 evening onwards as Christmas Eve. Many attend the midnight Church Service that begins on the night of December 24 and ends early morning on December 25. Christians also celebrate by singing several joyful Christmas carols around this time.
On the other hand, the non-Christian celebration of the festival revolves around the fictional character of Santa Claus. The fictional tale narrates the story of a kind saint based on Saint Nicholas from the 4th Century CE. Santa Claus is imagined as a character dressed in his iconic red winter robes, moving from town to town in search of kids who have been nice to give them gifts. Consequently, several gifts are also exchanged among people on this day.
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