Christmas

Every year the Christmas holiday falls on December 25th.

Christmas is celebrated by many people, however, the origin of the Christmas holiday brings up much debate. There are many different views as to how this holiday started.

The birthday of Jesus Christ has been celebrated on December 25th since AD 354 in the western world.

In ancient Babylon and Egypt, there were mid-winter festivals. Germanic fertility festivals had taken place also during this time. The birth of Attis, an ancient sun god, was celebrated on December 25th in Phrygia, as well as the birth of the Persian sun-god, Mithras.

The Romans celebrated Saturnalia, which was a festival dedicated to the god of peace and plenty, Saturn, that ran from the 17th to 24th of December. Public gathering places during the celebration were decorated with flowers. Gifts and candles were exchanged, and everyone, no matter slave or master, celebrated the occasion.

In Scandinavia, Yule, which is a period of festivities, was celebrated. As Winter ended the growing season, the opportunity of enjoying the Summer's bounty encouraged much feasting and happiness.

The Celtic culture revered all green plants, but especially mistletoe and holly. These two plants were important symbols of fertility and were used for decorating homes and altars.

New Christmas traditions ended up appearing in the Middle Ages. The most known contribution was the carol, which by the 14th century, had become associated with the religious observance of the birth of Christ.

In Italy, there is a tradition for the reenactment of the birth of Christ and the construction of nativity scenes. It is said that Saint Francis introduced this as part of his efforts to bring spiritual knowledge among people.

While there are many different ways the holiday is celebrated, many follow their roots or religion when it comes to deciding how the holiday should be observed. Nonetheless, the holiday certainly carries a lot of history and has been celebrated in different ways.

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