Christmas Stories

Al-Saoda Friends - السودا أصدقاء

قـــصـــص عيـــــد الميـــــلاد

Christmas Stories

Click on the Title of the Story You Want to Read

The Birth of Jesus:

The Christmas Tree:

The Nativity:

The History of Christmas:

The History of Santa Claus:

قصة تقليد شجرة عيد الميلاد " الاستاذ رزق الله بطرس "

Christmas tree tradition "Rizkallah Botros"

The Birth of Jesus

In the western world the birthday of Jesus Christ has been celebrated on December 25th since AD 354, partly to replace the pagan worship that was commonplace in those days. However, we can be fairly sure that Jesus wasn't actually born on that date.

The Bible tells us that shepherds were staying out in the fields overnight when Jesus was born (Luke 2:8), but in that part of the world it would have been far too cold at night to do so in December. What is more likely is that He was born in the Spring, perhaps between March and May. Whatever the time of year, it is virtually impossible to identify the actual date.

This situation is further complicated by the fact that the Christian scholar Dionysius Exiguus was asked by the Pope in AD 525 to calculate new cycles for fixing the date of Easter. However, he decided to base his calculations on the date of Jesus's birth. Unfortunately, it wasn't discovered until the 9th century that he got it badly wrong, by which time it was too late to change the calendar.

He fixed the birth in the year 1 BC or AD 1 (Historians apparently can't agree which.) and began counting from the latter. But both earlier and later scholars agreed that Jesus was born at an earlier date. Indeed, it was eventually established that Herod the Great died in Spring of 4 BC. If Jesus had been born at the start of AD 1, as we currently have it, then Jesus would have been born some 4 or 5 years after Herod died. There is no way of accurately establishing the actual date of his birth, but it is most likely to have been between 5 and 6 BC.

The important thing is that he was born, and his nominal birthdate of December 25th seems as good as any to celebrate his birth and his message. It also a wonderful catalyst for enjoying the precious and simple pleasures of being, if only for a brief time, close together in the warm familiarity of friends and family, renewing relationships and sharing memories.

The Christmas Tree

Most people think that the tradition of lighting and decorating a fir tree at Christmas time originated in Germany.

A decorated tree in the home was familiar to the Romans, who enjoyed the festival of Saturnalia. Sometimes they used to put twelve candles on the tree (one for each month of the calendar), and on the top they placed an image of Apollo, the god of the sun. They also decorated their houses with branches of bay and laurel, on which they hung trinkets and tiny masks of the god Bacchus.

In Northern Europe the Teutonic tribes used to decorate trees in honour of their chief god Odin. They used such things as apples and cakes made in the shape of fish, birds or animals. These decorations were a symbol of Odin’s favour towards his people.

The Druids also used to bring evergreens indoors during their winter festival, as these trees appeared ‘not to die’ During the winter months, unlike the others whose spirit, the Druids believed, had departed. The evergreen branches symbolised the return of life and growth in plants and trees. As Christianity spread, the winter rites continued but were changed in honour of Christ as the ‘bringer of new life into the world.’

In Northern Europe, where there were so many forests, it was natural for the branches of the fir trees to be used as the emblem of renewal. In Latvia and Estonia in the 16th century, evergreen trees were decorated with roses every Christmas Eve.

It was the German reformer, Martin Luther, who is said to have introduced the Christmas tree as we know it, with its mass of beautiful shining lights, inspired by the observation of stars shining through the fir trees.

Gradually the practise of decorating a tree with ornaments and lighted candles spread across Northern Europe and into Scandinavia. Austria is said to have had its first tree in 1816 when Princess Henrietta set one up in Vienna. In 1840 Princess Helena of Meckleburg brought the idea to Paris. In England it has always been a custom to decorate an evergreen garland called a ‘kissing bush’, but in 1841 Prince Albert, Consort to Queen Victoria, introduced a tree decorated with candles, tinsel, and ornaments as part of the Christmas celebrations at Windsor Castle. After that, the Christmas tree soon became an English tradition.

The Nativity

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also sent up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And. lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

The History of Christmas

In the Western world, the birthday of Jesus Christ has been celebrated on December 25th since AD 354, replacing an earlier date of January 6th. The Christians had by then appropriated many pagan festivals and traditions of the season, that were practiced in many parts of the Middle East and Europe, as a means of stamping them out.

There were mid-winter festivals in ancient Babylon and Egypt, and Germanic fertility festivals also took place at this time. The birth of the ancient sun-god Attis in Phrygia was celebrated on December 25th, as was the birth of the Persian sun-god, Mithras. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a festival dedicated to Saturn, the god of peace and plenty, that ran from the 17th to 24th of December. Public gathering places were decorated with flowers, gifts and candles were exchanged and the population, slaves and masters alike, celebrated the occasion with great enthusiasm.

In Scandinavia, a period of festivities known as Yule contributed another impetus to celebration, as opposed to spirituality. As Winter ended the growing season, the opportunity of enjoying the Summer's bounty encouraged much feasting and merriment.

The Celtic culture of the British Isles revered all green plants, but particularly mistletoe and holly. These were important symbols of fertility and were used for decorating their homes and altars.

New Christmas customs appeared in the Middle Ages. The most prominent contribution was the carol, which by the 14th century had become associated with the religious observance of the birth of Christ.

In Italy, a tradition developed for re-enacting the birth of Christ and the construction of scenes of the nativity. This is said to have been introduced by Saint Francis as part of his efforts to bring spiritual knowledge to the laity.

Saints Days have also contributed to our Christmas celebrations. A prominent figure in today's Christmas is Saint Nicholas who for centuries has been honoured on December 6th. He was one of the forerunners of Santa Claus.

Another popular ritual was the burning of the Yule Log, which is strongly embedded in the pagan worship of vegetation and fire, as well as being associated with magical and spiritual powers.

Celebrating Christmas has been controversial since its inception. Since numerous festivities found their roots in pagan practices, they were greatly frowned upon by conservatives within the Church. The feasting, gift-giving and frequent excesses presented a drastic contrast with the simplicity of the Nativity, and many people throughout the centuries and into the present, condemn such practices as being contrary to the true spirit of Christmas.

The earliest English reference to December 25th as Christmas Day did not come until 1043.

The History of Santa Claus

Just like the season of Christmas, the history of the origins of Santa Claus is influenced by the customs and cultures of many countries, beginning in Asia Minor sometime around the 4th century AD. It was here that Bishop Nicholas became renowned for his exceptional generosity, especially to the very young. Many years later he became known as Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children.

As time went on, adults began to dress in the manner of Saint Nicholas, dressed in Bishops vestments and carrying a staff., to re-enact the kindness of the saint. They went from house to house, asking if the children who lived there had been well behaved. In response to these visits, the children left their shoes outside the doors of their houses so that next morning they might find them filled with sweets and trinkets.

An Anglo-Saxon version eventually evolved and was known as Father Christmas. His character was a mixture of the Saint Nicholas and earthly perceptions of the gods Thor and Saturn. He wore robes decorated with ivy and holly and carried a switch to threaten unruly children, as well as a bag of toys to reward the well behaved.

In North America the British, German and Dutch settlers introduced their own derivations of Father Christmas and of these the Dutch figure of ‘Sinterklaas’ became the common favourite. Eventually this name was anglicised to become Santa Claus, the mythical figure of Christmas who placed toys, sweets and trinkets into stockings hung by the fireplace.

The modern perception of the character of Father Christmas was greatly influenced by Thomas Nast, a cartoonist with Harpers Weekly, who published a drawing of Santa Claus in 1860. This was a portly figure with white hair and a long beard, dressed in a red robe and wearing a crown of holly, holding a long clay pipe similar to that of Sinterklaas.

Perhaps the final stage in the evolution of the modern Santa Claus was brought about by publicity from the Coca Cola Company. They launched an advertising campaign in the 1930s with Santa Claus as the central figure and subsequently used the motif for the next forty years or so. This conception of Santa Claus was produced for them by Haddon Sundblom, who built on the character and costume created by Thomas Nast to produce a cheery, chubby fellow that is still a familiar perception of the mythical Christmas character to millions of people throughout the Western world.

Christmas tree tradition

According to legend, the Christmas tree tradition began with the founder of German Protestantism, Martin Luther. While walking through the forest on Christmas Eve, Luther was so moved by the beauty of the starlit fir trees that he brought one indoors and decorated it with candles to remind his children of God’s creation. In 1841 Prince Albert of Germany gave his wife, Queen Victoria of England, a gift of a Christmas tree. This was reputedly the first Christmas tree in England, but the custom spread quickly. German immigrants took the Christmas tree to other parts of Europe and to the United States and Canada, where it soon became a popular tradition. Blown-glass ornaments, tin angels, paper chains, candles, cornucopias filled with sugarplums, and other decorations made the simple evergreen tree into a beautiful parlor centerpiece at Christmastime.

حكاية تقليد شجرة الميلاد

تقول الحكاية إن تقليد شجرة الميلاد بدأ مع مؤسس البروتستانتية الألمانية ، مارتن لوثر . بينما كان في الغابة ليلة عيد الميلاد ، تأثر كثيراً بجمال منظر شجرة التنوب تحت أنوار النجوم ، فجلبها معه إلى بيته وزينها بالشموع لتذكّر أبناءة بخليقة الله البديعة . وفي عام 1841 أهدى الأمير ألبرت الألماني زوجته – التي أصبحت فيكتوريا ملكة إنكلترا فيما بعد – شجرة ميلاد كهدية . وكانت هذه أول شجرة ميلاد مشهورة في إنكلترا . وانتشرت هذه العادة بسرعة. أخذ المهاجرون الألمان شجرة الميلاد إلى أجزاء أخرى من أوروبا و الولايات المتحدة وكندا حيث أصبحت تقليداً شعبياً. لقد حوّلت الأشكال المتعددة من الزينة ( من الزجاج المنفوخ وتماثيل الملائكة من القصدير والسلاسل الورقية والشموع والقرون المتلئة بالحلوى وإلخ ...... ) هذه الشجرة البسيطة الدائمة الخضرة إلى قطعة جميلة تتوسط الصالونات في أعياد الميلاد المجيدة.

( عن موسوعة إنكارتا Encarta )

Thursday December 21, 2006

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