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Do you know? Origin of Chdstmas___圣诞由来
The name Christmas is short for“Christ"s Mass”．A Mass is a kind of Church service．Christmas is a religious festivaI．It is the day we celebrate as the birthday of Jesus．
There are special Christmas services in Christian churches all over the world．But many of the festivities of Christmas do not have anything to do with religion．Exchanging gifts and sending Christmas cards are the modern ways of celebrating the Christmas In the world．
The birth of Jesus had a story：In Nazareth，a city of Galilee．The vIrgin"s name was Mary was betrothed to Joseph．Before they came together，she was found with
child of the Holy Spirit．Joseph，her husband was minded to put her away secretly．While he thought about these things，Gabriel，an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
dream and told hIm did not be afraid to take Mary as wife．And Mary，will bring forth a Son，and he shall call his name，Jesus,for he will save his people from their sins．
Before Jesus births．Joseph and Mary came to Quintus was governing Syria．So all went to be registered，everyone to his own city．Joseph also went up out of
Galilee．out of the city of Nazareth．into Judea，to the city of David．which iS called Bethlehem，because he was of the house and of the lineage of David，to be registered with Mary。his betrothed wife，who was with child．So it was that while they were there．the days were completed for her to be delivered．And she brought forth her firstborn Son．and wrapped him in swaddling cloths．and laid him in a
manger．because there was no room for them jn the jnn．And that．Christmas IS the feast of the nativity of Jesus．is on 25th，December every year．But nobody know the acluaI birthday of Jesus．And the Christmas has become popular when Christmas cards appeared in 1 846 and the concept of a joily Santa Claus was first made popular in nineteenth Century．
“圣诞节”这个名称是“基督弥撒”的缩写。弥撒是教会的一种礼拜仪式。耶诞节是一个宗节我们把它当作耶稣的诞辰来庆祝，因而又名耶诞节。这一天，世界所有的基督教会都举行特别的礼拜仪式。但是有很多圣诞节的欢庆活动和宗教并无半点关联。交换礼物，寄圣个诞卡，这都使圣诞节成为一个普天同庆的日子。
圣诞节是基督教世界最大的节日。4世纪初，1月6日是罗马帝国东部各教会纪念耶稣降生和受洗的双重节日、称为“主显节”Epiphany，亦称“显现节”即上帝通过耶稣向世人显示自己。当时只有耶路撒冷的教会例外，那里只纪念耶稣的诞生而不纪念耶稣的受洗。后来历史学家们在罗马基督徒习用的日历中发现公元354年12月25日页内记录着：“基督降生在犹大的伯利恒。”经过研究，一般认为12月25日伴为圣诞节可能开始于公元336年的罗马教会)约在公元375年传到小亚细亚的安提阿，公元430年传到埃及的亚历山大里亚，耶路撒冷的教会接受得最晚，而亚美尼亚的教会则仍然坚持1月6日主显节是耶稣的诞
辰。
12月25日原来是波斯太阳神(即光明之神)密特拉(Mithra)的诞辰，是一个异教徒节日，同时太阳神也是罗马国教众神之一。这一天又是罗马历书的冬至节，崇拜太阳神的异教徒
都把这一天当作春天的希望，万物复苏的开始。可能由于这个原因，罗马教会才选择这一天作为圣诞节。这是教会初期力图把异教徒的风俗习惯基督教化的措施之一。
后来，虽然大多数教会都接受12月25日为圣诞节，但又固各地教会使用的历书不同，具体日期不能统一，于是就把12月24日到第二年的1月6日定为圣诞节节期(Christmas Tide)，各地教会可以根据当地具体情况在这段节期之内庆祝圣诞节。自从12月25日被大多数教会公认为圣诞节后，原来1月6日的主显节就只纪念耶稣受洗了，但天主教会又把1月6日定为“三王来朝节”，以纪念耶稣生时东方三王(即三位博士)来朝拜的故事。随着基督教的广泛传播，圣诞节已成为各教派基督徒，甚至广大非基督徒群众的一个重要节日。在欧美许多国家里，人们非常重视这个节日，把它和新年连在一起，而庆祝活动之热闹与隆
重大大超过了新年，成为一个全民的节日。12月25日的主要纪念活动都与耶稣降生的传说有关。
CarieVinne-
这一段话，来自于一个国外的介绍，专门讲圣诞节的标志之类的，很可爱的，希望能够帮到你啊
Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25th of each year. It is the day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The word "Christmas" means "Christ"s Mass" - derived from the English term "Christes masse". There are many different customs and traditions around the world. American customs come from many places. Santa Claus has a Dutch origin. He was developed from St. Nicholas who was a real person. St. Nicholas, was the patron saint of school boys. He brought gifts to the children. The idea that Santa Claus comes down the chimney originated in Norway, where children hang Christmas stockings on the fireplace mantel. Christmas trees have pagan origins. When pagans became Christian, they used evergreens (a sacred tree) for the holiday by decorating them with nuts and candles. They sang Christmas carols as they danced around the Christmas tree.
Christmas colors are red and green. Today, traditional Christmas activities include caroling, making and giving gifts, sending cards to family and friends, and enjoying festive dinners and parties. Below are symbols of Christmas and their significance. Basicly speaking,this question is difficult to answer!
CHRISTMAS GIFTS:
It is customary to give gifts to close relatives and friends at Christmas time. If you are staying with friends over the Christmas holiday, it would be good to give the members of the family a small gift on Christmas morning, or at whatever time the family chooses to open their gifts. Several days before Christmas, a tree is decorated and set up in the living room. Often it is the custom to wrap your gift and place it under the tree several days before Christmas. In families where there are small children, the gifts are usually kept until the last minute to be placed under the tree. The time to open gifts varies with families. Some like to do it on Christmas eve, others early on Christmas morning. Christmas Day
Christmas is a joyful religious holiday when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. To people all over the world, Christmas is a season of giving and receiving presents. In some European countries, Father Christmas, or Saint Claus, comes into houses in the night and leaves gifts for the children. Saint Nicholas
is represented as a kindly man with a red cloak and long white beard.
Most children believe that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole. All year he lists the names of children, both those who have been good and those who have been bad. He decides what presents to give to the good children. Each child hung a stocking, or sock, over the fireplace. Santa entered down the chimney and
left candy and presents inside the socks for the children. On the morning of Christmas day. Each child can"t wait to open his or her eyes to see what Santa has left in the stocking.
Christmas Cards
Another important custom of Christmas is to send and receive Christmas cards, which are meant to help express the sentiment of the season. Americans begin sending Christmas cards early in December to friends,
acquaintances, and co-workers. The post office advises customers to mail early in the season and avoid the Christmas rush. Some people heed the advice; others wait until the last minute and then are upset when their loved ones have not received the greeting card or the present which they sent
小教板-
Basicly speaking,this question is difficult to answer!
CHRISTMAS GIFTS:
It is customary to give gifts to close relatives and friends at Christmas time. If you are staying with friends over the Christmas holiday, it would be good to give the members of the family a small gift on Christmas morning, or at whatever time the family chooses to open their gifts. Several days before Christmas, a tree is decorated and set up in the living room. Often it is the custom to wrap your gift and place it under the tree several days before Christmas. In families where there are small children, the gifts are usually kept until the last minute to be placed under the tree. The time to open gifts varies with families. Some like to do it on Christmas eve, others early on Christmas morning.