The history and culture of Christmas

Introduction to the

Christmas (Christmas), also known as Christmas, translation as the "Christ mass", western traditional festival, on December 25 every year. A mass is a kind of church service. Christmas is a religious festival, because it as the birthday of Jesus to celebrate, so the name "Christmas".

Most of the Catholic church will first in 24th Christmas Eve, that is, the date, December 25, held at midnight mass, and some of the Christian church will hold good tidings, and then celebrate Christmas on December 25, Another major branches of Christianity, the orthodox Christmas festival in each year on January 7th.

Christmas is also a public holiday and many other areas in the western world, such as: Hong Kong, macau, Malaysia and Singapore in Asia. No record date of the birth of Jesus, the bible actually Christmas is make public.
Festival history
Origin of the festival
It is said that Jesus is as conceived by the holy spirit, born of the virgin Mary. More god sent messengers garber spoke to Joseph in a dream, don't she told him not to because Mary becoming pregnant out of wedlock, but want to marry with her, put the child called "Jesus", means to save to save the people from their SINS.
When Mary was going to give birth, the Roman government under the command, all the people must declare to Bethlehem residence. Joseph and Mary had to obey. When they reached Bethlehem, it's already faint, but two people cross the host failed to find the hotel, only a stable can stay. At that moment, Jesus was born. So only in the manger, Mary gave birth to Jesus. Later generations to commemorate the birth of Jesus, is on December 25th is Christmas day, mass every year to commemorate the birth of Jesus.
At the beginning of the 4th century, January 6 is the Roman empire in the eastern churches to commemorate Jesus' birth and baptism of the double festival, known as "Epiphany" (Epiphany), also known as "Epiphany", namely god through Jesus shown themselves. When cold is the only way to pull in the church of the exception, there to mark the 5th anniversary of the birth of Jesus and not only the baptism of Jesus. Historians in the Roman christians after found in conventional calendar on December 25, 354 AD pages records: "Christ is born in Bethlehem of judah." Studies, December 25, companion for Christmas are thought to be started in 336 AD, the Roman church in A.D. 375 years spread to Asia minor to Antioch, AD 430 spread to Alexandria in Egypt in, Jerusalem church to accept the most late, but the Armenian church is still adhere to January 6 Epiphany is the birthday of Jesus.
On December 25 Japan is Persian sun god, the god of light), the birthday of Mithra (Mithra) was a pagan holiday, at the same time, the sun god is also one of Rome: the gods congregation. This day is the Roman almanac winter festival, worship the sun god of the pagans to this day as the spring of hope, the beginning of all things recovery. Based on this reason, the Roman church choose this day as Christmas. This is the beginning of the church to the pagan customs of one of the measures. Most later, although the church to December 25 for Christmas, but the almanac of different solid around the church used, the date cannot be unified, and then put on December 24, to the next year on January 6, a Christmas feast (Christmas Tide), around the church can according to local specific circumstances in this paragraph within feast celebrating Christmas. Since December 25 was recognized as most church after Christmas, turned out to January 6 Epiphany only Jesus baptized, January 6, but the Catholic church and as "the three Kings to section", to commemorate the east when Jesus was born three Kings (namely three Dr) to the story of pilgrimage. As Christianity spread, Christmas has become each sect of christians, even an important festival of the broad masses non-christians.
In the fourth century, Nicholas was born in Asia minor and major city, rich family, parents are

Very enthusiastic catholics, unfortunately his parents early death. Nicholas grew up later, the rich property, all contribute to poor poor man, he was becoming a monk monk, devoted to the church, life-long service for the society. Nicholas was made a priest, but also rise. His life, and do a lot of charity work, he most likes to help the poor in secret, Santa Claus is he later known as, the name is from his secret money, help the story of three girls.

Is considered after the death of saint Nicholas, who was a wearing red and white beard old man wearing a red hat. Christmas he drove on the sleigh pulled by a deer from the north, the chimney into the home, put Christmas gifts in the socks hanging in front of the children's head of a bed or on the stove. [3]
Development of the festival

Christmas is a religious holiday. The nineteenth century, the emergence of the popularity of Christmas, Santa Claus, Christmas began gradually popular. After Christmas celebration customs popular in northern Europe, combined with a northern hemisphere winter Christmas decoration, also appeared.

Development of the early nineteenth century to the middle of the Europe and America began to have the Christmas. And derived the corresponding Christmas culture.

Christmas is in the middle of the 19th century spread to Asia, Japan, South Korea, China, are influenced by culture of Christmas.

After the reform and opening up, especially Christmas spread in China, to the 21st century, Christmas organically combined with Chinese local customs, development has become increasingly mature. Eat an apple, with Christmas hat, sending Christmas CARDS, Christmas party, Christmas shopping became part of Chinese life.
Festival customs

gift

Christmas CARDS (Christmas CARDS) is very popular in the United States and Europe, many families with CARDS take annual family photo or family news, news generally includes family members in the past year the advantages of the specialty, etc. Christmas day, the ideal of datong, points out that we are the world the world, only in a peaceful and loving words and deeds. JiZeng Christmas CARDS, in addition to celebrate the joy of Christmas, is wishes to relatives and friends, which symbolizes remembrance. Especially for the relatives and friends in loneliness, but also a kind of care and comfort. [2]

decoration

Christmas stockings

The first is before the big one pair of red socks, size, informality. Because Christmas is used socks loaded gifts, so is children's favorite things, evening they would hang their socks in the bed and wait for the next morning gifts received. And is usually their mom and dad give them gifts or relatives.

Christmas hat

Is a red hat, it is said that evening wear the sleeping in addition to have to sleep well and have a little warm outside, the second day you will find the hat too much beloved gift.

Christmas decorations, including Christmas decorations and Christmas lights decorate the Christmas tree, indoor with garlands and evergreen plants to decorate, the special Holly and mistletoe is the traditional use of material. In north and South America and the European region, traditionally decorated with lights, outdoor lights including using sled, snowmen, and other Christmas image of the decoration. Holly and mistletoe is the traditional use of material. Municipal authorities will also support for Christmas decorations, hanging Christmas banners on the street or the tree is placed in the square.

The Christmas tree
The Christmas tree (Christmas tree) is one of the most famous traditional Christmas celebrations. Usually people before and after Christmas tree evergreen plants such as pine trees get into the house or in the outdoor, with Christmas lights and color decoration decoration. And put an angel or stars on the top of the tree.

The fir with lamps and accessories, or the deck of the evergreen tree, as part of the Christmas celebration. Modern Christmas tree originated in Germany. German in every year on December 24, namely section, Adam and eve in the home to decorate an fir (the tree of the garden of Eden), will hang on crackers, symbol holy bread (christians sin tag). Modern use all kinds of cookies instead of wafer, but also often add symbol of Christ's candle. In addition, indoor Christmas tower, also has a triangle structure of wood, there are many small frame, the statue of Christ the redeemer in place, the towers are decorated with evergreens branches, candles and a star. To the 16th century, Christmas tower and the garden of Eden tree into the Christmas tree. [1]
The Christmas Windows
Christmas window is a beautiful beautiful scenery line in Melbourne, a year before the arrival of Christmas shop window design personnel will issue, this Christmas theme developed to get incisively and vividly, and never overlap and usual style, there is also the most willing to take the children to mother. Christmas grandpa mellow voice tell us about the thrilling and exciting experience, the story is the story, but a combination of sound, light, electricity more lively and interesting. Queue entry is unwritten rules in Maya window to visit, baluster is hurried outside passing traffic, rail in order to visit, each window for several minutes. Each corner window is rolling screen, the story told in the stereo speakers, can show here, scan the qr code can download.

Christmas ring

Western countries during which hung on the door with CHRISTMAS ornaments, usually with green branches and leaves or vines (pine, pine needles, etc.) and silver metal and golden bell with a red ribbon color green, white, yellow, red, festive it say MERRY CHRISTMAS or a representative of X 'mas

Christmas ring first appeared in Finland. [4]
Regional characteristics

The British

At Christmas is the most British people pay attention to eat, food includes roast pigs, Turkey, Christmas pudding, Christmas chopped meat flake, etc. Every family has a gift, servants have copies of all the presents are sent on Christmas morning. Some sing Christmas singers sing along the door going caroling, they will be host inside, please, with tea, small gift or a gift.

The United States

Because the United States is made up of many peoples, so the situation is the most complex americans celebrate Christmas, immigrants from countries still more in accordance with the customs of their homeland. In the Christmas period, however, the americans hung outside the door of the wreath and other unique layout is the same.

The French

France's general adults, on the eve of Christmas is almost to the church for midnight mass. In the end, my family went with the oldest married brother or sister's home, reunion dinner. This rally, discuss something important in the home, but in case of family is not harmonious, after reconciliation, everybody to reconciliation, so Christmas is a kind of day in France.

Spain

Spain's children can put shoes on the door or window, to receive Christmas gifts. In many cities have a gift for the most beautiful children. In that day also can get very good treatment. It is said that when Jesus was born, there was a cow to his mouth to make him get you warm.

Italy

Every family in Italy, the model with our nativity scene. On Christmas Eve, the families get together to eat dinner, to attend the Christmas mass at midnight. After, he went to visit friends and relatives, only children and old people get a gift. On Christmas day, the italians have a very good custom, children composition or write poetry, thank their parents in the years to their upbringing. Their work, before the Christmas dinner is hidden in a napkin, the bottom of the plate or in the tablecloth, parents pretend to be invisible. After they finished eating dinner, then put it back, to read.
The Swiss

Switzerland's Santa Claus was dressed in white robes, wear a mask. They play by the poor people, in droves to woo food and gifts. After receiving team, they will share the proceeds.

The Danish

Denmark is the initial Christmas stamps and says Christmas seal, the stamps issued against tuberculosis funds to raise money. People in Denmark has no stick the stamp on the Christmas mail sent. Receive the email, see, with the more Christmas stamps will feel more like.

Chile

Chileans celebrating Christmas day, there will be a called [monkey tail] cold drinks, with coffee, milk, eggs, and fermentation of grape wine also.

The Norwegian

Norwegian bed on Christmas Eve, the family every one to wear a pair of shoes, from big to small line one column, is every one of them took turns to sing his favorite Christmas song or st a poem.

The Irish

Irish every family, on Christmas Eve, there is a foreign candle or lights in the Windows, welcomed the savior is born.

The Scottish

The Scots at home looking for something borrowed from others, must restore and owner before Christmas. Most of them on the day of the first Monday of the New Year gifts, not to deliver at Christmas, children and servants will get a gift.

In the Netherlands,

Dutch Christmas present, ordinary people are often surprised at the unexpected, sometimes hidden inside the pudding narrow.

Germany

Every family believe in christianism, Germany has a Christmas tree, Christmas tree, is the first in Germany. The germans for making Christmas cake is very exquisite. The bread have a lot of models, between relatives and friends, each other are presented.
Social influence

economic

In 2012, under the condition of the global economic downturn, the global economy is not optimistic. Although than usual does not small amplitude to heat up, but far less than historical levels. Especially like the Greek debt crisis, the economy itself is no recovery, people shopping around can only be helpless to leave. Countries such as Britain, Canada, Singapore, the United States due to an improving economy, under the vigorously promotion of merchants Christmas rapid economic recovery.

For the Christmas without Christ culture background of the Chinese people, only provides another going shopping or point in time. China has many domestic cities have a Christmas party, shopping malls, supermarkets have large sales promotion activity before, during, and after Christmas. Also spawned a phenomenon: "zhejiang yiwu, billed as the world capital of Christmas ornaments." 70% of the world's Christmas ornaments were from here.

Before and after Christmas in 2011, many Chinese people flocking to the cities shopping, domestic sold by nearly a third of all luxury goods purchased by the Chinese. In the purchasing power of this kind are incredible in mind, many countries in the Christmas special travel plan for the Chinese have a consumer preferences. And London has many more merchants around Christmas, is hiring mandarin-speaking staff, to help Chinese customers to choose goods. In 2010, the Chinese mainland tourists consumption of more than 1 billion pounds in Britain, British residents of luxury consumption demand is less than half the Chinese tourists.
culture

Religious global

From the original religious holiday, is a global developed into a festival. Christmas religious meaning and cultural traditions from all over the world gradually. Some of them are based on religious culture evolution, to become more rich and colorful Christmas religious culture. Others gradually secularization, commercialization, and even political.

In terms of the Christmas tree, there is no tree in the Greek tradition, but it doesn't mean can't have or don't have to have a Christmas tree on Christmas day. The United States has the tradition of the Christmas tree. Many children in the west were told at an early age, Santa Claus from the chimney into the house, and then quietly put the present on boy head of a bed socks. Once the children homework performance decline, you tend to be a parent or teacher admonished might not Santa Claus gift. On the New York state late last month a teacher told the students in the classroom "there is no Santa Claus," added gifts under the Christmas tree is their parents put it there, it was forced to apologize for discussion among parents.

A single diversified

Christmas religious mystery gradually fade, is related to the scientific development, are also associated with commodity economy. Can use all sorts of profit under the market economy in the form of packing of Christmas, businessmen use various promotions to attract consumers to purchase goods, Christmas in reason to make people get more holiday consumption at the same time, also add more holiday chat conversation -- consumer culture.

Christmas pluralistic orientation of culture, make the world more wonderful.