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Christmas 2023: History, Significance, and Celebration

PWOnlyIAS December 22, 2023 12:54 1826 0

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Christmas 2023 will be celebrated on 25th December across the world to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.

Christmas 2023: History, Significance, and Celebration

Context

Christmas 2023 will be celebrated on 25th December across the world.

Christmas 2023: Why is Christmas Celebrated on December 25

  • Reason: The Christmas festival commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, who is believed to have been born on the same day in Bethlehem.
  • Christmas 2023, Origin of the Day: The New Testament says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Even though there are multiple hypotheses regarding the date of Jesus’ birth, in the early fourth century, Pope Julius I officially designated December 25 as the day to celebrate the birth of Lord Jesus Christ.
    • December 25 also corresponds to the traditional date of the winter solstice on the Roman calendar. This date has been universally adopted.
    • Some churches of the Eastern world celebrate Christmas on December 25 of the older Julian calendar, which corresponds to January 7 in the Gregorian calendar.
  • Christmas 2023: Significance of the Day
    • Global Event: The Christmas festival is celebrated religiously by a majority of Christians, as well as culturally by many non-Christians across the world.
    • Economic Boost: The festival of Christmas helps in the growth of economic activity as people purchase gifts, decorations, and supplies to celebrate.
    • Birth of Jesus: The festival celebrates the arrival of Jesus Christ on Earth, to liberate humanity from misery.

Christmas 2023: About Christmas Festival

  • Origin of the Word: The word Christmas is the shortened form of ‘Christ’s Mass’. The word ‘Christ’ has been derived from the Greek Khrīstos, which is a translation of the Hebrew word Masiaḥ.
    • The word ‘mass’ is derived from the word maesse, which is from the Latin word missa. 
  • Other Names Associated with Christmas: The Anglo-Saxon people referred to the feast as “midwinter” or as Nātiuiteð (Nativity) meaning ‘birth.
    • Slavic people use the traditional name of Koleda to refer to the festival of Christmas. 
  • Celebrations Associated with Christmas: 
    • Christmas Feast: A Christmas Feast is traditionally an important part of the holiday’s celebration and involves specially prepared dishes for the occasion.
    • Decorations: Every Christian household is decorated with the Nativity Scene, which depicts the birth of Jesus Christ.
      • The Christmas tree is usually an evergreen conifer, such as a spruce, pine, or fir, which is decorated with colourful lights, papers, sweets, ribbons, etc.
    • Gift-giving: Exchange of gifts between friends and family is a core practice people belonging to Christian practice follow.  
    • Boxing Day: In many parts of the world, the next day of Christmas is celebrated as Boxing Day. Many sporting events are held on this day, including the famous cricketing event ‘Boxing Day Test’ in Melbourne, Australia.
    • Christmas Mass: Devout Christians participate in Christmas Eve or Christmas Day church service, which acts as an important part in the recognition of the Christmas season. 
    • Christmas Carol: These were originally communal folk songs sung during celebrations such as harvest festivals as well as Christmas. They are usually sung in churches during the festival.
      • Some famous Christmas carols include the “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Silent Night”.
    • Nativity Play: The viewing of the Nativity play is one of the oldest Christmas traditions for celebrating the festival.
    • Giving Greeting Cards: Colourful cards are illustrated messages of greeting are exchanged between friends and family members during the weeks preceding Christmas Day. 
  • Legend Associated with Christmas:
    • Santa Claus: Mythological figures such as as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, and the Christkind, are believed to bring gifts to children during the Christmas season. 
      • Santa accomplishes his task of gifting children with the aid of Christmas elves, who make the toys in his North Pole workshop and flies with reindeers which pull his sleigh through the air.

Christmas 2023 in India

  • Christmas Spread: Compared to the rest of the world, Christmas is fairly a small festival due to a small number of Christians in the country.
    • Despite being a minority religion (2.3%), Christians account for about 25 million in numbers. Majority of them are concentrated in Southern India and North-eastern part of the country.
  • Origin: Saint Thomas the Apostle is believed to have introduced Christianity to India around 52 CE. The religion and the subsequent celebrations of Christmas started after the colonization by Europeans.
  • Christmas 2023 Celebrations:
    • Similar to the rest of the world, Christian families in India will visit the church for the mass and this will be followed by a massive feast.
    • Instead of traditional Christmas Trees, a banana or mango tree is decorated. Sometimes people make use of mango leaves for decorating their homes.
    • In many parts, Christians hang out giant paper lanterns, in the shape of stars, between the houses. In some houses, earthen lamps are kept on the roof.

About Jesus Christ

  • About: Jesus, also known as Jesus of Nazareth, was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious leader, who was a central figure in Christianity.
  • Evidences of Life: Historical evidences of Jesus’ life are contained in the Gospels, especially the four canonical Gospels in the New Testament.
  • Birth: Jesus was born to Joseph and Mary. It is believed that Mary was a virgin when Jesus was conceived. Hence he is known as God’s Son.
  • Other Events: Jesus baptized by the prophet John the Baptist in his early adulthood and shortly thereafter became a preacher and healer.
    • Jesus often debated with fellow Jews on how to best follow God, engaged in healings, and gathered followers for his teachings.
  • Death of Jesus: Jesus’ teachings were considered dangerous and treachery as he claimed himself to be king of the Jews.
    • He was arrested and handed over to the Roman authorities. He was publicly flogged and was forced to carry his own crucifix.
    • He was crucified beside two criminals, affixing a sign to his cross that declared him “King of the Jews.” 
    • The crucifixion of Jesus is honored on Good Friday and his resurrection is celebrated as Easter Sunday.
  • Teachings of Jesus: He emphasized the importance of love, compassion, forgiveness, and service to others. Devout Christians must love and serve their neighbors.
    • It is not just the friends and family they must care for, but also strangers and even enemies.
    • Jesus’ teaching is often called the “Golden Rule” to guide one’s actions towards others. 
      • If we want others to treat us with kindness and respect, we must first treat them that way.
    • Jesus also spreads the importance of forgiveness. The transformative power of forgiveness can help heal relationships and bring universal peace.
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Christmas FAQs

Christmas 2023 will be celebrated on 25th December across the world to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.

In the early fourth century, Pope Julius I officially designated December 25 as the day to celebrate the birth of Lord Jesus Christ.

The Anglo-Saxon people referred to Christmas as "midwinter" or as Nātiuiteð (Nativity) meaning 'birth. Slavic people use the traditional name of Koleda to refer to the festival of Christmas.

Some major celebrations include the Christmas Feast, Christmas tree decorations, Gift-giving, Christmas Mass, Christmas Carol, Nativity Play, Giving Greeting Cards etc.

Santa Claus is a mythical figure believed to bring gifts to children during the Christmas season. Santa accomplishes his task of gifting children with the aid of Christmas elves.

Saint Thomas the Apostle is believed to have introduced Christianity to India. The subsequent celebrations of Christmas started after the colonization by Europeans.

Jesus, also known as Jesus of Nazareth, was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious leader, who was a central figure in Christianity.

Jesus’ teachings were considered dangerous and treachery as he claimed himself to be the king of the Jews. He was arrested and handed over to the Roman authorities. He was publicly flogged and was crucified.

The crucifixion of Jesus is honored on Good Friday and his resurrection is celebrated as Easter Sunday.

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