All I Want for Christmas is …

Ho Ho-Oh! Christmas is here.

For many of us, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It is the time of the year that streets, houses, office buildings, supermarkets, hospitals, schools are decorated with Christmas ornaments and play Christmas jingles all day long.

It is also that time of the year where you see everyone is excited and joyful. isn’t that magical if you think about it?

For those of us that celebrate Christmas since early childhood, you might never ask yourself why do we celebrate it or why we have to decorate the evergreen tree, even exchange gifts on Christmas eve?

Why do we celebrate Christmas on the 25ht of December?

Christmas is a celebration about the birth of Jesus Crist., for those who are Christian and believe Jesus is the Son of God. 

No one knows the exact birthday, the bible does not have the dates either. Now you wonder then why do we celebrate on December 25. It is a long explanation, but let me explain it in a short sentence.

For historians, the birth of Jesus happened between 2 BCE and 7 BCE; however, the first recorded date of the Christmas celebration was on December 25 in 336 during Roman Emperor Constantine. And officially declared and the Jesus birth by Pope Julius I.

The other theory about why Christmas is celebrated on December 25, comes from Christian tradition called annunciation. Mary was told by the angels that she would have a special baby on March 25, nine months after March 25 is December 25.

Did you understand the math? Is that true? The historians might know some a lot more.

Where the Christmas tree originated?

As we entered to Christmas season, one of the strongest reminders of Christmas is the tree decorated tree. However, have you ever wondered where the Christmas tree tradition comes from?

A long time ago, before Christianity, the evergreen tree used to be a pagan symbol, people used to decorate home with evergreen to keep witches and other kinds of evil spirits away.

Later on, Christians leaders felt that they couldn’t beat the tradition of decorated evergreen trees. They decided to co-opt them as part of the Christmas celebration and adopted it as a sign of everlasting life with God.

Where Santa Claus come from?

According to historians, St. Nicholas was a bishop who lived in the fourth century, in minor Asia, today known as Turkey. St. Nicholas was a rich man who inherits wealth from parents, and he had a reputation for helping the poor and distribute secret gifts to people who needed it.

Now, after the reformation, St. Nicholas tradition and stories became unpopular, which turned out to be Santa Clause. Let tell you how that turned out happened.

During middle ages In the UK, someone decided to start to deliver presents to the children at Christmas, and people coined as the Old Man Christmas or Father Christmas. Later, Dutch settlers use the stories of St. Nicholas then became Sinterklaas or Santa Claus.

What is the origin of giving gifts at Christmas?

All over the world, families and friends experience some combination of joy and frustration to find perfect gifts for a family member or a friend, but where that practice came from?

Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus so that the tradition of presents represents the gifts given to Jesus by the three wise men: Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.

If you wonder what they mean the three-gifts, it means; Gold – King of King, Frankincense – worship Jesus, Myrrh – Jesus would suffer and die.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!