Merry Christmas!
Christmas, the birthday of Jesus, is translated as "Christ Mass", a traditional Western holiday that originated from Christianity and is held on December 25th each year. Mass is a kind of liturgy of the church. Christmas is a religious festival, because it is celebrated as the birthday of Jesus, hence the name "Christmas".
Due to the different calendars used and other reasons, the specific dates and forms of celebrations held by different denominations are also different. Most Catholic churches will first hold midnight mass on Christmas Eve on the 24th, that is, in the early morning of December 25; while some Christian churches will hold good news and then celebrate Christmas on December 25; Another major branch of Christianity, the Eastern Orthodox Church, celebrates Christmas on January 7th each year.
The spread of Christmas customs to Asia was mainly in the mid-nineteenth century. Japan and South Korea were all influenced by Christmas culture. Nowadays, it has become a common custom in the West to exchange gifts and hold banquets at Christmas, and to add a festive atmosphere with Santa Claus and Christmas trees. Christmas has also become a public holiday in the Western world and many other regions.
Holiday form
Christmas cards are very popular as Christmas gifts in the United States and Europe. Many families bring annual family photos or family news with the cards. The news generally includes the advantages and specialties of family members in the past year. Sending Christmas cards on Christmas Day not only expresses the joy of celebrating Christmas, but also blesses relatives and friends as a way of showing longing. Especially for relatives and friends who are in loneliness, it is cordial care and comfort.
Holiday decoration
Christmas decorations include: Christmas stockings, which used to be a pair of big red socks, regardless of size. Because Christmas stockings are used to hold gifts, they are children’s favorite things. In the evening, they will hang their socks by the bed and wait for the next morning to receive gifts; Christmas hat is a red hat, which is said to be at night In addition to sleeping peacefully and a little warmly when you put it on, the next day you will also find that there are more gifts from sweethearts in the hat; Christmas trees, usually people put in an evergreen plant (such as a pine) around Christmas Indoors or outdoors, decorated with Christmas lights and colorful decorations, and placed an angel or star on the top of the tree. The Christmas tree originated in Germany.
Holiday diet
Christmas diet includes turkey, tree trunk cake, almond pudding, gingerbread, seafood, glogi wine, beach feast, polenta, etc.
Character image
The Christmas figure mainly refers to Santa Claus, whose prototype is the bishop Saint Nicholas who lived in the city of Mira in the 4th century AD (in present-day Turkey). He has done a lot of charity work in his life, and most likes to help the poor in secret. Santa Claus is his nickname afterwards. This name comes from the story of him secretly giving money to help three girls. Nicholas was revered as a saint after his death. The image of Santa Claus is an old man with a white beard wearing a red robe and a red hat. Every Christmas he drives from the north in a sleigh pulled by a deer, enters each house through the chimney, and hangs Christmas gifts in socks on the children's bedside or in front of the stove.
Do you know other customs about Christmas? Come and share it with me!
