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For Christians, Christmas is not just a celebration of
the birth of Jesus Christ. In the bible, Jesus is also
called “Emmanuel” meaning “God-with-us”. Jesus
Christ, the founder of Christianity was born about 2000
years ago, in a town called Bethlehem in Israel. To all
Christians, it is a time to rejoice and thank God who
“loved the world so much that he gave his one and only
Son, Jesus Christ”. It is also a day to find greater
meaning in lives today and to renew ones’ faith in
Christ Jesus, “He was like us in all things, except
sin”- to live a life of perfect love. Christmas is also
a special time of exchanging gifts. The giving of gifts
symbolizes God’s great gift of the Saviour in the person
of Jesus. It reflects the spirit in which Christians are
to live, that is more ready, to give than to receive.
During this festive season, friends and family members of
all races and religions gather together to celebrate and
have a warming-loving day.
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Origins
In the days when the Romans ruled over Israel, a young
man, Joseph and his wife, Mary, a virgin who was with a
child by the power of God (the Holy Spirit), made a long,
tiring journey to Bethlehem. Mary was about to give birth
and needed a place to rest but the town was overcrowded
and there was no room available. An innkeeper took pity on
them and offered some space in the stable for them. It was
in his stable where Jesus Christ was born.
Today, Christians from all over the world celebrated the
birth of Jesus Christ on 25th December, which
however, is not confirmed as the actual date of his birth.
During 4th century after Christ, the Roman
Empire became Christian with conversion of the Emperor to
Christianity.
A few years after the winter solstice (22nd
December) the Romans had a festival of the birth of the
new sun. The Christian of Rome found this to be suitable
to celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ who was referred
in the Bible as “the rising sun coming from on high to
visit us” and thus that was how the celebration was
originated.
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