| Christmas is the most mysterious holiday! | | | | that Father Christmas comes down the chimney |
| Christians celebrate it all over the world. It is too | | | | and places gifts in children's stockings.For many |
| special holiday as all the traditions were handled | | | | people it's too interesting to know: how did |
| down from our grandparents and parents.From | | | | Christmas start?Since about 400 AD Christians |
| November nobody forgets that Christmas is | | | | have celebrated the birth of Jesus. 'Christ' means |
| coming. Colored lights decorate many town | | | | 'Messiah', the title given to Jesus. Unfortunately |
| centers and shops and artificial snow painted on | | | | the real meaning of Christmas is often forgotten. |
| shop, cafe windows. In streets and shops, | | | | It has become a non-religious holiday! More children |
| 'Christmas trees', real or plastic evergreen 'conifer' | | | | believe in Father Christmas, not in Jesus. |
| trees, are also decorated with lights and | | | | Christmas Day is a holiday with eating, drinking |
| Christmas ornaments.Shopping centers become | | | | too much and watching TV and other activities. |
| busier. Speaker systems in them play Christmas | | | | But the real Christmas story is found in the |
| 'carols', the traditional Christmas Christian songs. | | | | Christian Bible. After Jesus was born there were |
| Very often groups of people sing these carols | | | | some wise men who came to look for Him, from |
| raising money for charity. By mid-December, | | | | an area which is now in either Iran or Saudi |
| most people decorate their houses with Christmas | | | | Arabia. Admittedly there were three wise men (or |
| trees, colored lights, make different decorations | | | | three Kings). The story said they had seen an |
| around the rooms. Some people decorate their | | | | unusual star in the sky that told them of a birth |
| trees with apples, nuts, and candles as it was in | | | | of a special king. For bringing honor to the child, |
| earlier times.In many countries, most people send | | | | the brought rich gifts: gold, frankincense (a resin |
| Christmas greeting cards with many wishes to | | | | which burns with a beautiful smell) and myrrh |
| their friends and family, and these cards are hung | | | | (plant oil with a very strong sweet smell). These |
| on the walls of their homes then. Traditional | | | | gifts tell us three key things about Jesus: Gold - a |
| Christmas cards showed religious pictures - Mary, | | | | gift fit for a King, Frankincense - burnt in worship |
| Joseph and baby Jesus, or other parts of the | | | | of God, Myrrh - a sign of mortal humanness, used |
| Christmas story. Today pictures are often winter | | | | to bury the dead. Jesus lived too difficult life. He |
| pictures, jokes, Father Christmas, or romantic | | | | was and is 'everyman' for us all as He came to |
| scenes of life in past times.'Father Christmas' (or | | | | identify with every racial group. Christmas cards |
| 'Santa Claus') has become the human face of | | | | from different countries often show Mary, Joseph |
| Christmas. In the pictures we can see the old | | | | and Jesus in the landscape of that country, and |
| man with long white beard, red coat, and bag of | | | | with the racial appearance of that nationality. "No |
| toys. Children are taught that he brings them | | | | other person has had such an effect on human |
| presents the night before Christmas (or in some | | | | lives as Jesus. He came back to life again, and |
| countries on December 6th - St. Nicholas' Day), | | | | millions say they know Him today as a friend and |
| and many children up to the age of 7 or 8 really | | | | helper in their lives. You owe it to yourself to find |
| believe this is true. The history of Santa Clause | | | | out more about Him. Is He who He claimed to be? |
| begins with a man called Saint Nicholas. He was a | | | | Can He help us in our lives today? You have |
| Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor (now Turkey) in the | | | | nothing to lose! Christmas is the time to stop and |
| 4th century AD. He was very shy, and wanted to | | | | think about these important questions".Merry |
| give money to poor people without them knowing | | | | Christmas!!!Alina Popova is an experienced |
| about it. One day he climbed the roof of a house | | | | translator, author and marketing specialist.Visit |
| and dropped a purse of money down the | | | | discount store, if you are looking for Christmas |
| chimney. It landed in the stocking, which a girl had | | | | gifts. |
| put to dry by the fire! This may explain the belief | | | | |