What is the definition of Christmas in English?
What is the definition of Christmas in English?
English Language Learners Definition of Christmas : a Christian holiday that is celebrated on December 25 in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ or the period of time that comes before and after this holiday See the full definition for Christmas in the English Language Learners Dictionary
What was the origin of the celebration of Christmas?
Question: “What is the origin of Christmas?”. Answer: Christmas is a popular December holiday celebrated by large numbers of people all around the world. Christmas (or “the Mass of Christ”) has long been known as the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, and the celebration first began to be observed in the early fourth century.
What’s the meaning of Christmas in the west?
The Christmas season, especially in the West, is a mix of pre-Christian, Christian, and secular traditions. What’s interesting is the etymology of the word Christmas. It literally means Christian Mass. It’s a shortened form of Christ’s Mass. Christmas is a time of spiritual reflection on the important foundations of the Christian faith.
What is the most common justification for Christmas?
The most common justification that one will hear regarding Christmas is that people have replaced old pagan customs and intents by asserting that they are now “focusing on Christ.” I have heard many say that they are “honoring Christ” in their Christmas-keeping.
Where does the name Christmas come from in Greek?
The abbreviation, which in fact dates back to at least the mid-1500s, uses X because it is the Greek letter chi, the initial letter in the Greek word Χριστός ( Chrīstos ), meaning “Christ.” Other names for Christmas include Noel and Nativity, which are typically used in religious contexts.
When is Christmas celebrated in the Orthodox Church?
Most Christians celebrate the holiday on December 25, but it is celebrated on January 7 in the Orthodox Church due to the use of a different calendar. Christmas is also widely observed in secular (nonreligious) ways. Popular activities include the decoration of a Christmas tree and the exchange of gifts.
Where did the tradition of 24 days before Christmas come from?
The custom, which began in the 19th century but had roots in the 16th, originally involved a fir wreath with 24 candles (the 24 days before Christmas, starting December 1), but the awkwardness of having so many candles on the wreath reduced the number to four.
Why do we celebrate the true meaning of Christmas?
Not Santa Claus, or the Christmas tree, or any other of the various traditions wrapped up into Christmas. Why do we celebrate this occasion—what is its true meaning?
