The Origin of Christmas
Article One
Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays around the world. It is a time of joy, love, and giving. However, do we really know the true origin of Christmas? Let's delve into the history and discover how this holiday came to be.
The origins of Christmas can be traced back to ancient pagan celebrations. In pre-Christian times, people celebrated the winter solstice, which falls around December 21st. This was a time to honor the return of the sun and the longer days that would follow. Many cultures held festivals and feasts during this period to mark the end of the dark winter months.
With the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire, the celebration of Christmas began to take on a different meaning. In the 4th century, Pope Julius I officially declared December 25th as the birth of Jesus Christ. This date was chosen to coincide with the existing pagan celebrations and to make it easier for the newly converted Christians to embrace the holiday.
The word "Christmas" itself is derived from the Old English phrase "Cristes Maesse," which means "Christ's Mass." It refers to the religious service held to commemorate the birth of Jesus. The early Christmas celebrations focused more on the religious aspect, with people attending church, partaking in prayer, and reflecting on the significance of Jesus' birth.
As time went on, Christmas traditions began to evolve. During the Middle Ages, Christmas became a time of great feasting and merriment. People would gather together, exchange gifts, and enjoy lavish meals. The idea of gift-giving during Christmas can be traced back to the biblical story of the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus.
In the 17th century, Christmas traditions underwent significant changes with the influence of the Puritans. They believed that the celebration of Christmas had become too secular and detached from its religious origins. Christmas was even banned in some places, and the Puritans promoted a more solemn and religious observance of the holiday.
However, in the 19th century, Christmas experienced a resurgence in popularity. The Victorian era brought about a revival of old customs and the introduction of new traditions. The emphasis shifted from religious observance to family gatherings, gift-giving, and the spirit of goodwill towards others. Iconic symbols such as Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and caroling became synonymous with the holiday.
Today, Christmas is celebrated by billions of people worldwide, regardless of their religious beliefs. It has become a time for families to come together, exchange gifts, decorate their homes, and spread love and joy to those around them.
In conclusion, the origin of Christmas can be traced back to ancient pagan celebrations and the Christianization of these festivities. Over the centuries, Christmas has evolved into a holiday that combines religious observance with the spirit of giving and togetherness. It continues to be a cherished time of year, filled with traditions and customs that bring joy to people's lives.
圣诞节由来英文翻译 篇三
The Origin of Christmas
Christmas Day-December 25-which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ,the founder of the Christian religion,is the biggest and best-loved holiday in the United States.
According to the Bible,the holy book of Christians,God decided to allow his only son,Jesus Christ,to be born to a human mother and live on earth so that people could understand God better and learn to love God and each other more."Christmas"- meaning "celebration of Christ "- honors the time when Jesus was born to a young Jewish woman Mary.
Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph,a carpenter,but before they came together,she was found to be with child.Because Joseph,her husband,was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace,he had in mind to porce her quietly.But after he had considered this,an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,"Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife,because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.She will give birth to a son,and you are to give him the name Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins."
Although the exact date of the birth of Jesus nearly 2,000 years ago is not known,the calendar on the supposed date pides all time into B.C.(Before Christ )and A.D.( a Latin phrase,Anno Domini,"in the year of our Lord.")For the first 300 years,Jesus' birthday was celebrated on different dates.Finally,in the year 354,church leaders chose December 25 as his birthday.
十二月二十五日圣诞节的起源圣诞节庆祝耶稣基督的诞生,是基督教的创始人,是美国最大、最受人喜爱的节日.根据圣经,基督教的圣书,上帝决定让他的独生子耶稣基督出生,母亲是人类,生活在地球上,以便人们能更好地了解上帝,学习热爱上帝和彼此更多.“圣诞节”意思是“庆祝基督”纪念耶稣诞生的时候,一个年轻的犹太妇女玛丽.玛丽约瑟夫订婚,一个木匠,但他们同居之前,约瑟夫发现她和孩子.约瑟夫,因为她的丈夫是一个正派的人,又不想把这件事说出去让她丢脸,所以他想悄悄地和她分手.但他认为这后,耶和华的使者在梦中似乎他,说:“不要害怕把玛丽带回家作为你的妻子,因为她怀孕的是圣灵.她将生下一个儿子,你要给他起名叫耶稣,因为他将从罪恶中拯救人们.“虽然耶稣的出生的确切日期近2000年前还不知道,应该上的日历日期将所有时间划分为公元前公元(公元前)和(拉丁短语,老年,“我们的主.”)300年第一,庆祝耶稣的生日是在不同的日期.最后,在354年,教会领袖选择12月25日定为耶稣基督的生日.
圣诞老人英文介绍
It is said t
hat in the year of 300 AD, there was a kind old man and his name was Saint Nicholas. He was always ready to help the poor and often gave presents to them.Today, Father Christmas is an imaginary figure, but nearly all young children believe in him. They think he is a happy old man with a long white beard and a long red robe.
On the night of the twenty-fourth of December every year, Father Christmas from some cold northern land comes down the chimney of the fireplace to put presents by the beds of children or to fill their stockings. So when children go to bed that night, they hang up their stockings, and on Christmas morning they wake to find them full of presents. Of course, it's really their parents who fill the stockings.
Another name for Father Christmas is Santa Claus.
译文:
据说,在公元300年,有一个善良的老人,他的名字是圣尼古拉斯。他总是愿意帮助穷人,常常送礼物给他们。
如今,圣诞老人是一个虚构的人物,但几乎所有的孩子都相信他。他们认为他是一个快乐长长的白胡子和一个长长的红色长袍的老人。
在第二十每年的十二月份的第四夜,父亲从寒冷的北方一些圣诞归结土地的壁炉烟囱提出的儿童床礼物或填补他们的袜子。因此,当孩子上床睡觉,那天晚上,他们就挂上他们的袜子,并在圣诞节早晨醒来发现他们装满礼物。当然,这需要他们的父母谁填补了袜子。
圣诞老人的另一个名字是圣诞老人。