染雾圣诞节的由来英语 篇一
The Origin of Christmas
Christmas is a widely celebrated holiday around the world. It is a time of joy, love, and giving. But have you ever wondered where the traditions and customs of Christmas come from? In this article, we will explore the origin of Christmas in English.
The celebration of Christmas can be traced back to the birth of Jesus Christ. According to the Christian belief, Jesus was born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. 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 story of Jesus' birth is described in the New Testament of the Bible. According to the Gospel of Luke, Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem for a census ordered by the Roman emperor. Unable to find a place to stay, they took refuge in a stable where Jesus was born. Angels announced his birth to shepherds in the nearby fields, and they went to visit the newborn baby.
Over time, Christmas became more than just a religious observance. It developed various traditions and customs that are still practiced today. One of the most iconic symbols of Christmas is the Christmas tree. The tradition of decorating trees dates back to ancient times when people would bring evergreen branches into their homes to symbolize life and rebirth during the winter months. The modern Christmas tree originated in Germany and became popular in England during the 19th century.
Another popular tradition is the exchange of gifts. This tradition is believed to have been inspired by the gifts brought by the three wise men to baby Jesus. Today, people exchange gifts as a way to show love and appreciation for one another. Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, plays a significant role in gift-giving. He is a legendary figure who is said to bring gifts to children on Christmas Eve.
In addition to gifts, Christmas is a time for feasting and sharing meals with loved ones. Traditional Christmas foods vary from country to country, but some common dishes include roast turkey or ham, mince pies, and Christmas pudding. These meals symbolize abundance, celebration, and the coming together of family and friends.
In conclusion, Christmas is a holiday that originated from the birth of Jesus Christ. It has evolved over time to include various traditions and customs that are celebrated worldwide. From the Christmas tree to the exchange of gifts, these traditions reflect the spirit of love, joy, and giving that is associated with the holiday season.
圣诞节的由来英语 篇二
The Historical Significance of Christmas
Christmas is a holiday celebrated by millions of people around the world. While it is often associated with festive decorations, gift-giving, and time spent with loved ones, Christmas has a deep historical significance that goes beyond its modern-day traditions. In this article, we will explore the historical origins of Christmas in English.
The celebration of Christmas as we know it today has its roots in ancient pagan festivals. In pre-Christian times, people celebrated the winter solstice, which falls around December 21st in the northern hemisphere. This was a time to mark the end of the longest night of the year and the return of longer days. Many cultures held festivals and feasts to celebrate the rebirth of the sun.
When Christianity spread across Europe, these pagan festivals were gradually incorporated into Christian traditions. In the 4th century, Pope Julius I declared December 25th as the official date to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. This date coincided with existing pagan festivals, making it easier for people to accept and adopt the new religion.
The early celebrations of Christmas focused primarily on religious observances. Churches held special services to commemorate the birth of Jesus, and people would gather to worship and reflect on the significance of his arrival. The nativity scene, depicting the birth of Jesus in a stable, became a common visual representation of Christmas.
As Christianity spread throughout Europe, different regions developed their own unique customs and traditions for celebrating Christmas. For example, in England during the Middle Ages, Christmas was a time for feasting and revelry. The Yule log, a large log burned in the fireplace, was a central part of the celebrations. It was believed to bring good luck and protection from evil spirits.
In the 19th century, Christmas underwent a transformation with the rise of the Industrial Revolution. The Victorian era saw the popularization of many Christmas traditions that are still practiced today. Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, were known for their love of Christmas and helped popularize traditions such as sending Christmas cards, decorating Christmas trees, and giving gifts to children.
In conclusion, Christmas has a rich historical background that spans centuries. From its pagan origins to the incorporation of Christian traditions, Christmas has evolved into a holiday that is celebrated worldwide. Whether it's through religious observances, festive decorations, or acts of kindness and generosity, the historical significance of Christmas reminds us of the importance of love, compassion, and the joy of giving.
圣诞节的由来英语 篇三
Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. No one knows the exact date of Christ's birth, but most Christians observe Christmas on December 25. On this day, many go to church, where they take part in special religious services. During the Christmas season, they also exchange gifts and decorate their homes with holly, mistletoe, and Christmas trees. The word Christmas comes from Cristes maesse, an early English phrase that means Mass of Christ. The story of Christmas comes chiefly from the Gospels of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew in the New Testament.
The history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years. Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated centuries before the Christ child was born. The 12 days of Christmas, the bright fires, the yule log, the giving of gifts, carnivals(parades) with floats, carolers who sing while going from house to house, the holiday feasts, and the church processions can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians.
Many of these traditions began with the Mesopotamian celebration of New Years. The Mesopotamians believed in many gods, and as their chief god-Marduk. Each year as winter arrived it was believed that Marduk would do battle with the monsters of chaos. To assist Marduk in his struggle the Mesopotamians held a festival for the New Year. This was Zagmuk, the New Year's festival that lasted for 12 days.
The Persians and the Babylonians celebrated a similar festival called the Sacaea. Part of that celebration included the exchanging of places, the slaves would become the masters and the masters were to obey. The ancient Greeks held a festival similar to that of the Zagmuk/Sacaea festivals to assist their god Kronos who would battle the god Zeus and his Titans.
The Roman's celebrated their god Saturn. Their festival was called Saturnalia which began the middle of December and ended January 1st. With cries of "Jo Saturnalia!" the celebration would include masquerades in the streets, big festive meals, visiting friends, and the exchange of good-luck gifts called Strenae (lucky fruits). The Romans decked their halls with garlands of laurel and green trees lit with candles. Again the masters and slaves would exchange places.
"Jo Saturnalia!" was a fun and festive time for the Romans, but the Christians thought it an abomination to honor the pagan god. The early Christians wanted to keep the birthday of their Christ child a solemn and religious holiday, not one of cheer and merriment as was the pagan Saturnalia.
Some legends claim that the Christian "Christmas" celebration was invented to compete against the pagan celebrations of December. The 25th was not only sacred to the Romans but also the Persians whose religion Mithraism was one of Christianity's main rivals at that time. The Church eventually was successful in taking the merriment, lights, and gifts from the Saturanilia festival and bringing them to the celebration of Christmas.
The exact day of the Christ child's birth has never been pinpointed. Traditions say that it has been celebrated since the year 98 AD. In 137 AD the Bishop of Rome ordered the birthday of the Christ Child celebrated as a solemn feast. In 350 AD another Bishop of Rome, Julius I, choose December 25th as the observance of Christmas.
The birth of Jesus had a story: In Nazareth, a city of Galilee. The virgin's name was Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband was minded to put her away secretly. While he thought about these things, Gabriel, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him did not be afraid to take Mary as wife. And Mary will bring forth a Son, and he shall call his name, Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
Before Jesus births, Joseph and Mary came to Quirnius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up out of Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and of the lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And that, Christmas is the feast of the nativity of Jesus, is on 25th, December every year. But nobody knows the actual birthday of Jesus. And the Christmas has become popular when Christmas cards appeared in 1846 and the concept of a jolly Santa Claus was first made popular in nineteenth Century.
The custom of giving gifts to relatives and friends on a special day in winter probably began in ancient Rome and northern Europe. In t
In the 1800's, two more Christmas customs became popular--decorating Christmas trees and sending Christmas cards to relatives and friends. Many well-known Christmas carols, including Silent Night" and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," were composed during this period. In the United States and other countries, Santa Claus replaced Saint Nicholas as the symbol of gift giving.
The word Xmas is sometimes used instead of Christmas. This tradition began in the early Christian church. In Greek, X is the first letter of Christ's name. It was frequently used as a holy symbol.
“圣诞节”这个名称是“基督弥撒”的缩写。弥撒是教会的一种礼拜仪式。耶诞节是一个宗教节。我们把它当作耶稣的诞辰来庆祝，因而又名耶诞节。这一天，世界所有的基督教会都举行特别的礼拜仪式。但是有很多圣诞节的欢庆活动和宗教并无半点关联。交换礼物，寄圣诞卡，这都使圣诞节成为一个普天同庆的日子。
圣诞节是基督教世界最大的节日。4世纪初，1月6日是罗马帝国东部各教会纪念耶稣降生和受洗的双重节日、称为“主显节”Epiphany，亦称“显现节”即上帝通过耶稣向世人显示自己。当时只有耶路撒冷的教会例外，那里只纪念耶稣的诞生而不纪念耶稣的受洗。
后来历史学家们在罗马基督徒习用的日历中发现公元 354年12月25日页内记录着：“基督降生在犹大的伯利恒。”经过研究，一般认为12月25日作为圣诞节可能开始于公元336年的罗马教会。12月25日原来是波斯太阳神(即光明之神)密特拉(Mithra)的诞辰，是一个异教徒节日，同时太阳神也是罗马国教众神之一。这一天又是罗马历书的冬至节，崇拜太阳神的异教徒都把这一天当作春天的希望，万物复苏的开始。可能由于这个原因，罗马教会才选择这一天作为圣诞节。这是教会初期力图把异教徒的风俗习惯基督教化的措施之一。后来，虽然大多数教会都接受12月25日为圣诞节，但又因为各地教会使用的历书不同，具体日期不能统一，于是就把12月24日到第二年的1月6日定为圣诞节节期(Christmas Tide)，各地教会可以根据当地具体情况在这段节期之内庆祝圣诞节。
[圣诞节的由来英语]
