How Christmas is celebrated around the world? Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus. This festival was created by the pope to promote Christianity and pagan festivals celebrated remove the winter solstice.
During the fourth century, the pope decided to bring Christmas Day December 25.
Christmas has always been represented by religious ceremonies and gifts and
the exchange of vows.
Here are some Christmas symbols:
* Advent consists of a candle each Sunday four weeks before Christmas;
which symbolize the rebirth of light after the winter solstice.
* The December 24th Christmas Mass, which celebrates the birth of Jesus.
* The crib, which symbolizes the birth of Jesus in Christian homes.
* The Christmas tree, a symbol of the pagan celebration and representing life.
* The Yule log, which is the paper that we put in the fireplace to keep warm on Christmas Eve.
* Santa Claus, an American creation, inspired by the Christian Saint Nicholas (celebrated in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Alsace. The character wears a red cape deluxe, it has a long white beard and wears a red miter, He also holds a golden opportunity to stick. Saint-Nicolas rewards good children while his companion Bogeyman / Black Pete punishes naughty children) and the elf Yule Goat, celebrated in Scandinavian countries.
Over the centuries, Christmas has evolved and Christmas Eve with our family, has replaced the religious ceremonies.
The exchange of gifts of luxury for the rich and useful - sometimes only one orange - for the poor, has been replaced by modern marketing. The people do not only buys gifts but also spend a lot of money on decorative items, food, drinks ...
The secularization of our society removed the true meaning of Christmas time, which is obviously becoming a pagan festival.
Some countries that celebrate Christmas:
Belgium: Belgians have a festival especially dedicated to children, which is Saint-Nicolas (Sinter Klaas) on December 6. The great patron of scholars, which is supposed to bring candies in their shoes, bring in toys made by thousands of our children.
In Belgium, Christmas is rather reserved for adults: the streets are decorated and illuminated, we decorate our houses, windows, gardens, Christmas trees. Belgium seems to forget that this is a Catholic country and closes more churches and more so, the Midnight Mass on December 24th usually happens at 6 or 8:00. We then eat with our family and 12 hours, we exchanged gifts. Children usually receive a book or clothing.
Christmas Day has little meaning but practicing Catholic go to church. Belgian people visit their family on January 1st. In the Belgian Ardennes, people celebrate December 31st and not Christmas.
France: Christmas is dedicated to children. The streets and houses are decorated with several weeks in advance. The French have many Christmas customs: Christmas Markets, Christmas tree, Christmas dinner, Pa ¨ re NoaĞl, Christmas gifts, stories, songs, Christmas turkey, the Christmas crib The Yule Log, and so on. In Alsace, however, Saint-Nicolas predominates on Santa Claus.
The Netherlands: They organize their St. Nicolas (Sinter Klaas) festival: the old bearded man traveling by boat and accompanied by many black aids, who distributes gifts to good children. The Netherlands has the big gifts for Christmas time, because they enjoy some bargains after Sinter Klaas.
Germany: Christmas in Germany lasts two days. On 26 December they visit their family and friends. Christ Kind offers gifts to children on December 24th families and friends. Germany has also a Sai.
Posted on February 22, 2010.
