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Merry Christmas from I-Connect007!
December 25, 2024 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Estimated reading time: 1 minute
A Brief History of Christmas
Though a modern Christmas typically brings to mind vivid images of a jolly Santa Clause, excited children opening gifts on Christmas morning, and huge feasts on festive looking holiday tables, the great holidays in every culture and religious tradition comes with an interesting historical context.
Christmas is perhaps the most celebrated holiday in the Christian tradition. It commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, born between 6 and 4 BCE in Bethlehem (which today is in the West Bank of Palestine). Christians believe Jesus to be the savior of all humanity, so it is not surprising that the celebration of his birth is aligned with feelings of hope, goodwill, and generosity.
Celebrating Christmas on December 25, a date that does not denote the date of Jesus’ actual birth, was institutionalized by the Romans under the rule of Constantine who ruled from 306-337 AD. He was known for the legalization and spread of Christianity during the Roman Empire, and christened December 25 as Christmas to tame the pagan celebration of Saturnalia which was held in December and celebrated the harvest by honoring the Roman god of Saturn.
Today, Christmas has been adopted by Christians and non-Christians alike the world over, celebrating the mythical being of Santa Clause with family feasts and the giving of gifts, traditional holiday movies (in the U.S.) from It’s a Wonderful Life to The Santa Clause (or Die Hard, if you prefer), ugly holiday sweaters and inedible Christmas fruit cakes bejeweled with red and green jellies. A legal U.S. holiday where businesses are largely closed, it is still marked by an uptick in general cheeriness and goodwill toward all.
However you celebrate this holiday season, the I-Connect007 team wishes you and yours a wonderful holiday season!
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