To this day some people feel uncomfortable with Christmas because they think it is somehow tainted by the pagan festivals held on that day. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the … Each of them speak to a component of His incarnation: Majesty in life, Bitterest Agony in Death and He as God's Perfect gift to us (Matthew 2). Matthew 1:18-25, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. Martin Luther introduced them to the Reformation Church as a picture of our endless life in Christ, by bringing in a tree to his family on Christmas Eve lit with candles (Isaiah 60:13). The human cost, well in the millions, staggers us. Enjoy this wonderful time of the year, don't lose the season for the rush. Harriet Beecher Stowe criticizes the commercialization in her story "Christmas; or, the Good Fairy". Isaiah spoke of the Messiah’s birth around 740-680 BC: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). All three have some element of historical fact, and they may even loosely connect from one to another. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) Gifts are a reminder of the gifts of the Magi to baby Jesus. However, some traditions associated with Christmas actually began as a part of pagan culture; these were … The word used to describe the day of His birth became an anthem in celebration of the day of His birth. The first known use of Christmas, according to Merriam-Webster, was before the 12th century and originates from Middle English's Christemass meaning "Christ's mass." Inevitably, as a child, Christmas Day would come and go, and I'd be left with a sort of sinking feeling. Amy Zachary LCSW, MA, Neighbor; Posted Wed, Dec 7, 2011 at 10:41 pm ET | Updated Sat, Dec 24, 2016 at 8:48 pm ET. The very definition of the word, “joy,” is “a source or cause of delight” (Merriam-Webster). 1843 was the date of the publication of Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol and it was around that time, in the early part of the reign of Queen Victoria, that Christmas as we now know it was largely invented. Like Christ, give to those who can't repay you. The symbolic meaning of the Christmas tree is deeply rooted in history. The origin of Christmas trees traces back to ancient times, but the way people celebrated during the winter was much different than it is today. The Yule Log was a symbol by which all the men in the family would carry a log large enough to burn for 12 days into the house. “Noel” derives from the Latin verb “nasci,” to be born, and eventually trickled down into the French reference to the Christmas holiday. December 25 is 9 months later and thus celebrated as the birthday of Jesus. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it is preceded by the season of Advent or the Nativity Fast and initiates the season of Christmastide, which historically in the West lasts twelve days and culminates on Twelfth Night. Perhaps this will help you look at the Christmas season differently this year. From Jewish Chanukah to Pagan Winter Solstice to Germanic Yule to Roman Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (Birth of the Unconquered Sun); the sheer number of celebration days with trees, decorations, yule logs, mistletoe and feasts seem to point to a season of celebration to which Christians added the birth of Jesus as a counter-cultural event and possibly even an escape from the pagan holidays for early believers. A plant in the Schlumbergera family, Christmas cacti are so named because of their flowering time in the Northern Hemisphere. 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