Holidays of Britain. Christmas. Do you know that ...
Christmas
The word "Christmas" is derived from
the words "Christ's Mass" - the celebration of the birth of Jesus
Christ. But although Christmas is undoubtedly a Christian celebration, it is
also true to say that it is an unusual combination of pagan and Christian festivities.
A Christmas tree stands in everybody's living
room at Christmas, shining its good cheer around the room. Sitting on the very
top of the tree is a silver star surrounded by tiny lights. All the branches
are hung with silver bells, tinsel and sparkling lights. Around the base of the
tree lie the gifts and toys wrapped up in bright colorful paper.
The Christmas tree has spread its influence
around the world. In fact America adopted it before it found its way to England
early in Queen Victoria's reign. Now every Christmas British people are sent a
huge fir tree from Norway which stands in Trafalgar Square, in the center of
London, shining down on all the people who gather on Christmas Eve.
In pre-Christian times evergreens, trees that
remain green throughout the year. Were worshiped in Northern Europe as symbols
of eternal life. Mistletoe, hung up as a Christmas decoration is a symbol of
love and reconciliation.
Holly, a well-known Christmas decoration
today, has Christian associations. In Norwegian, Swedish and Danish, holly is
known as "Christ's thorns", the legend being that Christ wore a crown
of holly thorns before his death. Some people have seen associations between
the word "holly" and "holy".
Giving presents goes back to Roman Saturnalia
when good luck gifts of fruit, pastry or gold were given to friends on New
Year's Day. In Britain the traditional day to give presents until relatively
recently was December 26th and not as it is today, Christmas Day. December 26th
is now known as Boxing Day, for it was then that the priests of the middle Ages
opened alms boxes to give to the poor.
Not all Christian customs and traditions are
of ancient origin. Although different people have claimed to designe the first Christmas card. William
Egley, an English artist, seems to have the best claim. In 1842 he designed his
own card and sent it to one hundred of his friends. Today three billion are
sent annually in the United States alone
|