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The name Christmas is derived from "Christ's Mass",
the mass in honor of the birth of Christ. Christmas is celebrated on the 25th
of December every year, at the time of the winter solstice. Many regard it as
the most important of all Christian festivals. It is a public holiday in India.
There is the widely accepted Christian legend of the New Testament relating to
the birth of Christ. In the story, god sent an angel named Gabriel to a girl named
Mary. Gabriel told Mary that she would become pregnant, and give birth to the
Son of God. The child would be named Jesus. He would grow up to become a king,
and his kingdom would have no boundaries. As Mary was unmarried and a virgin she
asked the angel how this was possible. In his reply he said that the Holy Spirit
would come to her and the power of god would bless her
Mary was promised in marriage to a man named Joseph. The angel also visited Joseph
and spoke to him in his dream. He told Joseph that Mary would soon be carrying
a child and advised him to take good care of her and not to abandon her. Joseph
and Mary lived in Nazareth in present-day Israel. At the time, it was part of
the Roman Empire. The ruler of the kingdom, Emperor Augustus ordered a census,
during the time that Mary was to deliver her child. Every citizen was required
to travel to Bethlehem to get registered. |
| All inns and public houses in Bethlehem were over-crowded
due to the influx of people from surrounding areas. Joseph took Mary from place
to place in search of shelter. The couple finally found refuge in a stable. Mary
gave birth to Jesus at midnight and laid him in a manger. This event is of great
importance to Christians, because they believe that Jesus was the Son of God.
Christmas is a time for festivity. Prayers, merry making and sending cards are
part of the Christmas rituals. The celebration begins with a midnight mass on
the eve of the festival, as Jesus was born at midnight. This is followed by a
morning service and a mass at midnight, in accordance with the decree of the Pope.
To mark the event, churches and homes are illuminated with colorful lights and
decorated with streamers of many hues. Some Indian Christians light oil lamps
as well, perhaps because of the influence of the Hindu festival of Diwali. Many
families make tableaux to depict the birth of Christ, using their imagination
and creativity. Joseph, Mary, baby Jesus in a cradle of hay, sheep, shepherds
and the angels are crafted to enact the event. A decorated fir tree is also now
synonymous with Christmas and often referred to as a Christmas tree. |
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