| * Why do people put up Christmas trees? | | | | It is in the gospels of Matthew and Luke |
| | | | where you can find most of the Biblical |
| The tradition of the Christmas tree is a | | | | accounts pertaining to the nativity story or |
| remnant of the old pagan tradition of | | | | Christmas. Matthew discussed the story of |
| worshipping trees. This paved the way for the | | | | Joseph and Mary, the angel Gabriel, and the |
| popularity of Christmas tree decorations in | | | | Three Kings. |
| people's homes during Christmas season. | | | | |
| | | | The story in Luke starts in the land of |
| * Why is Christmas on December 25th? | | | | Nazareth, and is the one most people are |
| | | | familiar with. Luke does not mention the new |
| Many people believe Jesus was born on | | | | star, the wise men, or Herod's slaughter of |
| December 25, but there is no historical | | | | the innocents, but he does describe the |
| evidence for this. In fact, historical | | | | journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to |
| evidence points to spring as the time when | | | | Bethlehem, Mary laying the newborn Jesus in a |
| Jesus was born. | | | | manger, and the angels appearing to the |
| | | | shepherds. |
| It's most likely that December 25 became | | | | |
| Christmas Day by a slick political move. By | | | | * What is the 12th Day of Christmas? |
| three or four centuries after Christ, | | | | |
| Christians were numerous, and perhaps in an | | | | According to Encyclopedia .com: Epiphany |
| effort to stop religious bickering and unite | | | | "(ipif´ene) [Gr.,=showing], a prime |
| the Christians with the pagans, the pagan | | | | Christian feast, celebrated Jan. 6, called |
| holiday of Saturnalia (approximately December | | | | also Twelfth Day or Little Christmas. Its eve |
| 25) was combined with the biggest Christian | | | | is Twelfth Night. It commemorates three |
| celebration of the year: the birthday of | | | | events-the baptism of Jesus (Mark 1), the |
| Jesus. Presto, a universal holiday! | | | | visit of the Wise Men to Bethlehem (Mat. 2), |
| | | | and the miracle at Cana (John 2). In his |
| * When and how did Christmas become an | | | | baptism Jesus' sonship to God was manifested |
| official government holiday? | | | | to the world; in the visit of the Wise Men he |
| | | | was manifested as king to the Gentiles; and |
| There are several arguments regarding the | | | | at the marriage feast at Cana his power to |
| declaration of Christmas as an official | | | | perform miracles (a divine prerogative) was |
| holiday. But according to many researchers, | | | | shown. In popular celebration the feast is |
| it was in the year 1870 that U.S. President | | | | far more ancient than Christmas. Technically |
| Ulysses S. Grant declared Christmas an | | | | it is more important than Christmas, ranking |
| American national holiday. Prior to this | | | | after Easter and Pentecost. It is a day of |
| declaration, a formal process was conducted | | | | gifts in many countries. In the Eastern |
| that transformed the proposal into an act of | | | | Church the waters are blessed on this day. |
| Congress. | | | | The word epiphany means a manifestation, |
| | | | usually of divine power. Thus the actual |
| * Where does the name Christmas come from? | | | | appearance of God (as in the burning bush) or |
| | | | a moment of divine revelation may be called |
| Christmas comes from the Middle English term | | | | an epiphany." |
| "Cristis Masse." In literal translation it | | | | |
| means Christ's Festival. There are also some | | | | * Why do we celebrate Christmas? |
| accounts that translate it as "mass for | | | | |
| Christ." | | | | It has been a part of the Christian tradition |
| | | | to celebrate Christmas yearly. The bottom |
| * In which gospels was the Christmas story | | | | line for this is to witness and retell to |
| told? | | | | other people the marvelous story of the |
| | | | Savior of mankind, who is Jesus Christ. |