What is Christmas?

Even if you're not Christian, every December everyone talks about Christmas, and shops and offices decorate for it. So, what do you know about this day?

What is Christmas?

Noel Christmas, also known as the Nativity of Christ, is an annual festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, primarily celebrated on December 25th as a religious and cultural event in many countries around the world. According to the beliefs of most Christians, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea, part of the Roman Empire (today a city in Palestine), sometime between 7 BC and 2 AD.

The name Noel comes from the title Emmanuel, which in Hebrew means "God is with us," as written in the Gospel of Matthew.

In English, this holiday is commonly called Christmas. The word Christ is a title of Jesus Christ, and Mas means Mass or religious service. Therefore, Christmas literally means "(the) feast day of Christ". Christmas is also abbreviated as Xmas.

When is Christmas?

According to CBN, Christmas Although officially celebrated on December 25th, it is often commemorated from the evening of December 24th because, according to the Jewish calendar, a day begins at sunset, not midnight.

The official celebration on December 25th is called "Christmas Day," while the celebration on the night of December 24th is called "Christmas Eve," and usually attracts more attendees. The Eastern Orthodox Church in Russia and Georgia still uses the ancient Julian calendar to determine this date, so their Christmas corresponds to January 7th according to the Gregorian calendar (the current Gregorian calendar).

According to the Catholic liturgical calendar, the period before Christmas is Advent (4 weeks) and the period after Christmas is Christmas Season (12 days).

For Christians, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Over time, Westerners have celebrated Christmas with increasing pomp and circumstance. Today, Christmas is considered an international holiday with the iconic symbols of Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and the Christmas tree itself.

The meaning of the phrase "Merry Christmas"

The word "Merry" itself evokes a feeling of joy and warmth because it is associated with Christmas. Although Christmas celebrations began in the fourth century, the phrase "Merry Christmas" only appeared in 1699 when a naval officer first used it in a friendly letter. The phrase appeared a second time in 1843 in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

During Christmas, not only Christians but almost everyone sends each other the greeting "Merry Christmas." In the phrase "Merry Christmas," "Merry" means joy, and "Christmas" refers to the Lord's flock (an old English usage). Many people use the word "Happy" instead of "Merry" to wish each other a Merry Christmas. The phrase "Happy Christmas" became popular worldwide in the 19th century when it was used by Queen Elizabeth II of England.

Today, the phrase "Happy Christmas" is mainly used by residents of Ireland and England. Sometimes, for brevity, many people use the word "Xmas" instead of "Christmas." However, it must be said that no phrase or expression is as popular as "Merry Christmas."