Christmas 2024 : Why the Christmas festival is celebrated on 25 December? Know the significance behind this day
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Renuka
- December 24, 2024
Christmas is undoubtedly one of the most wonderful festivals, celebrated not just in a few nations but across the world. Unlike regional festivals such as Diwali or Holi, Christmas is unique because it has no restrictions on who can celebrate it . it’s a festival that transcends boundaries and can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere.
Celebrated on December 25, Christmas is a Christian festival that signifies love, generosity, harmony, and togetherness within families and communities. It marks the birth of Jesus Christ, who is also known as the “Son of God.”
Reason of Christmas celebration
Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ, believed to bring peace, love, and salvation to the world. According to the Bible:
- Jesus was born in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph.
- His birth took place in a simple stable because there was no room available elsewhere.
- Shepherds and three wise men, guided by a bright star, visited Him to honor His birth
How Christmas came to be celebrated on December 25?
The exact date of Jesus’s birth is not mentioned in the Bible. However, early Christians chose December 25 because it coincided with the Winter Solstice, a time when people celebrated the return of longer days and light. This date symbolically represents the arrival of warmth, hope, and vitality with Jesus’s birth and offer gifts. Christmas is more than just a festival; it’s a celebration of love, peace, and unity. It reminds us to embrace generosity and kindness, reflecting the values taught by Jesus Christ.
Main symbols and aspects in Christmas celebration
Before the day of festivals, people began shopping, and homes are cleaned and decorated with lights and stars, and an evergreen pine tree is decorated with lights, ornaments, and a star, known as a Christmas tree; it symbolizes hope, life, and joy, even during the cold winter.
The star placed on top of the tree represents the Star of Bethlehem, which guided the wise men to baby Jesus.
It is believed that on the midnight eve of Christmas, old kind man Santa Claus, known for helping the poor and giving gifts to children, Today, Santa is loved for bringing presents to kids on Christmas Eve.
On the day of the festival, families come together, exchanging foods and gifts among their members to create an overwhelmed and intimate environment among them. Exchanging gifts is inspired by the three wise men, who brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh as gifts for baby Jesus.
