Christmas the Birth of Jesus: History & its Celebrations

 The History of Christmas (The Birth of Jesus)

The appearance of Angels informing the Birth of Jesus

1. The Biblical Origin of Christmas         Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ, the one Christians call the Savior. The Bible says Jesus was born in Bethlehem to Mary, a virgin. His arrival was about as humble as it gets—laid in a manger, surrounded by animals, visited first by shepherds, and later by wise men who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.         You find the main story in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Angels show up, declaring the birth as “good news of great joy for all people.” At its heart, Christmas started as a celebration of God stepping into the world as a human, offering hope and salvation. 2. Why December 25?

              The Bible never gives a date for Jesus’ birth. Early Christians picked different days to celebrate. By the 4th century, the Church settled on December 25. Why? Partly to replace popular pagan winter festivals like Saturnalia, and partly because it symbolized light returning after the winter solstice. So, Christmas became a day both rich in spiritual meaning and heavy with symbolism—light winning over darkness.

3. Christmas in the Early Church

            In the early days, Christians focused way more on Easter than Christmas. But after Emperor Constantine made Christianity legal, Christmas began to matter more. The celebrations back then were simple and centered on faith: *Church services and prayers *Reading the Nativity story *Helping others through acts of kindness *Back then, Christmas was really a holy day—not about gifts or grand feasts, but about worship and reflection. 4. Medieval Christmas Traditions

        Things got livelier during the Middle Ages. Christmas turned into a real festival: Big feasts and singing carols Nativity scenes, thanks to St. Francis of Assisi in 1223 Generosity and hospitality became part of the season Church services, plays, and community gatherings started to pop up everywhere Christmas was finally something joyful—a time for celebration as well as worship. 5. Modern Christmas Celebrations

            The Christmas we know today picked up its traditions over time. Christmas trees? That’s from Germany. Santa Claus? He started out as St. Nicholas, a bishop known for his kindness. Exchanging gifts? That goes back to the wise men’s gifts for Jesus. Cards, decorations, and big family gatherings really took off in Victorian England. Now, people all over the world—Christian or not—celebrate Christmas as a holiday that’s part faith, part culture, and part social event. 6. The True Meaning of Christmas

         So, the story of Christmas goes from a quiet birth in a small town to a celebration that circles the globe. From the manger to the modern world, Christmas keeps calling us back to love, compassion, faith, and joy. That’s the heart of it, no matter how we celebrate.

No matter how much the traditions change, Christmas still comes back to a few core ideas:

It’s a reminder that God came close to people, not with power or riches, but with humility and love.

Love

Peace Hope Salvation through Jesus Christ.

How do you intend to welcome the saviour of this World?

References:
The Holy Bible, New Testament (Luke 2; Matthew 1–2).
Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Christmas.”
Forbes, Bruce David. Christmas: A Candid History. University of California Press.
History.com, “History of Christmas.”