The origins of Christmas

The word Christmas originates from the Latin "natalis" which in turn derives from "natus, born. This is the day that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. In the West falls on December 25, in the East on January 6.

We do not know exactly the date of the birth of Jesus that was not originally celebrated by the Church.

Christians in Egypt were the first to celebrate Jan. 6 and since then the custom has spread

Throughout the East. It is believed that the birth has taken place around the fourth century BC However become a

Christian celebration only in the fourth century of the Roman Empire.

Do you know why in the West but is celebrated on December 25? Everything was by the will of the ecclesiastical authorities who attempted to meet the converted pagans and in the same day used to celebrate the feast of the Sun God. So Christmas has pagan origin and Saint Augustine also stressed in a sentence in which the pagans asked not to celebrate the sun, but the one who created the sun.

Traditions

The crib: term derived from the Latin "praesepium" which means manger, is a typical tradition

Especially the southern countries. The birth of the Child Jesus is represented by the statues.

The elements are always present in the cave or hut, with Mary, Joseph side of a manger in which Jesus is accepted, then the ox, donkey, the Archangel Gabriel, the Three Kings 3 (Melchiorre, and Baldassarre Gasparre) , parties from different countries to bring gifts to Jesus: gold, frankincense and myrrh). Then outside shepherds, sheep, and of course the star comet. They deserve note the gifts brought by the three kings 3 that because in reality are just symbols. "Myrrh" represents the prophecy, as is the substance with which he was anointed Christ's body before burial. Gold is a symbol of perfection and divine light and the incense, or rather its smell, symbolizes holiness.

Christmas trees: derives from the shackles of oak burned by pagans. The custom to adorn the tree, however, is probably born in Scandinavia where the transition since the winter was celebrated by burning a tree, to give the winter sun, and planting a new decorated with garlands in front of the house. Over time we began to use other decorations, including the classic pine today full of ribbons, balls and lights.

Santa Claus is the old man with a white beard, a little grease on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, comes on the homes of children and descending through the fireplace brings them gifts. It is thought that the name derives from St. Nicholas of Bari, who lived in the fourth century and famous for its miracles.

The Epiphany is that the old broom on a door to children during the night of January 6, gifts, if they were good, or if coal were bad during the year. In the Christian tradition this holiday is called Epiphany. According to legend the three Magi, guided by the star comet during the long journey, knocked at the door of the old that's on the road to Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus, and ask the same to join in the journey. The old had much to be done and said no, then now when the three Magi were left, repented and decided, without ever succeeding, to join them. Since then every 6 January, flying in the heavens aboard a mop, stops in the homes of all children to give them something.

The holly: Christmas is a symbol, formed by branches, which represent the crown of Christ, and red berries indicate that the drops of his blood. It 'also a lucky where harsh leaves and bones indicate the defense against evil forces and berries wish joy.

Merry Christmas in the World

Here are many ways for you to wish to foreign friends, perhaps chat, Merry Christmas in their language.

African: Gesëende Kersfees

Arabic: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah

Argentine: Feliz Navidad

Brazilian: Boas Festas and Feliz Ano Novo

Bulgarian: Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo

Catalan: Bon Bon Nadal in an Any Nou!

Chile: Feliz Navidad

Chinese (Mandarin): Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan

Chinese (Catonese): Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun

Colombian: Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo

Croatian: Sretan Bozic

Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok

Danish: Glædelig Jul

Hebrew: Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova

Finnish: Hyvaa joulua

French: Joyeux Noel

Greek: Kala Christouyenna!

Hawaiiano: Mele Kalikimaka

Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal

English: Merry Christmas

Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit

Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto

Latin: Christmas hilare et Annum Faustum!

Norwegian: God Jul, or Gledelig Jul

Polish: Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie

Portuguese: Feliz Natal

Romanian: Sarbatori vesele

Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom

Serbian: Hristos if rodiSlovakian - Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce

Serbian-Croatian: Sretam Bozic. Vesela Nova Godina

Slovak: Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok

Slovenian: Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto

Spanish: Feliz Navidad

Swedish: God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År

German: Froehliche Weihnachten

Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun

Ukrainian: Srozhdestvom Kristovym

Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket