Why Christmas is the Best Holiday Ever

The word Christmas comes from the words Cristes maesse, or "Christ's Mass." Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus for members of the Christian religion. Most historians peg the first celebration of Christmas to Rome in 336 A.D.

Christmas is both a holiday and a holy day. In America it is one of the biggest event of the year (especially for kids), and for members of the Christian religions it is an important day on the religious calendar.

The federal government, all state governments, all schools/colleges/universities and the vast majority of businesses in America give employees one or two days off at Christmas, making it an important holiday (other federal holidays are: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving). In the Roman Catholic calendar, Christmas is one of six holy feast days celebrated in America, the others being: Circumcision (New Year's Day), Ascension, Assumption (Mary's assumption into heaven, August 15), All Saints (November 1), and the Immaculate Conception (December 8).

From howstuffworks.com

Christmas has always been my favourite holiday. Not just my favourite holiday, mind you, but my favourite time of year period. It's not necessarily because of the presents, although I do love buying presents and receiving them isn't bad either. And I'm not religious either. There's just something about the season, the time of year, the atmosphere that makes Christmas my all-time favourite.

TOP 10 REASONS WHY I LOVE CHRISTMAS

10 . The weather is one of a kind.

Ok, so I live in California, so we don't exactly get the whole snow ordeal to the extent the East Coast does. However, winter still means mittens and scarves for us. Skirts and flip flops get old (though there are those who still stick to them when it's cold).

9. The movies crack me up.

"Jingle All the Way" is one of those movies the whole family can watch without getting mad (except when my parents gripe about Arnold's job as governor). Otherwise, we all enjoy those holiday films and episodes we scrape out from the bottom of the VHS box and view... old school "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," Garfield and Charlie Brown Christmas specials, and, of course, "It's a Wonderful Life."

8. Things smell so good.

Christmas trees, cinnamon and spices, cold ground after rain and snow, baking hams... yeah...

7. The food is awesome and so special.

Besides fruitcakes, there are dozens of holiday treats that make my mouth water. Egg nog and Christmas cookies included.

6. The decorations are amazing.

Face it. Nothing can beat the loaded window displays, the ribbons and garlands around every lamp post, the glittering lights of various colours and doilies and nativity scenes and the trees and everything!

5. ...Presents.

Need I say more? Personally I'm a big fan of wrapping presents as well, but I know that's not true for my dad.

4. It's not necessarily JUST for Christians and Catholics.

So you probably won't find Muslims celebrating Christmas. However, I myself am not of any denomination, yet I absolutely adore Christmas. It's gotten so commercialized that agnostics like myself can still enjoy it. But the devout can still enjoy the holiday for everything it symbolizes and celebrates religiously. My Jewish friend love Christmas, though I recognize not every Jesuit feels this way. To me, the wonder and glory of Christmas is just something I want to share with everyone. And who knows? Usually I go to church with my Christian mother and partake in the songs too. I may not be very pious but I respect what Christmas means to those who are.

3. It's celebrated all over the world.

While there are world issues that separate nations and peoples, Christmas is something that everyone on Earth can share.

2. Family comes together.

Christmas is about the only time of year I see people outside my immediate family. They come to the house and we get to regroup for the first time in 364 days.

1. Everything is so happy.

In spite of mad shoppers and grumpy retail workers, I revel in the air of Christmas. Ok, cliche as it sounds, it really is magical to me.