Jesus Christ
This history of Christianity,
the largest religion of the world, is inseparably related to the
life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Tradition has it that Jesus was born to a young virgin called
Mary who had become pregnant with the Son of God through the action
of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ birth in a stable in Bethlehem
in the Holy Land is mentioned in the writings of Matthew and Luke
in the New Testament of the Bible.
Christians believe that Jesus’ birth is the fulfilment of
prophecies in the Jewish Old Testament which stated that a Messiah
would deliver the Jewish people from captivity.
Not much is known about the after the period following his birth
until he became thirty when began his ministry. The next three
years were spent in teaching, healing and working miracles.
Jesus taught in parables. He had twelve disciples who would help
him in his work. These parables contain divine messages for the
hearers.
As Jesus announced publicly that he spoke with the authority of
God, he was not liked by the religious authorities in Palestine
who branded him as a revolutionary. He was handed over to the
Roman authorities who tried him for heresy and put him to death
by means of crucifixion.
On the Sunday following the execution of Christ, it was discovered
by some of his women followers that the tomb into which his body
had been placed was empty.
Jesus then appeared to his followers alive. Gospel accounts state
that Jesus was seen by his disciples and followers over the next
few days before he proceeded to heaven.
Christmas
Christmas is the main Christian celebration event and is celebrate
as birth of Jesus and its celebration spreads happiness. The word
Christmas comes from the Greek word Crises messes, or "Christ's
Mass." In 336 A.D. the first celebration of Christmas was
held in Rome. In many parts of the country Christmas is one of
the chief event of the year and is celebrate with great joy and
happiness. The day of Christmas is an important day on the religious
calendar. The various govt. like federal government, all state
governments, and all institutes like schools/colleges/universities
and the huge mass of businesses in America give employees one
or two days off at Christmas, in order to make Christmas an important
holiday. Although there are many other federal holidays like:
New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Washington's Birthday,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans
Day, Thanksgiving, but Christmas is one of six sacred feast days
in the Roman Catholic calendar, 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).
Saturnalia (worship of sun), which means the celebration of Sun
and this festival was known by the name Saturnalia and its beginning
was the middle of December and ending was the January 1st. Visiting
friends, arrangement of large amount of festive meals, masquerades
in the streets, celebrated this festival and the exchange of good-luck
gifts called Sterna (lucky fruits). The Romans decorated their
halls with garlands of laurel and green trees, which look pleasure
by the litting candles, and now it is known as Christmas tree.
A very special practice was followed on this occasion was that
the masters become slaves and slaves become their masters. This
practice created equality among one another and made everyone
independent to work and live.
Although the Romans celebrate their festival Jo Saturnalia!"
with a great joy and fun to honor the pagan god but the early
Christians wanted to celebrate the birthday of Christ solemnly
simply a religious holiday, not like the Romans and this resolution
was made in 137 AD by the Bishop of Rome. But when Christianity
reached at its peak the Christians started to celebrate Christmas
with joy and happiness. Their was no any criteria to celebrate
the birthday of Christ because no one knows the exact day and
date birth of Christ It has been stated in history that Christ’s
birthday has been celebrated since98 A.D. Eventually another Bishop
of Rome, Julius I, chose December 25th as the ceremony of Christmas
in 350 A.D.
Foremost the Church prohibited to celebrate in this manner but
there was no advantage to ban this celebration. At the long run
a resolution was made that the festival will be celebrated in
that way that will suit to the Christian Son of God. If we take
a look at the mythology it is asserted that the "Christmas"
celebration was the way of responding of Christians against the
pagan celebrations of December.
The beginning of Gospel Luke starts by telling that story in which
it is discussed that an angel make Mary learn that she is with
the child only with the help of the Holy Spirit. By this story
Mary concluded that she is a virgin and the angel responds, "If
God is with us nothing is here in the world which shall be impossible."
After few days thereafter, Mary and her husband Joseph leave for
Joseph’s ancestral home from their home in Nazareth by traveling
about 150 kilometers. Emperor Augustus ordered for a census in
Bethlehem, in order to register. When they reached at the inns,
no room was available their hence they lodge in a stable. And
their Mary gives birth to Jesus. An angel tells the shepherds
in the field "tidings of joy." A heavenly host announced,
"Glory to God in the uppermost, and on earth peace on all
who are living