Although Christmas is a Christian celebration celebrating the birth of the baby Jesus, it was originally intended to be a pagan celebration. In those early days, the festival took various forms, marking the rebirth of the unconquered sun, or winter solstice, as well as the Roman Saturnalia, both of which took place on December 25th.
A yearned for by billions of children, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th, at least for those whose religion respects this tradition. Assuming that it should celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus, many would tend to believe that it has always been a Christian holiday. However, the Nativity, since such is its…
Written in 1941, this Christmas carol, inspired by a 20th-century Czech lullaby, The Little Drummer Boy, was written by a teacher and classical composer named Katherine K. Davis. Originally titled Carol of the Drum, it was intended for an amateur choir composed solely of…
According to historians, the exact date of Jesus' birth is not known with certainty. They do know, however, that it was in 306 AD that the then Pope, Julius I, chose December 25 as the official date of the Nativity, nine months after the Feast of the Annunciation. The term "Christmas" It…
The Star of Bethlehem features in the Nativity story, as mentioned in a passage in the Gospel of Matthew. This star is said to have guided the Magi, who had come from the East, to Jerusalem, where they met King Herod of Judea, and to have asked him where the King of the Jews was who…
The idea of a cave converted into a stable, in which the Child Jesus was born, comes from the Gospel of Luke in the Bible. Indeed, when speaking of the manger where the Child was laid, he mentions the word 'cripia' from which the word 'crèche' would later come. A little history... From the third century, Christians took...
According to the Gospels, the first Christmas carols were sung by angels. However, apart from these writings, no one can confirm such claims, and even then, tangible proof would be required. What we do know for certain, however, is that Christmas carols date back to a time…
If there is one holiday celebrated all over the world, it is Christmas. What is its origin? Let's take a look at what history tells us about it. Around the year 336, at the time of the winter solstice, the feast of the Sun god was celebrated in Rome on December 25. The Christians of…
