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Informational Text: The Christmas Tradition

Many of you are writing about Christmas for your “Favorite Celebration” essay. We have learned the history of Ramadan, Eid, and Diwali, and today we will read about Christmas. Whichever celebration you write about, please use your research on the holiday to add to the first paragraph of your “Favorite Celebration” essay.

A Brief History of the Christmas Holiday

The first time the birth of Jesus Christ was attributed to the date December 25 was in the 4th century, according to early Roman history. Early celebrations of Christmas are thought to have derived from Roman and other European festivals that marked the end of the harvest, and the winter solstice.

Some customs from those celebrations that have endured include decorating homes with greenery, giving gifts, singing songs, and eating special foods.

The holiday developed further with the legend of St. Nicholas. Although much of his history is unconfirmed, the man who became St. Nicholas lived in the 4th century and is believed to have been a bishop in Asia Minor.

Many miracles attributed to him are dubious at best. Nevertheless, some countries named him their patron saint. He also is considered the patron saint of, among others, children (for protecting them), sailors (whom he reputedly saved at sea), and the poor (to whom he generously gave gifts).

In his honor, the Feast of St. Nicholas was marked on December 6 and gifts given the night before. The tradition was well established in many European countries by the 12th century. Eventually, because St. Nicholas' Day and Christmas Day are so close together, their traditions generally were combined.

Other Christmas facts:

  • The story of Jesus Christ's birth is told in New Testament's gospel of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew.
  • Some Christians celebrate Jesus Christ's coming on January 6, the Epiphany, when they believe he was baptized.
  • The song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" refers to the 12 days between Christmas and the Epiphany.
  • The word Christmas comes from the Old English Cristesmaesse, which means Christ's mass.
  • The word Xmas is sometimes used instead of Christmas. In Greek, Xis the first letter of Christ's name.
  • In 1969, the Roman Catholic church dropped St. Nicholas' Feast Day from its calendar because his life is so unreliably documented.
  • The German word Christkindl, which means Christ child, eventually turned into KrissKringle.

Sources: Encarta 96 Encyclopedia, World Book, Encyclopedia Brittanica

From CNN

Christmas Day in the United States

Many people in the United States celebrate Christmas Day on December 25. The day celebrates Jesus Christ's birth. It is often combined with customs from pre-Christian winter celebrations. Many people erect Christmas trees, decorate their homes, visit family or friends and exchange gifts.

What do people do?

People celebrate Christmas Day in many ways. In the days or even weeks before Christmas Day, many people decorate their homes and gardens with lights, Christmas trees and much more. It is common to organize a special meal, often consisting of turkey and a lot of other festive foods, for family or friends and exchange gifts with them. Children, in particular, often receive a lot of gifts. This has led to Christmas Day becoming an increasingly commercialized holiday, with a lot of families spending a large part of their income on gifts and food.
Many Sunday schools, churches and communities organize special events. These can include decorating the neighborhood or a shopping mall, putting up a Christmas tree and planning a Nativity display, concert or performance. A lot of plays and songs have a aspect of Christmas as a theme. Some groups arrange meals, shelter or charitable projects for people without a home or with very little money.

Public life

Government offices, organizations, businesses and schools are closed, almost without exception. Many people visit relatives or friends and are out of town. This may cause congestion on highways and at airports. Public transit systems do not run on their regular schedules. In general, public life closes down completely.

Background

The original meaning of Christmas is a special church service, or mass, to celebrate the birth of Christ. The story of the Nativity, or the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, are particularly important in religious celebrations of Christmas. However, many traditions that are around today have their roots in pre-Christian winter festivals. These include the importance of candles and decorations made from evergreen bushes and tree, symbolizing everlasting light and life.
In Roman times, a mid-winter festival was held. This was a relaxing time with a lot of parties and merry making. It was also common to give other people small gifts, such as dolls for children and candles for adults. This festival culminated with the celebration of the winter solstice, which fell on December 25 in the Roman calendar. In Scandinavia, a festival called Yule and lasting up to twelve days was held in late December and early January. In this time people burnt logs and held parties. These customs have influenced how Christmas Day is celebrated today in the United States.
The Bible does not give a precise date for the birth of Jesus. It is also unclear when December 25 became associated with the birth of Jesus, although it may have been around two hundred years after his birth. In the early centuries of Christianity, the anniversary of the birth of Jesus was not a cause for celebrations. The idea of turning this day into a celebration started in the early Middle Ages in Europe.
During Reformation and up until the middle of the 1800s, Christmas was often not celebrated because partying and merry making was seen as unchristian. From about 1840, celebrating Christmas became more widespread. December 25 was declared a federal holiday in the United States in 1870. Since then Christmas Day has become a steadily more important holiday.

Symbols

A wide range of people and objects represent Christmas. These include baby Jesus, the Nativity and the Three Kings, but also Santa Claus, reindeer and elves. Common objects at this time of year are pine trees, holly, decorations, fairy lights, candles and presents. Christmas Day is now truly a mix of religious celebration and commercial interests.
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Now that you have read about four major holidays from around the world, you should be ready to write with great detail about the celebration you have chosen to write about.

To brainstorm for details, complete the following writing prompts:

  1. What is your favorite celebration? Who shares this holiday or tradition with you? When does it occur?
  1. What is the background or history of the holiday?
  1. What do you do to prepare for the holiday? Do you decorate? Describe your favorite decorations.
  1. What do you do on the day of the celebration?
  1. Use your senses to describe: What are your favorite foods that are eaten during this holiday? What are some nice smells you enjoy during this holiday? What kind of music do you play?
  1. Describe one memorable moment (share an anecdote) that captures some of the spirit of the celebration.
  1. What does this celebration mean to you, and which traditions do you hope will never change?