The True Meaning of Christmas

If you took a poll of what people considered to be the true meaning of Christmas, you’d probably get numerous answers. Some folks may reference the birth of Jesus Christ, and others may highlight their excitement for Christmas lights, decorations, and presents. Neither would be wrong, as the holidays hold different significance for different people. Discover various origin stories of Christmas, and how the true meaning of Christmas has become flexible over time.

In Religious Context

For Christianity, Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25. On this day, the Wise Men brought baby Jesus frankincense, gold, and myrrh to show appreciation and praise. In religious context, Jesus’s birth was a miraculous gift from God.

As Christians share gifts to duplicate the Wise Men’s generosity, they also follow Jesus’s lifelong example by sharing goodwill over the holidays. Christianity considers Christmas a time to celebrate Christ’s birth and reflect on the prophecy of their faith.

Other Christmas Origins

Old Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas—there are many nicknames for the Santa Claus legend. Today’s jolly figure we know it originated around 300 AD when the Christian bishop Saint Nicholas lived.

People knew Saint Nicholas for his charitable contributions to the poor and his dedication to protecting sailors and children. His generous and kind legacy reminds folks that we could all afford to spread our wealth with more people in the world. You can also thank Saint Nick for the iconic movies and stories that surround Santa Claus!

The act of swapping gifts and grand celebration in December is not new. In fact, they date back to the pagans in ancient Rome. As early as 130 BC, ancient Romans held festivities from December 17 to the 23. The celebrations were a necessary part of the week-long festivity known as Saturnalia. Saturnalia gave praise to the Roman god of agriculture and time, Saturn.

The festival ran up to the winter solstice, which fell on the December 25 in the calendars used by the Romans at the time. Expressing gratitude and holiday parties have remained a huge part of December traditions ever since.

Whatever your reason for Christmas traditions, keep in mind the true intentions of the holiday. It is easy to get overwhelmed and relegate a joyous spirit second to the season’s hustle and bustle. Remember to be kind, spread goodwill, and express gratitude this year in true Christmas fashion.

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