December 25 - Christmas

History

Christmas is an annual holiday occurring on December twenty fifth. In areas that still use the Julian calendar, Christmas is celebrated on January sixth. It is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, Son of God. Bethlehem is accepted to be Christ's birth place but the actual date of birth is unknown.
"Christmas" is the combination of "Christ's mass". Which comes from Old English Cristes mæsse and Middle English Christemasse, which dates back to the year one thousand thirty eight. The first letter of "Christ" in Greek versions of the New Testament was "X" and since the sixteenth century, X has been used to abbreviate "Christ". The abbreviation "Xmas" was born.
In ancient times the Roman pagans had celebrations to honor Saturnus, God of Harvest, and Mithras, God of Light. This was called Saturnalia and was celebrated on the solstice, around December seventeenth to twenty fifth. It is said that to combat such celebrations Pope Julius I, in 320 AD, declared December 25 the birth of Christ.
However Christmas did not receive a warm welcome at first and was even banned in some places. Christmas was not widely accepted until around the 1800s.

Traditions

A Jolly Ol' Elf...
Santa Clause is a giver of gifts who goes by many names such as Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle, Joulupukki, Weihnachtsmann,  to name a few. The legendary Santa was at one time a living person. His name was Nicholas and was born in the third century on the southern coast of Turkey. His parents taught him generosity. They passed when he was still young and Nicholas took all of his inheritance and gave it to the needy, sick, and suffering. He soon became Bishop of Mya. He died on December 6, 343 AD. This day became celebrated as St. Nicholas Day.

Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree is decorated similar to that of Yule trees. Christmas trees are generally of Fir, Spruce, or Pine wood. Artificial trees are becoming more popular due to cost effectiveness, non-fire hazard, non allergic. The first artificial trees were made of feathers, first used in Germany in the 19^th century. Now there are designer, outdoor, fibre optic, and even Upside-Down Christmas trees.

Poinsettia
The poinsettia is native to Mexico. The Aztecs called it cuetlaxochitl and used it for fever medication and made a purplish dye from it. In 1828, the first United States Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett (for whom the poinsettia was named) brought the first poinsettia to the United Sates. It has since become a favorite plant during the Christmas season. There is a misconception that the poinsettia is poisonous, which it is not. However, it is not edible.

Food

Below are a few of the foods eaten at Christmas in countries around the world.

Belgium
Breakfast is a special sweet bread called 'cougnou' or 'cougnolle' - in the shape of baby Jesus.
Some families will have another big meal too.

Brazil
Christmas meal will be chicken, turkey, ham, rice, salad, pork, fresh and dried fruits, often with beer.

Finland
They will have 'casseroles' containing liver, rutabaga, carrot and potato, with cooked ham or turkey. Some families eat liver pate. Rawpickled slightly salted salmon, herrings and salad called "rosolli". Mushroom salad is also common. Rosolli is cold salad made from peeled, cooked and diced potatoes, carrots, beetroot and diced apples, onions and pickled cucumber. Season with salt (some people use also pepper). Whipped cream (+ salt, vinegar and beetroot colour to make it pink) is served with rosolli. Food traditions during the Christmas period depend on which part of Finland people live. In Lapland and in Finland's islands there are different foods. Other foods include cooked peas, different kind on salads, roe, cold fish-dishes, pates, other casseroles such as beetroot casserole with cheese or with blue cheese, sweet and spiced breads, carelian pies, and cheeses. Ginger breads, spiced cakes, different kind of cakes and cookies and others to eat with coffee or milk.

France
Christmas meal is meat and the best wine.

Germany
There is a build up to Christmas, but on the day fish (carp) or goose will be cooked.

Hungary
Families usually cook a special dinner. Fresh fish with rice or potatoes and home made pastries as dessert.

Latvia
A special Latvian Christmas Day meal is cooked. Brown peas with bacon (pork) sauce, small pies, cabbage and sausage.

New Zealand
Much like Australia, New Zealanders will have a family lunch, Turkey or chicken with all the trimmings.
Then on to dinner, a BBQ (different meats and salads) with friends and family.

Portugal
Salted dry cod-fish with boiled potatoes is eaten at midnight on Christmas Eve.

Romania
Stuffed cabbage for lunch.

Russia
Special Christmas food includes cakes, pies and 'meat dumplings'. Which is either eaten December 25th or New Years.

Sweden
A special Christmas meal is eaten on Christmas Eve - ham (pork), herring fish, and brown beans.


If you have any Literary or Visual works to celebrate Christmas, you are welcome to submit them to Community Projects > Holidays > 2010 > Christmas.

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December Community Projects List
These projects are open all year round, despite whether they represent a particular 'day' or 'month'.

Merry Christmas!

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