Where did Christmas?

Christmas – one of the most important Christian holidays. For Catholics, it is celebrated on 25 December, the Orthodox-January 7 (new style). According to biblical legend, on the night of 6 to 7 January in Bethlehem from the virgin conceived, the virgin Mary had a son Jesus. Christmas-the holiday is not secular, international, and ethnic. The Christian religion is one of the most common on Earth. Today, slightly more than a quarter of the population is Christian, therefore it's safe to say that Christmas is celebrated everywhere, on all continents.

According to extra-biblical sources, the story of Christmas begins in the 4th century BC and has nothing to do with the true birth of a man-God. In ancient times, the exact date of the birth of Jesus Christ was to dispute the many ecclesiastical authors. Until today came the texts of the Greek theologian Clement of Alexandria (150-215 g), which indicate the real date of Christ's birth, and it is not December 25. According to the work of the theologian, Jesus Christ, was born on may 20. The appearance of the Christmas holiday is associated with the Roman Catholic Church. The choice of the date of its celebration, according to many historians, is not accidental. In pagan times December 25 was the feast of the Birth of the Sun Invincible, associated with the increasing daylight after the winter solstice. The Catholic Church brought in the celebration of the birthday of the Sun on new meaning. Henceforth the birth of the Sun and the birth of Christ have become almost synonymous. Over time and with the spread of Christianity on the ground completely forgotten.

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The city of three religions-Jerusalem, Cyprus and Alexandria until the 6th century the Nativity was celebrated simultaneously with another important Christian holiday of Epiphany (January 6). Today, this tradition is preserved only on the territory of Armenia.

Over the last hundred years historians and scientists have found many artifacts testifying to what the celebration of Christmas was equally vysokopole in different countries dominated by Christianity. This is a temple built in honor of the birth of Christ in the place of the Bethlehem cave on the orders of Queen Helena, and that the teachings of the theologians of the 4th century, is written in the Holy day, and notes about the widespread celebration of Christmas in the Justinian code.

The Ancient Church read the Christmas along with Easter. In churches of all Christian countries of the world in this day occurred the great celebration, which was preceded by a forty-day Christmas fast. Christmas eve (the day before the feast) was called eve and assumed a strict fast. In this day all Christians were permitted to eat only soaked in water bread grains. On Christmas eve in churches and temples were made of chants and serve three masses (night, morning and afternoon). The latter have been called Angels, Pastoral and Royal.

Modern Christmas are celebrated a little differently. It's Christmas – it is primarily a family holiday, prior to the beginning of the new year (or as in our country, finishing his celebration) associated with the receipt of gifts and congratulations from loved ones. In Russia Holy Christmas night from 6 to 7 January. At this time all Orthodox churches of the country are public services. In many countries, Christmas is synonymous with charity. In European cities during the Christmas holidays, open kitchens for the poor citizens in major shopping malls are the days of holiday sales. In recent decades, became especially popular Christmas donations to various charities.

Christmas – a celebration of kindness, peace and forgiveness. On this day we are all little children, whether you believe in God or not, and waiting for some miracle. But miracles are known to happen only with those who really believe.