This article sounds a little bit late for the season but let me publish it, anyway..
Happy holidays from our house to yours. I was reminded by our church pastor's preach years back when I heard a Christmas song's lyric "Pasko, pasko, pasko na namang muli. Ang pag-ibig naghahari." The pastor, as I can remember said that let everyday be christmas. As we all know the spirit of Christmas is love, sharing/giving. And is mostly centered on children.
The first month of "ber" starting September was the beginning of days count down to Christmas. When we were younger, we children became excited whenever December starts. We longed for Christmas break from school to be soon. We anticipated for school party before the break and Christmas programs on Christmas eve. Like any other kids, everyone is excited for the season. We also heard the "Jesus is born on Christmas day" story. But was later thought that its not actually Christmas when He was born because of the shepherds watching their flocks by night which is likely to be in spring, rather than winter. No one ever dared to bring his flocks on a cold winter's night.
Christmas is being celebrated on December 25th in commemoration of Jesus' birth. But did you know that His birth was not celebrated by early Christians? Christmas was adopted from pagan traditions.
Some Christmas season facts
Christmas used to be a pagan festival of the Romans called Saturnalia. It's to give honor to their god Saturn,god of time and agriculture. It used to be a day only but later turned to a week-long of feasting which activities such as partying raucously, merry-making, gift-giving and offering, candle lighting, singing, playing, and gambling. It was the time when they decorate their homes with pine wreaths and light festive candles and a time they changed their boring colored clothes into colorful ones. It was held on mid-December until winter solstice that falls on December 25. The activities during Saturnalia were adopted at the end of fourth century for Christmas.
Christmas word was not coined until 1038 from the words Christ's Mass which means Christian Mass. When the Roman Empire embraced christianity, many of the pagan traditions celebrated during mid-winter were carried over. They settled on celebrating the holiday on December 25 to integrate with Saturnalia and other pagan midwinter activities. It is a way to convince non-Christian Romans to accept the religion easier.
Christmas popular figure, Santa Claus was not associated with the Roman's pagan traditions but was inspired by good people who showed kindness and generosity towards the poor and sick, Saint Nicholas. His Dutch nickname Sinter Klaas was probably the origin of the term Santa Claus.
Christmas tree was somehow associated with pagan traditions also. Different country of different beliefs brought in their homes evergreens boughs, palm rushes, fir trees which remind them of prosperity after the winter month. It was then adopted in Christmas by the Germans wherein it was decorated with candle lightings. It was later decorated with colorful fruits and cookies. Americans used homemade ornaments while German immigrants stick with what they had used to decorating. When electricity was introduced, it had made way for Christmas lights to be invented.
Christmas carols were also later made its rounds. But it began as an English custom called wassailing and was a toast to long life.
In the Philippines, Christmas season is always a day to look forward in to. It is a season wherein families were gathered and brought closer. But due to this pandemic that it is prohibited to make trips just like what we do in the past. Yet, thankful are we that homesickness is pacified a little due to the age we are in that technology made easy communications possible.
However, Christmas, just like the early Christians, is not recognize or celebrated by some Christian sects today due to its history, perhaps. Whatever it may be, may the spirit of it stays everyday in our hearts. Show love and kindness towards others no matter what state a person may be in.. May we all stay healthy and good.
Have a happy holiday...
z_graeden
Merry Christmas to youuuu!!!