ChristmasisaChristianholidaythatcelebratesthebirthofJesusChrist.NooneknowstheexactdateofChrist'sbirth,butmostChristiansobserveChristmasonDecember25.Onthisday,manygotochurch,wheretheytakepartinspecialreligiousservices.DuringtheChristmasseason,theyalsoexchangegiftsanddecoratetheirhomeswithholly,mistletoe,andChristmastrees.ThewordChristmascomesfromCristesmaesse,anearlyEnglishphrasethatmeansMassofChrist.ThestoryofChristmascomeschieflyfromtheGospelsofSaintLukeandSaintMatthewintheNewTestament.

　　ThehistoryofChristmasdatesbackover4000years.ManyofourChristmastraditionswerecelebratedcenturiesbeforetheChristchildwasborn.The12daysofChristmas,thebrightfires,theyulelog,thegivingofgifts,carnivals(parades)withfloats,carolerswhosingwhilegoingfromhousetohouse,theholidayfeasts,andthechurchprocessionscanallbetracedbacktotheearlyMesopotamians.

　　ManyofthesetraditionsbeganwiththeMesopotamiancelebrationofNewYears.TheMesopotamiansbelievedinmanygods,andastheirchiefgod-Marduk.EachyearaswinterarriveditwasbelievedthatMardukwoulddobattlewiththemonstersofchaos.ToassistMardukinhisstruggletheMesopotamiansheldafestivalfortheNewYear.ThiswasZagmuk,theNewYear'sfestivalthatlastedfor12days.

　　ThePersiansandtheBabylonianscelebratedasimilarfestivalcalledtheSacaea.Partofthatcelebrationincludedtheexchangingofplaces,theslaveswouldbecomethemastersandthemastersweretoobey.TheancientGreeksheldafestivalsimilartothatoftheZagmuk/SacaeafestivalstoassisttheirgodKronoswhowouldbattlethegodZeusandhisTitans.

　　TheRoman'scelebratedtheirgodSaturn.TheirfestivalwascalledSaturnaliawhichbeganthemiddleofDecemberandendedJanuary1st.Withcriesof"JoSaturnalia!"thecelebrationwouldincludemasqueradesinthestreets,bigfestivemeals,visitingfriends,andtheexchangeofgood-luckgiftscalledStrenae(luckyfruits).TheRomansdeckedtheirhallswithgarlandsoflaurelandgreentreeslitwithcandles.Againthemastersandslaveswouldexchangeplaces.

　　"JoSaturnalia!"wasafunandfestivetimefortheRomans,buttheChristiansthoughtitanabominationtohonorthepagangod.TheearlyChristianswantedtokeepthebirthdayoftheirChristchildasolemnandreligiousholiday,notoneofcheerandmerrimentaswasthepaganSaturnalia.

　　SomelegendsclaimthattheChristian"Christmas"celebrationwasinventedtocompeteagainstthepagancelebrationsofDecember.The25thwasnotonlysacredtotheRomansbutalsothePersianswhosereligionMithraismwasoneofChristianity'smainrivalsatthattime.TheChurcheventuallywassuccessfulintakingthemerriment,lights,andgiftsfromtheSaturaniliafestivalandbringingthemtothecelebrationofChristmas.

　　TheexactdayoftheChristchild'sbirthhasneverbeenpinpointed.Traditionssaythatithasbeencelebratedsincetheyear98AD.In137ADtheBishopofRomeorderedthebirthdayoftheChristChildcelebratedasasolemnfeast.In350ADanotherBishopofRome,JuliusI,chooseDecember25thastheobservanceofChristmas.

　　ThebirthofJesushadastory:InNazareth,acityofGalilee.Thevirgin'snamewasMarywasbetrothedtoJoseph.Beforetheycametogether,shewasfoundwithchildoftheHolySpirit.Josephherhusbandwa