thenamechristmasisshortforchrist'smass.amassisakindofchurchservice.christmasisareligiousfestival.itisthedaywecelebrateasthebirthdayofjesus.therearespecialchristmasservicesinchristianchurchesallovertheworld.butmanyofthefestivitiesofchristmasdonothaveanythingtodowithreligion.exchanginggiftsandsendingchristmascardsarethemodernwaysofcelebratingthechristmasintheworld.

　　thebirthofjesushadastory:innazareth,acityofgalilee.thevirgin'snamewasmarywasbetrothedtojoseph.beforetheycametogether,shewasfoundwithchildoftheholyspirit.josephherhusbandwasmindedtoputherawaysecretly.whilehethoughtaboutthesethings,gabriel,anangelofthelordappearedtohiminadreamandtoldhimdidnotbeafraidtotakemaryaswife.andmarywillbringforthason,andheshallcallhisname,jesus,forhewillsavehispeoplefromtheirsins.

　　beforejesusbirths,josephandmarycametoquirniuswasgoverningsyria.soallwenttoberegistered,everyonetohisowncity.josephalsowentupoutofgalilee,outofthecityofnazareth,intojudea,tothecityofdavid,whichiscalledbethlehem,becausehewasofthehouseandofthelineageofdavid,toberegisteredwithmary,hisbetrothedwife,whowaswithchild.soitwasthatwhiletheywerethere,thedayswerecompletedforhertobedelivered.andshebroughtforthherfirstbornson,andwrappedhiminswaddlingcloths,andlaidhiminamanger,becausetherewasnoroomforthemintheinn.

　　andthat,christmasisthefeastofthenativityofjesus,ison25th,decembereveryyear.butnobodyknowtheactualbirthdayofjesus.andthechristmashasbecomepopularwhenchristmascardsappearedin1846andtheconceptofajollysantaclauswasfirstmadepopularinnineteenthcentury.