1、1ChristmasDay-December25-whichcelebratesthebirthofJesusChrist,thefounderoftheChristianreligion,isthebiggestandbest-lovedholidayintheUnitedStates.AccordingtotheBible,theholybookofChristians,Goddecidedtoallowhisonlyson,JesusChrist,tobeborntoahumanmotherandliveonearthsothatpeoplecouldunderstandGodbette

2、randlearntoloveGodandeachothermore.Christmas-meaningcelebrationofChrist-honorsthetimewhenJesuswasborntoayoungJewishwomanMary.MarywasengagedtobemarriedtoJoseph,acarpenter,butbeforetheycametogether,shewasfoundtobewithchild.BecauseJoseph,herhusband,wasarighteousmananddidnotwanttoexposehertopublicdisgra

3、ce,hehadinmindtodivorceherquietly.Butafterhehadconsideredthis,anangeloftheLordappearedtohiminadreamandsaid,DonotbeafraidtotakeMaryhomeasyourwife,becausewhatisconceivedinherisfromtheHolySpirit.Shewillgivebirthtoason,andyouaretogivehimthenameJesus,becausehewillsavehispeoplefromtheirsins.Althoughtheexa

4、ctdateofthebirthofJesusnearly2,000yearsagoisnotknown,thecalendaronthesupposeddatedividesalltimeintoB.C.BeforeChristandA.D.aLatinphrase,AnnoDomini,intheyearofourLord.Forthefirst300years,Jesusbirthdaywascelebratedondifferentdates.Finally,intheyear354,churchleaderschoseDecember25ashisbirthday.12月25日是慶祝

5、基督創始人耶穌誕辰的圣誕節，是美國最大和最受人喜愛的節日。根據圣經，基督的圣書，上帝決定允許他唯一的兒子耶穌出生于一位人類母親，并活在地球上，以便人們能夠更好地理解上帝，并學會更多地愛上帝和彼此。圣誕節-意思是“慶祝基督”-榮譽的時候耶穌出生的一個年輕的猶太婦女瑪麗。瑪麗訂婚了，嫁給了木匠約瑟夫，但在他們走到一起之前，她被發現和孩子在一起。因為她丈夫約瑟夫是個正直的人，不想讓她當眾出丑，他打算悄悄地和她離婚。這事以后耶和華的使者在夢中向他顯現，說，不要害怕把瑪麗當作你的妻子，因為在她里面所設想的，是從圣靈來的。她要生一個兒子，你要給他取耶穌的名字，因為他要救他的百姓脫離他們的罪。雖然耶穌近20

6、00年前誕生的確切日期是不知道的，在該日期的日歷把時間分為公元前耶穌基督誕生前和公元拉丁語，AnnoDomini,“今年我們的主。的第一個300年，耶穌的生日是在不同的日子慶祝。最后，在354，教會領袖選擇12月25日作為他的生日2Inthefirstthreecenturies,thechurchcelebratedthedeathandresurrectionoftheLordeverySundayandthePassovereveryyear.Butatthebeginningofthefourthcentury,thissituationchanged.Thereisatrendint

7、hisperiod,thatis,theactofChristssalvationisexpressedthroughdifferentfestivalsthroughanexpressionbasedonhistoricalfacts,andeachstageandlevelofChristssalvationhistoryofsalvationiscelebratedwithindependentfestivals.ThisisthemainreasonfortheestablishmentoffestivalsinEastercycle,andalsothereasonforthegra

8、dualintroductionoffestivalsinChristmasandChristmascycle.JustasJesussuffering,resurrection,ascensionandotherOlympicsiteshadindependentcelebrationsaccordingtothehistoricalorder,thefirststageofJesuslife,thatis,hetookhumanityasanadult,andtheOlympicsitesbornintheworldalsobecametheobjectofremembrancethrou

9、ghthecelebrations.NooneknowswhenJesuswasborn.ThereisnorecordintheBible,andtheinheritanceofthechurchisnotclear.TherewasnofactofcelebratingJesusChristmasintheChristianeraandtheearlydaysofthechurch.Inthelasthundredyears,manyscholarshavemadeextensiveresearchesontheoriginsofChristmasandEpiphany,andthecon

10、clusionstheygotarestillspeculative.Infact,aftertheRomanchurchwasfreeinConstantineAD313,itgraduallybecameaccustomedtocelebratingthebirthoftheLordonDecember25th.Thedatewhenthiscelebrationwasintroducedisstillunknown,about330AD.AsforwhythiscelebrationisscheduledforDecember25,scholarsformtwocamps,namelyt

11、wodifferentopinions:Oneisteaching-protecting;ThiscelebrationwasintroducedtofightagainsttheDaqingFestivalofaforeignteachersetbytheRomanemperoratthattime.In274AD,EmperorAureliansetabigfestivalforthewholeempire,TheBirthdayoftheInvincibleSunGod,andorderedthewholecountrytocelebrateitonDecember25th,whichw

12、asalsothewintersolstice,andthedaysbegantolengthen.TheRomanemperorhopedtouniteandconsolidatethewholenationbythisfestival.Onthesameday,thechurchdesignatedJesusChristmastopointouttoitsmembersthatJesusistherealunbeatensun:intheoldTestament,Christwaspredictedtobethesunofjustice,andinthenewTestament,Jesus

13、calledhimselfthelightoftheworld,andJohncalleditthetruelightshiningoneveryone.AnotheropinionisthatthebirthdayofJesuscanbeinferredaccordingtoanassumption:peopleinthethirdandfourthcenturiespaidspecialattentiontosymbolism.ChristssymbolofthesunwasdeeplyrootedintheChristianconsciousnessatthattime,whichmad

14、ethempayattentiontothesymbolicsignificanceofthechangeoftheequinoxspringequinox,autumnequinoxandthezenithsummersolstice,wintersolstice.ThereisaviewthatJohnconceivedattheautumnalequinoxSeptember25andwasbornatthesummersolstice;AccordingtoLukesgospel,JesuswasconceivedsixmonthsafterJohn,soJesusshouldbeco

15、nceivedatthevernalequinoxMarch25thandbornonDecember25th.Atthevernalequinox,thesunstartedanewjourney,andJesusstartedlifeintheworld.Asacoincidenceofthesetwoevents,ancientpeoplethoughtthatthiswasthearrangementofGodswisdom.Thisdayisreallyaverysymbolicdate:symbolizingtherealsun.Thelightoftheworldentereda

16、darkworldfullofevil,graduallyemittinglightandexpellingdarkness.Althoughthecorrectnessoftheabovetwoopinionscannotbedetermined,infact,thisnewfestival-thebirthdayofJesus-spreadtothewholeWesternchurchandmanyEasternchurchesatanalarmingratebeforetheendofthefourthcentury.Thereasonmaybethatthechurchopposedt

17、heAristocraticheresydenyingJesusasGodatthattime,andemphasizedthestatusofJesustheSonofGod,butpaidlittleattentiontoitssalvationproject.Atthistime,theintroductionofJesusChristmaswasjustanappropriateexpressionofetiquetteforthebeliefthatJesuswasthemasterofheaven.NietzschesGrandCouncil325denouncedEliotshe

18、resy,compiledthecreed,andsolemnlyadmittedthatJesusChrististhemasterofheaven,theonlysonofthefather,thatis,bornfromthefatherssexbody:hecomesfromtheGodofGod,fromthebrightlight,fromthetrueGodofthetrueGod:hewasbornbythefather,notcreated,andheisthesameasthefather.ThisbeliefisreflectedinChristmasetiquette.

19、教會在開始三個世紀中，除了每個主日及每年的逾越節慶祝主的死亡與復活外，并沒有其它慶節。但到了第四世紀初，這種情形就有了改變。此時期出現一種趨勢，即基督救贖的行為，藉一種以史實為基礎的表達方式，透過不同慶節表現出來，將基督救世奧跡救恩史的各階段、層面以獨立的慶節來慶祝。這是復活節周期中各慶節訂立的主要原因，也是圣誕節及圣誕周期中各慶節逐漸引進的因由。一如耶穌的苦難、復活、升天等奧跡依據歷史的順序先有了獨立的慶節，耶穌生命中的第一階段，亦即他的取人性成人，誕生人間的奧跡也成為藉慶節來追念的對象。耶穌在哪一天誕生，無人確知。圣經上沒有記載，教會的傳承也不清楚。在宗徒時代和教會初期，并無慶祝耶穌圣誕的

20、事實。最近一百年中，有不少學者曾對圣誕節和主顯節的源始作了極為廣泛的研究，所得到的結論仍是揣測性質。事實上，羅馬教會在君士坦丁時代得到自由后公元三一三，就逐漸習慣在十二月二十五日慶祝主的誕生。引進此慶節的年代仍不確知，大約在公元三三O年左右。至于為何將此慶節定在十二月二十五日，學者們形成兩個陣營，亦即兩種不同的意見：其一是護教性的;此慶節的引進是為了對抗當時羅馬皇帝訂定的一個外教人的大慶節。奧來瑞安皇帝于公元二七四年為全帝國定立了不敗之太陽神誕辰大節日，命令全國在十二月二十五日慶祝，這也正是冬至時期，白日開始變長。羅馬皇帝希望藉此節日團結與鞏固全國民眾。教會在此同一日訂定耶穌圣誕節，是為給教友

21、們指出，耶穌才是真正的不敗的太陽：舊約已預言基督為正義的太陽，新約中，耶穌自稱為世界的光，若望稱其為照耀每個人的真光。另一意見，以為根據一種假定可推知耶穌的生日：第三、四世紀的人特別注意象征意義。基督為太陽的象征深深扎根于當時基督的意識中，因而也使他們注意到晝夜的平分點春分、秋分與至點夏至、冬至變化的象征意義。有一意見認為若翰是在秋分時九月二十五受孕，在夏至時誕生;依照路加福音，耶穌之受孕是在若翰以后六個月，故耶穌受孕應是在春分時三月二十五日，而在十二月二十五日誕生。春分時，太陽開始新的歷程，而耶穌開始世界上的生命，這兩事件的巧合，古代的人認為這是天主上智的安排，這一天實在是一個極具象征意義的

22、日期：象征真的太陽.世界之光進入了充滿了罪惡的黑暗世界，逐漸放射光芒、驅逐黑暗。以上兩種意見的正確性雖仍不能斷定，但事實上，這新的節日穌誕辰第四世紀結束前，以驚人的速度普及于整個西方教會，以及許多東方教會。其理由或許是由于教會反5對當時第四世紀的亞略異端否認耶穌為天主，而強調耶穌之位格天主圣子，而少注意其救世工程，此時引進耶穌圣誕節正是對耶穌為天主子之信仰的一種合適的禮儀方面的表達。尼采大公會議三二五年申斥亞略異端，編訂信經，鄭重承認耶穌基督是天主子，父的獨生子，亦即生自父的性體：他是出自天主的天主，出自光明的光明，出自真天主的真天主他是由父而生的，而非受造的，他與父同性同體。這種信仰正好在圣

23、誕節禮儀中表現出來。3ThehistoryofChristmasdatesbackover4000years.ManyofourChristmastraditionswerecelebratedcenturiesbeforetheChristchildwasborn.The12daysofChristmas,thebrightfires,theyulelog,thegivingofgifts,carnivalsparadeswithfloats,carolerswhosingwhilegoingfromhousetohouse,theholidayfeasts,andthechurchproc

24、essionscanallbetracedbacktotheearlyMesopotamians.歷史上的圣誕節可以追溯到4000年。我們的許多傳統的圣誕節慶祝百年前的耶穌出生的子女。在為期12天的圣誕節，光明的火災，尤爾日志，提供禮品，嘉年華會游行的花車，唱歌的同時，從挨家挨戶，節日假期，和教會游行都可以追溯到早期。4ChristmasisaChristianholidaythatcelebratesthebirthofJesusChrist.NooneknowstheexactdateofChristsbirth,butmostChristiansobserveChristmasonDec

25、ember25.Onthisday,manygotochurch,wheretheytakepartinspecialreligiousservices.DuringtheChristmasseason,theyalsoexchangegiftsanddecoratetheirhomeswithholly,mistletoe,andChristmastrees.ThewordChristmascomesfromCristesmaesse,anearlyEnglishphrasethatmeansMassofChrist.ThestoryofChristmascomeschieflyfromth

26、eGospelsofSaintLukeandSaintMatthewintheNewTestament.圣誕節是基督慶祝耶穌誕生的節日。沒有人知道耶穌基督出生的確切日期，但大多數基督在12月25日慶祝圣誕節。在這一天，許多人去教堂，在那里他們參加特殊的宗教儀式。在圣誕節期間，他們還交換禮物，用冬青樹、槲寄生和圣誕樹裝飾他們的家。圣誕節一詞來自基督彌撒，早期的英語詞組這意味著質量的基督。圣誕節的故事主要來自新約中圣史路加和圣馬太的福音書。ChristmasisthebiggestfestivalintheChristianworld.Atthebeginningofthe4thcentury,J

27、anuary6thwasadoublefestivalforchurchesintheeasternpartoftheRomanEmpiretocommemoratethebirthandbaptismofJesus.ItwascalledEpiphanyalsocalledManifestationFestival,thatis,GodshowedhimselftotheworldthroughJesus.Atthattime,therewasonlythechurchinJerusalem,whichonlycommemoratedthebirthofJesusandnotthebapti

28、smofJesus.Later,historiansfoundinthecalendarusedbyRomanChristiansthatthepageonDecember25,354ADrecorded:ChristwasborninBethlehem,Judah.Afterresearch,itisgenerallybelievedthatDecember25thisChristmas,whichprobablystartedintheRomanchurchin336AD,spreadtoAntiochinAsiaMinorin375AD,andspreadtoAlexandriainEg

29、yptin430AD.ThechurchinJerusalemreceiveditthelatest,whilethechurchinArmeniastillinsistedthatJanuary6thwasthebirthdayofJesus.December25thwasoriginallythebirthdayofMithra,thePersiansungodi.e.godoflight,whichwasapaganfestival.Atthesametime,thesungodwasalsooneofthegodsoftheRomanstatereligion.Thisdayisthe

30、WinterSolsticeFestivaloftheRomanalmanac,whichisregardedbypaganswhoworshiptheSunGodasthehopeofspringandthebeginningoftherevivalofallthings.Perhapsforthisreason,theRomanchurchchosethisdayasChristmas.ThisisoneofthemeasuresthatthechurchtriedtoChristianizepagancustomsintheearlydays.Later,althoughmostchur

31、chesacceptedDecember25thasChristmas,butbecauseofthedifferentalmanacusedbylocalchurches,thespecificdatecouldnotbeunified,soDecember24thtoJanuary6thofthefollowingyearwasdesignatedasChristmasfestival,andlocalchurchescouldcelebrateChristmaswithinthisfestivalaccordingtolocalconditions.SinceDecember25thwa

32、srecognizedasChristmasbymostchurches,theEpiphanyDayonJanuary6thonlycommemoratesthebaptismofJesus,buttheCatholicChurchdesignatedJanuary6thastheThreeKingsComingtoKoreaFestivaltocommemoratethestoryofthethreekingsoftheEastthatis,threedoctorscomingtoworshipwhenJesuswasborn.WiththewidespreadofChristianity

33、,ChristmashasbecomeanimportantholidayforChristiansofalldenominationsandevennon-Christians.InmanycountriesinEuropeandAmerica,peopleattachgreatimportancetothisfestival,linkingitwiththeNewYear,andtheexcitementandgrandeurofthecelebrationsgreatlyexceedthatoftheNewYearandbecomeanationalholiday.Themaincomm

34、emorativeactivitiesonDecember25thareallrelatedtothelegendofthebirthofJesus.ChristmasiscelebratedfromDecember24thtoJanuary6thofthefollowingyear.Duringthefestival,Christiansallovertheworldholdgrandmemorialceremonies.ChristmaswasoriginallyaChristianholiday.Becausepeoplepayspecialattentiontoit,ithasbeco

35、meanationalholiday,thebiggestholidayinwesterncountriesinayear,whichcanbecomparedwiththeNewYearandissimilartotheSpringFestivalinChina.Westernersusered,greenandwhiteasChristmascolors,andeveryhouseholdshoulddecoratewithChristmascolorswhenChristmascomes.TheredoneshaveChristmasflowersandChristmascandles.

36、ThegreenoneistheChristmastree.ItisthemaindecorationofChristmas,decoratedwithevergreentreesintheshapeoftowers,suchasfelledChinesefirandcypress.Colorfullanterns,giftsandpaperflowersarehungonit,andChristmascandlesarelit.RedandwhiteseteachotheroffasSantaClaus,whoisthemostpopularfigureinChristmasactivities.BeforegoingtobedonChristmasEve,westernchildrenshouldputasockinfrontofthef