gimo
January 6th, 2009, 10:30 AM
the word "Christmas" means "Mass of Christ," later shortened to "Christ-Mass." The even shorter form "Xmas" - first used in Europe in the 1500s - is derived from the Greek alphabet, in which X is the first letter of Christ's name: Xristos, therefore "X-Mass."
Jesus was born on the 14th of May in 6 BC. Therefore His 2,000 birthday was on 14 May 1995. Regardless of which date you choose for the birthday of Jesus it was not on December 25th or January 6th and God never intended that it would be observed and celebrated. God wants us to remember the death, burial and resurrection of His Son, which is the Good News and the purpose of His coming.
Today we know that Christ was not born on the 25th of December. The date was chosen to coincide with the pagan Roman celebrations honouring Saturnus (the harvest god) and Mithras (the ancient god of light), a form of sun worship. These celebrations came on or just after the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, to announce that winter is not forever, that life continues, and an invitation to stay in good spirit.
Solstice means "sun standing still." In the Northern Hemisphere, it is the first day of winter, the shortest day and longest night of the year, occurring on the 20th, 21st or 22nd of December.
The introduction of Christmas
In the year 274AD, solstice fell on 25th December. Roman Emperor Aurelian proclaimed the date as "Natalis Solis Invicti," the festival of the birth of the invincible sun. In 320 AD, Pope Julius I specified the 25th of December as the official date of the birth of Jesus Christ. In 325AD, Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman emperor, finally changed the ancient solstice celebrations into Christmas, announcing that it would be an immovable feast, officially celebrated as the birth of Christ. Even so, Christmas did not become widely popular until the 19th Century.
Parols[1] are ornamental star-like Christmas lanterns from the Philippines. They are traditionally made out of bamboo and paper and comes in various sizes, shapes and designs, however its star-shape facade remains dominant.
Its shape is said to be inspired by the star on the Nativity of Jesus that guided the Magi to the manger. It also symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and the Filipinos' hope and goodwill during the Christmas season.
The Parol, technically called Philippine Christmas lantern, was adapted from the Chinese lantern and the Mexican piņata to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem
In the Philippines, the parol has become an iconic symbol of a Filipino Christmas and is as important to Filipinos as the Christmas Tree is to other cultures. Its appearance on houses and streets which usually starts in September along with other Christmas symbols signals the coming of the season.
The parol is associated with the Simbang Gabi, a series of dawn masses that lasts for nine days. Parols remain until in January, usually removed by the sixth day of the month, to honor the "Three Kings" and their visit to the child Jesus.
Jesus was born on the 14th of May in 6 BC. Therefore His 2,000 birthday was on 14 May 1995. Regardless of which date you choose for the birthday of Jesus it was not on December 25th or January 6th and God never intended that it would be observed and celebrated. God wants us to remember the death, burial and resurrection of His Son, which is the Good News and the purpose of His coming.
Today we know that Christ was not born on the 25th of December. The date was chosen to coincide with the pagan Roman celebrations honouring Saturnus (the harvest god) and Mithras (the ancient god of light), a form of sun worship. These celebrations came on or just after the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, to announce that winter is not forever, that life continues, and an invitation to stay in good spirit.
Solstice means "sun standing still." In the Northern Hemisphere, it is the first day of winter, the shortest day and longest night of the year, occurring on the 20th, 21st or 22nd of December.
The introduction of Christmas
In the year 274AD, solstice fell on 25th December. Roman Emperor Aurelian proclaimed the date as "Natalis Solis Invicti," the festival of the birth of the invincible sun. In 320 AD, Pope Julius I specified the 25th of December as the official date of the birth of Jesus Christ. In 325AD, Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman emperor, finally changed the ancient solstice celebrations into Christmas, announcing that it would be an immovable feast, officially celebrated as the birth of Christ. Even so, Christmas did not become widely popular until the 19th Century.
Parols[1] are ornamental star-like Christmas lanterns from the Philippines. They are traditionally made out of bamboo and paper and comes in various sizes, shapes and designs, however its star-shape facade remains dominant.
Its shape is said to be inspired by the star on the Nativity of Jesus that guided the Magi to the manger. It also symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and the Filipinos' hope and goodwill during the Christmas season.
The Parol, technically called Philippine Christmas lantern, was adapted from the Chinese lantern and the Mexican piņata to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem
In the Philippines, the parol has become an iconic symbol of a Filipino Christmas and is as important to Filipinos as the Christmas Tree is to other cultures. Its appearance on houses and streets which usually starts in September along with other Christmas symbols signals the coming of the season.
The parol is associated with the Simbang Gabi, a series of dawn masses that lasts for nine days. Parols remain until in January, usually removed by the sixth day of the month, to honor the "Three Kings" and their visit to the child Jesus.