The Story of Christmas

By Rev. Dr. Emmanuel James

Xmas

This abbreviation "Xmas” for Christmas is of Greek origin.  This shorter form “Xmas” was first used in Europe during the 1500s. It is derived from the Greek alphabet X (Chi). This is the first letter of the name of Christ in Greek namely, “Xristos”. Hence “X” has been used to denote Christ in this context. The word for Christ in Greek is Xristos. During the 16th century, Europeans began using the first initial of Christ's name, "X" in place of the word Christ in Christmas as shorthand form of the word. Although the early Christians understood that X stood for Christ's name, later Christians who did not understand the Greek language mistook "Xmas" as a sign of disrespect. The word “Christmas” means “Mass of Christ” which was later shortened to “Christ-Mass.” This was further changed to “Christmas”.

 Christmas Cards

The Christmas card is a Victorian creation. It began as a kind of stationery. The first card was produced by Sir Henry Cole who worked for the British Postal Service, and an artist he hired named John Horsley. This early card was a depiction of a Christmas scene framed in three panels. In the center panel was a homely table scene: children, parents and grandparents seated and some raising their glasses for a toast. On either side were panels depicting acts of Christmas charity: to the left, feeding the hungry; to the right, clothing the naked. Underneath appears the now familiar phrase "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You."

Christmas Gifts

The custom of giving gifts at Christmastime seems to have originated on the day of Christmas itself when God who loved the whole world gave His only Son as a gift to the whole mankind. Then the Wise Men (Magi) from the East came to see Baby Jesus and presented gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The custom of giving gifts at Christmas seems to have been inspired by these incidents. From then on, the old custom has slightly been changed. The exchanging of presents has remained but the kind of gifts given has changed. Customs and dates for Christmas gift-giving vary from country to country. Depending upon the place, the gifts allegedly are delivered by Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus.

Christmas Stockings

According to a legend, a kind nobleman became extremely depressed over the death of his beloved wife and foolishly squandered his fortune. This left his three young daughters without dowries and thus facing a life of spinsterhood. The generous St. Nicholas heard of the girls' plight. He decided to go and help them.  At the same time he wished to remain anonymous. He rode on his white horse by the nobleman's house and threw three small pouches of gold coins down the chimney.  These pouches of gold fell into the stockings that these three young women had hung by the fireplace to dry. That was the origin of Christmas stockings.

The Christmas Tree

The use of Christmas Tree originated during the 16th century in Germany. It was common for the Germans to decorate fir trees, both inside and out, with roses, apples, and coloured paper. It is believed that Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the first to light a Christmas tree with candles. While coming home one dark winter's night during Christmas season, he was struck with the beauty of the starlight shining through the branches of a small fir tree outside his home. He duplicated the starlight by using candles attached to the branches of his indoor Christmas tree.

Santa Claus

The original Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, was born in Turkey in the 4th century A.D. He was very pious and a devout Christian. He became widely known for his generosity to the poor. But the Romans held him in contempt. He was imprisoned and tortured. When Constantine became the Emperor of Rome, he allowed Nicholas to go free. Constantine became a Christian and convened the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. Nicholas was a delegate to the council.

Santa Claus is the patron saint of sailors of Sicily, Greece, and Russia. He is also the patron saint of children. The Dutch kept the legend of St. Nicholas alive. In 16th century Holland, Dutch children would place their wooden shoes by the fire place in hopes that they would be filled with a treat. The Dutch spelled St. Nicholas as Sint Nikolaas, which became corrupted to Sinterklaas, and finally, it became Santa Claus in English. Clement C. Moore is credited with creating the modern image of Santa Claus as a jolly fat man in a red suit (around 1822 A.D.).

Poinsettias

Poinsettias are native to Mexico. They were named after America's first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett. He brought the plants to Central America in 1828. The Mexicans in the eighteenth century thought the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem. In this way the Poinsettia became associated with the Christmas season.

Christmas Colors

White = Purity John. 8:12

Blue = Peace John 14:27

Pink = Love, tenderness John 3:16

Yellow = Joy John 16:24

Green = Growth, health Luke 2:52

Gold = Wealth Matthew 2:11

Silver = Wisdom,  Matthew  13:54

Orange = Mighty deeds, Luke  1:51

Purple = Royalty I Timothy 6:15

Red = Love, (Blood) Ephesians 1:7

How “Merry Christmas” is said in some Languages:

Bengali:                       Shubho Christmas or Subho baradin

English:                       Merry Christmas or Happy Christmas

French:                        Joyeux Noel

Hindi:              Bada Din Mubarak or Baradin ki shubh kamnaaye.

Kannada:        Christa Jayantiya Shubhashayagalu

Malayalam:     Christmas Aashamsakal

Marathi:          Tumhala Natalache Shubecha

Portuguese (Goa):      Feliz Navidad or Feliz Natal

Punjabi:                      " vadah din mubarak hovaa” or “vadah din deyian vadian”

Tamil:                          Krista Pirappu Valthukkal

Telugu:                                    Christu Janmadina Shubhkankshalu

Urdu:                           Bara Din Mubarak Ho

We wish you

“A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."