While growing up, Christmas is a day I looked forward to. There is this happiness and warmness in the neighborhood; almost everybody puts on a smiling faces and for the kids, we can’t but wait to adorn our Christmas clothes. As for me and my siblings, a good result at the end of the school term attracts gifts from our parents not to talk of the gifts Santa Claus brings from Rome (even though our teachers acted the part of Santa, it was unknown to us then). It is also an avenue for us to visit our friends and relatives. This period seems to be about jamboree but is that all the day entails is a question to be answered.
The perspectives I had for Christmas actually changed as I grow. When you attain the age of paying bills, then you would realize most of those who smiled in the neighborhood back then really sweat to make things happen for their family especially in this kind of hard country. Well, this period is now used to travel home by many people, meet old friends, dine and wine with relatives, then look forward to the New Year which begins another cycle of work.
Mr. Mentor, a Christian band leader, shared his view with me on what Christmas is all about. He said:
“Christmas means a lot to me. There is this kind of joy and warmth the season brings to us. There is something special about Christmas, the whole world feels the joy of Christmas when the season comes. I love this period being a time the savior of the world King Jesus was born. It is a period everyone celebrates, even the non-Christians, I mean the Muslims and traditionalists and all. To me, without Christmas the world will be normal because Christmas is the only season/period which the whole world observes and celebrate“.
Mrs. Mari, a Mexican teacher also shared how Christmas is celebrated in her country home. She said:
“For me, Christmas is the most beautiful time of the year. In Mexico, we all celebrate in the inns, break pinatas, deliver Christmas bonnets, and a small dinner every day until the 25th of December which is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. This season, the first guest at Christmas dinner must be God. In the streets, you feel a different atmosphere from all the months of the year. I love the aroma of Christmas pine and the union that is in families that time of the year. It is a time of giving and sharing, I love Christmas”.
As for Mr. Shina Falade a young barrister and free thinker, he suggests people should keep religion out of Christmas. He affirmed that Christmas is not only a Christian event but a day for all by quoting Ray Leonard ‘’you can do Christmas, even if you don’t do God’’. His view really shows that Christmas is not only a day to connect with the birth of Jesus but also a secular celebration of family – one that many non-practicing Christians and people of other religions are accepting as their own.
Christmas or Xmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people all around the world. Christmas Day is a public holiday in many of the world’s nations, is celebrated religiously by a majority of Christians, as well as culturally by non-Christians, and forms an integral part of the holiday season centered around it.
This day is used to commemorate the Nativity of Jesus. For the Christians who follow the teachings of Jesus, this day is observed by having church services. It is the time to renew one’s faith, give generously and consider the past.
Popular modern customs of the Christmas celebration and holiday include gift giving, completing an Advent calendar or Advent wreath, Christmas music and caroling, lighting a Christingle, viewing a Nativity play, and exchanging of Christmas cards. Other things done to celebrate this day include having a church services, a special meal, pulling Christmas crackers, and the display of various Christmas decorations such as Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly.
In addition, this is an avenue for figures such as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, and Christ kind bring gifts to children during the Christmas season and they also have their own body of tradition and folklore.
Christmas is coined from ‘’Cristes maesse’’ or ‘’Christ’s mass’’ and used as the holiday’s connection to the birth of Jesus. The nativity stories recounted to the birth of Jesus. The nativity stories recounted in the gospels of St. Mathew and Luke prompted early Christian writers to suggest various dates for the anniversary. Although no date is indicated in the gospels, early Christians connected Jesus to the sun through the use of such phrases such as ‘’sun of righteousness’’.
Various factors then contributed to the selection of December 25 as a date of celebration. It was the date of the winter solstice on the Roman calendar and it was about nine months after March 25, the date of the vernal equinox and a date linked to the conception of Jesus.
The Romans marked the winter solstice on December 25. The first recorded Christmas celebration was observed in Rome on 25 December 336. It has since been celebrated till today even though its prominence declined in the fourth century due to some controversies but the feast regained prominence after 800, when Charlemagne was crowned emperor on Christmas day.
This date selected (Dec. 25) is also said appropriate festivities held by the Romans in honor of the sun god ‘’Sol Invictus’’. This feast was established by Aurelian in 274. There has been claims that this is a day of celebrations for the pagans. They dine and wine, drink to stupor, and get involved in sexual immoralities on this particular day. This has made some Christian bodies (such as the Jehovah Witness) not to participate in this celebration but observe it by renewing their faith in Jesus Christ.
The secular nature of Christmas was officially acknowledged in 1870 when the United States congress made it a federal holiday. Federal and state employees and most businesses observe December 25 by not working. Many nations of the world have since joined by declaring this day a public day. It’s also an avenue for many people to wind down the year and look forward to a New Year.
In a nation like Nigeria where many national public holidays are being observed, December 25 is not an exception. The day after Christmas, December 26 which is Boxing Day is also observed as a public holiday. Christmas day is a day where people share the joy of the season with one another. The public holiday affords people to travel and meet with their loved ones. Many who have been working all round the year out of their zone use this opportunity to have some nice time out with their families and friends.
Church services are being conducted by Christians to mark this day. These services include carols of Christmas theme songs as well as viewing a nativity play of Jesus in a well decorated environment with Christmas trees, lights and so on. They dine and wine thereafter to celebrate the birth of the new born king. Some use it to renew their faith by fasting and praying rather than eating and drinking. Other Christian bodies who sees it as a day marked for pagan celebrations observe the day in solemn.
In the secular world, this season is celebrated in style. Homes and cities are decorated with Christmas trees and lights. Events are organized for people to have fun with their friends and family. Fire crackers, knockouts, disco lights and the likes are used in celebration. Foods and drinks are usually enough to o round this time. Many homes have special foods cooked for the day which is majorly rice and chicken. Some also use the day to drink to stupor in pubs or bars just as the early pagans. It’s just a day of celebration for everyone.
Another Christmas is around the corner as the harmattan season also draws near. Kids are already looking forward to meeting their Santa Claus and receiving his wonderful gifts while some parents are running here and there to end the year well. In all, Christmas is a day of celebrations either as a Christian (a day set to commemorate the birth of the savior of the world deserved to be marked) or as a non-practicing Christian (making it to this time of the year is not a small feat).
Do have a wonderful Christmas celebration and stay out of trouble during the season. Do share your thought with us on this topic in the comment section. Thanks for taking time to read this piece.
SOURCE: Wikipedia.