Definition Essay: The True Meaning Of Christmas

On December 25th of every year families gather together to celebrate Christmas. They exchange gifts to one another, have cookouts, go to church etc. But many people forget the true meaning of why we celebrate Christmas. That this is the day Jesus was born. It’s his birthday!

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus. In Mexico Christmas is called Nevidad. For nine nights friends gather for a big parade. The people in the parade carry small figures of baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph along with brightly lit candles singing Christmas carols. Each night one man pretends to be Joseph and knocks on a random house door (Which stands for the inn) and He says can Marry rest here for the night? He is told no and that the inn is full. This goes on

for seven more nights, then on the eighth night Christmas Eve, he knocks on the door and is told there is room in the barn she can rest in there. After that they have a big feast with all of their neighbors.
In Iran they begin their celebration on December 1st when they begin fasting.

They eat no meat, eggs, milk, or cheese until December 25th. On Christmas day the kids do not get gifts but do get new clothes. Then Christmas night that family has one big dinner with all of the food they have been fasting from.

In China they call Santa Dun Che Lae Ren. Santa also visits the children. The Christians light their houses with paper lanterns. Few people own a Christmas tree in China and if they do, they are made of plastic. They decorate it with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns. They call them “Trees of light”. Christmas actually isn’t very popular in China, but is becoming more known each year.

In Sweden Christmastime begins on St. Lucia Day. Lucia was a brave, and courageous woman who lived in the 4th century. Back then Christians were very unliked so they hid in tunnels at night so Lucia would bring them food and water at night. She wore candles on her head on a wreath to light the way. They knew when they had seen the candle light that she was coming to help them. So every year on St. Lucia Day the oldest girl in the family dresses in all white and wears seven candles on her head on the wreath and brings coffee and rolls up to her family for breakfast. Then on Christmas Eve they have a big dinner including ham and fish. After dinner, everyone opens gifts. On Christmas Day they go to church and then relax

afterwards.
In Norway, on Christmas Eve each family has one HUGE dinner. After dinner they all open presents from each other. Then all the children scurry off to hide all the brooms and keep a fire going all night. Because an old Norwegian myth said that witches and bad spirits came out on Christmas Eve. Then they wait for Julenissen (Santa) to pay a visit. One tradition Norwegians do is light a candle from Christmas day to New Year’s Day. Merry Christmas in Norwegian is “God Jul” or “Gledelig Jul”.
People celebrate in many different ways. It’s sad how most people forget the true meaning in why we celebrate Christmas though. This Christmas try to remember the reason behind why we are celebrating. Try some new traditions too you never know it might become a yearly tradition for years to come!!!