Christmas (from the Portuguese which means "birth") is a Christian holiday that is celebrated every year by Christians on December 25 to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is celebrated in the evening service on December 24; and service in the morning of December 25. Some Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on January 6 (see also the Epiphany).
In the western tradition, Christmas warning also contains a non-religious aspects. Some Christmas traditions from the West include a Christmas tree, Christmas cards, exchanging gifts between friends and family members as well as the story of Santa Claus or Santa Claus.
Etymology.
The word "Christmas" comes from the Latin phrase Anniversary (Birthday). Formerly also used the term Malay-Arab Mawlid or Milad. In countries that speak Arabic, it is called the feast of Eid al-Milad. In English Christmas celebration called Christmas, from the old English term Cristes maesse (1038) or Cristes-messe (1131), which means Mass of Christ. Christmas usually also written Χ'mas, a suitable condensation with Christian tradition, because the letter X in Greek is an abbreviation for Christ or in Greek Chi-Rho.
In the Indonesian Bible itself not found the word "Christmas", only the birth of Jesus.
The birth of Jesus according to the Bible.
Story of the birth of Jesus in the New Testament Gospels written in the book of Matthew (Matthew 1: 18-2: 23) and Luke (Luke 2: 1-21).
According to Luke, Mary learned from an angel that she had conceived of the Holy Spirit without intercourse. After that she and her husband Joseph left their home in Nazareth to walk to the town of Bethlehem to register in the census ordered by Augustus, the Roman emperor at the time. Because they do not have a place to stay in the city, the baby Jesus was laid in a manger (manger). Nativity in Bethlehem Ephrathah, Judea, in the hometown of David, the ancestor Joseph, fulfilling the prophecy of Micah (Micah 5: 1-2). (In ancient Israel they know there are two cities of Bethlehem, the town of Bethlehem which again is in the land of Zebulun.)
Matthew records Jesus' genealogy and birth of a virgin, and then switch to the arrival of the Magi from the East - which allegedly is Arabia or Persia - to see the newborn Jesus. The wise men first arrived in Jerusalem and reported to the king of Judea, Herod the Great, that they had seen a star - which is now called the Star of Bethlehem - the birth of a king. Further research led them to Bethlehem of Judea and the home of Mary and Joseph. They offered gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus. When overnight, the wise men had a dream that contains a warning that King Herod planned the murder of the child. Therefore they decided to go home without telling Herod the success of their mission. Matthew then reports that Jesus' family fled to Egypt to avoid the action of King Herod who decided to kill all children under two years old in Bethlehem to eliminate a rival to his power. After the death of Herod, Jesus and the family returned from Egypt, but to avoid the new king of Judah (son of Herod the Great, the Herod Archelaus) they went to Galilee and lived in Nazareth.
The other side of the story of Jesus' birth presented by the Gospel of Luke is the submission of the report by the angels to the shepherds. In Matthew noted that there are wise men from the East came to Judea because he saw a huge star shining on the territory of Jerusalem. They followed the star to Bethlehem to the city, the birthplace of Jesus. Some astronomers and historians have tried to explain the combined amount of space that can be traced events that may explain the appearance of a giant star that has never seen before, the most powerful is the opinion of the Johannes Kepler, who explains that the Star of Bethlehem Christmas star or it is astronomical are conjunctions Jupiter and Saturn in the constellation Pisces. And this is indeed true conjunctions occurred in December of the year 7 BC. At first, the Magi were wondering the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and then they were brought before the king Herod. King Herod asked the scribes, where the Messiah was to be born. Based on the Bible, the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem and this information is used to help the wise men know the location where Jesus was born. Herod would ask after meeting the baby so they can then be reported to Herod. But knowing the evil intentions of Herod, the magi did not return to Herod report.
Origins of Christmas warning.
Warning birthday of Jesus was never a command of Christ to do. Stories from the New Testament never mentions the existence of the celebration of the birth of Jesus was made by the early church. Clement of Alexandria mock those who attempted to calculate and determine the birth of Jesus. In the first centuries, the spiritual life of the church members be directed to the resurrection of Jesus. Christmas does not get attention. Birthday celebrations generally - especially by Origen - regarded as a pagan custom: people like Pharaoh and Herod who celebrate their birthdays. Christians do not do so: Christians celebrate the day of his death as his birthday.
But in the east of people who had been thinking about the miracle of the appearance of God in human form. According to old writings of a Christian sect in Egypt have been celebrating "Epifania party" (party appearance of God) on January 4. But what is meant by this sect with Epifania party is the advent of Jesus as the Son of God - ie at the time he was baptized in the Jordan River. The Church as a whole not only considers the baptism of Jesus as Epifania, but especially his birth in the world. In accordance with this assumption, the Eastern Church celebrated the feast Epifania on January 6 as the party's birth and baptism of Jesus feast.
The second celebration of this feast took place on January 5 night (before the January 6) with a beautiful ritual, which consists of the reading of the Bible and praise praise. Ephraim of Syria considers Epifania as the most beautiful party. He said: "Tonight is the night Epifania celebration that brings peace in the world. Who wants to sleep at night, when the whole world is just in case? "On the eve of Epifania, all church buildings decorated with garlands. This particular party was celebrated with joy in the cave of Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.
History.
Christmas celebrations started in about the year 200 AD in Alexandria (Egypt). Egyptian theologians appointed on May 20, but there is also the 19th or 20th of April. In other places celebrations conducted on the date the 5th or 6th of January; there is also in December. Celebration on December 25, started in the year 221 by Sextus Julius Africanus, and recently widely accepted in the 5th century. There are various religious celebrations in the non-Christian community in December. Today is generally accepted that the celebration of Christmas on December 25 is the reception into the church tradition of non-Christian celebration of the (god) sun: Solar Invicti (Surya no Invincible), by asserting that Jesus Christ is the Sun Court was appropriate message of the Bible (see Malachi 4: 2; Luke 1:78; Song of Solomon 6:10).
Date.
There are opinions that say that December 25th is not the date of the birth of Jesus. This opinion is strengthened by the fact that on the night the shepherds still keep the sheep in the pasture. (Luke 2: 8). In December impossible herdsmen still can keep the sheep in the pasture because winter at the moment has arrived so there is no grass growing again. Proponents of the date of birth in December argue though winter, the sheep remained in the cage in the pasture and maintained by shepherds, and even though there was no grass, meadow called prairie remains.
There are also opinions that say that the celebration of Christmas comes from the tradition of pre-Christian Roman, a warning to the agricultural god Saturn falls on a weekend in December with a peak warning on the winter solstice (the winter solstice), which falls on December 25 in the Julian calendar . Warning called Saturnalia is a major social tradition for the Romans. So that the Romans could be Christians without leaving their own tradition, at the instigation of the first Christian Roman emperor, Constantine I, Pope Julius I decided in the year 350 that the birth of Jesus is celebrated on the same date. But this view is disputed by the Eastern Rite Church, because the Church of the Eastern Rite already celebrating the birth of Jesus from the 2nd century, before the Church of Rome declared the celebration of Christmas on December 25.
Therefore, there are some Christian denominations who do not celebrate Christmas traditions because they are derived from the Roman pagan tradition, namely the flow of the True Jesus Church, Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Seventh Day Baptist Church, United Church of God, Messianic Jews, and the Church of God Church Global Indonesia. Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas.
There are a number of ancient manuscripts which notes that Jesus was placed in the womb of Mary December 25. The interpretation of the book of Haggai indicates that the date is the date of the coming of Jesus into the womb of Mary, Haggai 2: 18-20:
"Look at the start of today and the next - from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Starting from the basis of the temple of the LORD laid consider whether the seed still in the barn, and if vine and fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not? Starting from today I will give thanks! "
24th of the 9th month (Kislev) in the Jewish calendar falls around the 25th of December in the Gregorian calendar.
Although when Christmas Day falls still being debated, Christianity is generally agreed to establish a Christmas Day falls every 25th of December in the Gregorian calendar is based on the realization that the determination of other liturgical feasts such as Easter and Good Friday is not obtained with the approach of the exact date, but only in the form the restoration of such events in the liturgical year, which is not concerned with the accuracy of the date but the essence or core of each of the warning to be realized from day to day.
Year.
Year of the Gregorian calendar was created in the 6th century by a monk named Dionysius Exignus. The solar year which we use today is called also anno Domini (the Year of the Lord).
How could he know that the Lord Jesus was born in the year 1 BC? He took the data from historical records state that in 754 the Roman calendar is the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius as stated in Luke 3: 1-2. This data is used as a benchmark by him to start the year 1 BC.
In addition, he also took the data from Luke 2: 1-2 which states that Quirinius (Governor of Syria) the first time you run the program census.
Yet still people who doubt it, because according to the Jewish historian named Josephus, Herod died in 4 BC and consequently the date of birth of Jesus should be set back as much as four years. But this theory is not true, because he analyzed the year based on the existence of a lunar eclipse in the year when Herod died that occurred in Jerusalem on March 13, 4 BC.
Tradition.
Many traditions of Christmas celebrations in the West which is a later development by absorbing elements of various cultures. Christmas tree in the church or in homes may be associated with the Egyptian tradition, or ancient Hebrew. There are also connecting with a special tree in the garden of Eden (see Genesis 2: 9). But in the life of the pre-Christian Europe there is a tradition of decorating the tree and place it in the house on a particular celebration. The tradition of the "Tree of Light" modern flourishes of Germany in the 18th century.
There is also a tradition of sending Christmas cards, which started in 1843 by John Callcott Horsley from the UK. Usually the image associated with the story of the birth of Jesus Christ and with the caption: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Today people use information technology (email) send electronic Christmas cards.
Also in celebration of Christmas is known in Indonesia Sinterklaas tradition, which comes from the Netherlands. The tradition is celebrated on December 6 this, associated with St. Claus (Santa Nicholas), a legend, who visited the children's home at night with a flying sleigh pulled some reindeer divide the prize. In the modern world, as a secular Christmas celebration more emphasis on exchanging Christmas gifts, so some think Santa Nicholas increasingly more important than Jesus Christ. In the tradition of Dutch Sinterklass - character portrayed by an American beverage advertising since 1931 as a fat old, white beard and dressed in red with boots, a black belt, and this soft pointy hat - be part of the family (to discipline children children) to visit homes with a black maid (Zwarte Pit) which carry the sacks of gifts for good children; but it is also a sack naughty children included to be taken away. We often see also Christmas celebrated with lots of twinkling lights. In addition to add a festive celebration, it also has an understanding of existing light, that is Christ will drive out the powers of darkness.
In contrast to the tradition of the Christmas celebrations in the West, Christmas celebrations eastern rite contains many spiritual aspects such as fasting, praise, reading the Bible, and praise. Churches in Arabic, arguably there was no Christmas without prior fasting. Syrian Orthodox Church Christmas preparation by fasting for 10 days. While in the Coptic Orthodox Church fasting longer, ie since the last week of November. Thus, approximately 40 days. Time iftar (breaking the fast) on January 7 in the morning. Fasting pre-Christmas is called the small fasting (Shaum el-Shagir). Although somewhat different in tradition, in principle this way is not much different from how fast the other Orthodox Churches.
Meaning Candle In Christmas.
Candles.
In the Christmas period, Candle explain or give an overview of Christ. Christ is represented as a light to a dark world. In the Bible was written about the light, in the Old Testament, Isaiah 9: 1-6, "a great light", while in the New Testament, John 1: 1-18, "the light of men".
Not only in the course of worship, in homes and in shops often decorated with lights flickering, it appears from the patristic era as the imagery of light which beats the darkness. The use of candles and lights flickering light is the influence of Jewish or Hanukah party. The feast of Hanukkah is celebrated around the time of Advent and Christmas, and sometimes frequently spoofed by the term Jewish Christmas.
Economy.
Christmas is usually the largest annual economic stimulus in various countries in the world. Sales of goods rose sharply in retail areas, and the Christmas season people purchase gifts, decorations, and Christmas supplies. Industries that rely on sales in the Christmas season include Christmas cards, Christmas trees, and others.
In addition to the largest economic activity, Christmas in Western countries is the most quiet day for the business world; nearly all retail stores, institutions and commercial businesses closed, and almost all industries cease to operate. Movie studios release many high-cost films in the Christmas season to entertain people, who are on vacation.
Social.
During fasting, the church Coptic churches, such as the Coptic Church Hadrat el-Adzra '(Santa Maria), in Madinat al-Tahrir, Imbaba, Cairo has a habit of eating only once a day with food menu sort of tempeh (from beans), its name tamiya or falafel is eaten with a slice of bread and water. Therefore, spending money that they usually buy meat and other luxury hefty menu collected and delivered directly to the poor, which is coordinated by the Church.
Thank you for reading this article. Written and posted by Bambang Sunarno. sunarnobambang86@gmail.com
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DatePublished: December 23, 2014 at 09:23
Tag : Did you know about Christmas.
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