Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, also known as Jesus of Nazareth, on 25 December. It is a day for giving and receiving presents and spending time with family and friends.
December 25th marks the day when Christians believe that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago. The Bible tells us it was early in the morning when shepherds were tending their flocks nearby. They heard an angel speaking to them from heaven saying “Do not be afraid! I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). In addition to its religious significance, Christmas has become associated with other traditions, such as food, family and cheer.
The tradition of Christmas has also spread to other countries, that aren’t traditionally Christian.
The History Of Christmas In China
Before Christmas arrived in China, the Chinese people had their own traditional winter festival called “Dongzhi”. The Dongzhi Festival is celebrated on the 15th day, of the first month, of lunar calendar. It is one of the most important festivals in China.
Every family would clean their houses and decorate them with paper-cuttings or other decorations on this day. The festival is also associated with rice dumplings, which are made with glutinous rice flour and stuffed with fillings such as red bean paste, black sesame paste, lotus seed paste or sweet bean paste.
Christmas Cards in the United Kingdom
The history of Christmas cards in the United Kingdom is a long and complex process.
The British people are deeply attached to Christmas, more so than most other countries and this love for the season extends to the way they greet one another. The custom of sending greeting cards has existed for centuries, but it was not until 1843 that the first card was created specifically for this purpose.
These days there are various ways to communicate with people over social media. However, sending a card by mail is still considered a symbol of deep thoughtfulness and goodwill towards your loved ones.
Christmas Traditions in Japan
In Japan, Christmas is a day to give presents and say “I love you” rather than a religious holiday. In fact, the only similarity to Western Christmas traditions is that food is taken out of their normal containers and served on special plates.
The Japanese don’t have a habit of giving gifts on Christmas Day. They believe that this custom originates from the belief in Christianity where giving gifts symbolises God’s gift to humanity – Jesus Christ. And so, Christians in Japan would often give presents on Christmas Eve, or the day before, so as not to confuse it with December 25th.
Japan has been receiving influence from Christianity over the years. This has led many Japanese people to celebrate more Western-style holidays like Valentine’s Day and Halloween.