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Christmas Day is
celebrated on December
25th. It is a
statutory holiday
throughout Canada. If
it falls on a Saturday
or a Sunday, the working
day immediately
preceding or following
Christmas is considered
a legal holiday.
Christmas is one of the
main religious festivals
celebrated in Canada.
Christmas traditions
include decorating
houses and yards with
lights, putting up
Christmas trees, giving
gifts, and sending
greeting cards.
Christmas is a Christian
holiday celebrating the
birth of Jesus Christ.
In the third century,
efforts were made to
find out the date of the
Nativity, but only in
the year 336 was the
date of the December 25
festival set in
commemoration of Jesus'
birth. Pope Julius
formally selected
December 25 as the day
of Christmas in 349 A.D.
Roman Catholics,
Lutherans, members of
the Dutch Reformed and
Anglican churches, and
those of the German
sects were most
responsible for
establishing Christmas
traditions in Canada.
In Canada, Christmas
traditions have come
from many countries. The
Christmas Tree is a
German tradition,
started as early as 700
A.D. In the 1800s the
tradition of a Christmas
tree was widespread in
Germany, then moved to
England and eventually
into Canada. The
Nativity and many old
carols can be traced to
France. Greeting cards
can be traced to
England, and the ancient
Gaelic custom of putting
lights in windows
originated in Ireland.
The traditional Santa
Claus can be traced to
the United States.
Santa Claus started with
a real person, Saint
Nicholas, a minor saint
from the fourth century.
Nicholas' reputation for
generosity and kindness
gave rise to legends of
miracles he performed
for the poor and
unhappy. In the Middle
Ages, devotion to
Nicholas extended to all
parts of Europe, but
eventually faded in all
the Protestant countries
of Europe except
Holland, where his
legend persisted as
Sinterklaas (a Dutch
variant of the name
Saint Nicholas). Dutch
colonists took this
tradition with them to
New Amsterdam (now New
York City) in the
American colonies in the
17th century.
Sinterklaas was adopted
by the country's
English-speaking
majority under the name
Santa Claus, and his
legend of a kindly old
man was united with old
Nordic folktales of a
magician who punished
naughty children and
rewarded good children
with presents.
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The Birth of Christ
Luke 2:1-20 - King James Version
And it came to
pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And
this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of
Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of
Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is
called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage
of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with
child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were
accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there
was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory
of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore
afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring
you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will
toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them
into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now
go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to
pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and
the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying
which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which
were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her
heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for
all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told
unto them.
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