Merry Christmas
And it happened in those days that an edict came out from Caesar Augustus, for a census to be made of the entire inhabited world. This was the first census that was taken, when Cirenio was governor of Syria. And they were all on their way to enroll in the census, each one to his city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be registered together with Mary, betrothed to him, which was pregnant. And it came to pass that while they were there, the days of her birth were fulfilled. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; he wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
In the same region there were shepherds who were in the field, tending their flocks during the watches of the night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
But the angel said to them: "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people, because today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you, who is Christ the Lord. And this will serve as a sign to you: you will find a child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
Suddenly, a multitude of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men in whom He is pleased."
(Luke, 2: 1-14).
Christmas was established on December 25 as a solemn day by the Catholic Church in the year 350 thanks to Pope Julius I. In the Bible, however, the exact day of Jesu s' birth is not mentioned, that's why the celebration Christmas was not originally part of the Christian traditions.
It was from the writing of the evangelical texts, in the first century AD, that an interest in the birth and childhood of Jesus began to develop. Saint Luke and Saint Matthew speak in their Gospels about his life and work. It is in these texts where the events that narrate the birth appear, and in them resides the very essence of Christmas.
On the other hand, the Church had the need to replace the dates on which the Saturnalia festivals were celebrated. These festivals, traditional in Ancient Rome, were celebrated during the winter solstice. Therefore, December 25 was set as the commemorative date of the birth of Jesus Christ, to facilitate the acceptance of Christianity by the so-called pagans.
Currently, Christmas is celebrated in many places and in very different ways. In general, there is an increase in consumption, especially for the purchase of food to celebrate family dinners, and gifts, to place under the tree and exchange.
In public places, Christmas songs are heard, the popular Christmas carols. Other notable customs are the decoration and lighting in streets and houses, and the tasting of typical sweets of the time, which vary depending on the area. Corn bread, nougat, sweet hallaca, milky sweet, polvorones or tembleque are traditional desserts in some countries.
From the Christian point of view, the meaning of Christmas responds to the manifestation of certain values that during these dates take on a special meaning.
Values such as solidarity, union, love, peace and hope are more typical of the Christmas season, and are represented in the religious beliefs of Christianity.
Let us therefore wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year, and that peace reign in the world, and that the traditional values of love, peace and hope prevail over all things.