miƩrcoles, 30 de julio de 2008

The Christmas Day


The Christmas Day is December 25, when it commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem as the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke. After the Easter feast is the most important ecclesiastical year.

As the Gospels do not mention dates, it is not certain that Jesus was born that day. In fact, Christmas Day was not officially recognized until the year 345, when under the influence of St. John Chrysostom and St. Gregory Nacianzeno proclaiming December 25 as the date of the Nativity.

The pagan feast more closely associated with the new Christmas was the Roman Saturnal, December 19, in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture, which was celebrated for seven days of bustling entertainment and banquets.

At the same time, was celebrated in Northern Europe a similar winter festival, known as Yule, which burned large trunks and branches decorated with ribbons in honor of the gods to ensure that the sun will glow with more force.

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