Philippine Christmas

Christmas is a Christian occasion that is commended on December 25 to pay tribute to the introduction of Jesus Christ or the timeframe that precedes and after this occasion. Christmas developed more than two centuries into an overall religious and mainstream festivity, fusing numerous pre-Christian, agnostic conventions into the celebrations along the way. Today, Christmas is a period for family and companions to get together and trade presents. Christmas is celebrated within the church of the Lord.

Nearly everyone enjoys Christmas, especially the little children of the world. Many cultures celebrate Christmas for different reasons. While the majority celebrates Christmas on the 25th of December, some celebrate Hanukkah or Kwanza. The history of Christmas is extremely detailed and can be found in the chapters of Matthew and Luke in the Bible. This holiday has many reasons for being celebrated with joy and happiness.

Merry Christmas! Christmas is a special time of the year. People all around the world enjoy the Christmas season. Some traditions are specific in their country. Australia and the United States share some traditions, however, other things are completely different.

Christmas like Thanksgiving believe it or not, do happen to share many traits. One major factor that the two own is the warmth and love of bringing family and close friends together. It’s the few times a year that everyone has a reason to all gather around to

There are similarities and differences between Christmas in America and Christmas in Italy. The Christmas holiday originated with the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25, a day around the shortest day of the year. Therefore, the main reason we celebrate the holiday is to celebrate Christ's birthday. Another reason for celebrating Christmas includes the changing of the seasons and the days that will become short before becoming long again. The shortest day, not necessarily falling on Christmas, is Winter Solstice which happens also to be a Pagan, agricultural holiday to mark the changes is the seasons. Most simply, we celebrate Christmas across the world as inspiration to imitate ethical behaviors of Christ who unconditionally loved all men and women regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds.

Comparatively, one main part of childhood is being able to be cared for. Either being provided for throughout the year or just at Christmas children deserve to have what they need to thrive. Christmas is about giving what you can give back to the loved ones who have given to you all year long. Children are often given gifts that are too extravagant to be given at other times of the year, and parents are given the most acknowledgement and love that is possible to give. Walls explains, “I could have any star I wanted, Dad said, except Betelgeuse and Rigel, because Lori and Brian

Christmas is a very special holiday in many countries including Spain and the United States. In the United States Christmas celebration traditionally starts after Thanksgiving. In Spain however it is not celebrated until Christmas Eve with their families.

Cuba’s celebrations are greatly reduced ever since Fidel Castro outlawed it in 1969. Today, it is celebrated with not as much festivity as other countries. Columbia celebrates the Christmas season much earlier than most, starting on December 7th to have “The Day of the Candles.” They also have families gather each night for nine days to perform religious prayers called novenas. In Spain, they start the winter solstice with “Hogueras,” which lets people jump over fires to symbolize that they are going to overcome sickness that winter. Mexico is well known for their Christmas ornaments and for their three holidays, Las Posadas, La Fiesta de Reyes and Las Pastorelas. Each country differs on giving gifts to children. In Spain, children receive gifts from the Three Wise Men as recalled to into the Bible. They leave their shoes outside on January 5th and the next day, Epiphany, children get candy and cakes. Mexico also has the tradition of letting children open their Christmas presents on Epiphany, however, the night before, they write a letter to the Three Wise Men asking for what they want. In Columbia, it is baby Jesus that reads the letter of what children want. They leave the letter under the tree on December 24th and open presents the day after. Sadly, for Cuba, ever since the decline of Christmas in 1969, Christmas isn’t celebrated like other countries. However, before that,

Then on December 16th, the Posadas begin. This is when a small procession with the images of Joseph and Mary is taken from house to house each night until December 24th. Then on the 24th, families come together to share a delicious Christmas dinner. They spend all night, chatting, drinking, playing games and having fun while waiting for midnight. Once midnight strikes, a whole bunch of fireworks go off while everyone hugs each other and wishes one another and “Happy Christmas”.

There is no doubt that Christmas is a religious event but nowadays Christmas becomes more commercialized, as it has been defined as a high consumption season because the gifts giving culture becomes the most important part of Christmas and the consumers want to please their children

I belong to a Filipino community where there are mixed feelings about religious beliefs. I grew up in a family that believes in Catholic religion but, when I got married, I became a Christian. Catholic, Christian, Jehovah's witness, Baptist, and many more are some of the religious practices. I think that in my community, everyone believes in celebrating special holidays and traditions such as Mexican Independence day and Philippines Independence day.

To begin, the history of Christmas is peculiar and filled with factors that make it well-known all throughout the world. It’s history goes all the way back to 336, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine. Jesus was born in Bethlehem from a virgin whose name was Mary. In a stable, where shepherds visited, along with everyone who heard, a miracle happened and the holiday came to be. As time continued, Christians have been swept away from the celebration’s natural meaning, background, and origins.

We all know what Christmas is. At least I hope so. You may not celebrate it, but you know what it is. Some have Hanukkah and others have Kwanzaa. Hanukkah is for the Jews who celebrate the victory of the Maccabees over the larger Syrian army. While with Kwanzaa, people light a kinara and give gifts to each other. This takes place over seven days. Isn't that nice? Seven days of celebration! Christmas however… Is a single day. With Christmas, the children believe in a big, old, jolly man in a red suit called “Santa Clause”. On Christmas night he comes down your chimney, leaves presents and take the milk and cookies. For one thing, that's breaking and entering and for a second thing, he leaves unknown gifts?! You don't know whats in there! It

In addition, all passed generations of the Morocho have all been catholic because of their belief and faith in God and Jesus. The Morocho family has all turned to God and Jesus in time of need and thanked Jesus for giving them everything they have. An essential part of being catholic is children have to be baptized, do their first communion, and confirmation. Going through baptism, first communion, and confirmation give them the fundaments to learn more about their religion also how to communicate with god. Oscar a member of the Morocho family stated, “I learned the importance of believing in my religion and I pray for my whole family and I, using what I have learned in religion school”. In the Morocho’s Family parents sign their children up to be part of the play of Jesus birth in Bethlehem.” Through religion school they learn to say prayers and make the sign of the cross that is used in mass and in the mass of Christmas Eve. Lourdes said “We praise Jesus on Christmas because he is the Son of God and did so many things for us for example he sacrificed himself for us”. All in all, purpose of practicing religion on Christmas Eve is to honor Jesus’s birth.

All around the world individuals of different descents celebrate Christmas with their own custom approach. Although my mothers side of the family is part German and Native American, we don’t celebrate any traditions related to our background. I come from the plain old American family who gets to open one present on Christmas Eve and then sets out cookies and milk for Santa. However, it may be time to learn a little bit and introduce some traditions to my dull family.