The graphics are from all over the net. Sorry I forgot where I got all of the graphics,
if any visits this page and one of your graphics is here, please email at [email protected].

I enjoy decorating the house and the tree, hanging the stockings on the fireplace, going out into
the snow to make a snowman. And doing all the christmas baking. Christmas recipes.
And I enjoy singing Christmas carols so I have made a page with carols that I have enjoyed
singing as I was growing up. Christmas Carols

Christmas is a very special time of year because of wishing Jesus a happy birthday and to give
presents in his name. But it is also a sad time of year because, there are a lot of people that will
commit cuiside around the holidays because the are lonely or/depressed. So if you see a sad
person stop and try to chear them up. Also remember to leaned a helping hand and reach out to
people, be friendly to strangers. And it is also sad because there are alot of people in the world
that don't know the true meaning of Christmas. So if you would like to learn more about this
holiday you can visit this holiday site: Holiday

Click on the word symbol to read the what the symbols mean: Symbols
                         
                          Mistletoe and Holly
                          Poinsettias
                          Christmas tree
                          The use of the word Xmas
                          Candy cane
                          Santa Claus/Sinterklaas
                          Hanging stockings
                          Christmas Candle
                          Wreath

These 5 symbols are at the bottom of this page.
12 Days of Christmas
The Christmas Storie
The Date of Christmas
Ivy
Christmas Rose

Twelve Days of Christmas
(Christmastide)

Christmastide extends from the anniversary of the birth of Christ, officially established as
December 25 by the Western church, to the Feast of the Epiphany twelve days later,
January 6, which celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles in the persons of
the Magi. This joyous period was popularly called the "Twelve Days". It included New
Year's Day, traditionally a time when midwinter fertility rites were performed as the season
moved from barren winter toward burgeoning spring. The Twelve days also embraced more
somber religious occasions such as the anniversary of the and the Massacre of the Innocents.
But even these are overlaid with festivity, and generally speaking the time is one of revelry,
mumming, the exchange of gifts, and feasting. In short, the events and customs usually associated with Christmas are spread across the Twelve Days.

In the Church, as in the synagogue, the day technically begins at sunset. Therefore, Christmas begins at sundown on 24 December, which we very appropriately call ‘Christmas Eve.’ The Christmas Season, which begins with Christmas Eve, ends on the eve of Epiphany, which is sundown on 5 January. Therefore, Christmas lasts twelve days, and the period from sundown on 24 December to sundown on 5 January is called the Twelve Days of Christmas.

The tradition of giving a gift on each of the twelve days is nearly gone in the United States.
However, in other parts of the world and in some families, the tradition of giving Christmas gifts on each of those twelve days persists.

The Christmas Story
Luke 2:1-20

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own 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 lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet:
`And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel'."
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child,
and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."
When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their
treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

The Date of Christmas

The idea to celebrate Christmas on December 25 originated in the 4th century. The Catholic Church wanted to eclipse the festivities of a rival pagan religion that threatened Christianity's existence. The Romans celebrated the birthday of their sun god, Mithras during this time of year. Although it was not popular, or even proper, to celebrate people's birthdays in those times, church leaders decided that in order to compete with the pagan celebration they would themselves order a festival in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Although the actual season of Jesus' birth is thought to be in either the spring or the fall, the date of December 25 was chosen as the official birthday celebration as Christ's Mass so that it would compete head on with the rival pagan celebration. Christmas was slow to catch on in America. The early colonists considered it a pagan ritual. The celebration of Christmas was even banned by law in Massachusetts in colonial days.

Ivy

Like the evergreens, ivy is also seen as a symbol of eternal life and is used in Christmas decorations but not to the extent of pine, fir, mistletoe and holly.

The Christmas Rose

Like the legend of the poinsettia the legend associated with the Christmas rose begins with a poor girl wanting to give a gift to the Christ child. When Jesus was born in the little town of Bethlehem, there came Wise Men from the East bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
A little shepherdess, watching from afar, wept because she had no gift to offer the Christ Child. Where her tears fell to the ground there instantly sprang up flowers. She hastened to gather them and bring them to the infant. In adoration she knelt at the crib, so Jesus could see the flowers. When and where His blessed little hands touched the petals, a delicate pink appeared. So a flower that never bloomed before came into existence.. .The Christmas Rose.
To this day, the Christmas Rose blooms more abundantly at Christmas time than at any other season.

Check out these holiday pages
Halloween page | Valentine page | Mother's Day
Christmas bears | main homepage

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