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Essays About Christmas: Top 5 Examples and 6 Prompts

Christmas is the most celebrated holiday in the world. Discover our helpful guide that you can use to write essays about Christmas.

Christmas is known to many as the birthday of Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity. However, the festival has become more secular over the years and is celebrated by most people regardless of religion. Every December 25, something magical happens.

To most people, Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year.” People celebrate, gather at a friend or family member’s house, feast, and open gifts. Whether or not you celebrate it as a religious holiday, the feelings of warmth, joy, and nostalgia that Christmas evokes are universal and meaningful to all.

5 Top Essay Examples

1. the magic of christmas by erin, 2. the possibility of a merry covid christmas by sarah begley, 3. my christmas experience by elliot johnson.

  • 4.  A personal reflection on Christmas by Jo Betz
  • 5. ​​Christmas traditions around the world by Becky Such

6 Prompts for Essays About Christmas

1. what is christmas to you, 2. the history of christmas, 3. a christmas tradition, 4. christmas in your home country, 5. christmas in non-christian households, 6. why is christmas the most celebrated holiday.

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“Although, a few years later, I found out that he was not real, the magic of Christmas still remains. I realized that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, and this is something I hold close to my heart. With our family’s traditions and celebrating Jesus’ birth, the magic of Christmas will always be real for me.”

In this short essay, Erin reflects on her family’s Christmas traditions, particularly during her childhood. She recalls the food, music, and different practices of many Christmases ago; in particular, she remembers the magic of Santa Claus and how she wished to see him one day. She eventually found out Santa wasn’t real, but that did not take away the magic of Christmas from her. She still treasures Christmas and anticipates it yearly. 

“Maybe we will come roaring back with great excesses in the holiday season of 2021; it’s hard to imagine now, but who knows? Meanwhile, we can resolve to do something together. We can seize this unwanted opportunity to reimagine everything — to tell a new story about what the season of togetherness means for our country, our homes, and our relationships. In a time that requires distance, we can find new modes of closeness. In a year of austerity, we can rethink the purpose of wealth. And in a period of great uncertainty, we can decide what’s most meaningful about shared rituals.”

Begley discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic affects the way we celebrate Christmas. We cannot have big family gatherings, travel, or attend big religious services as we used to, as guidelines discourage us from doing so. In addition, the declining economy is leaving more families with fewer resources to celebrate Christmas. This Christmas, it may be hard to be happy and celebrate for some, but Begley encourages us to use this time for introspection and to hope for better. 

“In the end, although every family has flaws, and always seems to have a political divide in it, the family is the most special part of Christmas, just like it is for Thanksgiving. Family is one of, if not the most important things in life, and it is very important to stay close to one’s family and all of its members, and that is what Christmas is, and always will be to me.”

In his essay, Johnson gives a brief overview of Christmas and discusses his attitude toward the celebrations in his household. He remembers how as an introvert, he had to interact with many people and how he needed to give up his room for guests to sleep in. However, Johnson greatly appreciates Christmas for being able to unite and bring together a family of very diverse views and perspectives. 

4.   A personal reflection on Christmas by Jo Betz

“My daughter and I purchase a Christmas decoration each year for my husband to put on the tree. It’s something that brings us joy as we select the decoration we think he’d love. But there are other ways you can honour your loved one too – light a candle, write them a letter, purchase them a present, share stories about them on Christmas day. Find a way to honour the person you are missing so much.”

Betz reflects on how the death of a loved one, in this case, her husband, can make it difficult to enjoy Christmas. However, being with her daughter allows her to appreciate the holidays through all the pain. She gives people in a similar situation tip on how to cope, including not keeping such a big “to-do” list, honoring your loved one, and allowing yourself to grieve. You might also be interested in these essays about autumn .

5. ​​ Christmas traditions around the world by Becky Such

“Christmas trees were decorated with candles and topped with an angel or star, to remind children of the angel that brought ‘news of great joy’ to the shepherds in the fields, or the star that guided the ‘Three Kings’ to Bethlehem. In modern times, we’ve kept the star or angel topper, but dropped the candles. Covering a dry tree in lit candles was, of course, a massive fire hazard. Pretty silly of those Victorians if you ask me.   Today, Christmas trees are decorated with tinsel, fairy-lights and small, hanging ornaments – the joy and brightness of the Christmas tree is still a great reminder of Jesus as the ‘Light of the World’.” 

In her essay, Such describes some Christmas traditions from different countries, including different pastries and sweets, fireworks, lanterns, and the iconic Christmas tree. Then, she explains the differences in Christmas celebrations worldwide and how these traditions have evolved. 

Essays About Christmas: What is Christmas to you?

Christmas has a different significance for each person. First, reflect on the meaning of Christmas; think of what your family and friends have told you, what you learned in school, and your thoughts. Next, discuss any religious, cultural, or family traditions that have influenced how you view Christmas. Finally, open up to your readers about the true meaning of Christmas. Perhaps Christmas means spending time with family and friends or giving back to the community. Whatever your viewpoint, share it in this essay.

For your essay, research how Christmas originated and how the festival has changed over the decades. Explain how it came about and the differences between Christmas celebrations over time. As with all historical essays, cite credible, well-researched sources for an accurate essay. 

Essays About Christmas: A Christmas tradition

Think about a tradition you have practiced for many Christmases with family, friends, or the greater community. What does it entail? Explain your chosen tradition in detail and reflect on its significance. 

Christmas is celebrated differently from country to country, with climate, religion, culture, and demographics affecting its importance in each. Based on personal experience and research, write your essay about how Christmas is celebrated in your country. Explain the traditions, the food eaten, and the history behind the Christmas celebration.

Early Christians originally conceived Christmas as a festival to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but it has become more secular over the years. A large number of non-Christians celebrate it. Based on research, write about how non-Christians celebrate Christmas and why they do so. If you have personal experience with this, incorporate what you know into your essay.

Whenever the word “holiday” is mentioned, Christmas automatically comes to mind for most. In your essay, look into what makes Christmas so popular: Why do people treasure it so much, and why do more people celebrate it than other holidays? Be sure to use credible sources as the basis for your essay.

Check out our guide packed full of transition words for essays .

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

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the meaning of christmas essay

Essay on Christmas

Here we have shared the Essay on Christmas in detail so you can use it in your exam or assignment of 150, 250, 400, 500, or 1000 words.

You can use this Essay on Christmas in any assignment or project whether you are in school (class 10th or 12th), college, or preparing for answer writing in competitive exams. 

Topics covered in this article.

Essay on Christmas in 150-250 words

Essay on christmas in 300-400 words, essay on christmas in 500-1000 words.

Christmas is a joyous festival celebrated around the world to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a time of love, warmth, and togetherness. On this day, people exchange gifts, decorate Christmas trees, and share delicious meals with family and friends.

The festive spirit is evident in the vibrant decorations that adorn streets and homes. Colorful lights twinkle, wreaths hang on doors, and stockings are hung by the fireplace in anticipation of Santa Claus. Christmas carols fill the air, spreading cheer and goodwill.

Children eagerly await the arrival of Santa Claus, hoping to find gifts under the tree on Christmas morning. Families come together to exchange presents and share heartfelt moments. The true essence of Christmas lies in the spirit of giving and showing gratitude for the blessings in our lives.

Religious ceremonies take place in churches, where believers gather to remember the significance of the birth of Jesus. It is a time for reflection, prayer, and finding solace in the message of hope and redemption.

Christmas is a time when people set aside their differences and embrace the values of love, compassion, and forgiveness. It is a celebration that brings people closer, fostering a sense of unity and goodwill that extends beyond religious boundaries.

In conclusion, Christmas is a cherished holiday that encapsulates the spirit of love, joy, and generosity. It serves as a reminder of the importance of family, faith, and spreading happiness to those around us.

Christmas is a widely celebrated festival that holds deep cultural and religious significance for millions of people around the world. It is observed on December 25th each year to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, who is considered the central figure of Christianity.

The preparation for Christmas begins weeks in advance, with homes and streets adorned with colorful decorations. Christmas trees, covered in lights, ornaments, and tinsel, become the centerpiece of many households. Wreaths, mistletoe, and holly are hung, adding a festive touch to doors and windows.

One of the most exciting aspects of Christmas is the exchange of gifts. People carefully select and wrap presents for their loved ones, keeping in mind their interests and desires. The act of giving gifts symbolizes the love and appreciation we have for one another, mirroring the gifts brought by the Three Wise Men to baby Jesus.

Another cherished tradition is the gathering of family and friends. Christmas is a time for loved ones to come together and share in the joy of the season. Festive meals are prepared, with feasts consisting of roasted turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, and various other delectable dishes. The dining table becomes a hub of laughter, conversations, and bonding.

Religious ceremonies are an integral part of Christmas celebrations. Churches hold special services, including midnight Mass, where believers gather to worship and reflect on the birth of Jesus. Hymns and carols are sung, evoking a sense of spirituality and creating a serene ambiance.

For children, the highlight of Christmas is the anticipation of Santa Claus. They eagerly hang stockings by the fireplace, hoping to find them filled with gifts the next morning. The myth of Santa Claus embodies the spirit of kindness and generosity, encouraging children to be well-behaved and considerate.

However, beyond the festive decorations, gift-giving, and feasting, Christmas holds a deeper significance. It is a time for introspection and reflection, reminding us of the values of love, compassion, and forgiveness. It serves as a reminder to extend a helping hand to those in need and to appreciate the blessings in our lives.

In conclusion, Christmas is a cherished and widely celebrated festival that brings joy, love, and unity. It is a time to come together with family and friends, exchange gifts, and express gratitude. While it holds religious significance, its essence of spreading happiness and goodwill transcends religious boundaries, making it a festival that is celebrated and appreciated by people of diverse cultures and beliefs.

Title: Christmas – Celebrating Joy, Love, and Togetherness

Introduction :

Christmas, a widely celebrated festival around the world, holds immense cultural and religious significance. It marks the birth of Jesus Christ and symbolizes love, joy, and the spirit of giving. This essay explores the traditions, customs, and symbolism associated with Christmas, highlighting its impact on individuals and communities.

Historical and Religious Significance

Christmas has its roots in Christianity and commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. According to biblical accounts, Jesus was born in Bethlehem to the Virgin Mary and Joseph. The nativity story of the baby Jesus in a manger, visited by shepherds and the three wise men, forms the core of the Christmas narrative. For Christians, Christmas is a time to celebrate the incarnation of Jesus and the message of hope and salvation that he brought to the world.

Festive Preparations and Traditions

The celebration of Christmas involves a range of customs and traditions that vary across cultures. Weeks before Christmas, people engage in festive preparations, including decorating homes and public spaces with lights, ornaments, and Christmas trees. Exchanging greeting cards, hanging stockings, and displaying Nativity scenes are also common traditions.

One of the most cherished traditions is the Advent calendar, which counts down the days leading up to Christmas. Each day, a door or compartment is opened, revealing a surprise or Bible verse.

The Joy of Giving and Sharing

Christmas is a time of giving and sharing. The exchange of gifts symbolizes the gift of love and generosity that Jesus brought to the world. Families and friends exchange presents, expressing their love and appreciation for one another. Many also engage in acts of charity, donating to those in need, volunteering at shelters, or participating in community service projects. The spirit of giving fosters a sense of compassion, unity, and goodwill during the Christmas season.

Culinary Delights and Festive Feasts

Food plays a significant role in Christmas celebrations. Traditional dishes and festive feasts are prepared, reflecting regional and cultural preferences. Roasted turkey, glazed ham, Christmas pudding, cookies, and cakes are popular culinary delights associated with Christmas. Families gather around the table to share a bountiful meal, fostering a sense of togetherness and gratitude.

Cultural Celebrations and Customs

Christmas is celebrated with diverse customs and traditions around the world. Carols and hymns are sung, portraying the joy and significance of the season. Community gatherings, Christmas markets, and parades are organized, featuring music, dance, and festive performances.

In some regions, such as Latin America, the celebration extends beyond Christmas Day to include the nine-day novena leading up to Christmas, known as Las Posadas. This tradition reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem.

Reflection, Faith, and Hope

Christmas is a time for reflection and renewed faith. It provides an opportunity for individuals to contemplate the spiritual aspects of the season, reconnect with their beliefs, and find solace and hope in the message of Jesus’ birth.

Conclusion :

Christmas is a time of celebration, love, and togetherness, transcending cultural and religious boundaries. It reminds us of the importance of compassion, joy, and the spirit of giving. The customs and traditions associated with Christmas foster a sense of community, strengthen family bonds, and inspire acts of kindness. Beyond the festivities, Christmas holds a deeper meaning, inviting individuals to reflect on their faith, seek peace and unity, and embrace the message of love that resonates throughout the season.

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Christmas Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on christmas essay.

Christmas is a well-known Christian holiday set in December, celebrated the world over and famed for its decorations and Santa Clause. The Christmas means  “Feast day of Christ”.It is a yearly celebration marking Jesus Christ’s birth; it is observed on the 25th of December as a cultural and religious celebration among a lot of people all over the world. Christmas is celebrated in all Christian countries but there are differences in the way each nation celebrates this date.

christmas essay

History Behind Christmas

The history of Christmas is one that dates back to a very long time; the first Christmas was celebrated in 336 A.D. in Rome. It played a very important role during the famed Arian controversy that took place in the 300s. During the early years of the middle age, epiphany overshadowed it.

Christmas was brought back to limelight around 800 A.D. when the emperor Charlemagne received the crown on Christmas day. During the 17th century, the Puritans had Christmas banned because it was associated with drunkenness and different other misbehavior.

It was made a proper holiday around 1660 but was still quite disreputable. Around the early 1900s, the Oxford movement of the Anglican Communion church started and this led to the revival of Christmas.

Preparations for Christmas

Christmas is a cultural festivity that entails a lot of preparations. It is a public holiday and so people get a Christmas break to celebrate it.

Preparations for Christmas start early for most people so that celebrations begin on the eve of Christmas. Preparations for Christmas involves a lot of activities. People usually buy decorations, food, and gifts mostly for children in the family and friends. Some families shop for matching Christmas outfits for everyone.

The common preparations include decorations of the place with Christmas trees, lighting. Before decorations begin, the house must be deep cleaned. The Christmas tree brings the Christmas spirit in homes.

Presents are placed under the Christmas tree in wrapped gift boxes and are not to be opened until Christmas day. The church is also decorated for the special event. Thorough cleaning of the churches is also done to usher in Christmas. Songs and skits to be performed on Christmas day.

People usually spend a lot on Christmas and so saving money for these plans should be the earliest preparation among all these. Families also plan to travel to stay together during this celebration period. Traditionally turkey is the common meal across the world in this day. Cards are also written to friends and family to wish them a happy holiday and to show love.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Christmas Day Celebration

Christmas carols are played on radios and televisions to mark the day. Most families start by going to church where performances and songs are done. Then later, they join their families to exchange gifts and celebrate with food and music. Happiness during Christmas is like no other.

Homemade traditional plum cakes, cupcakes, and muffins are the special treats on Christmas. Kids are showered with lots of presents and new dresses. They also get to meet the ‘Santa Claus’, dressed in a fluffy red and white costume, who greets them with hugs and gifts.

Conclusion:

Christmas reminds us of the importance of giving and sharing with friends and family. Through Christmas, we know that Jesus birth is the beginning of great things in the world. It is generally an opportunity to think about nature and the reason for our existence. Christmas is such a festival which people from all religions and faith celebrate worldwide despite it being a Christian festival. It is the essence of this festival which unites the people so much.

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The Original True Meaning of Christmas

  • December 22, 2023

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—or at least it’s supposed to be.

When people talk about the “true meaning of Christmas,” most often, they mean things like giving, service, love, and peace. The meanings extracted are the light, joy, and family in our lives right now. These well-meaning interpretations are usually intended as a counterweight to the holiday’s commercial trappings rather than a dedicated pursuit of true meaning. These are all wonderful things, but they overlook the significance of the actual birth of Christ, both to contemporaries of his birth and his modern-day followers . 

For a couple of years, I had been feeling like the glitter and shine of the holiday was wearing off. There was always so much to do, and neither Christmas lights in the snow nor Burl Ives on the radio seemed to fill me with joy and wonder like they used to.

Then, in 2021, right before Christmas, my wife suffered a miscarriage, and I lost my job. These back-to-back trials left us reeling, out of breath, and without any clear path forward. It felt cruel that these things had to happen just at the beginning of the Christmas season when instead of sitting on the couch together in the dark, we should have been watching breezy movies about kindness and togetherness or listening to vintage tunes about falling in love.

What if, however, Christmastime was the perfect time to heal from these painful wounds? What if celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ should be more than a light, fun holiday about giving and kindness? Christ’s mission, and so His birth, means much more—joyful, certainly, but the joy of hope in darkness .  Christmastime was the perfect time to heal.

Christmastime was the perfect time to heal.

Zacharias, who lost his voice when he didn’t believe his son would herald in the Messiah, had obvious reason to celebrate when Jesus was born—his voice returned—but that wasn’t the reason at the front of his mind—“ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel ; for he hath visited and redeemed his people … as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; … To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

the meaning of christmas essay

Circumstances were even darker among the Nephites in the time leading up to His birth. The once-righteous people had become overrun by wickedness to such a great extent that a mob tried to kill the Lamanite prophet Samuel and a conspiracy arose to execute all the believers. Amid all this strife, Samuel foretold the Lord’s coming “to redeem all those who shall believe on His name” (Helaman 14:2).

Indeed, Nephi was so weighed down by the wickedness of his own people and the looming devastation if the plot to murder the faithful was carried out that he spent the entire day praying for deliverance. In response, we have the Lord’s immensely comforting words about His own birth: “Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets” (3 Nephi 1:13).

The angel who announced Christ’s birth to the shepherds also announced specific reasons to celebrate, promising “ great joy, which shall be to all people .” Then a chorus of heavenly hosts joined, singing, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will to men.” This reason for celebration may appear to be aligned with the typical “holiday cheer.”   

At first, this might appear to be simply a description of the typical “holiday cheer,” but taken in the context of the other thoughts and feelings people had around the time of Christ’s birth, it takes on a much more powerful hue. The promise of peace isn’t just encouragement to be nice to people but assurance that, to hearts in turmoil, peace will come because the Lord is born. “Good will to men” isn’t an ordinary reminder to take care of others; it’s confidence that God sees your trials and is personally invested in your well-being.

Two things stand out in the ways these righteous people celebrated the Lord’s birth. They saw it as a powerful assurance that God remembers His covenants and that He saves His people from the darkness. That is the reason for their joy and celebration. 

It will get better.

It strikes me that all these different ways that people recognized the Savior’s birth were grounded in the afflictions they faced but focused on the promises for the future. It was not a celebration that He had already saved them; it was an expression of faith in the midst of their trials because they knew He would.

Christmas is not a celebration that looks backward at the past good but looks forward to the salvation that will come.

Two years ago, I had wondered if I was outgrowing Christmas. It seemed to offer me so little and demand from me so much. But when my little family was thrust into difficulties we were not prepared for, I began to understand just how much I needed Christmas.

In the months and years since then, the Lord’s goodwill has kept my family afloat. We were blessed with another job, another child, and a depth of peace throughout that I would never have expected.

This year is hard again in new ways. Some days I just don’t see how it can work out. But that is exactly why I am looking forward so much to Christmas this year. Because it’s not just a fun day with presents and cookies and family and Brenda Lee in the background. It’s a reminder that, no matter how dark it may feel now, Jesus Christ’s birth is a promise to you and to me that it will get better—that He is already in the world for the express purpose of delivering you from whatever keeps you down. That He is the “light which shineth in darkness.”

Christmas means that His covenants will be fulfilled, and your days will grow brighter because of it.

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the meaning of christmas essay

Robert Hill

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Essay on Christmas

List of essays on christmas in english, essay on christmas – essay 1 (250 words), essay on christmas: origin, importance and conclusion – essay 2 (400 words), essay on christmas – essay 3 (500 words), essay on christmas: a cultural festivity – essay 4 (600 words), essay on christmas – essay 5 (750 words), essay on christmas: history, celebrations and decorations – essay 6 (1000 words).

Christmas is celebrated every year on 25th December. It is mainly the festival of Christians. But in today’s time, the festival of Christmas has surpassed the religious boundaries and become a symbol of the holistic culture. The winters in December carry a festive feeling.

Usually, the celebration begins much before the main day and continues for around 2 weeks after that. Men and women celebrate Christmas to honor the birth of Jesus Christ. Religious people go to church and light the candles to pray to their God, Jesus Christ.

A festival that is equally loved and cherished by adults and kids. People also bring a Christmas tree to their homes and decorate it with colorful balls, ribbons, and red socks. Market shops and showrooms display a theme of glittering red and white colors to set up the Christmas mood.

On Christmas night, folks enjoy a big feast and share gifts with each other. Homemade traditional plum cakes, cupcakes, and muffins are the special treats on Christmas. Kids are showered with lots of presents and new dresses. They also get to meet the ‘Santa Claus’, dressed in a fluffy red and white costume, who greets them with hugs and gifts.

Christmas is a festival of joy. It is about sharing and helping others. On this day, people remember Jesus Christ and his lessons of life. The festival definitely teaches us to practice kindness and love toward each other and help those who have less than us.

Introduction:

Christmas is the season of joy, peace, and happiness. It is the special season set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Though this was its original purpose, the celebration of Christmas has grown to become a symbolic time for living in peace and love.

Christmas is essentially a reminder of why we should stick to the deepest parts of our humanity. That is, through celebration, we are reminded that we should share, give to the less privileged, spend time with loved ones and have a positive outlook about life in general.

Origin of Christmas:

Many people assume Christmas is strictly a Christian celebration and they would be right if modern evidence is to be considered. However, with regards to its origin, this notion cannot be farther from the truth. In actual sense, Christmas originated a few decades after the birth of Jesus in the old Roman Empire.

Christmas emanated as the Pagan celebration of the concept known as Saturnalia. This celebration was aimed at celebrating the return of the sun and the end of winter. The celebration is usually a weeklong affair and is marked by lawless activity and a system of penal exemption from lawless acts such as housing breaking.

In the 4 th century, Christians adapted the last day of Saturnalia to be the celebration of Christmas. The aim was to get the pagans to associate this period with positive things. Consequently, lots of pagans converted to Christianity on the promise that they could still celebrate their tradition in this day. Whether Jesus was actually born on the 25 of December is not substantiated by historical evidence.

Importance of Christmas:

Why do we celebrate Christmas? Why do we go the extra mile to celebrate, give and create an atmosphere of merriment? The answers to these questions are numerous but we would mention a few.

1. Christmas reminds us of the importance of giving and sharing with friends and family.

2. Christmas shows the importance of joy and happiness.

3. Through Christmas, we know that Jesus birth is the beginning of great things in the world.

4. It is also an opportunity to correct actions we aren’t proud of in our lives.

5. It is generally an opportunity to think about nature and the reason for our existence.

Conclusion:

Whether you’re Christian or not, Christmas is an opportunity for you to put your biases and ill thought behind in the celebration of a great cause.

Christmas is a well-known Christian holiday set in December, celebrated the world over and famed for its decorations and Santa Clause. Christmas is celebrated on the 25 th of December, on the occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ. One can write for ages about the many wonders that Christmas inspires in people. This holiday is also famous for the different customs that are associated with it and even though Christmas is celebrated in all Christian countries there are differences in the way each nation commemorates this date.

Christmas Traditions:

One of the more famous symbols of this holiday is the Christmas tree. Most people do not think about it and just maintain that this custom has been around for ages, while in fact, it is in use for the past 150 years. The idea originated in Germany and later on, it was spread to the rest of the western world by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. This event was meant for the entire family to enjoy a day before the 25 th of December.

The famous Santa Clause celebrated in many movies and made famous by Coca-Cola commercials is actually Saint Nicholas and he is traditionally celebrated on the 6 th of December. The Santa goes around town and checks if all the children were good and if they were, he left them a present, but if a child misbehaved often the Krampus would come to punish them by leaving a whip for the parents. This myth was taken on by the movie industry and transformed into the white beard and red-coated child hero of today.

Traditionally Christmas is celebrated by a Church mass in the morning and then by a family meal later on in the day. That is if you are a religious person, otherwise, most people have some sort of Christmas dinner where they sing the appropriate songs and drink special drinks, somewhere its egg- nock and in other places its sweetened cooked red wine. Whatever the tradition the point of the holiday is to spend some quality time with your loved ones eating and resting.

Modern Christmas:

Christmas is also famous as the time of the year when we give gifts to each other and appropriately this is also the time when companies try to sell everything they can. Marketing experts know how to use the traditional symbols of Christmas to make you want to buy something that you do not actually need. Not to mention that every gift that Santa brings has to be bought somewhere and every child wants a visit from their favorite imagined gift giver. The consumer society has transformed this holiday and made it part of its cosmology, the basic elements are still here but everything is set around decoration, gifts, and movies.

Whatever the backdrop of the holiday it still remains one of the coziest times of the year, at least form me. Spending time at home with the people we love, embraced, watching movies and surrounded by flickering lights is the image I have in my head when I think about Christmas. This is also an image that brings warmth to my heart.

Christmas is a Christian holiday that is celebrated all over the world on December 25 th . Christmas is the time of the year when people commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a cultural festivity that brings families together in a celebratory mood. Every Christian loves Christmas because it is full of joy, full of gifts, family gets together and beautiful Christmas carols are sang all over.

Preparations for Christmas:

Christmas is a cultural festivity that entails a lot of preparations. It is a public holiday and so people get a Christmas break to celebrate it. Preparations for Christmas start early for most people so that celebrations begin on the eve of Christmas. Preparations for Christmas involves a lot of activities.

Plans on who you are spending the Christmas together must be made before any preparations begin because you want to be considerate on their preferences and way of doing things. Shopping for Christmas is done as art of the preparations and people usually buy decorations, food and gifts mostly for children in the family and friends. Some families shop for matching Christmas outfits for everyone.

The common preparations include decorations of the place with Christmas trees, lighting. Before decorations begin, the house must be deep cleaned. The Christmas tree brings the Christmas spirit in homes because it is all glittery and shiny with all the decorations. Presents are placed under the Christmas tree in wrapped gift boxes and are not to be opened till Christmas day.

Churches and Sunday schools make their own preparations for Christmas through practicing songs and skits to be performed on Christmas day. The songs and skits are usually about the stories of the birth of Jesus Christ from the Bible. The church is also decorated for the special event. Thorough cleaning of the churches is also done to usher in Christmas.

Travel plans are also made for families and friend who would lie to spend their Christmas holiday in a nice place. People usually spend a lot on Christmas and so saving money for these plans should be the earliest preparation among all these.

As tradition for most families across the world, turkey is the common meal. Turkey orders have to be made early to avoid missing on the traditional Christmas meal. Christmas cards are also written to friends and family to wish them a happy holiday and to show love.

What happens on Christmas Eve?

Activities done on the Christmas Eve are still preparations. Christmas dinner is prepared, the tables are set, and gifts that had not been wrapped are wrapped and placed under the Christmas tree. Families come together in a Christmas spirit and share in the spirit of Christmas and the excitement for the day that is to come.

What happens on Christmas day?

The activities on Christmas day are usually few because everything was prepared in advance. The day begins with a countdown at 11:59 pm at night whereby people shout in celebration when it gets to 12:00 midnight. Christmas carols are played on radios and televisions to mark the day. Most families start by going to church where performances and songs are done. Then later, they join their families to exchange gifts and celebrate with food and music. Happiness during Christmas is like no other.

During exchange of gifts, children believe that they are from Santa Claus. Santa Claus or Father Christmas is a figure originating from the western Christian culture who is believed to bring gifts to disciplined children during Christmas. Children tend to behave well as they anticipate gifts from Santa.

In conclusion, Christmas is basically the best time of the year for both children and adults.

Christmas is a yearly celebration marking Jesus Christ’s birth; it is observed on the 25 th of December as a cultural and religious celebration among a lot of people all over the world. Christmas is basically a short form for Christ’s mass. It is gotten from the word ‘cristmasse’ which is a Middle English word gotten from the old English word, a phrase that was first heard around 1038. Apart from Christmas, the day and holiday has also been called by some other names like midwinter, nativity and so on.

The history of Christmas is one that dates back to a very long time; the first Christmas that was celebrated was done in 336 in Rome. It played a very important role during the famed Arian controversy that took place in the 300s. During the early years of the middle age, epiphany overshadowed it. Christmas was brought back to limelight around 800 when the emperor Charlemagne received the crown on Christmas day.

During the 17 th century, the Puritans had Christmas banned because it was associated with drunkenness and different other misbehaviour. It was made a proper holiday around 1660 but was still quite disreputable. Around the early 1900s, the Oxford movement of the Anglican Communion church started and this led to the revival of Christmas. A lot of writers including Charles Dickens did their best to reinvent Christmas through emphasising it as being a period for family, gift giving, religion and social reconciliation as against the historically common revelry it was known for.

Christmas is celebrated as a key festival in a lot of countries all over the world and some of the countries are countries with a non-Christian population. In a lot of the non-Christian regions, the celebration of Christmas is largely influenced by the colonial rule like in Hong Kong, in some other regions; the celebration of Christmas is due to cultural influence of other foreign nations. There are some countries where Christmas isn’t celebrated and there is no public holiday, examples of such countries are Israel, Afghanistan, North Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, Bhutan, Vietnam, Turkey, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, etc.

There are parades and religious processions in countries that are majorly catholic in the days before Christmas. In regions that are largely secular, there are also parades that feature the Santa Claus and some other seasonal characters. A very important feature of Christmas all over the world is the act of gift sharing and giving that takes place on the day of Christmas, there are a few countries that practice the act of gift giving and gift sharing on January 6 and also on Saint Nicholas Day.

There is the practice of special decoration being put up during Christmas and this practice has a very long history. In London around the 15 th century, it was the tradition for every home and church building to be decorated with items that were judged to be green and worthy of the season including ivy, holm and bays. The colours traditionally for Christmas are gold, red and green. Red is said to symbolise Jesus’ blood that he shed during the crucifixion, green stands for eternal life, and especially the tree that is evergreen and doesn’t lose the leaves on it during winter, the very first colour associated with Christmas is gold as it was one of the gifts that the magi gave Jesus and it symbolises royalty.

A special family Christmas meal is also a very traditionally important feature of Christmas celebration, and the type of food served depends on the country and varies from region to region. The United Kingdom with the countries that have been influenced by its culture and traditions have a proper meal for Christmas that includes goose, turkey or any other big bird, potatoes, gravy, bread, vegetables and cider. There are also unique desserts that are prepared during Christmas including Yule log cake, mince pies, Christmas pudding and fruit cake. It is important to note that in most eastern European countries like Poland and in the Scandinavia, the main traditional course is fish but there has been an increase in the use of richer meat like lamb.

Christmas card are greeting messages in form of illustrations that family members and friends exchanges during the Christmas period. Traditionally, Christmas greeting cards was first produced for commercial purpose in London around 1843 by a Sir Henry Cole. Christmas is probably the most beautiful time of the year with family, love and gift giving the theme of the season.

Christmas is a yearly festival which is celebrated on the birth of Jesus Christ, on December 25 by most people in the world. A few parts of Eastern Christians use the Julian system which marks it on January 7 on the Gregorian calendar, which is December 25 as indicated by their calendar. Armenian Churches have been celebrating Christmas on January 6 even before the Gregorian calendar started. Most Armenian Christians still use the Gregorian calendar and observe Christmas on January 6. In spite of all the controversies around the date, Christmas is regarded as a religious and social festival among the people all over the world. It is the major Christian festival of the year.

The Nativity accounts of Matthew and Luke are noticeable in the accounts and early Christian authors recommended different dates for the start of this festival. The first recorded Christmas festivity was in Rome in the year 336. Christmas assumed a job in the Arian debate of the fourth century. In the early Middle Ages, it was dominated by Epiphany. However, it regained its popularity after the year 800, when Charlemagne was delegated as the head on Christmas Day.

Today, most Christians celebrate on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar, which has been received generally in the common calendars used by nations all through the world. Be that as it may, some Eastern Christian Churches observe this festival on December 25 of the more seasoned Julian timetable, which right now relates to January 7 in the Gregorian calendar. This isn’t a difference over the date of Christmas all things considered, but instead, an inclination of which schedule should be used to decide the day that is December 25. In the Council of Tours of 567, the Church, with its craving to be general announced the twelve days among Christmas and Epiphany to be one bound together festal cycle.

Celebrations:

Christmas Day is associated with a number of celebrations all over the world including numerous people who are generally non-Christian. In some non-Christian regions, times of previous provincial guideline presented the festival such as Hong Kong. In others, Christian minorities or remote social impacts have driven people to celebrate this festival. Nations, for example, Japan, where Christmas is prevalent in spite of there being just a few Christians, have embraced huge numbers of the common parts of Christmas, for example, present giving, decorations, and Christmas trees.

Countries which do not celebrate It:

Countries in which Christmas is certainly not a formal festival include Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, with the exception of Hong Kong and Macau, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates among others. However, with the changing times, even people from these countries have started to celebrate this festival.

Christmas in India:

India has a substantial population of Christians. Moreover, being a secular country, festivals of all religions are celebrated with equal charm and anxiety. Christmas is not different from festivals celebrated in India. People from all religions and faith celebrate it. Schools organise special assemblies in order to make children aware of the importance of this festival. People decorate their homes and give gifts to children.

Decorations:

The activity of decorating the trees on this day has a long history. In the fifteenth century, it was recorded that in London it was the custom at Christmas for each house and all the area temples to be “decked with holm, coves and ivy which at all the period of the year stood to be green”. The heart-moulded leaves of ivy were said to symbolize the coming to earth of Jesus, while holly was viewed as a defence against witches. Its red berries and thistles represent the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus at the execution and the blood he shed.

The Christmas tree was first used by German Lutherans in the sixteenth century, with records demonstrating that such a tree was put in the Cathedral of Strassburg in 1539, under the administration of the Protestant Reformer, Martin Bucer. The Moravians put lit candles on those trees. When finishing the Christmas tree, numerous people put a star at the highest point of the tree symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem, a reality recorded by The School Journal in 1897.

In the nineteenth century, it wound up prominent for individuals to likewise place an angel on the top of a tree. This was intended to symbolize the angels referenced in the records of the Nativity of Jesus. The Christmas tree is considered by some as Christianisation of agnostic convention and custom surrounding the Winter Solstice, which combined the use of evergreen limbs, and an adjustment of agnostic tree worship.

Traditional Cuisine:

Depending on the regions, there are different traditional cuisines on this day. A few regions have exceptional suppers for Christmas Eve, for example, Sicily, where 12 sorts of fish are served. In the United Kingdom and nations impacted by its customs, a standard dinner incorporates turkey, goose or other expansive flying creature, sauce, potatoes, vegetables, now and again bread and juice. Extraordinary treats are likewise arranged, for example, pudding, mince pies, nutty surprise and Yule log cake

Santa Claus:

Santa Claus is one of the key parts of the celebrations of Christmas. As per the legend, Santa Claus gives gifts to good children on the eve of Christmas which is the night of the 24 th December. Children sleep early on this day hoping to get a gift from Santa Claus when they get up the next morning. They also keep cookies and milk near their beds for the Santa and a carrot for the reindeer of the Santa on which he rides as a part of the tradition. The popular poem Jingle Bells celebrates the coming of Santa to give away the gifts.

Christmas is such a festival which is celebrated by people from all religions and faith worldwide despite it being a Christian festival. It is the essence of this festival which unites the people so much. We should learn the importance of such unity from this festival and despite our religious differences; we should all celebrate the festivals together. Festivals are probably a medium which has the power to keep people united for the betterment of mankind.

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What Is the True Meaning of Christmas?

  • Brittany Rust Contributing Writer
  • Published Dec 01, 2020

What Is the True Meaning of Christmas?

Christmas truly is one of the most wonderful times of the year. For many, there are warm parties, cozy homes, fond traditions to celebrate, and gifts to be shared. It’s a joyous time of celebration. However, sometimes we get lost in the season and forget the reason we celebrate it, to begin with. Among the hustle and bustle, our focus is lost and priorities are misaligned.

Most people can tell you the origins of Christmas—that it’s a remembrance of the birth of Christ. But either that’s the extent of their knowledge or they lose sight of this in the busyness of the holiday. Why do we truly celebrate Christmas? Not Santa Claus, or the Christmas tree, or any other of the various traditions wrapped up into Christmas. Why do we celebrate this occasion—what is its true meaning?

The Birth of Jesus and Meaning of Christmas

“ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it  with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this .”  - Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)

Celebrating Christmas and Salvation in Jesus

Because when Jesus came, he also left us with the gift of salvation. His birth is significant because of His death. For thirty-three years Jesus lived a life free from sin so that He could be the perfect sacrificial lamb for the atonement of our sins. On Calvary, Christ paid the price and overcame death so that we could have victory over sin and condemnation. So, when that precious baby was born and placed in the manger, it wasn’t just another birth. It was the beginning of God’s redemptive plan for humanity. An act He didn’t have to take part in but He chose to out of love.

“ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father .” Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV)  

True Meaning for Celebrating Christmas

This very act of humility and his choice to die on the cross is cause for bowed knees and lifted hands. I know the busyness of the season can cause time to fly and before we know it, the holiday has passed and we have forgotten to celebrate why we are celebrating it in the first place. But don’t get sidetracked—get perspective. Choose reverence and give honor where honor is due.

Take time this holiday season to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas by glorifying the One who gave it all. A child was born in humble circumstances and his sacrificial death reflected the same, however, both were significant for humanity. Without the death of Christ, salvation isn’t possible. So without His birth, neither is it possible. Jesus coming to Earth that night changed everything and it’s a moment we should celebrate with all our hearts.

Bible Verses about the Meaning of Christmas

  • For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~ Isaiah 9:6  
  • For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ~ John 3:16  
  • And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ~ John 1:14  
  • Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ~ James 1:17  
  • This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about : His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. ~ Matthew 1:18-25

Prayers for Christmas

New birth and freedom in christ.

Almighty God, grant that the new birth of your Son in the flesh redeems us from the old slavery under the yoke of sin, so we may receive him with joy as our Redeemer, and that when when he comes to judge we may see Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

Source:  Wilehelm Loehe, Agende für christliche Gemeinden des lutherischen Bekenntnisses , 1844

Christmas Communion Prayer

O merciful God, open the depths of our souls that we may receive the immortality of our spirits through the new birth of your Son by the power of his body and precious blood; for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Christmas Day Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ, true God from true God, you became a little child for us so the world you made would be saved. Just as a child is born to us and a Son is given to us, may we be born again through you and always remain in the number of God’s faithful children; through your merits, O blessed Savior, with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Source: Mozarabic Collect for the The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Day, freely modified from   Mozarabic Collects,  ed. Rev. Chas. R. Halle, New York, 1881, p.17 #1

Christmas true meaning

This article is part of our larger Christmas and Advent resource library centered around the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. We hope these articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through his son Jesus Christ!

What is Christmas? Understanding History, Origin and Traditions Christmas Eve History and Traditions When Was Jesus Born? History of December 25th Where Was Jesus Born? 5 Things to Know about Bethlehem Why Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh Were Given to Baby Jesus What is Advent: Definition & Meaning Behind Christmas Tradition  

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the meaning of christmas essay

104 Christmas Essay Topics & Examples

Looking for Christmas topic ideas to write about? Being the most loved holiday in English-speaking countries, Christmas is definitely worth studying!

  • 🔝 Top 10 Essay Titles
  • 🏆 Best Essay Examples
  • 📍 Good Topic Ideas
  • 💡 Exciting Essay Topics

❓ Christmas Essay Questions

In your Christmas essay, you might want to discuss the most controversial traditions connected to the holiday, describe a Christmas decoration that you consider the most beautiful, or write a narrative about an impressive Christmas sermon you once visited. Here we’ve gathered good & funny Christmas essay titles and added some Christmas essay examples to inspire you even more.

🔝 Top 10 Christmas Essay Titles

  • Christmas: etymology of the word
  • History of Christmas
  • My favorite Christmas tradition
  • Christmas in non-Christian areas
  • Traditional Christmas decorations
  • Celebrating Christmas in different countries: compare & contrast
  • Nativity play as a part of Christmas celebration
  • Most popular Christmas songs
  • My favorite Christmas food
  • Different dates of Christmas all over the world

🏆 Best Christmas Essay Examples

  • Christian Festivals: Calendar and Events Jesus is often referred to as the light of the world and therefore the lit candles are symbolic of him as the light of the world.
  • Christmas and Easter: Two Contrasting Holidays Thus the current commercialization of the two holidays in order to make it more open as a celebration to people across the board.
  • Anthropology. Eating Christmas in the Kalahari by Lee The story highlights the attitude of the particular national society of Bushmen to the arrogance and social inequality in the modern world.
  • A Christmas Carol by Dickens It starts with a summary of the plot, then examines the main characters and the themes and concludes with the personal opinion on the novella.
  • A Christmas Carol of Dickens: Never Too Late for a Change of Heart Then, the second Ghost of the Christmas Present guides Scrooge to the houses of both Fred and Bob. Finally, the Ghost of the Christmas future shows Scrooge the flashforward of the next Christmas.
  • Christmas Celebration in New York City I was mesmerized with the arrangements and the atmosphere of the city which was full with a colorful holiday spirit as everyone enjoyed the celebrations to their fullest.
  • “Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens Literary Analysis The lead character in the story is Ebenezer Scrooge; the ghosts that led Scrooge to repentance and redemption include the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come.
  • Economic Aspects in “A Christmas Carol” Movie The movie ‘A Christmas Carol’ depicts how it is critical for one to play a part in the production of goods and services.
  • Impact of Technology on the Way People Celebrate Christmas Christmas in those parts of the world that celebrate it, represent a time when families and acquaintances remember one another, meet and celebrate the birth of Christ and the approaching end of a year.
  • The Analysis of Christmas as a Cultural Context of Consumption One of the countries in which the customs of the original winter holidays were incredibly diligently combined with the Christian holiday was Germany.
  • Views About Christmas Time Review Ted Byfield and Almas Zakiuddin share their thoughts about the celebration of Christmas and how people change during that time of year.
  • Applying Models to Recent Christmas Ad Campaigns It was differentiated from other companies with the presence of the best sportswear companies and the choice of activities with a number of acrobatic tricks and effective moves.
  • Performance of Retail Businesses in Christmas Season The dissertation undertakes a study that compares the sales/ marketing strategies and the performance of the retail businesses during the Christmas season in UK.
  • Christmas Celebrations in Spanish Culture The Virgin Mary is Spain’s patron saint and this is the reason behind the Christmas officially beginning in the 8th of December with the Immaculate Conception feast.
  • Christmas Tree Trimming Project Analysis In project management, it is important to accurately evaluate the budget earned on different steps of work proceeding to analyze the schedule variance and the stage of the project completion.
  • Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” However, the choice of black cats in animation is a common experience with Tim in his shows and ‘Nightmare before Christmas’ is no exception.
  • “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” Play: Actors Game The desire of the actors to present this play to the public is probably connected not only with the necessity to do their work but also to convey more intimate information to the audience.
  • The Play “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” The purpose of this production is to deepen the understanding of the story and its themes. The diversity of characters, an interesting and unusual plot, and the variety of settings are factors that contributed to […]
  • “Christmas in August” a Movie by Hur Jin-Ho However, the heavy-handed emotional and dramatic elements in the genre create a sort of stereotype around the films and the expectations that the audiences have.
  • “The Nightmare Before Christmas” by Tim Burton The main character is the leader of the place where he lives, and he is bored with the regular way of celebrating Halloween.
  • Salford Christmas Land Project and Event Management The major theme of the Christmas event will be diversity, which is a topical question in the city council as well as the community.
  • Hunting a Christmas Tree by Barbara Dean This story is an amazing combination of natural beauty, human pretentiousness, and despair that may spoil even the most beautiful events in a human life like Christmas.”Hunting a Christmas Tree” is Dean’s personal position on […]
  • “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Theodor Geisel It is important to note that the book is a story about the conflict between introversion and extroversion that results in the victory of extroverted people who are the basis of the human society.
  • The Concept of Celebrating Christmas in Kalahari This way of living was different from what the narrator was accustomed to because he rarely shared his food supplies with members of the community.
  • Mechanical Solidarity in Eating Christmas in the Kalahari When discussing the concerned subject matter, I will promote the idea that it is precisely the primitive people’s endowment with the sense of a mechanical solidarity, which allows them to maintain the integrity of their […]
  • A Manmade Christmas Tree The lines used by the artist are obscure, but the shape of the work of art resembles a conventional form of a Christmas tree.
  • Washington Cathedral Classical Music Christmas Concert The pieces were performed beautifully; actually, I got a sense of satisfaction and deep rumination of the Christmas season because of the expressive execution of the pieces by the band and the choir.
  • Chicken Run and The Nightmare Before Christmas As a result of the escape, Ginger is kept in a secluded place and the only option left for the poor bird is to fly over the fence.
  • Thanksgiving vs. Christmas There are a variety of ways to understand the importance of these two but the best way perhaps is to see it from the eyes of a child.

📍 Good Christmas Topic Ideas

  • The Origin of Christmas Celebrations in Christianity
  • Character Analysis Of Scrooge In A Christmas Carol
  • The Character of The Grinch in the Movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas
  • The Personality of Scrooge in A Christmas Carol
  • Origin Of Christmas Traditions
  • The True Meaning of the Christmas Celebration
  • The Effective Advertising and Marketing Methods of Coca-Cola During the Christmas Season
  • A History of the Origins of Christmas Lights
  • Moravian Food and Christmas Cookies
  • Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas
  • A Christmas Carol: Difference Between Muppets and Original
  • The Significance of Santa Clause in Christmas History and Culture
  • The People, Events, and Christmas in the Victorian Era
  • The Three Spirits in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

💡 Exciting Christmas Essay Topics

  • A Childhood Belief on the Spirit of Christmas and Its Celebration
  • A Characteristic Of Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ Novel A Christmas Carol
  • The Spirit of Christmas in Family Gatherings, Radio, Movie, and the Climate
  • A Description of Christmas as a Christian Holiday That Celebrates the Birth of Jesus Christ
  • The Commercialization of Christmas
  • Ebenezer Scrooge’s Emotional State in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
  • The Popularity of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
  • A Comparison of the Differences in the Author’s View of Ethics in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and The Moonstone by
  • Wilkie Collins
  • The Comprehensibility of Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’
  • The Amazing Transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol
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Essay on Christmas Holiday

Students are often asked to write an essay on Christmas Holiday in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Christmas Holiday

What is christmas.

Christmas is a joyful holiday celebrated on December 25th. It marks Jesus Christ’s birth, who many believe is the son of God. Families and friends come together to share love and happiness. They decorate their homes with bright lights and a Christmas tree.

Traditions of Christmas

People have many traditions for Christmas. They give gifts, sing songs called carols, and eat special food. Santa Claus, a jolly man with a white beard and red suit, brings presents to children. The air is filled with excitement and cheer.

The Meaning of Christmas

Christmas is more than just presents and decorations. It’s a time to be kind and help others. It’s about spending time with the ones you love and making memories. It reminds us to be grateful and to spread joy to everyone.

250 Words Essay on Christmas Holiday

Christmas is a joyful holiday that happens every year on December 25th. It is a time when families and friends come together to celebrate. For many people, this day is about remembering the birth of Jesus Christ, who is an important figure in the Christian religion. But even people who have different beliefs enjoy Christmas because it is a time of happiness, kindness, and giving.

Decorations and Preparations

Gifts and sharing.

One of the best parts of Christmas is giving and receiving presents. People think carefully about what to give their loved ones to make them happy. It’s not about how much money is spent, but the thought that counts. Sharing gifts is a way to show love and care for one another.

Food and Feasts

Christmas is also famous for its delicious food. Families have big meals together with special dishes like turkey, ham, and lots of sweet treats like cookies and cakes. Everyone enjoys these feasts and the chance to eat, talk, and laugh together.

Why Christmas is Special

Christmas is special because it brings people closer. It’s a time for being thankful for what we have and for spreading joy and peace. It’s about creating happy memories that last all year. Whether it’s the lights, the food, the gifts, or the company of loved ones, Christmas is a holiday that fills hearts with warmth.

500 Words Essay on Christmas Holiday

Christmas is a special holiday that people celebrate on the 25th of December every year. It is a time when families and friends come together to share joy and love. This holiday is known for its festive spirit and is especially exciting for children. Christmas is not just a day, but a season that starts weeks before the 25th, with decorations, music, and preparations.

The Story Behind Christmas

The holiday has its roots in the Christian religion, marking the birth of Jesus Christ. Although the exact date of Jesus’s birth is not known, December 25th was chosen to honor it. Over time, Christmas has grown to include many traditions and is now celebrated by people of various cultures and beliefs around the world.

Preparing for Christmas

Christmas eve and santa claus.

The night before Christmas is called Christmas Eve. It is a time of great excitement, especially for children, who look forward to the arrival of Santa Claus. Santa is a jolly old man with a white beard and red suit, who, according to the story, brings gifts to children around the world. Children hang stockings and leave out milk and cookies for Santa as a thank you for the presents they hope to receive.

Christmas Day

On Christmas Day, families wake up to open their presents. The day is usually spent at home with family, enjoying each other’s company. A big part of the day is the Christmas meal, which often includes turkey, vegetables, and lots of sweet treats like pies and cakes. Games, singing, and watching Christmas movies are popular activities.

Christmas Around the World

Beyond all the fun and festivities, Christmas also has a deeper meaning. It is a time for giving, not just gifts, but giving time and love to others. It is a season for kindness, generosity, and thinking about those less fortunate. People volunteer, donate to charities, and help those in need, showing the true spirit of Christmas.

Christmas is a holiday that brings people together in celebration. It’s a time of joy, family gatherings, and kindness. From the decorations and music to the traditions and the giving spirit, Christmas creates memories that last a lifetime. Whether you celebrate the religious aspect or enjoy the festive activities, Christmas is a season that many people look forward to all year long.

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Origin and development

Contemporary customs in the west, contemporary customs in eastern and oriental orthodoxy, contemporary customs in other areas.

Giotto: The Nativity

When is Christmas celebrated?

How is christmas celebrated, does christmas have pagan roots.

  • Who is Saint Nicholas?
  • What was Saint Nicholas known for?

Santa Claus reading the list, Christmas, north pole

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Giotto: The Nativity

What is Christmas?

Christmas was traditionally a Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus , but in the early 20th century, it also became a secular family holiday, observed by Christians and non-Christians alike. The secular holiday is often devoid of Christian elements, with the mythical figure Santa Claus playing the pivotal role.

Christmas is celebrated by many Christians on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar . For Eastern Orthodox churches that continue to use the Julian calendar for liturgical observances, this date corresponds to January 7 on the Gregorian calendar. Gifts are exchanged on Christmas Eve in most European countries and on Christmas morning in North America.

Christians and non-Christians participate in some of the most popular Christmas traditions, many of which have no origins in Christianity. These customs include decorating evergreen trees —or, in India, mango or bamboo trees; feasting (picnics and fireworks are popular in warm climates); and exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.

In ancient Rome, December 25 was a celebration of the Unconquered Sun, marking the return of longer days. It followed Saturnalia , a festival where people feasted and exchanged gifts. The church in Rome began celebrating Christmas on December 25 in the 4th century during the reign of Constantine , the first Christian emperor, possibly to weaken pagan traditions.

Did Christmas start in Germany?

Christmas did not start in Germany, but many of the holiday’s traditions began there, including decorating trees . The celebration of Christmas started in Rome about 336, but it did not become a major Christian festival until the 9th century.

Recent News

Christmas , Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus . The English term Christmas (“mass on Christ’s day”) is of fairly recent origin. The earlier term Yule may have derived from the Germanic jōl or the Anglo-Saxon geōl , which referred to the feast of the winter solstice . The corresponding terms in other languages — Navidad in Spanish , Natale in Italian , Noël in French —all probably denote nativity . The German word Weihnachten denotes “hallowed night.” Since the early 20th century, Christmas has also been a secular family holiday , observed by Christians and non-Christians alike, devoid of Christian elements, and marked by an increasingly elaborate exchange of gifts. In this secular Christmas celebration, a mythical figure named Santa Claus plays the pivotal role.

What's the difference between Yule and Christmas?

The early Christian community distinguished between the identification of the date of Jesus’ birth and the liturgical celebration of that event. The actual observance of the day of Jesus’ birth was long in coming. In particular, during the first two centuries of Christianity there was strong opposition to recognizing birthdays of martyrs or, for that matter, of Jesus. Numerous Church Fathers offered sarcastic comments about the pagan custom of celebrating birthdays when, in fact, saints and martyrs should be honoured on the days of their martyrdom—their true “birthdays,” from the church’s perspective.

Why is Christmas on December 25?

The precise origin of assigning December 25 as the birth date of Jesus is unclear. The New Testament provides no clues in this regard. December 25 was first identified as the date of Jesus’ birth by Sextus Julius Africanus in 221 and later became the universally accepted date. One widespread explanation of the origin of this date is that December 25 was the Christianizing of the dies solis invicti nati (“day of the birth of the unconquered sun”), a popular holiday in the Roman Empire that celebrated the winter solstice as a symbol of the resurgence of the sun, the casting away of winter and the heralding of the rebirth of spring and summer. Indeed, after December 25 had become widely accepted as the date of Jesus’ birth, Christian writers frequently made the connection between the rebirth of the sun and the birth of the Son. One of the difficulties with this view is that it suggests a nonchalant willingness on the part of the Christian church to appropriate a pagan festival when the early church was so intent on distinguishing itself categorically from pagan beliefs and practices.

A second view suggests that December 25 became the date of Jesus’ birth by a priori reasoning that identified the spring equinox as the date of the creation of the world and the fourth day of creation, when the light was created, as the day of Jesus’ conception (i.e., March 25). December 25, nine months later, then became the date of Jesus’ birth. For a long time the celebration of Jesus’ birth was observed in conjunction with his baptism , celebrated January 6.

Christmas began to be widely celebrated with a specific liturgy in the 9th century but did not attain the liturgical importance of either Good Friday or Easter , the other two major Christian holidays. Roman Catholic churches celebrate the first Christmas mass at midnight, and Protestant churches have increasingly held Christmas candlelight services late on the evening of December 24. A special service of “lessons and carols” intertwines Christmas carols with Scripture readings narrating salvation history from the Fall in the Garden of Eden to the coming of Christ. The service, inaugurated by E.W. Benson and adopted at the University of Cambridge , has become widely popular.

the meaning of christmas essay

None of the contemporary Christmas customs have their origin in theological or liturgical affirmations, and most are of fairly recent date. The Renaissance humanist Sebastian Brant recorded, in Das Narrenschiff (1494; The Ship of Fools ), the custom of placing branches of fir trees in houses. Even though there is some uncertainty about the precise date and origin of the tradition of the Christmas tree , it appears that fir trees decorated with apples were first known in Strasbourg in 1605. The first use of candles on such trees is recorded by a Silesian duchess in 1611. The Advent wreath—made of fir branches, with four candles denoting the four Sundays of the Advent season—is of even more recent origin, especially in North America . The custom, which began in the 19th century but had roots in the 16th, originally involved a fir wreath with 24 candles (the 24 days before Christmas, starting December 1), but the awkwardness of having so many candles on the wreath reduced the number to four. An analogous custom is the Advent calendar , which provides 24 openings, one to be opened each day beginning December 1. According to tradition, the calendar was created in the 19th century by a Munich housewife who tired of having to answer endlessly when Christmas would come. The first commercial calendars were printed in Germany in 1851. The intense preparation for Christmas that is part of the commercialization of the holiday has blurred the traditional liturgical distinction between Advent and the Christmas season, as can be seen by the placement of Christmas trees in sanctuaries well before December 25.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree: Why do we deck thy branches?

Toward the end of the 18th century the practice of giving gifts to family members became well established. Theologically, the feast day reminded Christians of God’s gift of Jesus to humankind even as the coming of the Wise Men, or Magi , to Bethlehem suggested that Christmas was somehow related to giving gifts. The practice of giving gifts, which goes back to the 15th century, contributed to the view that Christmas was a secular holiday focused on family and friends. This was one reason why Puritans in Old and New England opposed the celebration of Christmas and in both England and America succeeded in banning its observance.

the meaning of christmas essay

The tradition of celebrating Christmas as a secular family holiday is splendidly illustrated by a number of English “Christmas” carols such as “Here We Come A-Wassailing” or “Deck the Halls.” It can also be seen in the practice of sending Christmas cards , which began in England in the 19th century. Moreover, in countries such as Austria and Germany , the connection between the Christian festival and the family holiday is made by identifying the Christ Child as the giver of gifts to the family. In some European countries, St. Nicholas appears on his feast day (December 6) bringing modest gifts of candy and other gifts to children. In North America the pre-Christmas role of the Christian saint Nicholas was transformed, under the influence of the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (or “ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas”) , into the increasingly central role of Santa Claus as the source of Christmas gifts for the family. While both name and attire—a version of the traditional dress of bishop—of Santa Claus reveal his Christian roots, and his role of querying children about their past behaviour replicates that of St. Nicholas, he is seen as a secular figure. In Australia , where people attend open-air concerts of Christmas carols and have their Christmas dinner on the beach, Santa Claus wears red swimming trunks as well as a white beard.

the meaning of christmas essay

In most European countries, gifts are exchanged on Christmas Eve, December 24, in keeping with the notion that the baby Jesus was born on the night of the 24th. The morning of December 25, however, has become the time for the exchange of gifts in North America. In 17th- and 18th-century Europe the modest exchange of gifts took place in the early hours of the 25th when the family returned home from the Christmas mass. When the evening of the 24th became the time for the exchange of gifts, the Christmas mass was set into the late afternoon of that day. In North America the centrality of the morning of the 25th of December as the time for the family to open presents has led, with the exception of Catholic and some Lutheran and Episcopal churches, to the virtual end of holding church services on that day, a striking illustration of the way societal customs influence liturgical practices.

Given the importance of Christmas as one of the major Christian feast days, most European countries observe, under Christian influence, December 26 as a second Christmas holiday. This practice recalls the ancient Christian liturgical notion that the celebration of Christmas, as well as that of Easter and of Pentecost , should last the entire week. The weeklong observance, however, was successively reduced to Christmas day and a single additional holiday on December 26.

Eastern Orthodox churches honour Christmas on December 25. However, for those that continue to use the Julian calendar for their liturgical observances, this date corresponds to January 7 on the Gregorian calendar . The churches of the Oriental Orthodox communion celebrate Christmas variously. For example, in Armenia , the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion , the church uses its own calendar; the Armenian Apostolic Church honours January 6 as Christmas. In Ethiopia, where Christianity has had a home ever since the 4th century, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church celebrates Christmas on January 7. Most of the churches of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East celebrate Christmas on December 25; at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, however, the Syriac Orthodox celebrate Christmas on January 6 with the Armenian Apostolic Church. Congregations of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria follow the date of December 25 on the Julian calendar, which corresponds to Khiak 29 on the ancient Coptic calendar.

the meaning of christmas essay

With the spread of Christianity beyond Europe and North America, the celebration of Christmas was transferred to societies throughout the non-Western world. In many of these countries, Christians are not the majority population, and, therefore, the religious holiday has not become a cultural holiday. Christmas customs in these societies thus often echo Western traditions because the people were exposed to Christianity as a religion and cultural artifact of the West.

In South and Central America , unique religious and secular traditions mark the Christmas celebration. In Mexico , on days leading up to Christmas, the search of Mary and Joseph for a place to stay is reenacted, and children try to break a piñata filled with toys and candy. Christmas is a great summer festival in Brazil , including picnics, fireworks, and other festivities as well as a solemn procession of priests to the church to celebrate midnight mass.

In some parts of India the evergreen Christmas tree is replaced by the mango tree or the bamboo tree, and houses are decorated with mango leaves and paper stars. Christmas largely remains a Christian holiday and is otherwise not widely observed.

Japan serves as illustration of a different sort. In that predominantly Shintō and Buddhist country, the secular aspects of the holiday—Christmas trees and decorations, even the singing of Christmas songs such as “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” or “White Christmas”—are widely observed instead of the religious aspects.

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Christmas Essay | Short Essay on Christmas for Students and Children

February 7, 2024 by Prasanna

Christmas Essay: Essay on Christmas is an important topic for students to learn. Christmas is one of the biggest annual festivals in the world, with billions partaking in its cultural celebrations. The festival commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ in the month of December; interestingly, historical records nor the Bible mentions the exact day Jesus was born.

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The earliest records of Christmas celebrations can be traced back to the time of Roman Emperor Constantine, on December 25th, 336 AD. Today, Christmas is celebrated at the same time around the world, whether they are Christians or not. Celebrations include spending time with family and friends, decorating houses and exchanging gifts. Offices and companies usually give employees time off to celebrate Christmas with their families, children spend the day playing with their new gifts or toys. Most people also adorn their houses with Christmas trees, with lights, decorations and tinsel. Read on to explore more about Christmas and the reason it is celebrated worldwide.

Essay on Christmas 500+ Words Essay

Introduction on Essay On Christmas

Christmas is a festival celebrated around the world by Christians and even non-Christians. The festival commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, who would go on to establish Christianity. It is also one of the biggest annual festivals in the world, with billions of people taking part in its celebrations. Time is also spent with family and friends, exchanging gifts and having a blast.

When was Jesus Christ Born?

Today, we celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December every year. However, nobody knows the exact date when Jesus was born. No historical evidence exists nor was it explicitly mentioned in the Bible. So, how did people come about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ on the 25th of December?

Christmas Date and Its Origin

Many believe that the birth of Christ did not happen on Year 1, but somewhere between 2 BC and 7 BC. The first-ever recorded evidence of Christmas celebrations can be traced all the way to 336 AD, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine. Constantine was the very first Roman Emperor to adopt Christianity, and hence, celebrated the birth of Christ on December 25th. However, there are more theories that explain why we celebrate Christmas on 25th.

An ancient Christian tradition marked March 25th as the day when Mary was told that she would give birth to a very special baby, this event was called the Annunciation in Christian literature. Nine months after March 25th was December 25th, which is when Jesus would have been born.

How “Old Christmas” is Celebrated?

Today, the world follows the Gregorian Calendar, which was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. Prior to this, the Roman Calendar was used. However, the Roman calendar had more days in a year than the Gregorian Calendar. Hence, when the world switched to the Gregorian Calendar, almost 10 days were lost. Hence, the day that followed October 4th, 1582 was October 15th, 1582.  Similarly, when the UK adopted the Gregorian Calendar in 1752, the day that followed September 2nd, 1752, the day which followed was September 14th, 1752.

Some Orthodox Churches still use the Roman Calendar, hence, they would celebrate Christmas on January 6th, which is where December 25th would have been on the Gregorian Calendar. In some parts of the world, January 6th is called Old Christmas, due to the fact that this would have been the day Christmas would have been celebrated if the calendar switch was never made.

The Meaning Behind the Term “Christmas”

The name “Christmas” is actually a shortened form of the word “Christ’s Mass” or the Mass of Jesus Christ. This is in turn derived from the Old English word – “Crites-messe”, which literally translates to Christ’s Mass. The term “Mass” is a service used by Christians to indicate the death and the subsequent resurrection of Jesus. Alternatively, Mass was also called a Eucharist or Communion.

Interestingly, people also use the term “Xmas” in place of Christmas. The Greek name of Christ is “Χριστός (Christos), and it starts with the Greek letter “X” or Chi (pronounced as “ kai ”). Hence, people started abbreviating “Christ” with “X”, thereby calling it “Xmas”.

Christmas Essay

Essay on Christmas Celebrations and Traditions

Christmas is one of the biggest festivals celebrated around the world. It is also popular in countries where the number of Christians are relatively small. However, most countries around the world declared December 25th as a public holiday.

Christians celebrate Christmas by attending the church on Christmas Eve. Houses are also adorned with decorations and the traditional colours of Christmas – Red, green, and gold. Red symbolizes the blood which was shed by Jesus on his crucifixion. The colour green represents the evergreen trees, which do not lose its colour even in the winter. The colour green also symbolizes eternal life. The colour gold symbolizes royalty, as it was one of the three gifts given by the Magi (priests). Another iconic item of decoration is the Christmas tree, which is usually adorned with tinsel, bells and a star atop the tree. The star on the tree top represents the Star of Bethlehem.

Other celebrations include the classic Nativity Play, where a play is held recounting the birth of Christ (also called the Nativity of Jesus). Typically, the play is enacted by children during Christmas Day and Christmas Eve at church services or in theatres and schools. Christmas carols and musicals are also a popular part of the Christmas celebrations.

Conclusion on Christmas Essay

Christmas is one of the biggest festivals in the world and is celebrated by billions, both Christians and non-Christians. It signifies the birth of Jesus Christ, the central iconic figure of Christianity. People usually spend time with their family and close friends, showcasing the true spirit of Christmas.

FAQ’s on Christmas Essay

Question 1. What is Christmas all about?

Answer: Christmas is a festival celebrated every year to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Question 2. How do you write a Christmas essay?

Answer: An essay on Christmas must provide a brief overview of the festival and the reasons why we celebrate it. The essay must also elaborate on the ways that people celebrate this festival.

Question 3. Why is Christmas celebrated?

Answer: Christmas is celebrated to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.

Question 4. What is Christmas in simple words?

Answer: Christmas is a festival and a public holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

Question 5. Who made Christmas?

Answer: The origins of Christmas celebrations have many theories. The most prominent one is about the Roman Emperor Constantine, who was the very first Christian Roman Emperor- he celebrated this festival on 25th December, 336 AD and the tradition may have followed for future Roman emperors.

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the meaning of christmas essay

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History of Christmas

By: History.com Editors

Updated: December 21, 2022 | Original: October 27, 2009

History of Christmas

Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. December 25—Christmas Day—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

How Did Christmas Start?

The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus , early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.

In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year.

The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.

In Germany, people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Oden, as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.

Christmas in Photos

Christmas Traditions: Christmas Trees

Saturnalia and Christmas 

In Rome, where winters were not as harsh as those in the far north, Saturnalia—a holiday in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture—was celebrated. Beginning in the week leading up to the winter solstice and continuing for a full month, Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and drink were plentiful and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. For a month, enslaved people were given temporary freedom and treated as equals. Business and schools were closed so that everyone could participate in the holiday's festivities.

Also around the time of the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast honoring the children of Rome. In addition, members of the upper classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra’s birthday was the most sacred day of the year.

Is Christmas Really the Day Jesus Was Born?

In the early years of Christianity , Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date for his birth (a fact Puritans later pointed out in order to deny the legitimacy of the celebration). Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. 

By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated. By the Middle Ages , Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion.

On Christmas, believers attended church, then celebrated raucously in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere similar to today’s Mardi Gras . Each year, a beggar or student would be crowned the “lord of misrule” and eager celebrants played the part of his subjects. The poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food and drink. If owners failed to comply, their visitors would most likely terrorize them with mischief. Christmas became the time of year when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined “debt” to society by entertaining less fortunate citizens.

the meaning of christmas essay

History of Christmas Trees

From millions of homes worldwide to the White House, the Christmas tree is a tradition that owes its popularity in part to a popular British queen.

History of the Christmas Carol

Get the facts on the tradition of Christmas carols, and find out how “Jingle Bells” came about.

European Christmas Customs

In some parts of Europe, people still celebrate Christmas customs based on long‑standing folk legends.

When Christmas Was Cancelled

In the early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. By popular demand, Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday.

The pilgrims , English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston . Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident.

After the American Revolution , English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.

How Christmas Was Celebrated in the Middle Ages

In medieval times, Christmas celebrations carried on for multiple raucous days and nights.

How 25 Christmas Traditions Got Their Start

Learn why we decorate trees, swap cookies and hide pickles and elves, among other traditions.

How the Civil War Changed Christmas in the United States

As a divided nation fought, the holiday became more important than ever.

Washington Irving Reinvents Christmas in America

It wasn’t until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas. Americans re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a family-centered day of peace and nostalgia. But what about the 1800s piqued American interest in the holiday?

The early 19th century was a period of class conflict and turmoil. During this time, unemployment was high and gang rioting by the disenchanted classes often occurred during the Christmas season. In 1828, the New York city council instituted the city’s first police force in response to a Christmas riot. This catalyzed certain members of the upper classes to begin to change the way Christmas was celebrated in America.

In 1819, best-selling author Washington Irving wrote The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, gent. , a series of stories about the celebration of Christmas in an English manor house. The sketches feature a squire who invited the peasants into his home for the holiday. In contrast to the problems faced in American society, the two groups mingled effortlessly. In Irving’s mind, Christmas should be a peaceful, warm-hearted holiday bringing groups together across lines of wealth or social status. Irving’s fictitious celebrants enjoyed “ancient customs,” including the crowning of a Lord of Misrule. Irving’s book, however, was not based on any holiday celebration he had attended—in fact, many historians say that Irving’s account actually “invented” tradition by implying that it described the true customs of the season.

'A Christmas Carol'

Also around this time, English author Charles Dickens created the classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol . The story’s message-the importance of charity and good will towards all humankind-struck a powerful chord in the United States and England and showed members of Victorian society the benefits of celebrating the holiday.

The family was also becoming less disciplined and more sensitive to the emotional needs of children during the early 1800s. Christmas provided families with a day when they could lavish attention-and gifts-on their children without appearing to “spoil” them.

What Was Christmas Like for America’s Enslaved People?

For some, it was a rare time of respite; for others, an opportunity for resistance.

Dreaming of a White (House) Christmas: 17 Photos

Christmas at the first residence has evolved from an understated, intimate affair in 1800 to an all‑out media event.

7 Latin American Holiday Traditions

Many celebrate the Nativity—and the New Year—in festive, sometimes whimsical, ways.

As Americans began to embrace Christmas as a perfect family holiday, old customs were unearthed. People looked toward recent immigrants and Catholic and Episcopalian churches to see how the day should be celebrated. In the next 100 years, Americans built a Christmas tradition all their own that included pieces of many other customs, including decorating trees, sending holiday cards and gift-giving.

Although most families quickly bought into the idea that they were celebrating Christmas how it had been done for centuries, Americans had really re-invented a holiday to fill the cultural needs of a growing nation.

Who Invented Santa Claus?

The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back to a monk named St. Nicholas who was born in Turkey around A. D. 280. St. Nicholas gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick, becoming known as the protector of children and sailors.

St. Nicholas first entered American popular culture in the late 18th century in New York, when Dutch families gathered to honor the anniversary of the death of “Sint Nikolaas” (Dutch for Saint Nicholas), or “Sinter Klaas” for short. “Santa Claus” draws his name from this abbreviation.

In 1822, Episcopal minister Clement Clarke Moore wrote a Christmas poem called “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas,” more popularly known today by it’s first line: “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas.” The poem depicted Santa Claus as a jolly man who flies from home to home on a sled driven by reindeer to deliver toys.

The iconic version of Santa Claus as a jolly man in red with a white beard and a sack of toys was immortalized in 1881, when political cartoonist Thomas Nast drew on Moore's poem to create the image of Old Saint Nick we know today.

Christmas Facts

  • Each year, 25-30 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States alone. There are about 15,000 Christmas tree farms in the United States, and trees usually grow for between four and 15 years before they are sold.
  • In the Middle Ages, Christmas celebrations were rowdy and raucous—a lot like today’s Mardi Gras parties.
  • When Christmas was cancelled: From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston , and law-breakers were fined five shillings.
  • Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the United States on June 26, 1870.
  • The first eggnog made in the United States was consumed in Captain John Smith’s 1607 Jamestown settlement .
  • Poinsettia plants are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister to Mexico, who brought the red-and-green plant from Mexico to America in 1828.
  • The Salvation Army has been sending Santa Claus-clad donation collectors into the streets since the 1890s.
  • Rudolph , “the most famous reindeer of all,” was the product of Robert L. May’s imagination in 1939. The copywriter wrote a poem about the reindeer to help lure customers into the Montgomery Ward department store.
  • Construction workers started the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition in 1931.

the meaning of christmas essay

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What Is the Meaning of Christmas?

What Is the Meaning of Christmas?

When fall has given way to winter and snow covers the ground while lights twinkle from house to house, you know that Christmas is coming. Christmas is one of the most important Christian and cultural holidays of the year, but what is the true meaning of Christmas? Is it the gifts? Is it the annual economic boost?

The meaning of Christmas can vary for different people and cultures, but it is generally celebrated as a Christian holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. For Christians, Christmas is a time to reflect on the significance of Jesus' birth, emphasizing themes of love, peace , and goodwill toward all.

Beyond its religious roots, Christmas has evolved into a widely celebrated cultural and festive occasion in many parts of the world. It often involves exchanging gifts, spending time with family and friends, decorating homes with festive ornaments, and partaking in special meals and traditions.

The Christmas season, especially in the West, is a mix of pre-Christian, Christian, and secular traditions. What’s interesting is the etymology of the word Christmas. It literally means Christian Mass. It’s a shortened form of Christ’s Mass.

Christmas is a time of spiritual reflection on the important foundations of the Christian faith. It’s also a celebration. It’s when Christians celebrate God’s love for the world through the birth of the Christ child: Jesus. The Bible tells of his birth hundreds of years before, fulfilling prophecies .

The Christmas Story in the Bible 

The Christmas story is recorded in Luke 2:4-19 .

"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." ( Luke 2:4-19 )

Get your FREE copy of The Christmas Bible Story -  a beautiful printable reading to reflect on the birth of Jesus. Get your copy today and share with your loved ones!

True Meaning of Christmas: Celebrating the Savior

Jesus was born in order to pay the price for the things we have done wrong: sin. God sent his only son to be the atonement for all our sins so that we would not be separated from God. Without Jesus, we would all die for our sins. We inherited our sinful nature from the first human beings God created, Adam and Eve. While being fully God and yet fully man, Jesus came into the world as an infant to save us all.

Most Christmas traditions vary in significance and symbolic meaning. For example, we exchange gifts because God sent us the most precious gift: his only Son. Also, three Wisemen visited Jesus and brought gifts as well. A poem titled A Visit from St. Nicholas, penned in 1822, popularized the tradition of exchanging gifts too.

Although people worldwide celebrate Christ’s birth on December 25th, it was likely that he was born on a different month and date. The church in the 4th century chose December 25th as it coordinated with the Solstice on the Roman Calendar. (See: When Was Jesus Born? )

For Christians, the true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the Savior, Jesus Christ. We know that through belief in Christ, we are daughters and sons of God. Heaven will one day be our home. Perhaps this will help you look at the Christmas season differently this year. A chance to truly take in the wonder and awe of the season.

Heather Riggleman  calls Nebraska home (Hey, it’s not for everyone) with her three kids and husband of 20 years. She writes to bring bold truths to marriage, career, mental health, faith, relationships, celebration and heartache. Heather is a former national award-winning journalist and is the author of Mama Needs a Time Out and Let’s Talk About Prayer. Her work has been featured on Proverbs 31 Ministries, MOPS, Today's Christian Woman and Focus On the Family. You can find her at heatherriggleman.com.

Photo Credit: Getty

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Essay on Christmas: 100 – 150, 250, and 500 Words

the meaning of christmas essay

  • Updated on  
  • Dec 13, 2023

essay on christmas

Christmas is a festival celebrated by Christians around the world. The festival celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ or the Messiah on 25th December. The English term ‘Christmas’ refers to mass on Christ’s Day or Christ’s mass . Previously, the term has been used in German as ‘ Yule ’ referring to ‘ the feast of the winter solstice’ . In Spanish it was called ‘ Navidad ’ and in Italian ‘ Natale ’ referred to the nativity.

Christmas is celebrated by attending church mass, decorating the Christmas tree with gifts, lights and ornaments, sending out Christmas gifts, and singing carols. Santa Claus, a mythical figure based on Bishop Nicholas plays a pivotal role in the Christmas celebrations. Writing an essay on Christmas can be a fun and interesting activity for students and others as well. For this reason, in this article, we have provided the Christmas essays. Keep reading to know more about the Essay on Christmas.

Also Read: Christmas Decoration Ideas for School

Table of Contents

  • 1 History Behind Christmas
  • 2 Christmas Essay 10 Lines (100-150 Words)
  • 3 Essay on Christmas (250 words)
  • 4 Essay on Christmas (500 words)

History Behind Christmas

Christmas is celebrated every year on 25th December. However, the precise date of the birth of Jesus is unclear. December 25th was  1st celebrated as the date of birth of Jesus by Sextus Julius Africanus in 221. Later on, it became a universally accepted date. One explanation is that 25th December is the Christianizing of the dies solis invicti nati or day of the birth of the unconquered sun”. It is also a popular Roman holiday. Thus, the 25th of December became a widely accepted day as the birth of Jesus. The festival was widely celebrated starting from the 9th Century. By the end of the 18th Century, the practice of giving presents became established.  Later on, the practice of singing carols such as ‘Deck the Halls’,  “Here We Come A-Wassailing”, the central role of Santa Claus, and sending cards became popular. 

Christmas Essay 10 Lines (100-150 Words)

The essay on Christmas must include certain important points. When a student is asked to write an essay on  Christmas these points can be included. Below we have provided a Christmas essay in 10 lines.

  • Christmas is celebrated every year on December 25th
  • The X-Mas tree is decorated every year on Christmas
  • The churches are also decorated with lights and candles on this day
  • The festival marks the birth of Jesus Christ
  • The term ‘Christmas’ has been taken from the words “Cristes maesse”. It can be translated into the ‘mass of Christ’
  • Parties are hosted to enjoy the special Christmas meals
  • A special star-shaped light is hung on every Christan household and churches 
  • Santa Claus is one of the main attractions of this festive season
  • The festival of Christmas symbolizes love and brotherhood

Also Read: Essay on EID

Essay on Christmas (250 words)


Christmas is celebrated on 25th December every year around the world. It is a secular festival that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.  The festival has been celebrated for thousands of years and has evolved from the old pagan celebrations of the winter solstice. That is, the people celebrated the arrival of sunny days and the end of winter. 

Christmas celebrations include decorating the house with stars, decorating the X-mas tree, distributing gifts, and feasting with friends and family. Usually, people start preparing for this festival in advance. Shopping for trees, and baking Christmas cakes are popularly done.

Gifts are hidden by the family members for each other. On Christmas Day, these gifts are opened to share happiness. Moreover, many people dress up as Santa Claus to hand out gifts and candies to the children.  Special events are also organized in schools, colleges, and offices to celebrate the day. Christmas parties are hosted and friends and family meet each other.

Christmas is about spreading joy and happiness. It is a day that symbolizes love and brotherhood. It is observed as a public holiday by countries around the world. It is a popular festival in Japan, , the . Australia, , , Russia, , , Brazil, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Poland, Canada, Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Greece, among others. The festival is also celebrated in India. Roman Catholics celebrate the festival on 25th December at midnight. On the other hand, Protestant churches have the Christmas mass on the evening of December 24th. 

Also Read: Holi Essay: Free Sample Essays 100 To 500 Words In English

Essay on Christmas (500 words)

Christmas is the main festival of Christians. It is a secular festival celebrated worldwide. Hence, 25th December is declared a public holiday. The day marks the birth of Jesus Christ, or the ‘Son of God’ as referred to in the Bible. Christmas includes week-long preparations, community get together, and the exchange of gifts. Dressing up as Santa, decorating the Christmas tree, sending cards, and helping the poor are also a part of the festivities.  Christmas is celebrated in countries like the USA, UK, Germany, Japan, Spain, Austria, etc. 


Traditionally, the middle of the winter season has been celebrated. Civilizations have been celebrating the arrival of sunny days and the end of winter. Although in Rome, winter was not so cold a festival names Saturnalia was celebrated to honour Saturn, the God of Agriculture. The festival meant casting away of the winter and rebirth of summer and spring. Similarly, Christmas came to be celebrated as the birth of Jesus, Writers connected the re-birth of the Sun to the birth of the Son (Son of God- Bible).


Christmas Eve falls a day before Christmas Day. That is 24th December every year.  Christmas Eve is also a public holiday in several parts of the world. In Western countries, the celebration of Christmas begins a day before Christmas. It is the root of the ancient Jewish celebrations. The Book of Genesis states that “there was evening and there was morning the first day”. Therefore, Christmas celebrations begin on the evening of 24th December.

The Christmas celebrations involve attending the Christmas Day mass at a church (eucharistic celebration). This is followed by get-togethers and parties. Generally, gifts particularly cakes are distributed to the people. The preparations for Christmas Day begin weeks before 25th December. Hence, on this Day, almost all Christian houses are decorated. Decorating the Christmas tree, and the creation of a small crib in the house is generally done ahead of time. Special ‘star-shaped lights’ can be found in every Christian household and even in the Church. The stars symbolise the ‘North Star’ that helped the three Kings visit the crib of Jesus when he was born in Bethlehem. 
On Christmas Day, gifts hidden by family members are opened. Cards are sent to loved ones, and many people dress up as Santa Claus to distribute candies to the children. Singing the Christmas carols such as ‘Silent Night’, ‘Jingle Bells’, ‘Joy to the World’, and ‘Go Tell It On the Mountains’ are also popular. Several people also choose to help out the needy before Christmas as a part of celebrations.

Christmas is celebrated on 25th December every year to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a day of giving and sharing. Christmas is celebrated around the world by decorating buildings, Christmas trees, distributing gifts, sending cards, and helping out the needy. Christmas will be celebrated on 25th December, Monday, this year.

Also Read: Essay on Space Exploration

Related Articles

A. An essay on Christmas can be written by writing a proper introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction must contain details regarding the festival. In the main body of the essay, you can add about the history and the present celebrations. Finally, you can conclude the essay by summarizing the Christmas details.

A. Christmas is celebrated on 25th December each year. It is a day of get-togethers, distribution of gifts, and celebrations. A Christmas essay of 100 words can include details about the Christmas celebrations. 

A. Santa Claus is a mythical figure. However, the idea of Santa Claus is based on the charitable activities done by Saint Nick. Saint Nicolas was born in 280 AD, in Turkey. He was known for his kindness.

A. Christmas is a secular festival that reminds the importance of sharing and giving. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The festival is celebrated by decorating houses, churches, and Christmas trees. Moreover, gifts are distributed and get-togethers to do to celebrate Christmas.

Christmas is a festival celebrated by people around the world. It is a Christian festival that denotes the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas falls on 25th December every year. To discover more articles like this one, consult the study abroad experts at Leverage Edu.

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The answer may just surprise you.

For many, Christmas is the time to think of Jesus Christ as a baby in a manger. While the birth of Christ is a special and miraculous event, it isn't the primary focus. The central truth of the Christmas story is this: the Child of Christmas is God.

God in a Manger

Christmas is not about the Savior's infancy; it is about His deity. The humble birth of Jesus Christ was never intended to conceal the reality that God was being born into the world.

But the modern world's version of Christmas does just that. And consequently for the greater part of humanity, Christmas has no legitimate meaning at all.

I don't suppose anyone can ever fathom what it means for God to be born in a manger. How does one explain the Almighty stooping to become a tiny infant? Our minds cannot begin to understand what was involved in God's becoming man.

Nor can anyone explain how God could become a baby. Yet He did. Without forsaking His divine nature or diminishing His deity, He was born into our world as a tiny infant.

He was fully human, with all the needs and emotions that are common to us all. Yet He was also fully God--all wise and all powerful.

For nearly 2,000 years, debate has been raging about who Jesus really is. Cults and skeptics have offered various explanations. They'll say He is one of many gods, a created being, a high angel, a good teacher, a prophet, and so on. The common thread of all such theories is that they make Jesus less than God. But the biblical evidence is overwhelming that this child in the manger was the incarnation of God.

One passage in particular, written by the apostle Paul, captures the essence of Jesus' divine nature and underscores the truths that make Christmas truly wonderful.

Colossians 1:15-20 says,

He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation. For. . . all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

A Ghostly Illusion?

Paul was writing to the Christians at Colossae. The city was under the influence of what came to be known as gnosticism. Its adherents fancied themselves the only ones who had access to the truth, which they believed was so complex that common people couldn't know it. Among other things, they taught philosophical dualism--the idea that matter is evil and spirit is good. They believed that because God is spirit, He is good, but He could never touch matter, which is evil.

Therefore they also concluded that God couldn't be the creator of the physical universe, because if God made matter, He would be responsible for evil. And they taught that God could never become a man, because as a man He would have to dwell in a body made of evil matter.

Those pre-gnostics explained away the incarnation by saying that Jesus was a good angel whose body was only an illusion. That teaching and others like it pervaded the early church; many of the New Testament epistles specifically refute pre-gnostic ideas. In fact, the apostle John attacked the foundation of gnostic teaching when he wrote "By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God" (1 John 4:2).

The apostle Paul refuted that same heresy when he wrote, "By Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created by Him and for Him" (1:16). He specifically affirmed that Jesus is God in the flesh--the Creator of everything.

Like Father, Like Son

Ironically, some of the cults that deny Jesus' deity try to use Colossians 1:15 20 to support their view. They suggest, for example, that the phrase "the image of the invisible God" (v. 15) hints that Jesus was merely a created being who bore the image of God in the same sense as all humanity. But the truth is though we were created in God's likeness, we only resemble Him. Jesus, on the other hand, is God's exact image.

The Greek word translated "image" means a perfect replica, a precise copy, a duplicate. Paul was saying that God Himself is fully manifest in the Person of His Son, who is none other than Jesus Christ. He is the exact image of God. Jesus Himself said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

Hebrews 1 parallels Colossians 1:15-20 at a number of key points. Regarding the statement that Christ is the image of God, for example, Hebrews 1:3 makes an identical affirmation: "He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature." Christ is to God as the warm brilliance of light is to the sun. He brings God from a cosmic location to the very hearts of men and women. He gives light and life. He reveals God's very essence. They cannot be divided, and neither has ever existed without the other--they are one (John 10:30).

Scripture repeatedly says that God is invisible (John 1:18; 5:37; 1 Timothy 1:17; and Colossians 1:15). But through Christ the invisible God has been made visible. God's full likeness is revealed in Him. Colossians 1:19 takes the truth a step further: "It was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him." He is not just an outline of God; He is fully God. Colossians 2:9 is even more explicit: "In Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form." Nothing is lacking. No attribute is absent. He is God in the fullest possible sense, the perfect image.

The Rightful Heir

In Colossians 1:15 Paul says Jesus is "the first born of all creation." Those who reject the deity of Christ have made much of that phrase, assuming it means Jesus was a created being. But the word translated "first born" describes Jesus' rank, not His origin. The first-born in a Hebrew family was the heir, the ranking one, the one who had the right of inheritance. And in a royal family, he had the right to rule.

So Christ is the One who inherits all creation and the right to rule over it. It doesn't mean He was born first in order, for He wasn't.

In Psalm 89:27 God says of David, "I also shall make him My first born, the highest of the kings of the earth." There the meaning of "first born" is given in plain language: "the highest of the kings of the earth." That's what first-born means--Christ is "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 17:16).

Hebrews 1 again has a parallel statement. Verse two says God has appointed His Son "heir of all things." He is the primary One, the Son who has the right to the inheritance, the ranking Person, the Lord of all, heir of all creation.

Creator and King

The claim that "first born" means Christ is a created being completely ignores the context of Colossians 1:15. Remember, you've already seen verses 16 17 explicitly name Him as Creator of everything. Christ is not part of creation; He is the Creator, the very arm of God, active from the beginning in calling the universe and all creatures into existence. John 1:3 says, "All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being." That could not be true if He were Himself a created being.

Hebrews 1:2 also identifies Christ as the Creator. Christ was the Person of the Trinity through whom the world was made and for whom it was fashioned.

The size of the universe is incomprehensible.

Who made all that? Some scientists say there was this big explosion that eventually formed a primordial swamp, and ... Science cannot explain it. God created it all.

The babe in Bethlehem. He made everything.

For further study on the wonderful meaning of Christmas, take a look at these excellent resources (see below):

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By BGEA Admin   •   December 20, 2023   •   Topics: Christmas , Holidays

the meaning of christmas essay

I am trying to teach my children about the true meaning of Christmas and it’s hard to do when the holiday has been turned into a commercial event about all the wrong things. Shouldn’t it be more about the infant Jesus and the sweet story of that first Christmas night?

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

In the midst of all upheaval, crisis, difficulty, problems, and fear comes the true message of Christmas with all of its hope, goodwill, and cheer. The message of Christmas has been terribly misapplied and misunderstood for many years. Some think of business profits, shopping, gifts, tinsel, toys, and celebration. Others think only of Bethlehem, of the star in the sky, shepherds in the field, and angels singing. Still others cynically ask, “Where is this Prince of Peace in a world filled with so much trouble?”

The real Christmas message goes far deeper. It heralds the entrance of God into human history. It is Heaven descending to Earth. It is as though a trumpeter had taken his stand upon the turrets of time and announced to a despairing, hopeless, and frustrated world the coming of the Prince of Peace. It answers all the great questions that plague the human race at this hour. The Christmas message is relevant, revolutionary, and reassuring to us today. I believe it can be summed up in three words: a cradle, a cross, and a crown.

On that first Christmas night, the Bible tells us about the angel coming to those fearful shepherds and saying, “Fear not, I bring you good news” (Luke 2). This is the true meaning of Christmas—the Good News—that God sent His only Son to Earth to save people from their sins. Christmas is not a myth, not a tradition, not a dream—it is a glorious reality.

(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

Searching for answers? Find out how much God loves you.

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Christmas Essay in English for Students

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Christmas Essay in English: Christmas is celebrated on 25 th December every year by the world Christian community. The day holds much significance for Christians as they believe that Jesus Christ was born on the same day at Bethlehem. It is observed as a public holiday in several Christian majority countries. Also, in some countries where Christians are in minority, it is still observed as a holiday.

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Short and Long Essay on Christmas for Children in English

We have provided below short and long essay on Christmas for children in English for your information and knowledge. The essays have been written in simple yet effective English language to make them easily memorable and presentable on need.

After going through these Christmas essays you will know when and why is Christmas celebrated; was Jesus actually born on Christmas; how is Christmas celebrated in India; what is the meaning of merry Christmas; what celebrations are included on Christmas Eve; what is the meaning of Christmas etc.

Following Christmas essay will be extremely useful for Christmas celebrations in your school or college.

the meaning of christmas essay

Christmas Essay in 100 Words

Christians around the world celebrate Christmas on 25 th December. It is observed to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, whom the Christians believe to be the son of God. The festival calls for a grand celebration and is one of the major festivals.

The preparations begin much in advance with the people shopping enthusiastically for gifts and other articles. Children are happiest around the festival as they get lots of gifts and cakes. Families sing, dance and eat together with family and friends on Christmas.

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Essay on Christmas 150 Words

Every year on 25 th December, Christmas is celebrated by the world Christian community to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is the most important festival of the Christians and also the most awaited one.

The popularity of the festival could well be ascertained from the fact that every year in the month of December, gifts and other items worth billions are sold across the world, mostly in western countries.

Christmas is a time to remember Jesus and take out some time for his worship. It is a time to introspect on his teachings and what he tried to teach humanity. Therefore, Christmas is celebrated with a spirit of togetherness and compassion for the poor and needy. People give money and food to the needy, supporting them in whatever way they can.

Christmas Essay 200 Words

Christmas is a major festival celebrated by the Christian community on 25 th December every year. It is celebrated to commemorate the date of birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God. Christmas is observed as a public holiday in many countries and as an optional holiday in some.

In America, Christmas is celebrated as a long holiday in schools, colleges, and even offices. Christmas preparations begin with the purchasing of a pine tree known as the Christmas tree. Families spend hours shopping for a Christmas tree that suits their requirements and house.

This Christmas tree is decorated with lights, lamps and other small articles. Gifts for the children and family are also hanged from its branches as surprises.

Another most important attraction of Christmas is a bonfire and the midnight feats. On the festival day, the family arranges for a large bonfire in the open, where they celebrate with family and friends. They feast, dance and sing Christmas carols around the fire.

The most important aspect of Christmas is giving and sharing. People take time and money to distribute gifts and food to the poor and needy. The festival calls for making an effort to celebrate together, leaving no one behind.

Christmas Essay 250 Words

Christmas is celebrated on 25 th December by the world Christian community. It commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and is thus celebrated with religious fervor.

Christmas is being celebrated for thousands of years and has mostly evolved from an old pagan festival celebrating the winter solstice. People celebrated the arrival of long sunny days and the exit of winter. The arrival of hotter days meant that people could now go out to earn money and do a lot of things.

The most important rituals of Christmas involve decorating the house, distributing gifts and feasting with the family and friends. People start preparing for the festival months in advance. Children love to shop for the Christmas tree, which is the most important thing around Christmas.

Elders hide several gifts for the children in stocking in the Christmas tree. Children wait for the day when the gifts will be revealed to them and they will happily celebrate with the family.

Many workers in shopping malls and market places are dressed as Santa Clause for the entertainment of the customers and the children accompanying them. Special events are organized in the schools/colleges and offices before they close for the holiday.

It is also the time of the year when people meet their relatives and friends and make sure that they eat Christmas feast together.

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Essay on Christmas for Children 300 Words

Christmas is a festival celebrated throughout the world by the Christian community on December 25 th . Not only the Christian community but lately also the non-Christian communities are starting to celebrate it in some way or the other. The festival commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.

Was Jesus Really Born on Christmas?

There is no historical reference to the date of birth of Jesus being 25 th December; neither in the Gospels nor any other religious text. However, theologians believe that he was born sometime between 6 BC and 4 BC. The early Christian Churches weren’t celebrating the birth of Jesus.

It was only around 440 A.D. that the church officially declared December 25 th as the birthday of Jesus Christ. This proclamation was however based on an old pagan festival, rather than any documented proof of Jesus’ birth.

In the bible itself, it is indicated that December 25 th is unlikely to be the birth date of Jesus Christ as December in Palestine is a very cold month and the shepherds around this month are not out on the fields but inside the house.

Christmas in India

Christmas is observed as a public holiday in India. Many schools, colleges, and offices are closed on Christmas. Indian Christians begin the day by visiting church in the morning. Churches are especially decorated and special sermons are read.

People decorate their houses, greet each other and dine together with family and friends. Gifts are also given to children and other family members.

Christmas is nonetheless a festival of joy and calls for a grand celebration. Another most significant aspect of Christmas is that it is a secular festival that is it promotes giving, sharing and caring across any demographic division.

Christmas Essay for Children 350 Words

Every year on 25 th December, Christmas is celebrated by the Christian community. The festival is celebrated on the day when Jesus Christ was born. The tradition and custom of Christmas are billions of years old and are celebrated with great festive fervor.

Christmas as a Holiday

Christmas is observed as a public holiday in several countries throughout the world. Gradually the celebration has become more popular by every passing year and today also the non-Christian communities throughout the world are eagerly celebrating Christmas together with the Christian community.

Countries, where Christmas isn’t celebrated as a public holiday, include Libya, Maldives, Kuwait, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Somalia, The United Arab Emirates and Pakistan among others.

Tradition and Gifts

Traditions of Christmas dates back to thousands of years and have their roots in a mid-winter festival observed to celebrate the arrival of long sunny days. Thereby it signifies the going of long, harsh winter and the arrival of more productive hot days. Therefore, Christmas is celebrated as a festival of joy throughout the world.

There is a tradition of decorating the houses with the Christmas tree, lights, and other decorative articles. Christmas trees are also decorated with lights and stuffed with small gifts for the children and family.

Elders of the family place gifts in the Christmas tree as a surprise for the children. Children eagerly wait for the night of the Christmas when they are allowed to open their gifts. Family and friends also visit each other and often dine together during the Christmas month.

Christmas – A Pagan Holiday

The traditions of Christmas have often been speculated to being pagan or non-Christian. The tradition of giving gifts and stuffing stockings with them reflects an ancient tradition that has been in existence, even thousands of years before Christianity.

In the past couple of centuries the modern Christmas the festival has evolved as the mix of original celebrations around the birth of Jesus and old pagan midwinter celebrations.

Christmas is one of Christianity’s most significant holiday and most celebrated in this World. It is the festival of sharing, decorating, and happiness. It is also the day when the divide between the poor and rich is diminished and a smile is brought to the face of everyone.

Christmas Essay 7 400 Words

The festival of Christmas is celebrated on December 25 th by the Christian community throughout the world. The festival has been largely accepted by the non-Christian community also and is celebrated together as a secular event.

What is Special about Christmas?

The most special thing about Christmas is that it celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God. The date 25 th December had been a very special date for the world Christian community for billions of years.

The day stirs up many emotions of joy, caring and giving among billions across the globe. It is also a time to worship, visit the church and to introspect into your soul. Community feasting is also held for the poor and needy.

Christmas becomes more special when it brings a smile to the faces of millions of faces including the rich and the poor. Those who find it hard to buy a gift or celebrate due to financial constraints are overwhelmed by the affluent and helped by giving gifts and sharing food.

Meaning of “Merry Christmas”

The term Merry Christmas is popularly used during Christmas celebrations throughout the world. Though the festival of Christmas is billions of years old, the term “Merry” was only recently added to it in the 19 th century.

The term “Merry Christmas” originated in England, and was introduced by the authors like Charles Dickens and Washington Irving, who used the term in several of their writings.

The term Merry Christmas signifies the tradition of being merry and make merry. In other words, it is a festival of joy, staying joyful and making others happy.

How Christians Celebrate Christmas Festival?

Christian community celebrates Christmas with exception religious fervor, fun, and joy. The preparations for the holiday begin weeks before Christmas, sometimes even months. People start making arrangements well in advance, for the festive events.

Families go out to purchase, a Christmas tree, which is an important attraction during Christmas. Gifts are brought for the children, family, and friends and also for the poor. Children are the most excited and happy around Christmas, for they get many surprises and gifts.

On the night of Christmas, an open feast is organized, in which the family and friends feed around a bonfire. The food is also distributed among the poor and underprivileged.

Christmas is a special festival in more than one way. It is the day when Jesus Christ was born, however, it is also the day when the divide between the poor and rich is diminished and a smile is brought to the face of everyone. The festival teaches to tend to the needy and be considerate towards humanity as a whole.

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Essay on Christmas for Children 500 Words

Christmas is a major festival celebrated by the worldwide Christian community on 25 th December, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. It involves weeks-long festive preparations, exchanging gifts, community get together and feasting. It is also a public holiday in many of the world’s countries.

Meaning of Christmas

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, whom the Christians consider as the son of God. The name Christmas has been derived from Christ’s Mass or the Mass of the Christ. The term Mass is used to indicate an act of worship that culminates in celebration.

Traditionally “Masses” include reading sermons and offering bread and wine to the poor and other members of the community. Therefore, the true meaning of Christmas is to give and take care of the needs of those who can’t look for themselves.

Brief and Real History of Christmas

Even before the birth of Jesus Christ, the middle of the winter season had long been a time of celebration throughout the world. Civilizations had been celebrating the winter solstice for long as the arrival of sunny days and the exit of long harsh winter.

However, in Rome, where the winter was not so cold after all, a festival named Saturnalia, to honor Saturn, the God of Agriculture was observed. Beginning on the winter solstice, the festival continued for a complete month. The festival was celebrated grandly and schools and colleges were closed for a complete month for everyone to thoroughly enjoy the festival.

Christmas Eve

The term Christmas Eve is used for the evening or the day before Christmas Day. Christmas Eve is also observed as a holiday in many parts of the world. Both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day together constitute a significant part of the Christmas holidays.

The celebration of Christmas in western Christianity begins the day before Christmas that is on 24 th December. This has possibly its roots in the ancient Jewish celebrations and also in the story of creation in the Book of Genesis which states that “And there was evening and there was morning- the first day”.

Christmas Celebration

Christmas Day is celebrated as a public holiday in many countries around the world, even in the countries where the Christian community is in minority. Many countries with a low population of Christians also celebrate the day as a secular event. Gift and other articles are distributed among the poor and also a feast is organized. Anyone from any background is invited in the feast which is especially meant for the poor.

Christmas tree is another most significant part of the celebrations. In western countries, there couldn’t be a Christmas celebration without the Christmas tree. People spend hours choosing the best Christmas tree for their house and requirements. The tree is brought home and decorated with lights, gifts, and other articles.

Though Christmas celebrates the birth of the son of God Jesus Christ, the main spirit of the festival lies in giving and sharing. It is a festival when the poor are fed, gifts are exchanged and no one is left hungry without a smile on his/her face.

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FAQs on Christmas Essay

What is christmas.

Christmas is a holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

What day is Christmas?

Christmas is a Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated on December 25th by Christians around the world.

When is Christmas?

Christmas is observed on December 25th in many countries around the world.

What is the meaning of Christmas?

What is meaning of merry christmas.

The term Merry Christmas is popularly used during Christmas celebrations throughout the world. It signifies the tradition of being merry and make merry. In other words, it is a festival of joy, staying joyful and making others happy.

Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ was a Jewish teacher and religious leader who was born in the first century AD. He is the central figure of Christianity, and Christians believe that he is the Son of God and the savior of humanity.

Who is Santa Claus?

The legend of Santa Claus is said to live at the North Pole, and he is often depicted as a jolly old man with a white beard and red suit. He is said to travel around the world on a sleigh pulled by a team of reindeer, and he delivers presents to children who have been good throughout the year.

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