the day of Christmas is celebrated in December 25th in countries that share the Christian tradition and is one of the most important dates of the year in those countries. It is on this date that the birth of JesusChrist, regarded as one of the people of TrinitySanta (the Son of God) and the Messiah, that is, the one who came into the world to redeem sins and save mankind. We know, however, that there is no source to indicate that Christ was born on December 25th. This day came to be identified as the birth day of the savior of Christians during the process of Christianization of the ancient EmpireRoman, in which various dates of pagan cults came to be assimilated by Christianity.
See too:Christmas story
Why is December 25th Christmas Day?
December 25th coincides with the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, a phenomenon in which the day becomes the smallest of the year. This natural feature went on to produce a series of symbolic systems for ancient civilizations, including the classical ones, which flourished in Europe, such as the Greeks and Romans. In ancient Rome, for example, at least three gods were worshiped during this period:
Saturn, Apollo and Miter. For the latter, in the year 273, the emperoraurelian established exactly on the 25th of December the Natalis Solis Invicti, “Birth of the Invincible Sun”, a cult associated with the mythological origin of this god.We know that Christians began to penetrate the domains of the Roman Empire since the last decades of the first century. As the Roman population became massively converted to the Christian religion, this cult of the “Birth of the Invincible Sun” became associated with the birth of Jesus Christ. In this way, the date of December 25th was re-signified. With the conversion of emperorConstantine in the fourth century, this association became increasingly present and universal.
Party brings together Christian and pagan elements
Over the centuries, Christmas became, in addition to a typically religious festival with its own symbolism (such as the nativity scene, created by Saint Francis of Assisi in the Middle Ages), a party with several other symbols that blend with Christian symbolism to compose an atmosphere of joy and fellowship. This is the case, for example, of the Christmas tree, which is often set up in public and private spaces at Christmas time to place the gifts which will be exchanged after the supper. Tree symbolism was already present among civilizations in Mesopotamia, such as the Babylonians, and in Northern Europe, besides being present in the tradition of archaic Judaism, before being assimilated by Christianity, especially by They areBoniface.
See too: Christmas Tree Story
How did the Santa Claus figure become popular at Christmas time?
Another strong symbol of Christmas, the Santa Claus, has a similar trajectory. Among the barbarian peoples of Northern Europe, there was a legend of the “old man of winter”, who, at the end of the year, knocked on the doors of houses asking for shelter and food. Whoever gave him what he asked could enjoy, next year, a milder winter season. Gradually, the figure of an old man and other similar legends came to be associated with the figure of They areNicholas, a Christian bishop who preached in the region of present-day Turkey in the fourth century. São Nicolau was known for, in December, giving gifts to children who lived in its region. This practice of generosity ended up creating the image of the “good old man” that would later be dissociated from the referred to as a saint and transformed into an advertising figure for candy and toy stores in the late nineteenth century and beginning of the XX.
By Me. Cláudio Fernandes
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/datas-comemorativas/dia-de-natal.htm