by Paul Myers

Christmas is one of our favourite times of the year. This is because it is one of the only times when every body gets together and celebrates, people are happier and it is a time when you can forget all of your worries and just be with your family and friends. You can enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city as you rush to get your last minute shopping, decorate the house with a Real Christmas tree or Artificial Christmas tree and hanging Christmas decorations, and the smell of freshly baked cookies and pies fill homes all over the world. Yes, Christmas is truly a wonderful time of the year, but unfortunately many people have forgotten the real meaning of Christmas. What is the history of Christmas and why do we celebrate it each year? If you want to remember the true meaning to the festive period, or if you would like to teach your children a little bit about it, then read this article to find out more.

Probably one of the most famous icons of the festive period is Santa Claus. A jolly old man with a beard and a red and white coat who climbs down your chimney on Christmas Eve and leaves gifts for the children underneath the tree. He flies in a sleigh with magical reindeer and he delivers presents to children all over the world in just one night.

The history of Christmas begins with the Virgin Mary. She was visited one night by a vision of God and told that she would become pregnant with a child, his son. As her pregnancy progressed, Mary and her husband Joseph travelled to Bethlehem on the back of a donkey and arrived there to find that there was no shelter for them to stay in. Mary and Joseph were invited to stay in a stable and it was on this night, in the stable that Mary gave birth to the son of God, Jesus Christ. This is why we celebrate Christmas each year and some of the other traditions which we use during this festive period stem from the birth of Jesus.

The act of giving friends and loved ones presents comes from the three wise men who visited Jesus and presented him with three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh and this is why now we give each other presents, to represent the gifts that were bought to Jesus on the day that he was born. The star which we place upon our Christmas trees represents the guiding Star of David which the three wise men followed in order to find Jesus in his stable. The angel which some people place on top of their trees instead of a star represents the guiding angel which helped the shepherds during this time.

Recycle it into compost. Some cities will collect your tree and compost it, or you can do it yourself. A tree can be turned into mulch, too, so it pays to think about what your landscaping needs are going to be when the snow melts sink it in a pond. A tree can offer refuge to fish if you live on a private lake or have a pond. We'd only recommend this if you're sure the tree hasn't been treated with chemicals that could harm the aquatic ecosystem. - 39969

About the Author:

Paul Myers provides articles on behalf of the Christmas Tree Company, the official website of the Christmas Tree Company Online Ltd, a provider of premium quality Personalised Christmas Decorations and Christmas Tree Baubles. The company is located in the North West of England and delivers nationwide.