This is the fourth and final post in this series which looked at each of the religious celebrations occurring in the month of December. Having already covered Bodhi Day (Buddhism, Hanukkah (Judaism), Yule (Paganism) we will now take a look at Christianity’s celebration of Christmas.
Christmas: The Feast of the Nativity
Christmas is called the “Feast of the Nativity” because it is the celebration of the birth (nativity) of Jesus Christ, as the incarnation of God in human form. The word “nativity” comes from the Latin nativitas, meaning “birth,” so the title simply emphasizes that December 25 is kept as a feast day honoring Christ’s coming into the world.
The Chosen Name: Jesus Christ
According to Christian scripture, an angel of God named Gabriel, instructed that the child being born to Mary and Joseph of Nazareth be named Jesus because he “will save his people from their sins.”
Jesus is Hebrew meaning “Yahweh saves” – Yahweh being the Hebrew word for God. Christ comes from the Greek word “Christos” (Χριστός), meaning “anointed one,” which directly translates the Hebrew term Messiah (Mashiach). Christ is a title, not a surname, signifying Jesus as the chosen, empowered King and Savior.
The word “Christmas” comes from the Old English phrase “Cristes Maesse” meaning “Christ’s Mass.”
Christianity is the largest religion in the world today with an estimated 2.38 to 2.6 million adherents representing 31% – 32% of the world’s population. As such, from a standpoint of understanding, I think it would be a good idea to take a moment… or 15… to learn the story of Christmas as it was a very significant religious event that continues to shape our world today. I hope you enjoy it.