Christmas Key words:- Advent Incarnation Nativity Epiphany

Advent lAlAdvent is the four week period leading up to Christmas lIlIt begins on November 30 th or the nearest Sunday to this day lTlThe word ‘Advent’ means ‘arrival’ and advent is a period of preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth or the Incarnation. lAlAdvent marks the beginning of the Church’s year.

Advent l Advent is a solemn season and in the past it was celebrated in the same way as Lent, with fasting and penitence. l One of the customs associated with Advent is making Advent wreaths. These are rings of evergreens such as holly and ivy, with four red candles in them. One candle is lit on each Sunday of Advent until, at Christmas, all four are burning.

A special birth l The Bible tells us of an angel’s message to Mary, a young woman, a virgin, living in Nazareth that she had been chosen to be the mother of this special child l There are two accounts of this event – one in the Gospel of Luke and the other in the Gospel of Matthew

The Nativity Play l At Christmas, many young children act out the events of that first Christmas in Nativity plays (nativity means ‘birth’) l The first such play took place on Christmas Eve in 1223 when Francis of Assisi and his followers climbed the rocky hillside above their village of Greccio in Italy, and prepared a manger.

The Nativity Play l Local people came to join them, carrying burning torches to light up the night. l Oxen and donkeys were led in and the joy and hardship of Jesus’ birth were acted out l As the villagers watched, St Francis began to tell the story of the first Christmas, taking the part of each character in turn. l Francis was determined that ordinary men and women should understand what it meant for God’s son to be poor, in a place where animals were sheltered.

Epiphany l Matthews Gospel tells of three visitors from the East who brought gifts to Jesus soon after his birth. l Today, Christians still celebrate the coming of these three to visit Jesus (Matthew, chapter 2, verses 1 – 12) on the feast of Epiphany (6 th January). l Epiphany means ‘to make obvious’ or ‘to reveal’. l The visitors recognised Jesus as the true King and saviour, the rescuer of the world.

Epiphany l They showed the importance of Jesus by the gifts they gave him:- l Gold – a gift for kings l Frankincense – a sweet smelling incense used in worship; it was to show that Jesus is to be worshipped l Myrrh – a spice that was used to prepare dead bodies for burial; this gift is seen as foretelling that Jesus, the rescuer, had to die in order to save the world

So…………What is Christmas? l Christmas is one of the most important festivals of the Christian year l Christmas celebrates the incarnation, when God came to earth in human form. l No – one actually knows exactly when Jesus was born, and it is actually more likely to have been in spring than winter

So………… What is Christmas? l The date of Christmas was fixed by Pope Gregory as late as 354 C.E. l Christmas was placed at this time to absorb pagan festivals of the winter solstice on 21 st December. l It also incorporated the Roman festival of Saturnalia and the Northern European Yule festival. l The practice of putting models of the manger in Churches was started, as said, by St Francis of Assisi

So…………What is Christmas? l The practice of giving presents has two origins l 1. The festival of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children takes place on 6 th December and it commemorates this event l OR……… l 2. The visit of the wise men to Bethlehem when they brought gifts to Jesus is remembered. l Most Christians now give cards and presents as part of the Christmas ritual

So…………What is Christmas? l Christmas is the second most important festival of the Christian calendar after Easter. l Some Christians have an advent calendar at home which they use in the build up to Christmas. l The word ‘Christmas’ comes from the old English ‘Chrestes Maesoes’, which means ‘Christ’s mass’. l Many Christians go to Midnight Mass (Holy Communion or the Eucharist) starting normally at on Christmas Eve and running through to on Christmas morning.