Where did the birth of Christ come from?

Christmas is one of the most important Christian holidays. The Catholics celebrate it on December 25, the Orthodox on January 7 (according to a new style). According to the biblical legend, it was on the night of 6 to 7 January that the son of Jesus was born in Bethlehem at the virgin Virgin Mary who was conceived virginally. Christmas - a holiday not secular, international, interethnic. The Christian religion is one of the most widespread on the Earth. Today, just over a quarter of the world's population are Christians, so we can safely say that Christmas is celebrated everywhere, on all continents.

According to non-biblical sources, the history of Christmas begins in the 4th century AD. And is in no way connected with the true birth of a man-god. In ancient times, the exact date of the birth of Jesus Christ was the subject of dispute among many church authors. To this day, the texts of the Greek theologian Clement of Alexandria (150-215) have come down, in which the real date of the birth of Christ is indicated, and this is by no means 25 December. According to the work of the theologian, Jesus Christ was born on May 20. The appearance of the Christmas holiday is associated with the Roman Catholic Church. The choice of the date of its celebration, as many historians believe, is not accidental. During the time of paganism on December 25, the birthday of the Sun of the Invincible was celebrated, associated with the increase in the light day after the winter solstice. The Catholic Church introduced a new meaning to the celebration of the birthday of the Sun. Henceforth, the birth of the Sun and the birth of Christ have become practically synonymous. With the passage of time, and with the spread of Christianity, the first was completely forgotten.

In the city of three religions - Jerusalem, Cyprus and Alexandria until the 6th century, Christmas was celebrated simultaneously with another important Christian holiday - Epiphany (January 6). Today, this tradition has survived only in Armenia.

Over the past hundred years, historians and scientists have found many artifacts, indicating that the Christmas holiday was equally highly regarded in the territories of various countries in which Christianity prevailed. This is a temple erected in honor of the birth of Christ in place of the Bethlehem cave on the orders of Queen Helena, this is the teachings of the theologians of the 4th century, written exactly on the Holy Day, these are notes about the universal celebration of Christmas in the code of Justinian.

The Ancient Church revered the Nativity of Christ along with Easter. In the churches of all the Christian countries of the world, this day was a great festival, which was preceded by a forty-day Christmas post. Christmas Eve (the day before the holiday) bore the name Christmas Eve and assumed the strictest fast. On this day of the year, all Christians were allowed to eat only bread grains soaked in water. On Christmas Eve, churches and temples performed hymns and three mass services (at night, in the morning and in the afternoon). The latter were called Angelic, Pastoral and Imperial.

Modern Christmas holidays are marked somewhat differently. Today, Christmas is, first of all, a family holiday, preceding the beginning of the new year (or as in our country, ending its celebration), connected with receiving gifts and congratulations from relatives. In Russia, the holy Christmas night comes from 6 to 7 January. At this time in all Orthodox churches in the country there are festive divine services. In many countries around the world, Christmas is synonymous with charity. In European cities, during the Christmas holidays, dining rooms for poor citizens are opened, and in large shopping centers, days of holiday sales are held. In recent decades, Christmas donations to various charitable foundations have become especially popular.

Christmas - a holiday of good, peace and forgiveness. It is on this day that we all become little children, regardless of whether we believe in God or not, and wait for some miracle. And miracles, as you know, happen only with those who really believe in them.