圣诞节的由来英文版

　　圣诞节的由来英文版
　　christmasisachristianholidaythatcelebratesthebirthofjesuschrist。nooneknowstheexactdateofchristsbirth，butmostchristiansobservechristmasondecember25。onthisday，manygotochurch，wheretheytakepartinspecialreligiousservices。duringthechristmasseason，theyalsoexchangegiftsanddecoratetheirhomeswithholly，mistletoe，andchristmastrees。thewordchristmascomesfromcristesmaesse，anearlyenglishphrasethatmeansmassofchrist。thestoryofchristmascomeschieflyfromthegospelsofsaintlukeandsaintmatthewinthenewtestament。
　　thehistoryofchristmasdatesbackover4000years。manyofourchristmastraditionswerecelebratedcenturiesbeforethechristchildwasborn。the12daysofchristmas，thebrightfires，theyulelog，thegivingofgifts，carnivals（parades）withfloats，carolerswhosingwhilegoingfromhousetohouse，theholidayfeasts，andthechurchprocessionscanallbetracedbacktotheearlymesopotamians。
　　manyofthesetraditionsbeganwiththemesopotamiancelebrationofnewyears。themesopotamiansbelievedinmanygods，andastheirchiefgodmarduk。eachyearaswinterarriveditwasbelievedthatmardukwoulddobattlewiththemonstersofchaos。toassistmardukinhisstrugglethemesopotamiansheldafestivalforthenewyear。thiswaszagmuk，thenewyearsfestivalthatlastedfor12days。
　　thepersiansandthebabylonianscelebratedasimilarfestivalcalledthesacaea。partofthatcelebrationincludedtheexchangingofplaces，theslaveswouldbecomethemastersandthemastersweretoobey。theancientgreeksheldafestivalsimilartothatofthezagmuksacaeafestivalstoassisttheirgodkronoswhowouldbattlethegodzeusandhistitans。
　　theromanscelebratedtheirgodsaturn。theirfestivalwascalledsaturnaliawhichbeganthemiddleofdecemberandendedjanuary1st。withcriesofjosaturnalia！thecelebrationwouldincludemasqueradesinthestreets，bigfestivemeals，visitingfriends，andtheexchangeofgoodluckgiftscalledstrenae（luckyfruits）。theromansdeckedtheirhallswithgarlandsoflaurelandgreentreeslitwithcandles。againthemastersandslaveswouldexchangeplaces。
　　josaturnalia！wasafunandfestivetimefortheromans，butthechristiansthoughtitanabominationtohonorthepagangod。theearlychristianswantedtokeepthebirthdayoftheirchristchildasolemnandreligiousholiday，notoneofcheerandmerrimentaswasthepagansaturnalia。
　　somelegendsclaimthatthechristianchristmascelebrationwasinventedtocompeteagainstthepagancelebrationsofdecember。the25thwasnotonlysacredtotheromansbutalsothepersianswhosereligionmithraismwasoneofchristianitysmainrivalsatthattime。thechurcheventuallywassuccessfulintakingthemerriment，lights，andgiftsfromthesaturaniliafestivalandbringingthemtothecelebrationofchristmas。
　　theexactdayofthechristchildsbirthhasneverbeenpinpointed。traditionssaythatithasbeencelebratedsincetheyear98ad。in137adthebishopofromeorderedthebirthdayofthechristchildcelebratedasasolemnfeast。in350adanotherbishopofrome，juliusi，choosedecember25thastheobservanceofchristmas。
　　thebirthofjesushadastory：innazareth，acityofgalilee。thevirginsnamewasmarywasbetrothedtojoseph。beforetheycametogether，shewasfoundwithchildoftheholyspirit。josephherhusbandwasmindedtoputherawaysecretly。whilehethoughtaboutthesethings，gabriel，anangelofthelordappearedtohiminadreamandtoldhimdidnotbeafraidtotakemaryaswife。andmarywillbringforthason，andheshallcallhisname，jesus，forhewillsavehispeoplefromtheirsins。
　　beforejesusbirths，josephandmarycametoquirniuswasgoverningsyria。soallwenttoberegistered，everyonetohisowncity。josephalsowentupoutofgalilee，outofthecityofnazareth，intojudea，tothecityofdavid，whichiscalledbethlehem，becausehewasofthehouseandofthelineageofdavid，toberegisteredwithmary，hisbetrothedwife，whowaswithchild。soitwasthatwhiletheywerethere，thedayswerecompletedforhertobedelivered。andshebroughtforthherfirstbornson，andwrappedhiminswaddlingcloths，andlaidhiminamanger，becausetherewasnoroomforthemintheinn。
　　andthat，christmasisthefeastofthenativityofjesus，ison25th，decembereveryyear。butnobodyknowstheactualbirthdayofjesus。andthechristmashasbecomepopularwhenchristmascardsappearedin1846andtheconceptofajollysantaclauswasfirstmadepopularinnineteenthcentury。
　　thecustomofgivinggiftstorelativesandfriendsonaspecialdayinwinterprobablybeganinancientromeandnortherneurope。intheseregions，peoplegaveeachothersmallpresentsaspartoftheiryearendcelebrations。
　　inthe1800s，twomorechristmascustomsbecamepopulardecoratingchristmastreesandsendingchristmascardstorelativesandfriends。manywellknownchristmascarols，includingsilentnightandhark！theheraldangelssing，werecomposedduringthisperiod。intheunitedstatesandothercountries，santaclausreplacedsaintnicholasasthesymbolofgiftgiving。
　　thewordxmasissometimesusedinsteadofchristmas。thistraditionbeganintheearlychristianchurch。ingreek，xisthefirstletterofchristsname。itwasfrequentlyusedasaholysymbol。
　　ldquo；圣诞节rdquo；这个名称是ldquo；基督弥撒rdquo；的缩写。弥撒是教会的一种礼拜仪式。耶诞节是一个宗教节。我们把它当作耶稣的诞辰来庆祝，因而又名耶诞节。这一天，世界所有的基督教会都举行特别的礼拜仪式。但是有很多圣诞节的欢庆活动和宗教并无半点关联。交换礼物，寄圣诞卡，这都使圣诞节成为一个普天同庆的日子。
　　圣诞节是基督教世界最大的节日。4世纪初，1月6日是罗马帝国东部各教会纪念耶稣降生和受洗的双重节日、称为ldquo；主显节rdquo；epiphany，亦称ldquo；显现节rdquo；即上帝通过耶稣向世人显示自己。当时只有耶路撒冷的教会例外，那里只纪念耶稣的诞生而不纪念耶稣的受洗。