2008-10-01

The History of Christmas

The History of Christmas
The history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years. Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated centuries before the Christ child was born. The 12 days of Christmas, the bright fires, the yule log, the giving of gifts, carnivals(parades) with floats, carolers who sing while going from house to house, the holiday feasts, and the church processions can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians.
Many of these traditions began with the Mesopotamian celebration of New Years. The Mesopotamians believed in many gods, and as their chief god - Marduk. Each year as winter arrived it was believed that Marduk would do battle with the monsters of chaos. To assist Marduk in his struggle the Mesopotamians held a festival for the New Year. This was Zagmuk, the New Year's festival that lasted for 12 days.
The Mesopotamian king would return to the temple of Marduk and swear his faithfulness to the god. The traditions called for the king to die at the end of the year and to return with Marduk to battle at his side.
To spare their king, the Mesopotamians used the idea of a "mock" king. A criminal was chosen and dressed in royal clothes. He was given all the respect and privileges of a real king. At the end of the celebration the "mock" king was stripped of the royal clothes and slain, sparing the life of the real king.
The Persians and the Babylonians celebrated a similar festival called the Sacaea. Part of that celebration included the exchanging of places, the slaves would become the masters and the masters were to obey.
Early Europeans believed in evil spirits, witches, ghosts and trolls. As the Winter Solstice approached, with its long cold nights and short days, many people feared the sun would not return. Special rituals and celebrations were held to welcome back the sun.
In Scandinavia during the winter months the sun would disappear for many days. After thirty-five days scouts would be sent to the mountain tops to look for the return of the sun. When the first light was seen the scouts would return with the good news. A great festival would be held, called the Yuletide, and a special feast would be served around a fire burning with the Yule log. Great bonfires would also be lit to celebrate the return of the sun. In some areas people would tie apples to branches of trees to remind themselves that spring and summer would return.
The ancient Greeks held a festival similar to that of the Zagmuk/Sacaea festivals to assist their god Kronos who would battle the god Zeus and his Titans.
The Roman's celebrated their god Saturn. Their festival was called Saturnalia which began the middle of December and ended January 1st. With cries of "Jo Saturnalia!" the celebration would include masquerades in the streets, big festive meals, visiting friends, and the exchange of good-luck gifts called Strenae (lucky fruits).
The Romans decked their halls with garlands of laurel and green trees lit with candles. Again the masters and slaves would exchange places
"Jo Saturnalia!" was a fun and festive time for the Romans, but the Christians though it an abomination to honor the pagan god. The early Christians wanted to keep the birthday of their Christ child a solemn and religious holiday, not one of cheer and merriment as was the pagan Saturnalia.
But as Christianity spread they were alarmed by the continuing celebration of pagan customs and Saturnalia among their converts. At first the Church forbid this kind of celebration. But it was to no avail. Eventually it was decided that the celebration would be tamed and made into a celebration fit for the Christian Son of God.
Some legends claim that the Christian "Christmas" celebration was invented to compete against the pagan celebrations of December. The 25th was not only sacred to the Romans but also the Persians whose religion Mithraism was one of Christianity's main rivals at that time. The Church eventually was successful in taking the merriment, lights, and gifts from the Saturanilia festival and bringing them to the celebration of Christmas.
The exact day of the Christ child's birth has never been pinpointed. Traditions say that it has been celebrated since the year 98 AD. In 137 AD the Bishop of Rome ordered the birthday of the Christ Child celebrated as a solemn feast. In 350 AD another Bishop of Rome, Julius I, choose December 25th as the observance of Christmas.

1 comments
Labels: , Posted by shi at 10/01/2008

2008-09-12

Will Santy come to Shanty town ?

Will Santy come to Shanty town
To a poor little boy like me?
Will he bring me some toys
Like the other girls and boys?
Will Santy come to Shanty town
If he sees our Christmas tree?
Mommy said he would
If I promised to be good.
For we don't have a fireplace
Or a chimney on our shack
Like the other lucky children have
Who lived across the track.
Now if I say my prayers each day
When Christmas rolls around
Will Santy come to Shanty town.

He didn't stop last Christmas Eve
Doesn't he know we live here
Will my mommy have to paint my toys
The way she did last year.
Now if I say my prayers each day
When Christmas rolls around
Will Santy come to Shanty town...

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Labels: , Posted by shi at 9/12/2008

Parents,Don't tell the child Santa is not real

Parents,Don't tell the child Santa is not real

For the child ,the Christmas day is not only a fetival day.it's a day for them to make a wish ,it's quite important day ,and they all like Christmas and Santa. they belive Santa is real.

this is a very good thing and this help the child to grow up more happy. actually they belive Santa is one of their best friends. If you tell them that Santa is not real,the child will think he or she betrays the good friends.the child just needs the good friend.they want to share their feelings and thoughts with santa.and they expect santa to bring them some gifts.

so the parents should not tell the child Santa is not real,this may disappint them.

when they grow old enough ,they will understabd the whole thing.it's much better to tell them when they are old enough.the parents can enjoy the christmas season with the child,it's never too old to enjoy christmas.

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Labels: , , , Posted by shi at 9/12/2008

will santa come to my house ?

will santa come to my house ?

Every child expects Santa to go to their houses,and Santa knows what each child wants.

On Christmas Eve,santa will travell around the world,and visit every child.

he bring some small gifts for each child,and perhaps will give more gifts to the good child.So every child should be a better boy, so that Santa will give them some gifts.

the gifts are usually small,because there are so many children on the earth,so he can't give each boy a big gift, the deer can't carry so many gifts,but there are enough small gifts .

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Labels: , , Posted by shi at 9/12/2008

2008-04-29

About Santa Claus

About Santa

Santa maintains a huge list of children who have been good throughout the year. The list even includes addresses, ZIP codes and postal codes. The list, of course, gets bigger each year by virtue of the world’s increasing population. This year’s population right now is 6,634,570,959!

Santa has had to adapt over the years to having less and less time to deliver his toys. If one were to assume he works in the realm of standard time, as we know it, clearly he would have perhaps two to three ten-thousandths of a second to deliver his toys to each child’s home he visits!





The fact that Santa Claus is more than 15 centuries old and does not appear to age is our biggest clue that he does not work within time, as we know it. His Christmas Eve trip may seem to take around 24 hours, but to Santa it could be that it lasts days, weeks or months in standard time. Santa would not want to rush the important job of bringing Christmas happiness to a child, so the only logical conclusion is that Santa somehow functions on a different time and space continuum.


Official Google Blog: Tracking Santa, then and now

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Labels: , Posted by shi at 4/29/2008

2008-04-26

Jingle Bells Song

Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight

watch this Jingle Bells vedio:



Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh

A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
We got into a drifted bank
And then we got upsot

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh yeah

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one horse open sleigh

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Labels: , , Posted by shi at 4/26/2008

2008-04-25

Receiving Toys from Santa Claus.

Receiving Toys from Santa Claus. tracking santa claus 2008 with NORAD and Google .
tracking santa claus 2008 with NORAD and Google .

On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus, (a fat, cheerful man who wears a red suit, red hat, and long white beard) slides down their chimney to bring children gifts. Santa Claus flies through the air in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. Several days or weeks before Christmas, children tell Santa Claus what toys they want by writing him letters or visiting him in a local department store. Then, on Christmas Eve, youngsters lie awake listening for Santa and his sleigh.
what can I do to recieve Santa's Christmas gifts?
Hanging a stocking near the chimney.
Tell Santa what gift you want by writing him a letter.
Decorating the Home with evergreens.
Singing Christmas carols.
more about Santa Claus:

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Labels: Posted by shi at 4/25/2008

NORAD Tracks Santa - Reindeer Lake, Canada

Santa in Canada

watch this video.

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Labels: Posted by shi at 4/25/2008

2008-04-24

Official Santa Mail Letter-A letter from Santa Claus

this letter is from Santa Claus to you .

Official Santa Mail Letter from Santa Claus !

Official Santa Mail Letter

We have been very busy up here at the North Pole with preparations for all the toys and my new sleigh. The old sleigh has served me well but I really am looking forward to some interesting new modifications and upgrades that I have been promised.


We're getting ready for the long arctic nights and we have had reports of a deep fog getting ready to descend upon us here at the North Pole. I sure hope it won't keep me grounded on Christmas Eve! Rudolf's red nose is always very helpful when the weather gets troublesome.

Chuckles and Buckley, my hospitality elves, are very busy overseeing the new sleigh production, the reindeer training camp, the toy workshop and so much more before the big day arrives. I think I'll go and check to see how that new sleigh is coming along.

After looking at all of the lists this year , I am pleased to see you are on the "Nice List" again this year and I am so proud of you!

Since you are on my "Nice List" again, I would like to ask for your help. I encourage you to begin practicing random acts of kindness with your family, friends and teachers. It is very important right now to spread as much happiness in the world as possible, and with your help Stone From China, we can make that dream come true!

Random acts of kindness are simple actions a person does for someone else without expecting anything in return. If you practice it enough, it will give you a great sense of joyfulness in your heart. It can be something as simple as a smile or pleasant greeting.

Stay happy and safe,and remember to share the joy you feel in your heart everyday to everyone!

Love - Your Friend,

Santa Claus

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Labels: , Posted by shi at 4/24/2008

NORAD Tracks Santa - The Great Wall of China

Santa is in china

Santa enjoys seeing the man-made wonders of the world.

After enjoying the Great wall of china Santa will continue north into Russia.

watch this NORAD Tracks Santa - The Great Wall of China video



you can also see some Great wall pictures.

Great wall of chinaGreat wall of china


Great wall of chinaGreat wall of china


Great wall of china

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Labels: , Posted by shi at 4/24/2008

NORAD Track Santa Vedio

This video is an advert of NORAD（North American Aerospace Defense Command）, an organisation which tries to track Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.

NORAD tracking Santa Claus , NORAD uses four high-tech systems to track Santa on Christmas Eve - radar, satellites, Santa Cams and jet fighter aircraft.

you can watch this NORAD Track Santa Video.



more about Santa claus and Noard Tracking Santa:

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Labels: Posted by shi at 4/24/2008

2008-04-22

Norad Tracking Santa Video

Norad Tracking Santa video Year 2007
View this cool video online.
Tracking Santa video sightings

Tracking Santa used to be a task that only NORAD tackled, but this year(year 2007) for the first time Google has signed on to help.

The two teamed up to track the big man as he hurdled across the globe delivering presents to all those on the nice list. Google Earth allowed for close up views of Santa and according to NORADsanta.org, the US military’s been tracking St. Nick since the 1950s.

The NORAD Santa Tracker is viewable this year in 3D using Google Earth. Go to the official NORAD Santa Tracker website to get the details and to choose the language of your choice.

this is Norad's promotional video on their 2007 tracking santa task.



more about santa claus and Noard tracking santa:

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Labels: Posted by shi at 4/22/2008

2008-04-21

About Santa - Who is Santa Claus?

Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply "Santa", is a historical, legendary, and mythical figure in folklore who, in Western cultures, is described as bringing gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day,or on his feast day, December 6.The legend may have its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of Saint Nicholas.

Santa Claus
The modern depiction of Santa Claus as a fat, jolly man (or elf) wearing a red coat and trousers with white cuffs and collar, and black leather belt and boots, became popular in the United States in the 19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, and films. In the United Kingdom and Europe, his depiction is often identical to the American Santa, but he is commonly called Father Christmas.

One legend associated with Santa says that he lives in the far north, in a land of perpetual snow. The American version of Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, while Father Christmas is said to reside in Finland. Other details include: he is married and lives with Mrs. Claus; that he makes a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior; that he delivers presents, including toys, candy, and other presents to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal or sticks to the naughty children, in one night; and that he accomplishes this feat with the aid of magical elves who make the toys, and nine flying reindeer who pull his sleigh.

There has long been opposition to teaching children to believe in Santa Claus. Some Christians say the Santa tradition detracts from the religious origins and purpose of Christmas. Other critics feel that Santa Claus is an elaborate lie, and that it is unethical for parents to teach their children to believe in his existence.Still others oppose Santa Claus as a symbol of the commercialization of the Christmas holiday, or as an intrusion upon their own national traditions.

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Labels: Posted by shi at 4/21/2008
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