The Truth About Christmas Celebration

Christmas is not Christ's birthday, he wasn't actually born on December 25th. There was so much controversy over when he was really born, but whatever everyone thinks of Christmas, each one has the their own belief bases on the religion they arevinto But does that make any difference to you? We grew up celebrating Christmas. Children's were made to believe that Santa Clause has a naughty or nice list and that he gives toys to all the nice kids on Christmas night. Exchange gifts is also a part of it because of the wise men who presented gifts to the Christ when he was born.

This one was posted on Facebook. I find it interesting what she  said about Christmas and the reason why she don't celebrate it.

White Christmas Lyrics

Let it Snow, Let it snow, Let it snow...

It was White Christmas in my place. Snow fall started right after it rained and did not stop until midnight causing an electric power failure for 4 hours during night time. I took some photos to post on Facebook for my friends and relatives to see. There was nothing else to do, no television and internet so  my kids and I went to bed early. We woke up the following morning with more snow all over the place. This is the picture of my snow coated tree last winter.

To Buy Christmas Trees Online or Not

Christmas is fast approaching, it will be September next month hand before we now it. Stores are busy with people buying  Christmas trees, decors and presents. Christmas is definitely  the most celebrated season of the year. Nowadays, buying Christmas decor is made easy by the online stores. We can even purchase a Christmas tree and will be deliver on our doorways safe and in good condition. Everything that a person wants can be purchased on the internet, the most convenient and easiest way to do.

History of Christmas

Christ's exact birth date is not known. Traditions says that is was celebrated as early as 98 AD.In 137 AD, the Bishop of Rome ordered Christ's birthday to be celebrated as a solemn feast. In 350 AD, the then Bishop of Rome, Julius I, chose December 25th for the observance of Christmas.

It was believe that Christmas traditions were celebrated way back centuries before Christ was born. Some of the theories claimed that Christmas celebrartion was invented by Christians to compete with the pagan's December celebration and eventually the church succeeded in integrating lights, gifts and some of the merriments from the Saturnalia festival into Christmas Celbrations. Saturnalia is a fesrtival celebrated by the Romans for their god Saturn which ran from 17 to 24 December. Celebrations includes exchanging of good luck gifts with friends, masquerades in the streets and festive meals. Sacaea, celebrated by the Persians and Babylonians, was a similar festival during which slaves and masters would exchange roles. They  used decorations of garlands of laurel and green trees lit with candles. The fun and festivities in honour of a pagan god were frowned on by the early Christians who wanted to keep the birth of Christ a solemn and a religious festival.

Gifts giving, caroling's,church processions and the 12 dyas of Christmas can be all traced back to the early Mesopotamians.During winter the sun would disappear in Scandinavia and when it returned, a Yuletide celebration was held and a special feast served around a burning Yule log fire. Early Europians believed in evil spirits.As the dark winter days approached,celebrations and special rituals were held to drive away the evil and welcome back the sun.The Celtic culture of the British Isles revered all green plants, particularly mistletoe and holly  and were become  important symbols of fertility and used for decorating homes and altars. The earliest English reference to 25 December as Christmas Day dates back from 1043.

Although the true spirit of Christmas has not been known to others,it  remains as a  traditional time for the families family reunions,enjoy a meal, exchange presents and make merry.

Merry Christmas!  however you choose to celebrate it.

Memories of Christmas

We went to Hobby Lobby last week.My husband  is a coin collector and usually goes there to buy stuff for his coin collection hobby .After he got all the stuff  he needed we walked around to look for some Christmas decors.He told me to choose the Christmas tree that I want to.Being the kuripot (stingy0 me ,I told him that I will think about it first.I like  Christmas tree but I don't like the price from that store.Anyway,I was thinking of getting me one in some other place.

December is the most awaited year of the month because of Christmas. It is surprising how people  celebrate their Christmas according to their countries tradition. Here in the US Christmas preparation starts right after Thanksgiving.Unlike in the Philippines, we have the longest Christmas preparation which started at the "ber" months.I missed a lot of this when I started working overseas in 1999. I was always away from home every Christmas and New year .I only get connected with them through phone ,mailed photos,Friendster and now at Facebook.I used to  spend my  vacation during summer to Philippines  and  US  but never on a Christmas Season  .Gone are the days when I was still in the Philippines celebrating Christmas with my parents and siblings.We had so much fun together with children opening their christmas gifts,spending christmas days with other relatives,sharing the food that my mom prepared  for us  and attending the christmas eve mass.Looking at their photos.I relly feel sad and miss them so much.Some times,I wish to go  back to those days again just to be with them.

It seems that the cold weather makes me feel nostalgic today.Memories do come and go just to give way to a new and better one.Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas 2010 back home

 

 Christamas tree at  my parents house as early as October ,2011            

    My 2 sisters and  little nephews having fun at the stairways except  for other one who looks  lost.

    My niece who is a certified photo addict.I stole all  these photos from her FB album

When My Son Met Santa Again

It was Christmas day of  2009 when my son met Santa for the first time.He was only 1 1/2 years old then and did not care about him  or anybody else in that night.All he cared about was to play and run around the place. I love to see the look in his eyes when Santa put him on his lap .He stared at him wondering who was this white bearded starnger.

After 2 years he met him again but this time it was not Christmas yet .We were doing the grocery shopping last Sunday after church  and he was there in one corner of the store sitting and waiting for children to have a picture with him  .The store has a staff in charge for the photo shot  for a free 5x7 picture .The staff was so nice and  actually gave me 2 copies,one is with border the other one without. I told my eldest son to sit right beside Santa so he can have a remembrance too like his little brother but he refused saying he is already big enough to do that .I guess it is time for me to accept that he is now a teen ager.How time flies so fast. 

When my son met Santa

Mommy Moments-Red

 Christmas 2009 was when my youngest son first met Santa Claus. He was probably wondering who is this big man with white mustache surrounded by children that is  trying to snatch him. Actually this was his 2nd Christmas, he was only 6 months old then and he was not able to see Santa.