X'mas :-

Every year in the month of December millions of homes all around the world are decorated with Christmas trees, lights and candles. This festival celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Over the years Christmas has become a time of gifts giving and rejoicing peace.

No one knows the exact date of Christ's Birth, but most Christians observe Christmas on December 25, On this day many go to Church where they take part in special religious services, they also exchange gifts and decorate their homes with holly, mistletoe and Christmas trees.

The word Christmas comes from Cristes maesse, an early English phrase that means Mass of Christ 'Christ' means 'Messian' or 'Anointed one'- the title given to Jesus and Mass was a religious festival.

The story of Christmas comes chiefly from the Gospels of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew in New Testaments.
According to Luke an angel appeared to Shepherds outside the town of Bethlehem and told them of Jesus birth.

Matthew tells how the wisemen, called Magi followed a bright star that led stem to Jusus. The first mention of December 25 as the birth date of Jesus occurred in A.D. 336 in an early Roman Calendar.

Inthe late 300's Christianity become the official religion of the Roman Empire. By 1100, Christmas had become the most important religious festival in Europe and Saint Nicholas (Santa Claws) was a symbol of gifts giving in many European countries. During the 1400's and 1500's many artists painted scenes of the Nativity, the birth of Jesus. In 1800's two more Christmas customs became popular decorating Christmas trees and sending Christmas cards to relatives and friends.

The word X'mas is sometimes used instead of Christmas. This tradition began in the early Christian Church. In Greek, X is the first letter of Christ's name. It was frequently used as a holy symbol.

Christmas is for love. It was this love for which Jesus came to this world and sacrificed his life. Thus Christmas is a celebration of love and mirth symbolized by the Nativity tree, the poinsettia and the mistletoe. All these bring home the spirit of love and life. And this is the spirit that makes Christmas so popular throughout the world.