Christmas is for joy, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for coming together with family and friends, for tinsel and brightly decorated packages… But mostly, Christmas is for love. It was this love for which Jesus came to this world and sacrificed his life.
Though the celebration of Christmas originated by Roman Catholics, who commemorate December 25th as the day of birth of Christ Child, it has gradually come to be celebrated by non-Catholics as well.
As far as the United States goes, the celebration of Christmas is of comparatively recent origin. Much of the world was already well into Christmas celebrations by the time the United States began to wake up. In the first half of the 19th century the Sunday Schools in America held Christmas celebrations. And the celebration of Christmas in America owes its origin to these schools. Alabama was the first state to grant legal recognition to Christmas in 1836. The District of Columbia did it in 1870. By 1893 all the states and territories had made similar acknowledgements.
So be it the United States or in other parts of the world, Christmas is celebrated as the commemoration of the birth of the Messiah — the holiest event ever to take place anywhere on Earth, and an entirely worthy occasion to celebrate.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in that region, there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart (Luke 2:4-19).
Immediately after the fall of our first parents, God, in His infinite mercy, promised a redeemer, who would reconcile mankind with Him. Man would be saved from sin and the eternal punishment, which accompanies it. He would also gain the opportunity to merit eternal life with God in heaven. God choose not to fulfill this promise for thousands of years. Perhaps He waited so long in order that all mankind might be more aware of their misery and might more ardently desire the coming of the Redeemer. Those years passed slowly. They were dreary and dismal, and even dreadful because of the great Deluge, which swept away vast numbers of the human race, and again, by reason of the reign of fire which destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and instantly burned all the inhabitants. During those years, many prayers were offered up for the coming of the Messiah.
The ancient patriarchs and prophets prayed that the heavens would open and let down the King of Justice. In the words of Isaiah, they prayed: “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may sprout forth, and let it cause righteousness to spring up” (Is. 45:8). But at length the time had come, the seventy weeks of years foretold by the Prophet Daniel (Dan. 9:24) has elapsed, the royal scepter had passed away from the House of Judah and “tidings of great joy were brought to all the people,