TheOriginofChristmas

　　ChristmasDay-December25-whichcelebratesthebirthofJesusChrist,thefounderoftheChristianreligion,isthebiggestandbest-lovedholidayintheUnitedStates.
　　AccordingtotheBible,theholybookofChristians,Goddecidedtoallowhisonlyson,JesusChrist,tobeborntoahumanmotherandliveonearthsothatpeoplecouldunderstandGodbetterandlearntoloveGodandeachothermore."Christmas"-meaning"celebrationofChrist"-honorsthetimewhenJesuswasborntoayoungJewishwomanMary.
　　MarywasengagedtobemarriedtoJoseph,acarpenter,butbeforetheycametogether,shewasfoundtobewithchild.BecauseJoseph,herhusband,wasarighteousmananddidnotwanttoexposehertopublicdisgrace,hehadinmindtodivorceherquietly.Butafterhehadconsideredthis,anangeloftheLordappearedtohiminadreamandsaid,"DonotbeafraidtotakeMaryhomeasyourwife,becausewhatisconceivedinherisfromtheHolySpirit.Shewillgivebirthtoason,andyouaretogivehimthenameJesus,becausehewillsavehispeoplefromtheirsins."
　　AlthoughtheexactdateofthebirthofJesusnearly2,000yearsagoisnotknown,thecalendaronthesupposeddatedividesalltimeintoB.C.(BeforeChrist)andA.D.(aLatinphrase,AnnoDomini,"intheyearofourLord.")Forthefirst300years,Jesus'birthdaywascelebratedondifferentdates.Finally,intheyear354,churchleaderschoseDecember25ashisbirthday.