HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS

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HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS

• Merry Christmas
• And
• Happy New Year!!

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A History of the Celebration of Christmas

• People have celebrated a mid-winter festival
  since pre-historic times.
• It's thought that Jesus of Nazareth was born in
  the fall near the Jewish feast of Tabernacles.
  December 25th was chosen for the celebration of
  his birth by a Pope, Julius I, in the 4th century
• Also in the 4th century, a bishop in Turkey who
  came to be called St. Nicholas was known for good
  deeds involving children.

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Santa Claus

• Dutch children would put shoes by the fireplace
  for St. Nicholas or "Sinter Klaas" and leave food
  out for his horse. He'd gallop on his horse
  between the rooftops and drop candy down the
  chimneys into the children's shoes.
• Dutch settlers brought the legend of Sinter Klaas
  to North America -- where we came to know him as
  Santa Claus.

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Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas
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How did we get the Christmas tree?

• The Wise Men knelt and offered gifts,The birds
  and beasts came, too,And each gave tiny
  JesusThe best gift that they knew.The plants
  and trees paid homageWith flower and with vine.

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Cont

• All laid treasures at His feet - All but the
  tiny pine." My needles sharp will harm the
  Child,O Father up above.But what else can I
  offerTo tell Him of my love?
• Then God, in pity, sent some starsFrom heaven's
  vaulted skiesTo rest upon the branchesOf the
  disappointed pine.

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Cont

• " What radiant beauty, heavenly lightHas covered
  this poor tree!The Christ Child, filled with
  happiness,Stretched out His arms to me!
• And since, in happy memoryOf that first
  Christmas night,We place upon the pine tree's
  boughsA crown of shining light.

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Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue Christmas
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!