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Rosinsky
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Television The White House

by Natalie M. Rosinsky
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by Natalie M. Rosinsky

Content Adviser: Dr. Alexa Sandmann, Professor of Literacy,

The University of Toledo; Member, National Council for the Social Studies

Reading Adviser: Dr. Linda D. Labbo, Department of Reading Education,

College of Education, The University of Georgia

Let’s See Library

Compass Point Books
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Compass Point Books

3109 West 50th Street, #115
Minneapolis, MN 55410
Table of Contents
Visit Compass Point Books on the Internet at www.compasspointbooks.com or e-mail your
request to custserv@compasspointbooks.com What Is Christmas? 5
Cover: Christmas wreath How Did Christmas Begin? 7
Photographs ©: Dianne Dietrich Leis, cover; Arte & Immagini srl/Corbis, 4; North Wind Picture Archives, 6, 10;
Unicorn Stock Photos/Martha McBride, 8; Unicorn Stock Photos/Andre Jenny, 12; Unicorn Stock Photos/Aneal What Is Most Important at Christmas? 9
Vohra, 14; Unicorn Stock Photos/Nancy Ferguson, 16; Digital Stock, 18; Reuters NewMedia Inc./Corbis, 20;
John Cross/The Free Press, 24.
Who Brings Gifts at Christmas? 11
Editor: Catherine Neitge
Photo Researcher: Svetlana Zhurkina How Are Trees and Greenery Part of Christmas? 13
Photo Selector: Catherine Neitge
Designer: Melissa Voda
How Else Is Christmas Observed? 15
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Rosinsky, Natalie M. (Natalie Myra) How Has Christmas Changed? 17
Christmas / by Natalie M. Rosinsky; reading adviser, Linda D. Labbo.
v. cm.— (Let’s see library)
Includes bibliographical references and index. How Is Christmas Observed in the United States? 19
Contents: What is Christmas?—How did Christmas begin?—What is most important at Christmas?—Who brings
gifts at Christmas?—How are trees and greenery part of Christmas?—How else is Christmas
observed?—How has Christmas changed?—How is Christmas observed in the United States?—How is Christmas
How Is Christmas Observed Around the World? 21
observed around the world?
ISBN 0-7565-0389-2 (hardcover) Glossary 22
1. Christmas—Juvenile literature. [1. Christmas. 2. Holidays.] I. Title. II. Series.
GT4985.5 .R67 2002
394.2663—dc21 2002003041
Did You Know? 22
Copyright © 2003 by Compass Point Books
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The publisher takes no
Want to Know More? 23
responsibility for the use of any of the materials or methods described in this book, nor for the products thereof.
Printed in the United States of America.
Index 24
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What Is Christmas?

Christmas is a time of joy. It is part of the Christian

religion. Every December 25, most Christians
observe the birthday of Jesus Christ. Christians
believe that Jesus is the son of God.
The story of Jesus is 2,000 years old. It took
place in the country we now call Israel. Jesus’s
parents on Earth were Mary and Joseph. They
were traveling and had no place to stay. Jesus was
born in a stable in Bethlehem. Animals and birds
watched over him. Wise men brought him gifts.

This painting from the sixteenth century shows the baby Jesus in the stable.

¶
It was painted by an assistant to Michelangelo.
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How Did Christmas Begin?

Winter days can be dark and gloomy. Many older

religions already had winter holidays to welcome
light. Christians believed that Jesus was “the light
of the world.” A shining star had led the wise
men to baby Jesus in Bethlehem. No one knew
the exact birthday of Jesus. It made sense to
observe his birthday during winter.
In the fourth century, December 25 became
Christmas for most Christians. Glowing candles
were one Christmas idea taken from older winter
holidays.

The wise men followed a shining star to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.

¶
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What Is Most Important

at Christmas?
Going to church is a special way of observing
Jesus’s birth. It is even part of this holiday’s
name. Mass means “church service” in Latin.
Some churches and homes are decorated
with nativity figures. Long ago, many people
could not read. They learned about Christmas by
seeing who was at the stable. Sometimes, people
stage the story of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
The wise men brought gifts to the baby
Jesus. At Christmas, many people give presents
to their family and friends. People often give
gifts to the poor, too.
Nativity figures portray the first Christmas in Bethlehem.

¶
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Who Brings Gifts at Christmas?

Many children believe that someone special also

brings them gifts. In the United States, this is
Santa Claus. In Germany, this is the Christ child.
In Mexico, it is the wise men who bring gifts. In
Italy, the magical gift-giver is an old lady.
Santa Claus is famous! Sometimes, he is
called good Saint Nick. Saint Nicholas was a real
person who helped others. Saint Nicholas lived in
the fourth century. People say he once threw
gold coins down a chimney. The coins fell into
shoes and socks near the fireplace. This is why
people began to hang up stockings at Christmas.
Santa Claus was first pictured as this plump, jolly old man by American artist

¶
Thomas Nast in the 1860s.
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How Are Trees and Greenery

Part of Christmas?
Trees were also part of older winter holidays.
Bright evergreens reminded people of spring.
Christmas trees were first decorated in
Germany in the early 1600s. Candles, fruit, and
nuts were used to decorate fir trees. In the nine-
teenth century, Christmas trees became popular
in England and the United States. Today’s trees
often have fancy decorations. Indoor and out-
door trees shine with bright, electric lights.
Other greenery is also part of Christmas.
People hang holly and evergreen wreaths and
branches. They even kiss under the mistletoe!
A tree glows with bright lights in front of a Vermont library.

¶
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How Else Is Christmas Observed?

Many people have feasts on Christmas. Turkey is

a popular Christmas food in the United States.
Some people share or give food to people in
need, too. These ideas have been part of
Christmas since it began.
Some people decorate their homes and busi-
nesses. They may use bells, the star of Bethlehem,
or Santa figures. The green of trees and the red
of berries are common Christmas colors.
Singing Christmas carols is fun! Some carols
tell the story of Jesus. Other carols are about
Santa Claus or winter.
Costumed carolers sing Christmas songs in Kansas City.

¶
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How Has Christmas Changed?

Christians have found other ways to observe

Christmas. An old story from Mexico tells about a
poor girl. She only had weeds to offer Mary, the
mother of Jesus. The weeds grew bright red, star-
shaped flowers! This popular Christmas plant is
called the poinsettia. It is named after Joel R.
Poinsett. More than 150 years ago, he brought
the plant to the United States from Mexico.
Sending Christmas cards is another Christmas
practice. Cards first appeared in England in the
1840s. People in the United States started
sending Christmas cards about 1875.
The colorful poinsettia is named after Joel R. Poinsett.

¶
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How Is Christmas Observed

in the United States?
Christmas is a national holiday in the United
States. Schools, government offices, and business-
es are closed. Many offices and businesses close
early on December 24, Christmas Eve. The holiday
season lasts until January 1, New Year’s Day.
Each December, the president lights the
national Christmas tree. It is a living tree that
stands in front of the White House. The
government also prints Christmas stamps.
In some cities, Mexican-Americans act out the
journey of Mary and Joseph. They do this for nine
nights. It is called Las Posadas.
The national Christmas tree glows with lights near the White House.

¶
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How Is Christmas Observed

Around the World?
The Christmas season changes in different coun-
tries. It begins as early as December 6. This is St.
Nicholas Day in the Netherlands. The season lasts
as long as January 13. This is when Christmas
trees are put away in Sweden.
January 6 is called Three Kings’ Day in Spain
and Mexico. It is important to children. It is the
day they get presents! January 6 is also known as
Epiphany or Twelfth Day. It is twelve days after
Christmas. January 5, the eve of Epiphany, is
called Twelfth Night. In England, the Christmas
season lasts until Twelfth Night.
Actors portray the wise men during Three Kings’ Day festivities in Mexico City.

¶
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Glossary Want to Know More?

evergreens—trees, plants, or shrubs that have green leaves or
needles all year long
holly—an evergreen plant usually having shiny pointed leaves and
bright red berries
Latin—the language Christians used for prayers and early
In the Library
Cooney, Barbara. The Story of Christmas. New York: HarperCollins, 1995.
Giblin, James Cross. The Truth About Santa Claus. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1985.
Hoyt-Goldsmith, Diane. Las Posadas: An Hispanic Christmas Celebration. New York: Holiday
House, 1999.
Lankford, Mary D. Christmas Around the World. New York: Morrow, 1995.
On the Web
For more information on this topic, use FactHound.

Romans spoke 1. Go to www.facthound.com

2. Type in this book ID: 0756503892
mistletoe—a green plant with small white berries
3. Click on the Fetch It button.
nativity—the Latin word for birth, often used for the birth of Jesus FactHound will find the best Web sites for you.

stable—a building where farm animals are kept and fed Through the Mail
Embassy of Finland
3301 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Did You Know? Washington, DC 20008
For information about Turku, which is known as the Christmas City of Finland
• Some Christians observe Christmas on January 6. These people
On the Road
belong to the Russian or Greek Orthodox branches of Christianity. King’s Canyon National Park
Sanger, California 93657
• Santa Claus did not always use reindeer. Long ago, he rode a To see a 267-foot (81-meter) tall sequoia tree known as the Nation’s Christmas Tree. It is also
called the General Grant Tree. This tree honors people who have died for the United States.
horse, donkey, or even a goat!
• Electric lights first decorated a Christmas tree in 1882. This tree
belonged to a friend of Thomas Edison. Edison had recently
invented the light bulb.
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Index
Bethlehem, 5, 7, 15 mistletoe, 13
cards, 17 nativity figures, 9
carols, 15 Nicholas (saint), 11, 21
decorations, 13, 15 poinsettias, 17
Epiphany, 21 Santa Claus, 11, 15
evergreen trees, 13, 15, 19, 21 stamps, 19
foods, 15 stockings, 11
gifts, 5, 9, 11 Three Kings’ Day, 21
Jesus, 5, 7, 9, 15 Twelfth Day, 21
Joseph, 5, 9, 19 Twelfth Night, 21
Las Posadas, 19 wise men, 5, 7, 9, 11
Mary, 5, 9, 17, 19

About the Author

Natalie M. Rosinsky writes about history, science, and
other fun things. One of her two cats usually sits on her
computer as she works in Mankato, Minnesota. Both cats
pay close attention as she and her family make and eat
special holiday foods. Natalie earned graduate degrees
from the University of Wisconsin and has been a high
school and college teacher.

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