Christmas is one of the biggest Christian holidays. On this day we celebrate the birth of the baby-king.

However, before becoming a favorite holiday for children and adults, Christmas has a long history. In the
early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe.
When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of
decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. By popular demand, Charles II was restored
to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday. The pilgrims, English separatists
that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a
result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas
was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. By
contrast, in the Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all
and passed without incident. After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including
Christmas. In fact, Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.

On this holiday we celebrate the birth of the baby-king. I think all of us know the history about baby,
who was born in Bethlehem. If you don’t know, I will tell you. This is story of the first Christmas. Mary
was going to have a baby. An angel had told her he would be very special and he was to be called Jesus.
Just before the baby was due, Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem to be counted by the Romans.
There were so many people there that the only place to sleep was a stable. When Mary’s baby was born
she wrapped him up and placed him in the manger. Soon afterwards shepherd came and found them.
Angels had appeared to them in the night sky and told them God’s own son had been born. They knew
they had found a right baby because there he was – asleep in a manger! When Jesus was born, a new
star appeared in the sky. Wise man in the east saw it. They believed it meant that a baby king had been
born. They followed the star until they found a little house. Inside they found Mary with Jesus, her little
son. The wise man offered Jesus gifts of gold, which is symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense, which
is symbol of deity and myrrh symbol of death.

In Ukraine people like Christmas so much. Every year my family celebrates this holiday according to
family traditions. The week or two before Christmas we decorate the Christmas tree and house. In
Christmas night we go to church on a very long solemn liturgy. It is started at midnight and ends at 5
o’clock in the morning. A day before Christmas we have holyday dinner. Traditionally we eat 12 Lenten
dishes. The main course is kutia. On Christmas morning we have carols in the house. After that we go to
my grandparents.

To conclude, I want to say my opinion about Christmas. I love this holiday very much, due to the fact
that it is the time for something special, because this time I spend with my family. And the most cool
things is that on Christmas each of us can feel like a baby who believe in Christmas mirache.