The Date of Christmas

Some different Christmas traditions

 The Winter Solstice is the day where there is the shortest

time between the sun rising and the sun setting. It happens
on December 21st or 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere. To
pagans this meant that they knew that the days would start
getting lighter and longer and the nights would become
shorter - marking a change in the seasons.
People had a mid-winter festival to celebrate the sun
'winning' over the darkness of winter.
The Roman Festival of Saturnalia took place
between December 17th and 23rd and honoured
the Roman god Saturn. The Romans also thought
that the Solstice took place on December 25th.
It's also thought that the Roman emperor
Aurelian created 'Dies Natalis Solis Invicti'
(meaning 'birthday of the unconquered sun') also
called 'Sol Invictus' and it was held on December
25th.
In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule
from December 21, the winter solstice,
through January. In recognition of the
return of the sun, fathers and sons would
bring home large logs, which they would
set on fire. The people would feast until
the log burned out, which could take as
many as 12 days. The Norse believed that
each spark from the fire represented a
new pig or calf that would be born during
the coming year.
The Jewish festival of Lights, Hanukkah starts
on the eve of the Kislev 25 (the month in the
Jewish calendar that occurs at about the same
time as December). Hanukkah celebrates
when the Jewish people were able to re-
dedicate and worship in their Temple, in
Jerusalem, again following many years of not
being allowed to practice their religion.

Random things about Christmas

The origin of the name Christmas, Santa Claus

and his reindeer

The name 'Christmas' comes from the Mass of Christ (or
Jesus). A Mass service is where Christians remember that
Jesus died for us and then came back to life. The 'Christ-Mass'
service was the only one that was allowed to take place after
sunset (and before sunrise the next day), so people had it at
Midnight! So they get the name Christ-Mass, shortened to
Christmas.
Christmas is now celebrated by people around the
world, whether they are Christians or not. People,
especially children, also like Christmas because it is a
time when gifts are given and received, perhaps from
Santa Claus.
 Who Invented Santa Claus?

The Santa Claus legend can be traced back to a monk named

St. Nicholas, who donated all of his wealth and traveled
through the countryside helping the poor and sick, becoming
known as the protector of children and sailors.

The iconic version of Santa Claus as a jolly man in red with

a white beard and a sack of toys was immortalized in 1881,
when cartoonist Thomas Nast drew on Moore's poem to
create the image of Old Saint Nick we know today.
Santa's Reindeer
1. Rudolph Rodolfo
2. Dasher Corredora
3. Dancer Dançarina
4. Prancer Empinadora
5. Vixen Raposa
6. Comet Cometa
7. Cupid Cupido
8. Donner Trovão
9. Blitzen Relâmpago
Christmas it's a time when
family and friends come
together and remember
the good things they have.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!