聖誕節的由來
（一）在宗教上過聖誕節已經成為世界各地的風俗習慣，可是你可曾探究過這日子的由來？你知道為什麼要慶祝這日子嗎？聖誕節的由來可追溯到2001年前耶穌的誕生。
耶穌是那一年誕生的呢？確實年份雖然已無從考察，但大多數考古學家都認為應該是在劃分世紀的那一年（即公元前一年），只不過正確的出生日期無法確定。因此早期的基督教徒便以羅馬帝國時期的密司拉教派，在每年一二月二十五日紀念太陽神誕辰的第一天定為【聖誕節】。所以聖誕節在宗教上是基督教徒紀念耶誕生的一個重要節日。根據聖經的記載，耶穌誕生在猶太的一座小城－－伯利恆。馬利亞，也就是耶穌的母親，因聖靈的感動而懷孕，在夢中天使加百列向她顯現，告訴她，她將要生下神的兒子，他要被稱為耶穌。就在與丈夫約瑟返往家鄉時，所有的旅店客滿，因此馬利亞被迫在馬槽生下耶穌。遙遠的東方有三博士得到神的啟示，追隨天上的一顆明亮星星找到了耶穌，俯伏拜他，揭開寶盒，拿出黃金、乳香、沒藥為禮物獻給他。在伯特利野地的牧差人也聽到天使的聲音從天上發出，向他們款耶穌降生的佳音。（二）在民俗上那可就要追溯到德國了。在德國，聖誕節前的四個星期天分別秩為第一、二、三、四個待降節（advent）。在第一個待降節左右就開始了耶誕市集，而第一個待降節當天，家家戶戶都會將待降花圈（adventskranz）中第一根蠟燭點燃，之後每個待降節分吸再依序點燃待降花圈的其他蠟燭，等第四根蠟燭被點燃的時候，就代表耶誕節要來啦！這段期間德國家庭同時開始準備各項採買、裝飾，大掃除的工作，這像不像我們的臘月呢？而小朋友也會得到一份「耶誕日曆」（ADVENTSKALENDER），這是一個紙盒，上面會有1到24個小「門」，每個小門後面都有一樣小玩具或糖果之類的東西。就像我們小時候在住家附的雜貨店「抽」東西一樣，小朋友從十二月一號開始每天可以開一個門，剛好開到十二月二十四的耶誕節前夕。不過頑皮的小朋友通常迫不及待地在第一天就將它全部打開了！
聖誕老人的由來
聖誕節是令人雀躍期待的日子，尤其是小孩子。相信大家對聖誕老人的事都耳熟能詳吧？從前有一個老人，名叫尼古拉斯，他一生最愛幫助貧窮的人家。其中有一次他幫助三個貧窮的少送她們三袋金子以逃過被賣的不幸。當尼古拉斯偷偷把其中一袋金子送給其中一名女子時，他把金子從其中一個窗戶扔進去，恰好掉進景在壁上的一長襪中。於是，將禮放在聖誕襪子的送禮方法家挨戶地去要糖果喲！據說平安夜的晚上，聖誕節老人會駕著馴鹿雪橇滿載著禮物準備送點這一年來表現很好的小朋友，他會悄悄地從煙囪爬進屋內，禮物塞在掛在床頭的襪子裡。所以孩子總會把一條條色彩繽紛的襪子掛在床頭，並在襪子旁邊放杯熱牛奶給勞苦功高的聖誕老人解渴，並送份大禮給自己。隔天一每個小朋友都迫不及待地打開禮，想知道自己得到什麼獎勵。到了1822年，一位荷蘭傳教士把這位偉大慈善家的故事傳到美國之後，美國商人更以特殊的行銷手法，每年利用這個節日大張旗鼓地宣傳廣告，大賺一筆，在亞洲的日本及其他各國也群起效尤。因此裝扮聖誕老人來慶祝聖誕節的風俗習慣也就漸漸地流行到世界各國了。
聖誕樹的由來1.據說大約在十六世紀，德國人最先把長青的松柏枝拿到屋中去擺設，後來，德國傳教士馬丁路德把燭放在樹林中的樅樹枝上，然後點燃，使它看起來像是引導人們到伯利恆的星光，如同二千年前的東方三博士依照天上的星星找到耶穌一般。今日，人們已經改用小燈泡代替蠟燭。2.傳說在很久以前，有一位農人，在聖誕節那天遇到一位窮苦的小孩，他熱情地接待了孩子，這個小孩臨走時折下根松枝插在地上，松枝立即變成一棵樹，上面掛滿了禮物，用來答謝農人的好意。然而聖誕樹真正出現在聖誕節，首先見於德國，之後又傳入歐洲和美國，成為聖誕節不可或缺的裝飾物。他們通常用五光十色的彩燈、蠟、禮物或天使來裝聖誕樹，尤其住在美國西北部的人們，因為當地豐富的森林資源，他們會全家人一起去挑選一棵真正的樹做為聖誕樹。聖誕樹的種類繁多，有天然松柏聖誕樹、也有人造聖誕樹及白色聖誕樹。每棵聖誕樹上都掛滿琳瑯滿目的裝飾品，但每棵樹的頂端必定有一棵特大的星星，像徵著那顆引導東方三博士找到耶穌的星星。而且在傳統習俗上，只有家庭的一家之主才可以把這顆希望之星掛上，旁人是不可以越俎代庖的。 平安夜的由來聖誕節前夕也就是俗說的平安夜，當晚，全家人會團聚在客廳中，圍繞在聖誕樹旁唱聖誕歌曲，互相交換禮物，彼此分享一年來生活中的喜怒哀樂，表達內心的祝福及愛。在這天晚上都會看到一群可愛的小男生或小女生，手拿詩歌彈著吉他，一家一家的唱著詩歌報佳音。到底佳音隊這種節日活動是怎麼來的呢？耶穌誕生的那一晚，一在曠野看守羊群的牧羊人，突然聽見有聲音自天上傳來，向他們報耶穌降生的好消息。根據聖經記載，耶穌來是要作世人的王，因此天使便透過這些牧羊人把消息傳給更多的人知道。後來人們就效仿天使，在平安夜的晚上到處報人傳講耶穌降生的消息，直到今日，報佳音已經變成聖誕節不可缺少的一個節目。通常佳音隊是由大約二十名青年人，加上一備裝扮成天使的小女孩和一位聖誕老人組成。在平安夜晚上大約是九點過後，開始一家一家的去報佳音。每當佳音隊去到一個家庭時，先會唱幾首大家都熟悉的聖誕歌曲，然後再由小女孩念出聖經的話語讓該戶人家知道今夜是耶穌降生的日子，過後大家一起禱告再唱一兩首詩歌，再由慷慨大方的聖誕老人派送聖誕禮物給那個家庭中的小廳子，整個報佳音的過程就完成了！整個報佳音的活動大約要持續到第二天凌晨四點左右才結束。 聖誕歌曲平安夜的由來「平安夜，聖善夜，萬暗中，光華射，照著聖母也照著聖嬰，多少慈祥也多少天真，靜享天賜安眠，青享天賜安眠。」這一首耳熟能詳、膾炙人口的聖誕名曲，出自奧國阿二卑斯山的一個小村莊提羅。1818年聖誕節的前夕，村裡的牧師約瑟．梅爾望著教堂裡破舊的風琴而煩，因為幾個鍵盤都已經彈不出聲音來了，他不知該如何迎接即將來臨的聖誕節聚會，在訪村人的歸途中，爾牧師經過村郊的小山坡，當他從一上俯視幽靜的小村，幾盞燈光點綴著幽暗的黑夜，在皚皚雪地裡更顯得寂靜。眼前的世界使他德彿重回2001年前耶穌在伯利恆誕生的夜晚，那般地祥和與寧靜，充滿非神聖與平安，此時突然靈光一閃，他急忙飛奔回家，把蘊藏在腦海中的詩景寫成了「平安夜」的歌詞。翌日早晨，梅爾牧師去找好友佛蘭茲．古魯伯，把詩交給他。古魯伯是一位琴師，當朗頌這首詩時，也產生彷彿置身於耶穌降生的夜晚一般，因此他興地立即做了一支曲子來配詞。他們兩人開始快樂地練唱，準備晚上聖誕聚會時可以表演。在平安夜的晚上，全村的男女老少，都聚集在小教堂裡，聚會中爾牧師高唱了這首新曲子，當晚雖然沒有風琴的伴奏，但是簡單美妙的詞句和棌和的旋律卻感動了所有在場的聽眾，而流傳至今。聖誕節的意義聖誕節對傳統的基督徒來說，是在慶祝耶穌的誕生。他們會在聖誕節的早上去做聖誕禮拜，以紀念耶穌和發揚基督的精神。不過一般的人已把它看成一種大眾化的民俗活動，是一個大家分享彼此對於家人、朋友甚至於他人的愛與關懷的日子。它也象徵著人們對於仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、感恩、銀善、信實、溫柔以及節制的期望。印象中，聖誕節似乎應該在皚皚白雪中度過的節日，但是有趣的是，對住在南半球的人門，例甘澳洲或南美洲的人們而言，聖誕節可是夏日的節慶呦！
(1) Had already become the folkways and customs from all parts of the world last Christmas Day in the religion, but did you ever probe into the origin of this day? Do you know why want to celebrate this day? Jesus' birth before the origin on Christmas Day can trace back to 2001.
It was that year that Jesus emerge? Have really already had no way of investigating in that year in century, most archaeologists all thought and should be dividing in year (namely one B.C.) ,The only correct date of birth is undeterminable. So the early Christian draws the religious sect with the dense department of period of kingdom of Rome, commemorate on the first every year the Sun god determines as on the birthday first day [Christmas Day ]. The Christian on the religion on Christmas Day to commemorate Christmas for a raw important festival. According to the record of the Holy Bible, Jesus was born in a small city of Jew - -Bethlehem. Maria, that is to say Jesus' mother is pregnant because the Holy Ghost is moved, angel add one hundred appear to her, tell her, she will give birth to the god son among dream, he should be known as Jesus. When return to with husband Joseph to the hometown, all hotels are full, so Maria is forced to give birth to Jesus in the manger. Remote the east have three doctor get enlightenment of god, follow in the sky first bright stars find Jesus, lie prostrate and visit him, reveal the treasure box, takes out the gold, frankincense, there is no medicine to dedicate for the present to him. Wild country herd difference native hear the angel's voice send out from it too in Birtley, good news that was born to their fund Jesus. (2) That will trace back to Germany soon on the folk custom. In Germany, four of Christmas Day differentiate order is it lower section to wait for first - two - three - four Sunday ( advent) . Is it lower section begin Christmas country fair while being about to wait first, and wait to lower first on the same day, every household will all wait to lower wreaths ( adventskranz) China first candle light, each later is it lower each is it is it is it lower other candles of wreath to wait to light in order to suck to wait, when the fourth candle is lighted, is it will be it come to take Christmas Day to represent! German family begins to prepare several to purchase, decorate at the same time during this section, the work of cleaning up, the twelfth month to look like us? And child can get one ' Christmas calendar ' too ( ADVENTSKALENDER) ,This one paper carton, have 1 to 24 little ' the door ' above, there are such things as the small toy or the candy,etc. equally behind each small door. Just as we were the things of grocery ' smoked ' that the household enclosed as a child, child can turn on one door every day since December 1, is it go on till on Christmas Day eve on the 24th of December to it so happened. But naughty children are usually too impatient to open it all on the first day!
Make people gambol day that expect Christmas Day, especially children. What's frequently heard can be repeated in detail to believe everybody to Santa Claus' thing? Once upon a time there was an old man, Nicholas, he likes helping the poor household most in all one's life. Among them once he helps the misfortune of giving three bags of gold to them few and is sold for escaping of three pieces of poverty. When Nicholas gives a bag of gold among them to a woman among them stealthily, he is it enter to throw away gold from among them one window, is it fall into scene among the a stockings at the wall to happen. Then place socks on to give a present gift method house is it take candy to go from house to house Christmas! It is said in safe night evening, the old man can drive reindeer sleds and plan to send fully loaded with the presenting to children doing well a over this year on Christmas Day, he will crawl into the room from the chimney silently, the present is filled in and hung in socks on the bedside. So the child always hangs the socks of pieces of color in riotous profusion on the bedside, and put a cup of warm milk and quenched one's thirst for Santa Claus who wins one's spurs with toilsome labour and distinctive merits by the socks, give a big gift to oneself. A each one child is too impatient to open the gift every other day, wonder what rewards oneself. By 1822, after a Dutch missionary introduces this great philanthropist's story to U.S.A., American businessman utilizes the exploitation on a grand scale of this festival every year with the special marketing tactics, make one greatly, get up to knowingly follow the example of a wrongdoer in Japanese and other various countries of Asia group. So disguise Santa Claus to celebrate the folkways and customs on Christmas Day have got to the countries all over the world popularly gradually.
Today, people have already used the small bulb instead and replaced the candle. 2.A long time ago, there was a peasant in the legend, meeting a poverty-stricken child on Christmas Day, he received children warmly, this child rolls over and puts the loose one of root to insert on the ground while leaving, loose one is turned into a tree immediately, all over present is hung above, is used for thanking for the peasant's good intention. But Christmas tree is it in Christmas Day, see Germany, introduce to Europe and U.S.A. at first to appear really, become the indispensable ornament thing on Christmas Day. They usually put the Christmas tree with multicoloured color lamp, wax, present or angel, people especially in northwestern part of U.S.A., because local abundant forest reserves, they know the whole family select a real tree to be made for the Christmas tree together. Christmas tree is various in style, have Christmas trees of natural pine and cypress, have artificial Christmas trees and white Christmas trees too. Full and a feast for the eyes ornament is hung on each Christmas tree, but there must be a head of enormous stars on the top of each tree, like seeking that stars leading three doctors in the east to find Jesus. And on the traditional custom, only the host of the family can hang up this star of hope, other people can not interfere with others' affairs. Will see a group of little lovely boy student or little girl student at this night on day, take poem play guitar, to sing the newspaper good news of the poem first one. How did the activity come this kind of festival of good news team on earth? At that night when Jesus emerged, looked after the shepherd of the flocks of sheep in the wilderness, suddenly heard that there are sounds that came from it, offer the good news that Jesus was born to them. Record according to the Holy Bible, Jesus is it is it act as king of common people to want to come, so angel infect through shepherd these news with more people know. People later on imitate angel, the journalist spreads the news that say that that Jesus was born everywhere in safe night evening, until today, offer the good news to already turn into an indispensable program on Christmas Day. Good news team by 20th young people, is it dress up as little girl and first Santa Claus of angel make up to prepare against usually. Is it after being one o'clock, begin to go the good news of the newspaper one one house probably to have in safe night. Whenever the good news team goes to a family, can sing several Christmas song that everybody familiar with first, is it happen by little girl words of the Holy Bible let household this it knows to be day that Jesus was born in tonight to read, all later is it sing a few poem to pray, send light office to give Christmas gift to those family by generous natural Santa Claus and then, the course of the good news of the whole newspaper has been finished! The activity of the good news of the whole newspaper should probably last and is just over until about four o'clock before dawn the next day. This piece what's frequently heard can be repeated in detail, immensely popular Christmas masterpiece in music, come from country two A low a little village on the mountain withdraw Luo then. Shortly before Christmas Day of 1818, pastor Joseph in the village 梅爾望著教堂裡破舊的風琴而煩，因為幾個鍵盤都已經彈不出聲音來了，他不知該如何迎接即將來臨的聖誕節聚會，在訪村人的歸途中，爾牧師經過村郊的小山坡，當他從一上俯視幽靜的小村，幾盞燈光點綴著幽暗的黑夜，在皚皚雪地裡更顯得寂靜。Jesus is at the night when Bethlehem emerged before the world before one's eyes makes his Germany Buddhism return to 2001, the ground is happy and auspicious and quiet just like that, it is non- sacred and safe to be full of, the unexpected halo flash at this moment, he is it go home to dart in a hurry, write lyrics of ' safe night ' as poem scene hidden in brain to accumulate. In the morning of next day, pastor Mayor goes to look for good friend Buddha blue now 古魯伯，把詩交給他。Gu Lu's uncle is a stringed-instrument player, when it is bright to praise this poem, it is general at night when Jesus was born to produce and walk back and forth Buddha and place oneself in the midst of too, so he has done a song to mix words immediately revitalizing. They two begin to practise singing happily, can perform while planning to have a get-together on Christmas evening. Safe night evening, the men and women, old and young of the whole village, assemble in the chapel, the pastor has sung loudly this new song while having a get-together, though there is no accompaniment of the organ at that night, words and phrases on but it is beautiful since it is the simple and and melody move present audiences of, and spread so far. Celebrate Jesus' birth for traditional Christian on Christmas Day in meaning of Christmas Day. They will do on Christmas week in the morning on Christmas Day, in order to commemorate Jesus and carry forward the spirit of Christ. But the general person has already regarded it as a kind of popular folk custom activity, it is one everybody shares even others' love and life of care to family, friend of each other. It is symbolizing people to kind-heartedness, liking happy, peace, restrain oneself, feel grateful, silver kind, reliable, gentle expectation controlling too. In the impression, seem on Christmas Day that should be in festival staying of the pure white white snow, but an interesting one is, to in the Southern Hemisphere person door, example sweet Australia or people of South America but speech, Christmas Day is a festival celebration in summer Hey!
