Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers blog

t’s that time of the year again! Fighting through crowded shopping streets, decorating the tree, sending Christmas cards, cooking mince pies…

But how many of you all remember the original meaning of Christmas? A recent survey showed that less than half of British children are aware that Jesus was born on Christmas Day!

The word “Christmas” is the contraction of “Christ’s mass”, and came into use through the English medieval custom of celebrating mass at midnight on Christmas Eve. Christmas is not just a single feast day; it is actually a season that extends four weeks before Christmas Day (the Advent) and for two weeks after (ending with the Epiphany). The term “Advent” means “coming”, a period of expectation and hope during which Christians prepare for the Christmas season, waiting for the coming of the Messiah.

The practice of giving gifts to family members goes back to the 15th century but only became well established towards the end of the 18th Century. It was during Queen Victoria‘s reign that customs such as sending cards, decorating trees and the myth of Father Christmas really took off.

The tradition of Father Christmas has its origin in the 4th century. This myth is based on an actual person, St. Nicholas. Nicholas was a Christian leader from Turkey who wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing it. The story tells that one day, he climbed the roof of a house to drop a purse of money down the chimney of a poor family, which is the origin of the belief that Father Christmas comes down the chimney to bring us gifts.

These days some people complain about the commercial aspect of Christmas and its extended celebration. But the “spirit” of Christmas is still there: despite the fact that so many children in the UK don’t actually know that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day, the meaning of this feast for them is more about giving than receiving presents and about thinking of others, which shows that Christmas isn’t just all about commercialization, but a real celebration of togetherness, love and joy. Christmas for most of us is about sharing and we all have our own favourite Christmas traditions.

Don’t forget to check our Christmas category for last-minute gift ideas, recipe suggestions, and to generally enhance your festive knowledge.

The Answers Team wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thank you for joining us for our first Christmas at Yahoo! Answers.

– Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers team