From 65438+February 24th to the following year, 65438+1October 6th is Christmas. During the festival, Christians from all over the world will hold grand commemorative ceremonies. Christmas was originally a Christian holiday. Because people attach great importance to it, it has become a national festival. The biggest festival of the year in China can be compared with the Spring Festival, just like the Spring Festival in China in the west.
Westerners use red, green and white as Christmas colors. When Christmas comes, every family should decorate it with Christmas colors. The red ones have Christmas flowers and Christmas candles. The green one is the Christmas tree. It is the main decoration of Christmas, decorated with evergreen trees such as fir and cypress that have been cut into towers. Colorful lanterns, gifts and paper flowers are hung on it, and Christmas candles are lit.
The contrast between red and white is Santa Claus, who is the most popular figure in Christmas activities. Before going to bed on Christmas Eve, western children should put a sock in front of the fireplace or beside the pillow. When they fall asleep, Santa Claus will put presents in the sock. Playing Santa Claus is also a custom in the west.
The name "Christmas" is the abbreviation of "Christian Mass". Mass is a church service. Christmas is a religious holiday. We celebrate it as the birthday of Jesus, so it is also called Christmas. On this day, all Christian churches in the world hold special ceremonies. But many Christmas celebrations have nothing to do with religion. Exchanging gifts and sending Christmas cards make Christmas a day of universal celebration.
There is a story about the birth of Jesus. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. God even sent the angel Gabriel to Yue Se in his dream, telling him not to abandon Maria just because she was unmarried and pregnant, but to marry her and name the child "Jesus", which means to save people from sin.
When Maria was about to give birth, the Roman government issued an order that everyone must declare their household registration when they came to Bethlehem. Yue Se and Mary had to obey.
When they arrived in Bethlehem, it was already dark, but they couldn't find a hotel for the night, only a stable could stay. Just then, Jesus was born! So Mary only gave birth to Jesus in a manger. In order to commemorate the birth of Jesus, later generations designated1February 25th as Christmas, and held mass every year to commemorate the birth of Jesus.
Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus on1February 25th, but no one knows his real date of birth. /kloc-In the 9th century, with the popularity of Christmas cards and the appearance of Santa Claus, Christmas became popular.
The origin of Santa Claus
Christmas is an exciting day, especially for children. I believe everyone is familiar with Santa Claus? Once upon a time, there was an old man named Nicholas who loved to help poor families all his life. Once he helped three poor teenagers and gave them three bags of gold, which saved them from being sold. When Nicholas secretly gave a bag of gold to one of the women, he threw the gold out of a window and fell into a sock on the wall. Therefore, the way to give gifts by wearing Christmas stockings is to ask for candy from door to door!
It is said that on the night of Christmas Eve, the Santa Husbands Association will drive reindeer sleigh full of gifts to send some children who have behaved well in the past year. He would sneak into the house from the chimney and stuff gifts into socks hanging on the bedside. Therefore, children always hang colorful socks on the bedside and put a cup of hot milk next to them to quench their thirst for hard-working Santa Claus and give themselves a big gift.
The next day, every child can't wait to open the ceremony and want to know what reward he got.
1822, after a Dutch missionary spread the story of this great philanthropist to the United States, American businessmen used this festival every year to publicize advertisements with special marketing techniques and made a lot of money. Japan and other Asian countries followed suit. Therefore, the custom of dressing up as Santa Claus to celebrate Christmas has gradually become popular all over the world.
The origin of Christmas tree
1. It is said that around16th century, Germans first placed evergreen pine and cypress branches in their houses as decorations. Later, German missionary Martin Luther put candles on fir branches in the forest and lit them, making them look like starlight leading people to Bethlehem, just as the Magi found Jesus according to the stars in the sky two thousand years ago. Today, people have switched to light bulbs instead of candles.
Legend has it that a long time ago, a farmer met a poor child at Christmas. He received the child warmly. When the child left, he broke a pine branch and put it on the ground. The pine branch immediately turned into a tree, and the tree was covered with gifts to thank the farmer for his kindness.
However, the Christmas tree really appeared at Christmas, first seen in Germany, and then introduced to Europe and America, becoming an indispensable ornament for Christmas. They usually use colorful lights, wax, gifts or angels to install Christmas trees, especially people living in the northwest of the United States. Because the local forest resources are rich, they will choose a real tree as a Christmas tree with their whole family. There are many kinds of Christmas trees, including natural pine and cypress trees, artificial Christmas trees and white Christmas trees. Every Christmas tree is covered with dazzling decorations, but there must be a very big star at the top of each tree, just like the star that guided the Magi to find Jesus. Moreover, in traditional customs, only the head of the family can hang this star of hope, and no one else can intervene.
The origin of Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is also called Christmas Eve. That night, the whole family will gather in the living room, sing Christmas songs around the Christmas tree, exchange gifts, share the joys and sorrows of life in the past year, and express their inner blessings and love. On this night, I will see a group of lovely little boys or girls, playing guitars with poems in their hands, singing poems one after another, bringing good news. How on earth did the Jiayin team come from this festival?
On the night of Jesus' birth, a shepherd was guarding his flock in the wilderness when he suddenly heard a voice from the sky telling them the good news of Jesus' birth. According to the Bible, Jesus came to be the king of the world, so angels spread the news to more people through these shepherds.
Later, people followed the example of angels and spread the news of the birth of Jesus everywhere on Christmas Eve. Until today, good news has become an indispensable program for Christmas.
Usually, the good news team consists of about twenty young people, plus a little girl dressed as an angel and Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, after about nine o'clock, a family began to hear good news. Whenever the good news team goes to a family, they will sing some familiar Christmas songs first, then the little girl will read the Bible to let the family know that tonight is the birthday of Jesus, then everyone will pray together and sing a poem or two, and then the generous Santa Claus will send Christmas presents to the small hall of that family, and the whole good news process will be completed!
The origin of Thanksgiving has something to do with religious disputes among Christians in Britain. From the end of16th century to the end of17th century, the English Puritans launched a fierce religious reform movement, announcing that they would leave the state religion and set up another church, and advocated eliminating the residual influence within the Anglican Church. However, in the middle of the17th century, the royalist parliament passed "Believing in the religion of the country", and the Puritans began to be brutally persecuted by the government and church forces, and were threatened with arrest, torture and religious trial all the time. Forced to do so, they had to move to the Netherlands to take refuge. However, it is difficult to live under the fence. In Holland, the Puritans not only failed to escape religious persecution, but also suffered from the pain and suffering brought by the war. What makes them unbearable is that in a foreign country, children can't stand "British education" and their feelings for their homeland are getting weaker. In order to escape from religious persecution completely and preserve the language and tradition of the motherland for the next generation, they once again thought of the great migration.
Although the world is big, where are these people who have fallen to the ends of the earth? After careful consideration, they turned their eyes to the United States. Columbus discovered this "new continent" more than 100 years ago, with a vast territory and rich products, and there are still many places without kings. No parliament, no executioner, undeveloped virgin land. "The sea is wide with diving, and the sky is high." Only in such a place can they live easily, freely believe and spread their favorite religion, and open up a paradise on earth belonging to Puritans.
So Bradford, the famous leader of Puritans, gathered 65,438+002 companions. In September, 65,438+0620, he boarded a wooden sailboat, may flower, which weighed 65,438+080 tons and was 90 feet long, and began the adventure voyage of Columbus exploration. This romantic ship is too small to sail. Due to the situation, they "chose" the worst crossing season of the year. However, with a bright vision for the future, in order to get back the lost rights and freedoms, this group of people who have suffered a lot have despaired.
The sea is very stormy and the waves are very high. Mayflower is like a leaf in a storm, drifting forward with difficulty, and is in danger of sinking and dying almost at any time. However, with the concerted efforts of Qi Xin, the ship did not encounter any damage. After 66 days of sailing, it arrived at Cape Cod in North America on165438+1October 2 1 day, which is the port of provine, Massachusetts, USA today. After a short rest, Mayflower continued along the coastline. Due to headwind and jet lag, it failed to reach its intended destination-Jamestown, Virginia. Instead, it sent them to the land of New England on the first day after Christmas.
Interestingly, only one of all the explorers died in this dangerous expedition. However, due to the birth of a baby during the trip, the number of people arriving in the United States is still 102. Immigrants are devout believers, all with their hands crossed, and sincerely thank God for his care.
Now, in front of them, it is a completely strange land, and the winding coastline looks quiet and desolate. Therefore, within about a month, the immigrants did not dare to land rashly and still took the boat as their home. In the meantime, they sent a reconnaissance team to look for a settlement along Cape Cod Bay by boat. One day, while everyone was waiting anxiously, the reconnaissance team came back to report that they had found a "paradise" really suitable for immigrants to live in. "Paradise" is today's Plymouth Harbor, which is a natural harbor and is very suitable for Mayflower berthing. There is an excellent fishing ground near the port, which can provide a lot of seafood. Not far away, a rolling hill, like a natural barrier, surrounds this land. In the bright sunshine, the cold stream reflects the glittering and translucent luster, which can provide enough fresh water for immigrants. The cultivated fertile fields are neatly arranged one by one. In addition, they also saw a dilapidated house, but it was enough to shelter them from the wind and rain and help them through the severe winter ... as if everything could not be better. The only thing that puzzles them is that in this land full of human lives, there is not a figure, not a wisp of smoke, and it looks so desolate, as if it were prepared for them in advance. Later, I learned that this was once a very prosperous Indian village. A few years ago, flowers prevailed, and no one in the village was spared, which became the best refuge for this group of exotic drifters.
A few days later, may flower crossed Cape Cod Bay and anchored at Plymouth Harbor. When immigrants landed by boat, according to the ancient sailing tradition, they first climbed a big stone towering above the sea. Salute roared on the Mayflower, and people were buzzing, celebrating the beginning of a new life. Later, this reef was called "Plymouth Stone" and became the historical witness of the first permanent colony in New England.
However, for these immigrants who are eager for happiness, the first winter is not beautiful. The cold wind blowing from the Atlantic screamed in the air like a devil, and the snow and ice all over the sky beat the simple houses mercilessly. In this world of ice and snow, immigrants lack the necessary equipment and experience to live in this land. Under the heavy pressure of busy work, many people are exhausted, sick, poor diet and unbearable cold, which makes more people fall to the ground. Infectious diseases followed, claiming many lives. A winter has passed, and only 50 of the 65,438+002 immigrants who came to the United States through difficulties and obstacles remain. People die almost every day, and one or more families are holding funerals almost every day. The joy of setting foot on this land for the first time is gone. Everyone's heart is shrouded in an unprecedented atmosphere of despair. A dream, a beautiful dream that has just begun, is it broken like this? Everyone is thinking.
Just as the immigrants were helpless and waiting for death, one morning the following spring, an Indian walked into Plymouth village. He introduced himself, saying that he was sent by an Indian chief from a neighboring village to inspect the situation. This is the first guest received by immigrants after they came to the United States. They poured out their stories and untold sufferings to their guests. The Indian listened quietly, showing infinite pity and sympathy on his face. Things have turned around. A few days later, Indian Ann took his chief Massasod into the immigrant's house. The director is a generous and enthusiastic person. He extended a warm welcome to the immigrants and gave them many necessities as gifts. The most experienced and capable Indians were sent to teach immigrants how to live in this land and teach them skills such as fishing, hunting, farming and raising turkeys.
It was a good year, and with the guidance and help of Indians, the immigrants got a bumper harvest, finally overcame the difficulties of life and lived a stable and prosperous life. In this autumn, Bradford, who has become the governor of Plymouth, held a grand ceremony to thank God for his decision. This is the first Thanksgiving in history. Of course, he didn't forget the "God" who really helped immigrants solve their problems-the hospitable and clever Indians, and specially invited Massasod and his Indians to attend the festival celebration.
Indians readily accepted the invitation and sent five deer as gifts in advance. 165438+1One day at the end of October, the immigrants held a big banquet, and the table was filled with game from the mountains, as well as delicious food made of corn, pumpkin, bamboo shoots and turkey. The celebration lasted for three days. During the day, the host and guest held a banquet and talked about friendship. In the evening, there was a blazing spring fire on the grass. In the cool autumn wind, Indian boys and young people in Plymouth colony danced, sang, wrestled and shot arrows together, and the atmosphere was very warm.
Today, in the eyes of Americans, Thanksgiving is more important than Christmas. The first is a four-day holiday, which is enough for people to celebrate. Secondly, it is also a traditional day for family reunion. During Thanksgiving, it has become a national custom for scattered families to rush home for the holidays. Besides, the most important meal for Americans in a year is Thanksgiving dinner. In the United States, a fast-paced and competitive country, the diet on weekdays is extremely simple. The popular world of American fast food is a good example. But on Thanksgiving night, every family has a big meal, and the richness of goods is staggering. From the president to the common people, turkey and pumpkin pie are essential foods on the holiday table. These two "treasures" reflect the American people's memories of their ancestors' hardships and the first Thanksgiving. Japanese mood. Therefore, Thanksgiving Day is also called "Turkey Day".
Although Thanksgiving Day is a time for family reunion, thousands of people still take time to visit Plymouth Harbor and relive American history during the festival every year. Today, not only Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, but Canadians also regard it as a routine holiday. This may be because there are many descendants of British immigrants living in this vast land of Canada!
Valentine's Day, also known as St. Valentine's Day or St. Valentine's Day, is one of the traditional western festivals, that is, February 14 every year. On this day, men and women exchange chocolates, greeting cards and flowers to express their love or friendship, which has become a favorite festival for young people in Europe and America. There are as many lovers in the world as there are many explanations about the origin of Valentine's Day. Just as people in China now spend Christmas with almost fanatical enthusiasm, Valentine's Day has quietly penetrated into the minds of countless young people and become another important festival besides the traditional festivals in China.
In China, on the night of the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the weather is warm and the plants are fragrant. This is commonly known as Valentine's Day in China (Valentine's Day in China), and some people call it "Beggar's Day" or "Daughter's Day". This is the most romantic festival among the traditional festivals in China, and it is also the most important day for girls in the past. Facing the bright moon in the sky, they offer seasonal fruits and vegetables, and pray for the goddess in the sky to give them intelligent hearts and dexterous hands, and even pray for a happy marriage.