Merry Christmas!

Hey everyone! Merry Christmas!! I hope you’re all having a wonderful Christmas Holiday! Here I am back with five brief facts about Christmas and the reason for the season!

Fact #1: When was Christmas first celebrated? According to Christianity.com, the first recorded Christmas ceremony was celebrated in Rome on December 25th, 336 A.D. That’s a LONG time ago!

Fact #2: How many Christmas trees are sold in the US for Christmas? Approximately 25-30 million Christmas trees are sold each year in America, according to the US Department of Agriculture. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a Christmas tree!

Fact #3: How much mail is delivered in preparation for Christmas? With everyone buying gifts and sending them off, the number can’t be small. In 2021, the US Postal Service (USPS) reportedly delivered over 13.2 packages and mail over the holiday season.

Fact #4: How many people actually go to a Christmas church service? According to a LifeWay Christian Resources poll, approximately six out of every ten Americans attend a Christmas church service.

Fact #5: What is the real reason for the season? Just to see what would come up, I typed in “why is Christmas celebrated” into Google, and they actually came up with the answer of Jesus’ birth. It is the day we celebrate the anniversary of Christ Jesus’ birth, not Santa Claus or snowmen or Christmas trees.

In the Bible, Luke 2:1-20 tells the story often referred to as the “Nativity story” nowadays.

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”

Though it’s doubtful Jesus was actually born on December 25th, it is this event we celebrate at Christmas. We give gifts to others because God gave us a gift — His only Begotten Son, Who was to die on the cross for our sins and rise again, so that we can come to Him and live together with Him in paradise. And that was the greatest gift we could possibly receive on Christmas or any other day!

Thanks for reading! I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!! God Bless ~ Kay Leigh