Christmas Celebration and its traditions

Date: December 24th 2007
Name: Ilham Ismayana
NPM : 031103149
CCU exercise (Christmas)

Christmas Celebration and its traditions

1.INTRODUCTION
The History
Christ's Mass is a special mass performed in celebration of Christ's
birth. In this mass, Jesus is considered both the priest and the
victim, represented by the Catholic priest who offers Him as a
sacrifice each time the mass is performed. In offering
this "sacrifice," the priest believes he has the power to change the
bread and the wine of the Communion into Jesus' literal flesh and
blood, requiring the people to worship these elements as they do God
Himself.
Christmas, which takes its name from Christ's Mass, was first
celebrated on various dates from about 200 A.D. but was finally set
on December 25 by Bishop Liberus of Rome in 354 A.D. The December
date, which almost coincides with the winter solstice, became a
popular festival of West Europe during the middle Ages. But as late
as the nineteenth century, Christmas celebration was suppressed in
Scotland and New England because of some religious differences. All
Christian nations have traditions which have become a part of the
Christmas season.

2.DATA
Reference: In compiling and collecting the material about Christmas,
the reference I've got is from my friend who Christian-protestan t. I
asked him about what he and his family usually do when they celebrate
Christmas. I think it is important to know the history and the
Christmas traditions, so I searched it from internet.

3.ANALYZING

Most of Christians in this world will get busy if they are going to
face the day on December 25th, the day of Christmas. Indonesian
Christians are also having their time to prepare the Christmas
celebration. These following are several examples of Christmas
celebration and its traditions of what Christians do when the day
comes. Firstly, it is a tradition for them to have many candles
which not only to light their house on the table, but from their myth
it also used to burn through Christmas night until the sun rose or
the Christmas service began. Secondly, giving of gifts is the most
expected tradition especially to children, their look seem happy
whenever they open their gift. However, my friend told me when he was
a child he had his unforgettable Christmas experience when he got a
letter from Santa Clause. Now he thinks to do the same thing to his
youngest nephew to make a gift like that is something they will
remember all their lives, just so they could have special Christmas
experiences and continue the traditions. Thirdly, Christmas Ham,
eating hogs was one of the central festivities of the Saturnalia.
Each man would offer a pig as a sacrifice because superstition held
that a boar had killed the sun deity Adonis. Hence, the tradition of
the Christmas ham on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

4.CLOSING
Conclusion
All Christian nations have traditions which have become a part of the
Christmas season and sometimes it comes with different way. Inspite
of it, some of them still continue their old traditions untill now
and other countries follow others traditions and became commercial
christmas. For example, England has contributed the decorations of
holly and mistletoe, carolling and gift giving.The Christmas tree is
a medieval German tradition and the immortal carol "Silent Night"
also comes from Germany. The United States first made Santa Claus
popular in New York, popularized the Christmas card about 1846 and
made the major contribution to commercializing Christmas.