2006-12-03 08:15:57 · 24 answers · asked by tweet 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
To celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
2006-12-03 08:16:41 · answer #1 · answered by DK 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
That's a good question. I would also like to add something of my own: what is the real purpose of giving gifts? To celebrate the birth of Jesus? How does giving your family/friends a gift celebrate the birth of someone else?
I think that Christmas is way overrated. Adults need to stop giving each other gifts and just focus on making it special for kids, even if it means buying them gifts.
Or, better yet, give Jesus a gift since it's HIS birthday. Since he's not around anymore, we could at least give a gift to someone less fortunate (which would be what Jesus would have wanted) instead of spending so much money on people around us that don't need anything else.
2006-12-03 08:20:30 · answer #2 · answered by I Am Legend 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are actually a few reasons, it is idealistically a celebration of the Birth of Jesus....but, the Time of year of the Holiday was set to where it was for other reasons. Usually as empires conquered cultures they couldn't stop the people the conquered from celebrating their religous holidays, in order to take care of the problem the meanings and reasons for the celebration are changed and eventually over time people forgot why they were celebrating and the deal was done. That is how you manufacture a holiday out of another in order to control the belief system of a population...old school conquest stuff.
2006-12-03 08:21:40 · answer #3 · answered by BOISE_DD 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
originally it was to celebrate the Birth of Christ. However, the federal government, in recognizing the difficulty in declaring a sacred holiday noticed a growing celebration of a secular figure.
St. Nicholas...A bishop in Germany ( I believe) was known for the giving of gifts and sweets to children. This observance and celebration of St. Nicholas's activities grew allowing the US government to tie the Sacred holiday with a more secular observance of a time of gift giving and goodwill towards others. This is why we have a sacred observance of Christmas (even though Christ was not born anywhere near December 25) and the secular observance of goodwill towards humanity by a jolly, good-natured man who especially loved children.
look it up. There is a lot of interesting reading.
2006-12-03 08:24:18 · answer #4 · answered by silverback487 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus birthday but there were other reasons earlier before Christian Religion took over as there was the Winter Solstice ( Yule ) which was celebrated by the Pagans. for further information read the book titled, " Pagan Christmas. " very interesting.
2006-12-03 08:30:34 · answer #5 · answered by Marvin R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is supposed to be the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ
but has been turned in to a money making opportunity as I send out my Christmas cards I wright.
Remember the rea-SON, for the sea-SON is Christ-mass.
Also Jesus was the sign of the fish, Pisces March
2006-12-03 08:22:09 · answer #6 · answered by Miss Flame 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it is meant to commemorate the nativity. However, several parts of the celebration are patterned after pagan customs, most notably the ancient Roman festival Saturnalia.
2006-12-03 08:31:17 · answer #7 · answered by Stacye S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We celebrate Christmas because it is Christ's birthday.
2006-12-03 08:17:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
That question does not really make sense. If it is "Does anyone know why we actually celebrate christmas?" it is different for eveyone. Some considers that it is the b-day for god. another is being with friends and family.
2006-12-03 08:17:52 · answer #9 · answered by Alex 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
We celebrate Christmas for the birth of Jesus Christ in the manger.
2006-12-03 08:22:25 · answer #10 · answered by kira j 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
People like to celebrate. So they make things up just to do it.
2006-12-03 08:20:33 · answer #11 · answered by Magus 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋