英语介绍圣诞节

ChristmasisaChristianholidaythatcelebratesthebirthofJesusChrist.NooneknowstheexactdateofChrist′sbirth,butmostChristiansobserveChristmasonDecember25.Onthisday,manygotochurch,wheretheytakepartinspecialreligiousservices.DuringtheChristmasseason,theyalsoexchangegiftsanddecoratetheirhomeswithholly,mistletoe,andChristmastrees.ThewordChristmascomesfromCristesmaesse,anearlyEnglishphrasethatmeansMassofChrist.ThestoryofChristmascomeschieflyfromtheGospelsofSaintLukeandSaintMatthewintheNewTestament.

ThehistoryofChristmasdatesbackover4000years.ManyofourChristmastraditionswerecelebratedcenturiesbeforetheChristchildwasborn.The12daysofChristmas,thebrightfires,theyulelog,thegivingofgifts,carnivals(parades)withfloats,carolerswhosingwhilegoingfromhousetohouse,theholidayfeasts,andthechurchprocessionscanallbetracedbacktotheearlyMesopotamians.

ManyofthesetraditionsbeganwiththeMesopotamiancelebrationofNewYears.TheMesopotamiansbelievedinmanygods,andastheirchiefgod-Marduk.EachyearaswinterarriveditwasbelievedthatMardukwoulddobattlewiththemonstersofchaos.ToassistMardukinhisstruggletheMesopotamiansheldafestivalfortheNewYear.ThiswasZagmuk,theNewYear′sfestivalthatlastedfor12days.