christmas 圣诞节

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1、Christmas圣诞节　　ThehistoryofChristmasdatesbackover4000years.ManyofourChristmastraditionswerecelebratedcenturiesbeforetheChristchildwasborn.The12daysofChristmas，thebrightfires，theyulelog，thegivingofgifts，carnivalswithfloats，carolerswhosingwhilegoingfromhousetohouse，theholidayfeasts，andthechurchprocessi

2、onscanallbetracedbacktotheearlyMesopotamians.　　ManyofthesetraditionsbeganwiththeMesopotamiancelebrationofNewYears.TheMesopotamiansbelievedinmanygods，andastheirchiefgod-MardukEachyearaswinterarriveditwasbelievedthatMardukwoulddobattlewiththemonstersofchaos.ToassistMardukinhisstruggletheMesopotamiansh

3、eldafestivalfortheNewYear.ThiswasZagmuk，theNewYear’sfestivalthatlastedfor12days.　　TheMesopotamiankingwouldreturntothetempleofMardukandswearhisfaithfulnesstothegod.ThetraditionscalledforthekingtodieattheendoftheyearandtoreturnwithMarduktobattleathisside.　　Tosparetheirking，theMesopotamiansusedtheideao

4、fa“mock”king.Acriminalwaschosenanddressedinroyalclothes.Hewasgivenalltherespectandprivilegesofarealking.Attheendofthecelebrationthe“mock”kingwasstrippedoftheroyalclothesandslain，sparingthelifeoftherealking.　　TheRoman’scelebratedtheirgodSaturn.TheirfestivalwascalledSaturnaliawhichbeganthemiddleofDece

5、mberandendedJanuary1st.Withcriesof“JoSaturnalia！”thecelebrationwouldincludemasqueradesinthestreets，bigfestivemeals，visitingfriendsandtheexchangeofgood-luckgiftscalledStrenae。　　“JoSaturnalia！”wasafunandfestivetimefortheRomans，buttheChristiansthoughitanabominationtohonorthepagangod.TheearlyChristiansw

6、antedtokeepthebirthdayoftheirChristchildasolemnandreligiousholiday，notoneofcheerandmerrimentaswasthepaganSaturnalia.　　ButasChristianityspreadtheywerealarmedbythecontinuingcelebrationofpagancustomsandSaturnaliaamongtheirconverts.AtfirsttheChurchforbidthiskindofcelebration.Butitwastonoitwasdecidedthat

7、thecelebrationwouldbetamedandmadeintoacelebrationfitfortheChristianSonofGod.　　SomelegendsclaimthattheChristian“Christmas”celebrationwasinventedtocompeteagainstthepagancelebrationsofDecember.The25thwas