Christmas symbols
THE STAR symbolises the star that appeared quite miraculously in the eastern sky on the birth of Jesus Christ. The star is believed to have guided the Magi, who were the three wise men from the East to find the newborn king.
The Christmas tree
LONG BEFORE the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient people...
How the world celebrates
IRAN, FORMERLY Persia, is the land where the three wise men are believed to have lived when Jesus was born.
How did Christmas start?
SINCE ABOUT 400 AD, Christians have celebrated the birth of Jesus. 'Christ' means 'Messiah' or 'Anointed One', the title given to Jesus, and 'Mass', a religious festival. In the West today, the real meaning of Christmas is often forgot.
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