Petra Strorm

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Christmas

The Nativity

Christmas Theme Video

-The feast day celebrated to commemorate Mary's motherhood of Jesus

-Celebrated January 1st

-Other branches of Christian celebrate the same feast on other days

-Ex. Byzantine Christians

The Epiphany

• Describes the birth of Jesus in Gospels Matthew and Luke

• Luke 2:1-20

• Matthew 1:18-25

• During the forty days leading up to Christmas, the Eastern Orthodox Church practices the Nativity Fast ( Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and no ruling bishop)

• Catholics prepare during four Sundays of Advent before Christmas

• Depicted in many artworks showing Jesus in a manger along with his parents and three wise men/kings, and shepherds

-It commemorates the first two occasions on which Jesus’ divinity, according to Christian belief, was manifested: when the three kings (also known as wise men or Magi) visited infant Jesus in Bethlehem, and when John the Baptist baptized him in the River Jordan.

-Epiphany is commonly known as Three Kings’ Day or the Feast of the Epiphany. It means “manifestation” or “showing forth”. It is also called Theophany (“manifestation of God”), especially by Eastern Christians. Epiphany refers not only to the day itself but to the church season that follows it – a season that has a varied length because it ends when Lent begins, and this depends on the date of Easter.

Description of Holy Days

Quiz Time!

Three Wise Men

Jesus

-Were guided by a star

-Presented Jesus with the gifts of frankincense, myrrh, and gold

-His birth completed the journey to

Bethlehem

-He is a very important part of Christian faith

-He was the result of Mary and Joseph's strength and patience

The End

They have finally reached the stable!

Angel Gabriel

The road to Bethlehem

-Was the messenger who told Mary of her pregnancy

-One of only three archangels explicitly mentioned in the bible (Raphael and Micheal were the other two

Joseph

-Husband of Mary

-Accompanied Mary to Bethlehem

-Honest, righteous man

The Blessed Virgin Mary

-Played a central role in the nativity story

-Carried the infantile Jesus in her womb

-Entire story follows Joseph and Mary's trials and tribulations in their journey to Bethlehem

Characters

All characters were important in the

nativity story, but there were five main

characters/groups of vital importance

Nativity Story

-Angel Gabriel appeared in Mary's dream

-Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem

-The baby was delivered in a manger

-Three wise men came bearing gifts

-The baby was named Jesus

Scripture Reading

Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)

2:1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus

that all the world should be registered.

2:2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was

governor of Syria.

2:3 All went to their own towns to be registered.

2:4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

2:5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.

2:6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.

2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him

in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because

there was no place for them in the inn.

Themes

-The official colours of Christmas are Red, Gold, and Green.

-Green represents the evergreen trees and wreaths that have been used to decorate

-Red represents the blood of Jesus Christ

-Gold represents a present given to Jesus

Etymology

1. The word Christ stems from the Middle and Old English word

Crist meaning the anointed one.

-It is borrowed from the Latin Christus and from the Greek Christos also meaning the anointed one.

-In the word Christmas, the suffix -mas evolves from the Old English word maesse meaning festival, feast day or mass.

Table of Content

2. Christmas derivative of Christ and Mass.

Mass is the term used of the celebration of the Eucharist in the Latin rites of the Roman Catholic Church. The word itself is derived from the phrase with which the liturgical celebration concludes in Latin, Ite, missa est.

- In this phrase, the word missa is usually explained as late Latin for classical Latin missio, so that the phrase would be literally translated as: “Go,

it is the sending.”

Symbols

-The star that guides the wise men to Christ also symbolizes Epiphany, as well as the three gifts they gave to Jesus:

-Gold (fit for a king).

-Frankincense (used to worship at a temple).

-Myrrh (used for embalming, as well as a salve for irritations).

-There are more secular symbols such as presents, decorated trees, bells, reindeer, sleighs, etc.

General Explanation

Focus 1: General Explanation

Focus 2: Etymology

Focus 3: Symbols and Themes

Focus 4: Scripture Reading and Analysis

Focus 5: Nativity Story and Characters

Focus 6: Description of the holy days

Focus 7: Christmas Video

Focus 8: Christmas Quizbowl!

Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the love of God and family and to create memories that will last forever. Jesus is God's perfect, indescribable gift. The amazing thing is that not only are we able to receive this gift, but we are able to share it with others on Christmas and every other day of the year.

Joel Osteen

-Christmas is a celebration of the

miraculous Birth of Christ

-Christmas Day is celebrated on

December 25th

-A variety of traditions and celebration

forms have been derived

-There are three Holy days in the season

-The event of the Birth of Christ has been recorded in

the gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John