22 Questions
According to the traditional Christmas narrative, where was Jesus born?
Bethlehem
What did the inn offer to Joseph and Mary when there was no room?
A stable
Why did the church fix the date of Jesus's birth as December 25?
It corresponds to the traditional date of the winter solstice on the Roman calendar
According to the text, what follows the season of Advent or the Nativity Fast?
Christmastide
What did the Council of Tours proclaim regarding the twelve days from Christmas to Epiphany?
They proclaimed it as a sacred and festive season
What historical event contributed to the increased prominence of Christmas Day?
The coronation of Charlemagne as Emperor on Christmas Day in 800
What was a common feature of medieval Christmas feasts?
Feasting on Yule boar
During the Middle Ages, who were the Christmas gift-giving exchanges usually between?
People with legal relationships, such as tenant and landlord
What change occurred during the Reformation in 16th–17th-century Europe regarding the gift bringer and the date of giving gifts?
The gift bringer was changed to the Christ Child or Christkindl, and the date of giving gifts changed from December 6 to Christmas Eve.
What did King James I insist on during Christmas night in 1607?
He insisted on a play to be acted and court indulgence in games
What characterized the Christmas season during the 17th century in England?
Indulgence in eating, dancing, singing, sporting, and card playing
'Misrule'—drunkenness, promiscuity, gambling—was condemned as an important aspect of which festival?
'Misrule' was condemned as an important aspect of Christmastide
What is the primary purpose of celebrating Christmas according to Christians?
To celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ
Where did the earliest evidence of Christmas being celebrated on December 25 come from?
The Chronograph of 354
In which calendar do some Eastern Christian Churches celebrate Christmas on January 7?
Julian calendar
What is 'Christmas' derived from?
The Greek 'Khrīstos' and the Latin 'missa'
When was Christmas introduced in the East?
Part of the revival of Orthodox Christianity in the late 4th century
In connection with what was Christmas celebrated in the East?
The Epiphany, which focused on Jesus's baptism
What was December 25 traditionally associated with in the Roman Empire?
The winter solstice
Where does the term 'Christ's Mass' or 'Christian mass' originate from?
'Khrīstos' and 'missa'
What were the forty days before Christmas referred to as in the West?
'The forty days of St. Martin'
'Nativity', 'Gēola' (Yule), and 'Noel' are other names for which holiday?
'Christmas'
Study Notes
- Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar, while some Eastern Christian Churches celebrate on January 7 in the Julian calendar
- Christmas is referred to as 'Christ's Mass' or 'Christian mass', derived from the Greek 'Khrīstos' and the Latin 'missa'
- The holiday has had various other names throughout history, such as 'midwinter', 'Nativity', 'Gēola' (Yule), 'Noel', and 'Koleda'
- Christians believe that God came into the world in human form to atone for sins, rather than knowing Jesus's exact birthdate, is the primary purpose of celebrating Christmas
- The earliest evidence of Christmas being celebrated on December 25 is from the Chronograph of 354, but the earliest church records indicate that Christians were remembering and celebrating Christ's birth organically
- Christmas was not a widely celebrated holiday in the early Christian church, but was introduced in the East as part of the revival of Orthodox Christianity in the late 4th century
- In the East, Christmas was celebrated in connection with the Epiphany, which focused on Jesus's baptism
- In the West, the medieval calendar was dominated by Christmas-related holidays, with the forty days before Christmas becoming 'the forty days of St. Martin' or 'the forty days of St. Nicholas'
- The gospels of Luke and Matthew describe Jesus as being born in Bethlehem to the Virgin Mary, with different accounts of how the wise men and shepherds arrived
- December 25 was the traditional date of the winter solstice in the Roman Empire and the Roman festival Dies Natalis Solis Invicti
- Christmas was not a widely celebrated holiday in the early Christian church, but was introduced in the East as part of the revival of Orthodox Christianity in the late 4th century
- Christmas was not a widely celebrated holiday in the early Christian church, but was introduced in the West through the spread of the Roman Catholic Church and the influence of the Anglo-Saxons.
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