Christmas and a New Year

On Christmas, the Christian world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was born and became human in order to redeem mankind. The Virgin Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit and bore the child with the help of her fiancé Joseph. Jesus was born in Bethlehem as Mary and Joseph travelled there for a census. Since there was no room for them in the inn, Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger. Angels announcedthe birth of the Saviour of the World shepherds who came first to worship the baby.The bright star led the three kings from the East who brought him three gifts: frankincense(as to a God), gold (as to a king), and holy oil - myrrh (as to one who was mortal).

The arrival of the new year is celebrated on January 1st. For a long period of time, Christians were taking the day of Jesus' birth, that is December 25th, as the beginning of the new year. In 1691, the Church acknowledged January 1stboth as the beginning of the new year and as a holiday. Christmas is a family holiday filling hearts with love and brings the children scattered around the world back to their parents. New Year is celebrated in bigger company, usually with friends, loudly and cheerfully, just as it is supposed to be at the start of the year.

(Željka Šaravanja)