2017Christmas and New Year - First Day Cover

Angels, as God’s messengers, bring joyous news of the birth of the Son of God at Christmas night being the first to see the Child Jesus. God, according to Christian beliefs, was born in a Bethlehem barn from the Virgin Mary and under the protection of his father Saint Joseph. He was born to become a man that will pay for and save mankind form their sins and death. According to God's plan, angels are deeply involved in mankind's salvation. An angel proclaimed to Mary that she will become the Mother of God, and had appeared to Saint Joseph in his dream saying he must not be afraid to take his fiancée Mary for his wife. Jesus' birth, the Bible interprets as an event that shows God's love towards every person. And for Christians every new Christmas is a time of renewing our human values in a joyous environment. Christians by celebrating Christmas on December 25th have evolved many traditions throughout the centuries. One of the most popular is decorating the Christmas tree with various decorations, while an angel or the shooting star is put on top. The day of Jesus' birth the first Christians considered being the beginning of a new year. In 1691 the Church accepted January 1rst as the beginning of a new year. Celebrating Christmas and the New Year is common to all Christians around the world, but every nation celebrates with part of their own tradition. (Željka Šaravanja)