The HiStOrY OF Christmas Day

#12
25th December

Today, I want to share the history of Christmas Day.

The story of Christmas dates back over 4000 years. During this era, Rome was a great empire ruled by Caesar Augustus and Israel was governed by King Herod.

The Story of Mary and Joseph
In the small village of Galilee in Nazareth, Israel, lived Mary a young virgin who was engaged to be married to Joesph, a Jewish carpenter. An angel visited Mary in her dream who told her she had been chosen to bear a Son of God and his name was to be Jesus. And thus, it happened that when Mary was still engaged to Joseph, she miraculously became pregnant through the Holy Spirit. When Mary told Joesph, naturally he felt betrayed, but an angel visited him in his dream and verified what Mary had told him to be true. He thus took Mary to be his wife despite a possible public disgrace.

Mary and Joseph leave Nazareth for Bethlehem
At that time, Caesar Augustus declared that a census should be taken of every person in the entire Roman empire. And, everybody had to go to the place to which they belonged to register. As Joseph, was of the line of David, he and Mary had to go to Bethlehem to register. Joseph and Mary left Nazareth for Bethlehem. Mary who was with child, and close to the birth, rode on a donkey while Joseph walked beside her. They traveled for many days and only rested at night.When they reached Bethlehem it was night. They looked for a place to rest but there were no empty rooms when they reached the inn. As they were being turned away Joseph mentioned that his wife was with child and close to birth. The inn keeper took pity on them and told them of some caves in the nearby hills where shepherds would stay with their cows and sheep.

Jesus is Born
So Joseph and Mary went up into the hills and found the caves. In one cave was a stable room. Joseph cleaned it and made beds of fresh hay. He found a feeding trough which he cleaned and filled with hay to use as a crib. The next night Mary gave birth to a son and they named him Jesus, as the angel had said.

The Shepherds
When the child was born a shining star appeared over Bethlehem that could be seen for miles around. In the fields nearby were shepherds who were tending their flocks of sheep. An angel appeared to them surrounded by bright light. The shepherds were frightened and tried to run.

"Fear Not," said the angel, "For I bring you tidings of great joy. For unto you is born this day in Bethlehem - a Saviour who is Christ the Lord."

"And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

Suddenly the sky was filled with angels, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men."

After the angels departed the shepherds set out for Bethlehem. When they reached the cave they found the stable and inside was the child wrapped in swaddling clothes. The shepherds left, praising the lord and soon spread the news about this miraculous child who was to be the Savior of the world.

The Three Kings
As the star shined over Bethlehem, three kings of the east saw it. They knew it was a sign and they set off to follow the star. There was Caspar - the young king of Tarsus, Melchior – the king of Arabia who was a long bearded old man, and Balthazar - the king from Ethiopia. They traveled on camels for many days over mountains, through deserts and plains always following the shining star.

When they finally arrived in Bethlehem they found the child in the manger. The three kings bowed to the child and offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They stayed the night in the cave and returned the next day to their lands to spread the news.

After you read the article, I want to wish you "God Bless You" and "Happy New Year".

The HiStOrY OF Santa Claus

#11
25th December

Merry Christmas!!! Do you know the history of this day?? Well, I will talk that history at the next chapter. Today, I want to share the history of Santa Claus. This is the article that I copied from the Internet.

The American version of the Santa Claus figure received its inspiration and its name from the Dutch legend of Sinter Klaas, brought by settlers to New York in the 17th century.

As early as 1773 the name appeared in the American press as "St. A Claus," but it was the popular author Washington Irving who gave Americans their first detailed information about the Dutch version of Saint Nicholas. In his History of New York, published in 1809 under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker, Irving described the arrival of the saint on horseback (unaccompanied by Black Peter) each Eve of Saint Nicholas.

This Dutch-American Saint Nick achieved his fully Americanized form in 1823 in the poem A Visit From Saint Nicholas more commonly known as The Night Before Christmas by writer Clement Clarke Moore. Moore included such details as the names of the reindeer; Santa Claus's laughs, winks, and nods; and the method by which Saint Nicholas, referred to as an elf, returns up the chimney. (Moore's phrase "lays his finger aside of his nose" was drawn directly from Irving's 1809 description.)

The American image of Santa Claus was further elaborated by illustrator Thomas Nast, who depicted a rotund Santa for Christmas issues of Harper's magazine from the 1860s to the 1880s. Nast added such details as Santa's workshop at the North Pole and Santa's list of the good and bad children of the world. A human-sized version of Santa Claus, rather than the elf of Moore's poem, was depicted in a series of illustrations for Coca-Cola advertisements introduced in 1931 that introduced and made the red Santa Suits an icon. In modern versions of the Santa Claus legend, only his toy-shop workers are elves. Rudolph, the ninth reindeer, with a red and shiny nose, was invented in 1939 by an advertising writer for the Montgomery Ward Company.

In looking for the historical roots of Santa Claus, one must go very deep in the past. One discovers that Santa Claus as we know him is a combination of many different legends and mythical creatures.

The basis for the Christian-era Santa Claus is Bishop Nicholas of Smyrna (Izmir), in what is now Turkey. Nicholas lived in the 4th century A.D. He was very rich, generous, and loving toward children. Often he gave joy to poor children by throwing gifts in through their windows.

The Orthodox Church later raised St. Nicholas, miracle worker, to a position of great esteem. It was in his honor that Russia's oldest church, for example, was built. For its part, the Roman Catholic Church honored Nicholas as one who helped children and the poor. St. Nicholas became the patron saint of children and seafarers. His name day is December 6th.

In the Protestant areas of central and northern Germany, St. Nicholas later became known as der Weinachtsmann. In England he came to be called Father Christmas. St. Nicholas made his way to the United States with Dutch immigrants, and began to be referred to as Santa Claus.

In North American poetry and illustrations, Santa Claus, in his white beard, red jacket and pompom-topped cap, would sally forth on the night before Christmas in his sleigh, pulled by eight reindeer, and climb down chimneys to leave his gifts in stockings children set out on the fireplace's mantelpiece.

Children naturally wanted to know where Santa Claus actually came from. Where did he live when he wasn't delivering presents? Those questions gave rise to the legend that Santa Claus lived at the North Pole, where his Christmas-gift workshop was also located.

In 1925, since grazing reindeer would not be possible at the North Pole, newspapers revealed that Santa Claus in fact lived in Finnish Lapland. "Uncle Markus", Markus Rautio, who compared the popular "Children's hour" on Finnish public radio, revealed the great secret for the first time in 1927: Santa Claus lives on Lapland's Korvatunturi - "Ear Fell"

The fell, which is situated directly on Finland's eastern frontier, somewhat resembles a hare's ears - which are in fact Santa Claus's ears, with which he listens to hear if the world's children are being nice. Santa has the assistance of a busy group of elves, who have quite their own history in Scandinanvian legend.

Over the centuries, customs from different parts of the Northern Hemisphere thus came together and created the whole world's Santa Claus - the ageless, timeless, deathless white-bearded and red suited man who gives out gifts on Christmas and always returns to Korvatunturi in Finnish Lapland.

Since the 1950s, Santa has happily sojourned at Napapiiri, near Rovaniemi, at times other than Christmas, to meet children and the young at heart. By 1985 his visits to Napapiiri had become so regular that he established his own Santa Claus Office there. He comes there every day of the year to hear what children want for Christmas and to talk with children who have arrived from around the world. Santa Claus Village is also the location of Santa's main Post Office, which receives children's letters from the four corners of the world.

Now, do you know the history of the Santa Claus already?? Next chapter I will talk about the history of the Christmas Day.
Merry Christmas!!! God Bless You!!!

ChRiStMaS Night EvE TONIGHT!!!!!!!

#10
24th December

Do you know what is the day tonight?? Is the Christmas Eve!!! Are you readying for countdown?? Or just stay at home and hearing some Christmas song?? Or now you are in the church??

Oh! Just forget about it. Talk about the dinner. I think there many, many families around the whole world are having their grilled turkey now. "Scrumptious! Delicious!" they say. Well, not ever all the families have a chance to eat the grilled turkey because maybe a few families in Malaysia buy the turkey by importing the turkey from other nations. Most of the nations at the Western zone rear the turkey more than the Eastern zone.

Do you light up the Christmas tree?? Or now having desserts?? Just like the Christmas log, a log-shaped cake full with chocolate flavour. You can design your creative art on the cake and eat it at home, during the Christmas Eve. Although it looks like a real log, but it is not a hard log, but is a soft log that you can digest it down to your stomach. Ha!Ha!Ha!

How about the Christmas songs?? My blog has a special edition MP3 at bar side. That's just put during the Christmas day. There 3 songs, two of the songs are famous and classic, one of the songs is sang by Mariah Carey, the song name is "Oh! Santa!". A new Christmas song and now this song can be listened in everywhere.

Talk about the countdown! The time is 9.00PM, still have 3 hours, are you ready?? I think the huge, tall Christmas tree will light up in the Western zone and also the Eastern zone. The Christmas tree light up and full of cheering and laughing. Not just that, sometimes the fireworks will spread out and attract us. The colourful fireworks made a memorable Christmas day that'snot even being.

Send some blessings to your friends, relatives and your family. You can bless them "Merry Christmas!", that's simple enough. Well, I will stop now. I want to watch a lot of Christmas shows and concerts. At last, I want to wish everyone, Merry Christmas!!! And also check your hanged socks, maybe there's a present inside. Santa Claus given you. Ha1Ha!Ha!

Next chapter I will talk about the history of the Santa Claus.

Merry Christmas!!! Ho!Ho!Ho!!!

My FUN Christmas Party (PART 2)

#4
18th December

At the first part of the party I stopped at the "Balloon Kicking & Popping" game. At last, my team lose. Oh well, better luck in the next game. The second game called "Memory Test". The computer will send out 20 Christmas items in the slideshow. The more the team writes the items, that team wins. Oh dear, 20 items!!! How to remember it all?? Well, the team leader said we looked at each sides. Otherwise, that would be hard to write all the items. After this, the host said the result would be said out after the game time.

The last game called "Santa Claus", we thought that this game is very easy for us. Unfortunately, the host said one of the team members must come out to wear a big shirt and a big trouser. Then, you know what the host said?? the host said we must put balloons into the shirt and trouser, the balloons must be in medium size and not in small size. The more the balloons put into the shirt and trouser, that team win. What a crazy game I haven't play for my whole life!!! Whatever, a medium size girl of our team wear the clothes and we put as much balloons as we can. Suddenly, she became very fatty. We got 13 balloons but the first team got 15 balloons!!!! We still lose. After the final game, the host said that the first team won. Oh well, it just a game, but it was fun.

After the game time, the highlights of the party are the dance performance and drama. The "Joyful Girl" dance on the stage with a song of Christians. Next would be the drama. The drama is about a young man named Albert likes going to pub with his friend. One day, his friend invite him to church. His friend told him about that we will get love and peace at the church. This advice made Albert a new change. After he go to the church, he never go to the pub again with his friend, but he invite his friend go to the church. That's the synopsis for the whole drama.

Next would be the story telling time, the host said the story about the Christmas Day, this day is the born of the Lord Jesus. We enjoyed to hear the story. After the story telling, the host gave us an announcement. At 25 December, the church will hold a Christmas Night and 26 December will hold a dinner. I can't go to there because I am busy that day.

We have a snack after the party. We ate sausages and cakes. We also got a sausage bun, a carbonated drinks and a packet of chocolate bars and packed crackers. After the snack, my auntie fetched me home.

My FUN Christmas Party (PART 1)

#3
18th December

Huh!! That's fun in the party. We sing songs, play games, hear stories, watch drama and dance performance, and also have a snack at the church. After at all, the whole party is indeed fun and full with happiness.

At first, we had a short pray, but I didn't do that because I'm not a Christian. After the pray, we sang songs. Before singing, we had played a game called "Seven-Up". It's easy to play! First, everyone make a big round shape by hand holding hand. Next, the host will touch someone's shoulder from behind. That people must say "One" and the people on his/her right must say "Two". As that method, it's consecutive as the people say "One" until "Six" to the right side. Until the seventh people say the number, he/she must say "Seven-Up" by holding up hand and point to anyway he/she likes such as left or right side. As he/she point to left side, the people who at his/her left side must say again "One" until the people who say "Seven-Up". The people who said "Seven-Up" must again point to left or right side and the game continues until 3 people are out because of doing fault when they said wrong "Seven" without the "Up". that 3 people who are out must to say "Merry Christmas" to each other. How fun was that!!!

After the game, we sang a few of songs. After sang songs, playing time is arrived. Everyone were excited. First, the host play the first game, called "Balloon Kicking & Popping". What?? Pop the balloon, I hate that loud sound, ever!!! Oh well, I brought a pack of tissues, I grabbed a piece of tissue, separated it into 2 pieces, and put into my ears. Yes, that would be lower the loud sound of the popped balloon in my ears. I didn't knew how to blow the balloon. I get somebody to help me. Then, we must to kick the balloon until to the stage and pop it. There are two group for the game. I'm in the second group. Who will win?? I will say that at the next part.

Bye!!!

Holidays AND the ChRiStMaS!!!

#1
17th December

At here, I should said that we were busying during the holidays. Otherwise, I already passed the final examination for my Form 1 studies..... HOORAY!!!!!

But at least, I was very happy because i will be in A class. Want me to forget about my friends??That would be impossible, I still can see their faces in my dream, that's give a unforgettable memory in my life. Because of my friends, my life is coloured and not ever darken. So, try to be happy so that our life is fulled with happiness.

Holidays, I'm still enjoying it. Despite the time is going too quick like a train, but I also hope that the time will going slow like a tortoise. Either the time or me is wasting the time, I also don't know, but who can tell me the answer, I must ask myself.

"We Wish You A Merry Christmas... We Wish You A Merry Christmas... We Wish You A Merry Christmas... And A Happy New Year..." Indeed, the Christmas is around the corner, because I can hear the well-known Christmas song are display in everywhere. I like the "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" most because it is the most famous Christmas song around the global and also simple to sing it. Hope that

I can change the echoes of the song into any kind of modern music echoes, best try is to change the song into the "Rock" echoes, that will make somebody a little bit crazy.... Ha!Ha!Ha!

Like children, love to receive presents during the Christmas Day. I'm so awful because my uncle always give me present every year at the Christmas Day. I wonder what will he give the present to me this year (Don't ever think about the expensive thing).

Decorations, is everywhere, during the Christmas. How about the Christmas Tree?? That will be more suitable for the Christmas Day. Find a pine tree (But only Siberia has the most), cut it off, but don't ever too big for your small house, choose the short one, that would be fit into your house. Some shiny, colourful orb (Or any colour steel balls), and other decorations you want (Don't ever think about rubbish

things) and also the bright, shiny and gold-embedded star. Put the star on to the top on the Christmas Tree. Suddenly, everyone look at the star, that is very attractive.

Oh Dear!!! It's so late now, I better stop at here. Next chapter will talk about the life of my friends.

Bye!!