Christmas
Christmas day is December 25, when commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem according to the Gospels of San Mateo and San Lucas. After Easter is the most important Festival of the Church year. As the Gospels do not mention dates, it is not certain that Jesus was born that day. In fact, on Christmas day it was not officially recognized until the year 345, when under the influence of St. John Chrysostom and San Gregorio Nacianzeno proclaimed on December 25 is the date of the Nativity. Thus remained the policy of the primitive Church absorb rather than suppress axisting Pagan rites, which from the earliest times had concluded the winter solstice and the arrival of spring. The pagan feast more closely associated with the new Christmas was the Roman Saturnal, December 19, in honour of Saturn, God of agriculture, held for seven days of bustling entertainment and banquet.
At the same time, it celebrate Northern Europe a party winter similar, known as Yule, which burned large trunks adorned with branches and tapes in honor of the gods to get Sun brighter with more force.
Christmas is the most popularized Christian Party, despite the fact that the Church considers that Easter is more important. And for that reason is containing more traditions
The Christmas dinner, consists a banquet at midnight, in honor of the birth of Christ which took place at that hour; similar to the Jewish feast of the Passover. Traditionally eaten Turkey, cod, pork, lamb and other dishes, the place is held or the family traditions.
The underwater, cribs or Christmas birth include the representation of the birth of Jesus, through a demo of Bethlehem and its surroundings, where the main figures are the stable where was born Jesus, the Holy family, animals and pastoralists, also 3 Kings magicians and a star with a stele also often placed at the top of the Christmas tree. According to tradition St. Francis of Assisi was its inventor. In Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Venezuela, Peru and Chile, the figure of the child is not placed until the arrival of Christmas, date his birth is celebrated, and then be 'arrullado' is placed between Joseph and Mary.
The Crown of advent, Crown made of Cypress or pine branches tied with a red ribbon which placed four candles usually red which marked four Sundays of advent prior to the day of Christmas, families gather to its around every Sunday, a candle glows and recite prayers and carols as preparation for the birth of Jesus. This tradition is recurring in the Catholic Church since the Crown must be blessed in the Church.
The Villancicos songs or chants alluding to the birth of Christ or the Holy family. Some, like Noche de Paz have versions in multiple languages or rhythms, with the same or different name.
