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Hawaii State Holidays
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 December 25th is Christmas Day or the feast day of the Nativity. The name is derived from the Old English "Cristes Maess" or Cristes-messe, meaning the Mass of Christ. It is a Christian festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the most popular of christian observances and dates back from the 4th century. At first the holiday did not celebrate the birth of Jesus, but the "light" of the gospel. This celebration all combine to make a winter holiday of christmas a joyous joining of folkways and religion. Although Jesus' birth date is not known, the Western church selected December 25 for the feast. A meeting of the Christian bishops in 440 A.D. decided to celebrate the feast of the Nativity each year at the time of the Winter Solstice, the most important pagan festival. This was believed done to counteract this non-Christian festivals. Most of the customs of the Winter Solstice celebration were however carried over into the Christian celebration - the bonfines, the candles, the burning of large logs, and the use of holly, mistletoe, and other evergreens for decoration. The christmas tree, exchanging of gifts, christmas carols, and the crib are usually associated with Christmas. The christmas tree is derived not from the pagan yule tree, but from the paradise tree adorned with apples in honor of Adam and Eve. It was found first at Strasbourg in 1605. Exchanging of gifts, so in harmony with the significance of Christmas, may have been influenced by a similar custom among the pagans. In most parts of Europe it was the Christ Child who brought the gifts. After the Reformation the day itself was personified, and the figure of Father Christmas was later combined with St. Nicholas, the patron of children, to become Santa Claus. The term "carol," formerly designating a Christmas hymn of popular nature, is now used of all Christmas songs. The first Latin Christmas humns date back to the 5th century. Popular carols originated in Italy under the influence of St. Francis of Assisi. Most of the well-known carols have been composed since mid-19th century. The use of the crib in church and home derives ultimately from the grotto in Bethlehem and its reproduction in St. Mary Major. The popular custom was introduced by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223. |
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