December 25
CHRISTMAS DAY
Just when is Christmas Day, people ask? Is it really December 25? Actually it is; but it wasn’t officially, until sometime between the years 337 and 352 A.D. This means that the date celebrated as the birth of Christ was not set until the time of Julius I, Bishop of Rome. To that time, the day known as Christmas was celebrated on one of three dates in the first 352 years of the Julian calendar: January 6, March 29 and September 29.
January 6th, the Day of Epiphany, is still considered Christmas Day to many folks around the world; especially those who are Eastern Orthodox. Some of us receive gifts on both days, some on January 1 -- right down the middle. Others celebrate for days, beginning December 6, 13th, 16th or 21st and ending on January 6th. You’ve heard of the twelve days of Christmas? Well, it’s not just a song! It’s a schedule.
From all of us at 440 International -- to our old friends and to those visiting our website for the first time (with those new hi-tech gadgets you found under your tree):
Prettige Kerstdagen (Dutch)
Merry Christmas (English)
Zalig Kerstfeest (Flemish)
Joyeux Noel (French)
Frohliche Weihnachten (German)
Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian)
Buon Natale (Italian)
Feliz Navidad (Mexican)
Gledelig Jul (Danish, Norwegian)
Boas Festas (Portuguese)
Rozhdjestvom Hristovim (Russian)
Feliz Navidad (Spanish)
Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun (Chinese - Cantonese)
Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan (Chinese - Mandarin)
and many more
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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