I believe that everyone knows that Christmas Eve is coming. There are more than ten days to come. Every holiday is very lively. For many children, are you looking forward to Christmas and you can receive presents from Santa Claus? Why is Christmas Eve called Christmas Eve?
Why is Christmas Eve the day before Christmas
Christmas Eve is the night before Christmas, which means that the night of the birth of Jesus will bring peace and happiness to the world.
It is said that on the night of the birth of Jesus, a shepherd guarding the sheep in the wilderness heard a voice from heaven, reporting the good news of Jesus' birth to them. According to the Bible, Jesus came to be king of the world, so the angels spread the news to more people through these shepherds.
Later, people followed the example of angels and told people about the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve. To this day, good news has become an indispensable program for Christmas.
The origin of Christmas Eve
Austria relies on the Alps area, there are many rural poets, and the Austrians are originally music loving people. Most of their people believe in Jesus Christ. So every Christmas, in some small towns and villages in the mountains, many men and women who sing about their families, like bards in the middle ages, constantly improve or innovate the words and music of Christmas songs. Many of them are good at playing musical instruments, and several of them can make new Christmas songs on the spot when they gather at the fire, which becomes the treasure of later Christmas songs. Some songs, perhaps sung at that time, or sung for a year or two, were replaced by new Christmas songs. But one of them, not only has been handed down, but also is the most famous Christmas song in the world. It is the familiar "Christmas Eve".
It is said that this Christmas song was composed in 1818 by father mooser of shasiburg in the Alps, and the music was composed by musician Fangji Gruber. Unfortunately, it has been buried for more than ten years in the transcripts of the chanting group of the village church. Later, it was discovered by a music lover that he took the Christmas song to a concert in the city and sang it, which was very popular. So, gradually spread to all parts of Austria, and then to Germany. In 1839, the Christmas song spread to the United States. Within a few years, it was widely loved by the people. After singing by famous singers and broadcasting by radio, this Christmas Song - Christmas Eve, has been widely spread around the world, and all countries have translated lyrics. Christian or not, they are familiar with this "Christmas Eve". When they listen, they hum.
The custom of Christmas Eve
1. Christian mass
Traditionally, many Christians participate in midnight mass or parties on Christmas Eve, usually held in churches around the world to mark the beginning of Christmas day. Some churches hold candlelight worship earlier in the evening. They usually have drama performances about the birth of Jesus. They also enjoy large meals, usually with Turkey or ham as the main course. The traditional dish in Germany is braised carp.
The Catholic Christmas season begins on Christmas Eve. Unless it's Sunday. The vigil party is said to be on the morning of December 24. However, Christmas parties before midnight are not allowed.
2. Christmas socks on the bed
It is said that on Christmas Eve, the husband's Guild drives a reindeer sled full of gifts to send the children who have performed well in the past year. He will quietly climb into the house from the chimney, and the gifts will be stuffed in the socks hanging on the head of the bed. So children always hang colorful socks on the head of the bed, and put a cup of hot milk beside the socks to quench the thirst of the hardworking Santa Claus, and send a big gift to themselves.
3. Good news team singing Poetry
On Christmas Eve, we will see a group of cute little boys or girls, playing guitar with poetry in hand, singing poetry and reporting good news one by one. So how did the festival come about?
On the night of Jesus' birth, a shepherd who was guarding the sheep in the desert heard a voice from heaven, telling them the good news of Jesus' birth. Later, people followed the example of angels and told people about the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve. To this day, good news has become an indispensable program for Christmas.
4. Eat Christmas pudding
Today's Christmas pudding comes from the traditional Christmas food milk porridge. After the 14th century, the oven appeared in the luxurious houses of some nobles. They tried to put the cereal into the oven, and then they baked it into a cake. Now when Christmas comes, the family will get together to bake the delicious food. Every family member should make a Christmas pudding together, which symbolizes unity and harmony. When everyone is stirring the dough, they will make a wish silently. At last, they will hide a coin in the dough, which is a little like the meaning of putting steel coins in dumplings before Chinese New Year.
5. Eat roast turkey
In the traditional Christmas table, roast turkey is an indispensable dish. In some Asian countries, Turkey may only be eaten on Christmas day every year to celebrate the holiday, but in Europe and America, especially in the American continent, Turkey is a very common kind of meat, and in Thanksgiving and Christmas, Turkey is more traditional food.