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| | Christmas is one of the main Christian holidays, celebrated in the honor of birth of Jesus Christ (embodiment) in flesh.
Majority of churches celebrate Christmas on December 25.
Roman Catholic Church and majority of protestant churches celebrate Christmas according to Gregorian calendar.
Some orthodox churches including The Ecumenical Patriarchate (apart from Athos), Patriarchate of Antioch, Patriarchate of Alexandria and churches of Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Greece observe Christmas as per New Julian calendar, which will with coincide with Gregorian Calendar till 2800 yr.
Churches of Jerusalem, Russia and Serbia and also Old Calendar Eastern and Eastern Catholic Churches observe Christmas on 25th December as per Julian calendar.
Armenian Apostolic Church observes Christmas and Feast of Epiphany on same day – January 6 as in the case of Old Church.
Christmas in Gospel:
According to Gospels, Jesus Christ was born (embodied) during the rule of imperator “August” in Israel’s city Bethlehem in the family of carpenter Joseph, who is betrothed from Nazareth and Mary (Virgin Mary and Ever Mary), who reached Bethlehem to take part in census of population. Since no room was vacant in hotel, family was forced to spend the night in cave, which was mainly used as stable for sheltering the cattle from bad weather. During the birth of Christ, an angel appeared above the cave and informed about the birth to three sorcerers (soothsayers) (wise men). Shepherds were the first to visit and bow before the Son of God, who were informed about the birth of Christ by an angel, which later on informed the wise men. Wise men presented gifts to Christ – gold, and very precious ointment (myrrh).
Upon learning about the birth of Jesus Christ, Herod, the Tsar of Judea Province ordered slaughter of infants’ up to an age of 2yrs but somehow Christ was rescued from the clutches of death miraculously. However, Joseph's family was compelled to run to Egypt and lived there till the death of Tsar Herod the Great.
Origin of date:
In the beginning, the Christians were Jews and did not observe Christmas and may be under the influence of Judaism (according to Judaism’s beliefs, birth of a person is the “beginning of tribulations and pains”). Hence, in the first years of existence of Christianity, none showed interest in Christ’s date of birth. From the belief point of view, Resurrection of Christ, which is now famous as “Easter”, was more important for the first Christians. Only after the Greeks (and other Hellenistic communities) turned Christians, observing the Christmas was started under the influence of Hellenistic customs. Apparently, each community chose the Christmas date and did not have a single date.
Frequently, 6th January was selected as Christmas (sixth day of the year as Christ is new Adam and Adam, according to Old Testament, was created on 6th day of creation). And this holiday ideologically combined both Christmas and Christening (Epiphany), which later on were celebrated as different holidays.
Very popular holiday of pagans of Roman empire was birthday of the Invincible Sun “Sol Invictus” (latin Dies natalis Solis Invicti) on December 25 (winter solstice on the Julian calendar) linked with cult of Indo-Iranian god Mithra. According to the unanimous decisions of Fathers of churches, it was decided to celebrate Christmas on December 25. Thus, December 25 is conventional date.
Attempts to establish year of birth of the Christ according to the dates of associated events (years of regimes of emperors, tsars, consuls etc.) did not lead to authentic results. Apparently, historically Jesus was born between 7-5 B.C. Notation, fixed on the basis of our era, was made in 525th year by Roman monk, apostolic archivist Dionis Small. Probably, Dionis relied on the data, available through phonographic collection for 354th year.
Art is a process and the result of a meaningful expression of feelings in imagery, and also, it comprises of high standards of skills and workmanship in any field of human activity.
Art is a mastery of conveying specific information to spectator or listener by only one from three- the graphics (fine arts), music, dance – tools (media) or combination of these tools (multi-media) – theater, ballet, opera, and cinema. Literature, as a type of art – artistry of conveying information by means of letter, comes from the beginning of invention of letter.
Art as a type of cultural activity of man started at the time of formation of nonverbal language tools of communication, and by the time when these tools lost their pure language functions art become independent cultural-aesthetic process.
At present, in world cultural tradition, used are the definitions of art date back to the beginning of Mediterranean Antiquity, particularly in Greek-Roman perception of this term. Art dates back in nonverbal skills, reception of communication, and holding language information in memory. Pure communicative function is lost when man acquired speech. Communicative practicality of art together with the development of aesthetic aspect can be clearly observed in preliterate, folklore periods of culture of all people In all other aspects of cultural life later, like, as was in its time for conveying language information in best possible, complete and accessible way, best artists were brought in and most perfect skills of those times were used. This permitted us perceiving information easily, remembering it better and also successfully conveying complex cultural information from one generation to another. Based on this platform, which was practical before, did took shape tastes and requirements, and what now we call aesthetic influence and aesthetic perception. Not incidental though is the fact that the etymology of the word “art” in Greek language (“art, mastery, skill and craft “) underscores mastery and finesse.
If a performer puts in his feelings in a new un-borrowed and meaningful way, any type of activity can be conditionally called as art. So, for instance, martial arts, computer games and etc., can be related to art by token of aesthetic perception of this activity’s elements i.e., graphics, sound, movement and also by the approach to the level of masterfulness in performance. |
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This year's Christmas Tree at the White House will be decorated with ornaments that feature 
