Christmas is one of the most famous holidays in the world. Many traditions and features of the celebration of this day have been collected around it. All of them are important and loved in their own way, however, the main meaning of Christmas is kept by its history.
Christmas story
The Gospel story tells that an angel came to Mary with an unusual greeting. He told her that she was expecting a child who would become the Savior for all people. His name will be - Jesus. Despite some confusion, Mary accepted what the angel said to her, and waited for the baby to appear.
At that time, the ruler Augustus Caesar was conducting a population census and everyone had to register in the city where he was born. Therefore, Joseph and his betrothed wife Mary went to Bethlehem. It so happened that there were no rooms in the hotel, and it was time for Mary to give birth. They had to stop at the barn. The baby Jesus was born there.
The birth of Jesus was not kept secret. Angels descended from heaven to the shepherds who were watching over their sheep, and told them that the Savior had been born into the world and showed them how to find the baby. The shepherds set off at once. The guiding star helped them not to lose their way. The shepherds did not just come to see the Savior, they brought valuable gifts to Jesus, and then went to share the joyful event with all the people.
Pictures illustrating Christmas often depict Mary with the baby Jesus, shepherds and angels praising God. This is no coincidence, because Christmas is the coming into the world of the Savior, the birth of Jesus Christ.
