Now that Christmas is just about here, I’m taking the time to reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas.  When Christmas is mentioned, most of us instinctively think about a big tree with parcels wrapped up, the strings of lights outside the house, or the jolly fat man who comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve. If these are images that come to mind for you, you may wonder if this is what the season is all about, or whether there is more to it than that.

What is the true meaning of Christmas?

For me, as someone who was brought up in the Catholic faith, Christmas is celebrated as being the day on which Jesus Christ was born, and most Christians recognize this. People thank God for sending his son to earth, and celebrate the birth of Jesus for this reason. Many people enjoy going to a mass or church service on Christmas Eve, and these services are popular with both Catholic and non-Catholic Christians.

The story of the birth of Jesus is a big part of the true meaning of Christmas, and it is a story that everyone, even non-Christians, know well. The Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and advised her that she would bear a son who would be the son of God. This event occurred at the time when Caesar Augustus ordered that everyone had to return to their hometown for the mandatory census that was taking place. Mary and Joseph therefore, made the journey from Galilee to Bethlehem, Joseph's home town. As everyone knows, the couple had to stay in a stable for the night, as there was no room at the inn. The baby Jesus was born, and this was indeed a miracle and is what Christmas is all about. Visitors came to see the new born baby, most famously the three wise men, who came bearing gifts.

The birth of Jesus was God's greatest gift to the people of earth, and this important event in history is celebrated all over the world. The event may just have been a little boy being born in a stable, but its impact has been enormous, and that baby boy grew up and was killed for our sins. Christmas is about many things, including giving gifts, spending time with family and friends, and enjoying all that food and drink, but ultimately it is about a little boy being born and changing history.

Merry Christmas!