accordingtothebible,theholybookofchristians,goddecidedtoallowhisonlyson,jesuschrist,tobeborntoahumanmotherandliveonearthsothatpeoplecouldunderstandgodbetterandlearntolovegodandeachothermore."christmas"-meaning"celebrationofchrist"-honorsthetimewhenjesuswasborntoayoungjewishwomanmary.
marywasengagedtobemarriedtojoseph,acarpenter,butbeforetheycametogether,shewasfoundtobewithchild.becausejoseph,herhusband,wasarighteousmananddidnotwanttoexposehertopublicdisgrace,hehadinmindtodivorceherquietly.
butafterhehadconsideredthis,anangelofthelordappearedtohiminadreamandsaid,"donotbeafraidtotakemaryhomeasyourwife,becausewhatisconceivedinherisfromtheholyspirit.shewillgivebirthtoason,andyouaretogivehimthenamejesus,becausehewillsavehispeoplefromtheirsins."
althoughtheexactdateofthebirthofjesusnearly2,000yearsagoisnotknown,thecalendaronthesupposeddatedividesalltimeintob.c.(beforechrist)anda.d.(alatinphrase,annodomini,"intheyearofourlord.")forthefirst300years,jesus‘birthdaywascelebratedondifferentdates.finally,intheyear354,churchleaderschosedecember25ashisbirthday.