更新时间：2018-11-03 18:02作者：李天扬老师
英语介绍圣诞节
ChristmasisaChristianholidaythatcelebratesthebirthofJesusChrist.NooneknowstheexactdateofChrist′sbirth,butmostChristiansobserveChristmasonDecember25.Onthisday,manygotochurch,wheretheytakepartinspecialreligiousservices.DuringtheChristmasseason,theyalsoexchangegiftsanddecoratetheirhomeswithholly,mistletoe,andChristmastrees.ThewordChristmascomesfromCristesmaesse,anearlyEnglishphrasethatmeansMassofChrist.ThestoryofChristmascomeschieflyfromtheGospelsofSaintLukeandSaintMatthewintheNewTestament.
ThehistoryofChristmasdatesbackover4000years.ManyofourChristmastraditionswerecelebratedcenturiesbeforetheChristchildwasborn.The12daysofChristmas,thebrightfires,theyulelog,thegivingofgifts,carnivals(parades)withfloats,carolerswhosingwhilegoingfromhousetohouse,theholidayfeasts,andthechurchprocessionscanallbetracedbacktotheearlyMesopotamians.
ManyofthesetraditionsbeganwiththeMesopotamiancelebrationofNewYears.TheMesopotamiansbelievedinmanygods,andastheirchiefgod-Marduk.EachyearaswinterarriveditwasbelievedthatMardukwoulddobattlewiththemonstersofchaos.ToassistMardukinhisstruggletheMesopotamiansheldafestivalfortheNewYear.ThiswasZagmuk,theNewYear′sfestivalthatlastedfor12days.