Difference between revisions 6314658 and 6314776 on simplewiki

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2017}}
[[File:8452 - Milano - S. Marco - Londonio - Presepe (ca 1750) - Foto G. Dall'Orto - 14-Apr-2007.jpg|thumb|300px|''The Adoration of the Shepherds'' from a crib made of painted board by Francesco Landonio, 1750, Italy]]

(contracted; show full) the story of the Wise Men who came to the baby Jesus with three gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh. For many centuries it has been the custom for people to give small gifts at Christmas, and also to give generously to the poor and needy to help them through the winter. Another tradition has become linked to this one, and the result is the tradition of [[Santa Claus]], or Father Christmas as he is sometimes called, and who is nowadays thought by many children to be the bringer of presents and happiness.


*In the 4th century, in a Greek village that is now part of Turkey, there was a good man who would secretly given presents to the poor to help them. He became a bishop and is called Saint Nicholas. Over the centuries, he became a very popular saint and lots of churches were named after him. He was very popular in places where there were lots of sailors. One of those places was the Netherlands. In the Netherlands and many other European countries, presents are given on the feast of Saint Nicholas, December 6. Traditionally, the presents are not big, and are sometimes hidden, or have a funny joke or poem that must be read. In many towns of Europe a man dressed in bishop's robes comes on a horse or in a boat, acting as St. Nicholas. His name was often shortened to Sante Claus, or Santa Claus in English.
[*This is not where the idea of a heavyset ‘fat’ old man, dressed in an all red suit comes from. In many middle eastern people groups; the people primarily believed in two particular fertility deities, the male and female counterparts. One of those deities was called Molech, and the idol used as his physical representation; was a huge cast iron man, who had a fat belly and lap which was heated up by an internal fire, and this was used for the people to sacrifice their children on. So when you are at the mall in your particular town or city, and you see all the little kids setting on Santa’s lap; you are observing the modern equivalent of child sacrifice. All of the arguments to the contrary notwithstanding!]⏎
 
[[File:Reyes Magos en centro comercial.jpg|thumb|250px|In Spain it is the Three Wise Men who bring gifts to children.]]
In English speaking countries, where presents are usually given on Christmas Day, not December 6, Santa Claus, (or Father Christmas) is usually thought of as coming on the night of Christmas Eve, when his magic sleigh is pulled across the sky by reindeer, and he comes into houses through the chimney (or the front door). While in Europe, children put out their shoes for St. Nicholas, the E(contracted; show full){{wikiquote}}
{{Commons|Christmas}}
* {{dmoz|Society/Holidays/Christmas/|Christmas}}
* {{en icon}} {{fr icon}} & ([[Occitan language|Occitan]])
{{U.S. Holidays}}


[[Category:Christmas]]