We see Christmas light displays around the city, and I guess that means it's looking a lot like Christmas. But what is this "Christmas" thing?
Christmas is a Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, whom Christians believe to be God's promised Messiah: Saviour and Lord of all.
The public celebration of Christmas mixes a huge range of things from an equally huge range of sources and histories. For example, Santa traces back to St. Nicholas, the 4th-century Christian bishop of Myrna, through many different historical pathways.
The tradition of giving gifts hails back to the magi who brought gifts to Jesus, but also to St Nicholas the gift-giver.
One half of the world celebrates Christmas deep in Winter, while for our half of the world, it is in the heart of summer.
Around the world today, Christmas is celebrated with many variations, but at heart, it is a feast day celebrating Jesus’ birth, most commonly with giving and receiving gifts.
There is also a sizable collection of traditional Christmas carols and a growing number of contemporary songs that get sung at this time of year, and numerous public gatherings for Christmas Carols. This also has a long history.
There is a long tradition of attending church on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. Many churches have extra worship gatherings specifically for this celebration, and those for the Uniting Church around Mackay are listed here. As always, anyone is welcome.
However you celebrate Christmas this year, we wish you God’s blessing.
By Rev Wayne McHugh, on behalf of the Uniting Churches in and around Mackay.
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