Christmas.
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
India
December 16, 2008 5:32am CST
Friends I am not a Christian, but I had my early education in a Christian school, my daughter also had her education at a Christian school, so she always loves Christmas, ever year she asks me to buy a Star and she hangs it in front of our house, she also loves to keep a Christmas tree and keep in our living room. Today also she is pestering me to take her out and buy the Star and a small Christmas tree. Even though I am a hindu, I buy these things for her. My question is I do not know the significance of the Star hung in the front of the house and why is a Christmas tree kept in the house. Can anybody give some answers.
3 people like this
11 responses
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
16 Dec 08
Hi rameshkumaar, Thank you for this discussion and I think it is nice that you and your daughter like to celebrate Christmas. The story of the star goes back to the birth of Jesus Christ. According to the story as told in the Bible a bright star appeared in the sky when Christ was born. Three wise men from the east saw the star and followed it. The star led them to the baby Jesus. The tradition of the Christmas tree came much later and really has nothing to do with the birth of Christ, but with the celebrations that go along with Christmas. A brightly decorated tree adds to the happiness of the season. Blessings.
1 person likes this
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
17 Dec 08
Thank you for your response Pose123, as you have mentioned a brightly decorate tree adds to the happiness of the season. I am very jealous of you people because you will be having the snow fall also during your Christmas celebration, and it will quite nice. For your information I have never seen snow in my entire life. A merry Christmas to you and your family.
@meow1988 (39)
• India
17 Dec 08
the christmas tree is kept there for one of their popular traditions associated with the celebration of christmas...it is normally evergreen coniferous tree that is brought in home and decorated with lights and ornaments during the day around christmas....an angel or a star is placed at the top of the tree, representing the host of angels from the nativity story.
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
17 Dec 08
Thanks for the response meow1988, but can you tell me why this tradition of keeping the tree for celebrating Christmas is there.
@gjabaigar (2200)
• Philippines
17 Dec 08
The Christmas Tree is symbol as humans that searching for the truth and wisdom of higher-self or christ self consciousness and awareness.... The star at the top of the tree it is the sign of Jesus Christ because He is the way, truth and life.... The three kings or the three wise man or three astrologers (just like the christmas tree) are human also who are also searching for the truth and the truth is that star which leads them to Jesus Christ the messiah.... King Herod (king of israel at that time) did not saw the star of Jesus Chirst on that time because he is not searching for the truth because only for those who seek truth can find the truth.... Back again to the christmas tree, so that's why the christmas three has a star above.... As the christmas three is symbol humans who has a christ-self or the truth.... And the christmas tree has some glittering lights although some are still blackend... that's how we humans seek the truth in life sometimes they know it sometimes they wont..... so that's all hope you like it......
Merry Christmas to all of you!!!^_^
@gjabaigar (2200)
• Philippines
17 Dec 08
oooops i'm sorry..... my comment should be on the next line not into your line..
anyway merry christmas!!!
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
3 Jan 09
The star is the symbol of the North Star the Three Wisemen followed to see Baby Jesus. The Christmas tree originated in Germany. It was used as symbol of birth. A evergreen was used because it doesn't lose it's leaves.
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
3 Jan 09
So nice of you to have given me the response sarahruthbeth, it is news to me that evergreen is used because it does not loose its leaves. Well I am learning new everyday.
1 person likes this
@sanjana_aslam (4187)
• Malaysia
16 Dec 08
hi ramesh,
You know me i am Hindu too .. but i too have the christmas tree in my house ... every year i have my own theme, I have White Christmas, Blue Christmas , Red Christmas and Silver Christmas ...
It is festive seasons ... it is birth of Christ ... and the Star was the indicator for his birthplace ... i believe the people used the star as direction to where he was born ...
Merry Christmas ...
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
16 Dec 08
Thanks for the response sanjana, I know white Christmas stands for snow, but what is blue, red and Silver Christmas. One more thing, a long time back when my father visited Malaysia, during Christmas, he bought a Plum cake named "Big Sister" which was full of raisins, nuts and spices, that was one of the best cakes we have tasted.My daughter still remembers the name of that cake, even after so many years.Cheers.
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
17 Dec 08
Thanks for the response 1corner a merry Christmas to you and your family.
@1corner (744)
• Canada
16 Dec 08
That's correct. The star appeared in the sky arpund Jesus' birth, and guided wise men from the east to his birthplace, so they can bring him gifts and worship Him.
Anyone else who's interested in learning about it can refer to the book of Matthew chapter 2 in the Bible (if you have a copy), or try BibleGateway.com and search for that text. Am happy to celebrate Christmas with those who aren't Christians, but would like to participate in it. Merry Christmas as well...
@eshwarik (180)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Christmas is like our dasara and Diwali, many christian arrange the toys from Jesus birth the same way as we do for dasara. Your children does not want to be left out. At school kids they talk about their Christmas celebration and what gift they got. Star signifies that Lord Jesus was born. I am not a christian I am Hindu my daughter likes all this so we do for her happiness we buy her what she likes and on 24th we keep it under the tree we live the fire place open. Every year my daughter thinks that Santa gave her the gift.
It is no big deal don't go deep into significances and analyze things here. Be a roman when you are in Rome.
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
20 Dec 08
Thanks for the response eshwarik, in fact my daughter is grown up now and is a working woman, but even now, we hang a star in our verrandah, and also keep a small Christmas tree and this year I would like to keep a small santa also, of course I have never given her any gifts for Christmas, but usually every year she gets some gifts from her Christian friends. Merry Christmas and a Very Happy new year to you and your family.
@ramkumar1956 (21)
• India
16 Dec 08
Christmas is celebrated throughout the Christian population, but is also celebrated by many non Christians as a secular, cultural festival. The holiday is celebrated around the world. Because gift giving and several other aspects of the holiday involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non Christians, Christmas has become a major event for many retailers..
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
17 Dec 08
Thanks for the response ramkumar1956, as you rightly mentioned, even though we are not christians, we love that festival, further more, I love that old man from north pole SANTA CLAUS, I hope he brings some good news to us Indians this year. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
16 Dec 08
Neither am I a Christina nor does my son go to a Christian school yet we just love the spirit of Christmas, its after all so much fun. Every year I buy some chocolates for my son and we have a small figure of Santa with the tree and Rudolph which we put up on Christmas, throughout New Year and then it becomes his latest toy!
The star is the star which the three wise men on the deserts saw on that night. It was shinning bright over the clear and dark desert sky and it signaled that the king had arrived. They followed the star to arrive at the cow-shed where baby Jesus was just born. So the star plays a very significant role in Christmas celebrations.
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
16 Dec 08
Thank you for the response sudipta, I know most of the Hindu families have a small christmas tree and as you rightly said a small Santa, I forgot to add one more thing, my daughter loves the plum cake and on Christmas we have a plum cake also. Well I learn something new everyday. Cheers.
@vjayrao06 (107)
• India
17 Dec 08
Hello Rameshkumaar57, I am glad to know that you celebrate christmas to make your daughter happy and in that way make yourself, too, happy.I too am not a
christian, for that matter, I dont particularly follow any religious activity, but I certainly like to participate in such festivals. They make the children happy which in turn make us happy too.This is an occasion to meet people and make friends and share their joy.So let us do it.Let religion stay where it is.
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
20 Dec 08
Thanks for the response vjayrao06, sorry for the delay in responding back, as you have correctly mentioned, it is the childs happines which makes us happy.Merry Christmas and very Happy new year to you and your family.
@murderistic (2278)
• United States
16 Dec 08
Someone has already described the significance of the star. As for the significance of the Christmas tree, there is none really. Decorating trees was done as a pagan practice in Germany. Then somewhere around the 16th century, Christians decided to do the same thing and call it a "Christmas tree." I know that there is something with St. Boniface that he did to a tree that made Christians think that this was acceptable... I don't know. Anyway the Christmas tree is just a decoration. You put presents under it. I don't have one in my house.
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
17 Dec 08
Thanks for the response murderistic, I think I am able to understand the custom of keeping Christmas tress in the house.
One more if a Hindu like me can have a christmas tree in my house, why cant you have one, not as a religious symbol, but it gives a nice feeling. Cheers. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
@scarletwitch12 (562)
• Philippines
17 Dec 08
The christmas tree started when a 7th century monk from Crediton, Devonshire used the fir tree to show the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It was said that since then the tree became sort of like a symbol for Christians. This is probably the reason why it is being brought out in Christmas which is the highlight in Christian holidays.
The star on the other hand symbolizes the star which led the three wise men to the place where the child Jesus was born so that the wise men could offer their gifts to the Baby Jesus.
Christmas is a wonderful holiday! You do not have to be a Christian to enjoy it! Afterall, we are all brothers and sisters. From a Christian friend (me!) to you, my Hindu friend, Happy Holidays!
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
17 Dec 08
Thanks for the response scarletwitch, I am learning a lot about Christmas, which I had never known, I see that you have wished me with,Happy Holidays, which is what the British Government is calling Christmas now days. But I feel that it should be always Happy and Merry Christmas. So from a Hindu brother to my Christian sister a Happy and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
@gops12345 (22)
• Australia
17 Dec 08
I think just dont ask question. it is the time where people celebrate. i think it is not important to know why festival is being celebrate and imoortant is how it celebrate. well christmas is the only festival i think which celebrate all over the world. so just enjoy and celebrate because this is festival time.
have fun friends...........
