WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/21/07) - Wondering what Christmas is all about? There are many places on the internet that can fill in some of the history of the who, what, where and when, and, of course, the why, of the holiday that fills many with good cheer. When you visit some of the websites dedicated to presenting the Christmas story and traditions that have become part of the celebration, you will find many pieces that will create a fuller look at what this thing called Christmas is all about. There is a wealth of information about so many subjects on the internet, and Christmas is but one of the subjects about which we can all learn more.

A website called Wikopedia.org tells us that Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. The date of the celebration is traditional, and is not considered to be his actual date of birth. Christmas festivities often combine the commemoration of Jesus' birth with various secular customs, many of which have been influenced by earlier winter festivals.

In most places around the world, Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25. Christmas Eve is the preceding day, December 24. In the United Kingdom and many countries of the Commonwealth, Boxing Day is the following day, December 26.

In Catholic countries, Saint Stephen's Day or the Feast of St. Stephen is December 26. The Armenian Apostolic Church observes Christmas on January 6. Eastern Orthodox Churches that still use the Julian Calendar celebrate Christmas on the Julian version of 25 December, which is January 7 on the more widely used Gregorian calendar, because the two calendars are now 13 days apart.

The word Christmas originated as a contraction of "Christ's mass". It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038, compounded from Old English derivatives of the Greek christos and the Latin missa.

In early Greek versions of the New Testament, the letter X (chi), is the first letter of Christ. Since the mid-16th century, X, or the similar Roman letter X, was used as an abbreviation for Christ. Hence, Xmas is often used as an abbreviation for Christmas.

After the conversion of Anglo-Saxon Britain in the very early 7th century, Christmas was referred to as geol, the name of the pre-Christian solstice festival from which the current English word 'Yule' is derived.

The prominence of Christmas Day increased gradually after Charlemagne was crowned on Christmas Day in 800.

Around the 12th century, the remnants of the former Saturnalian traditions of the Romans were transferred to the Twelve Days of Christmas (26 December – 6 January).

Christmas during the Middle Ages was a public festival, incorporating ivy, holly, and other evergreens, as well as gift-giving.

Modern traditions have come to include the display of Nativity scenes, Holly and Christmas trees, the exchange of gifts and cards, and the arrival of Father Christmas or Santa Claus on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.

Popular Christmas themes include the promotion of goodwill and peace.

How much do you really know about the festive holiday called Christmas? History.com has more information about the holiday from many angles.

There's another website called AllThingsChristmas.com. You will find holiday treasures such as printable cards, lyrics to your favorite Christmas carols, songs in MIDI format, unique craft ideas, decorating and tips for christmas shopping. There are many holiday stories, delicious recipes, links to other holiday web sites, and more, including a Christmas for kids-section, which offers fun, games, riddles, printables, and other goodies just for kids.

And, what about the Christmas traditions around the world? Go to http://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm and choose the country you want to learn about. Some of the traditions in some countries are well over 100 years old.

We at WisconsinReport.com, tend to feel, as the famous author, Charles Dickens, said so many years ago, "I will hold Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." It would be a much better world, and the people in it would be much better for it, if everyone, big and small, kept the spirit of kindness, loving, nurturing, and giving of one's goodness and mercy, all year 'round.

Merry Christmas to you, and yours! May all your days and nights be merry and bright!