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ThehistoryofChristmasdatesbackover4000years.ManyofourChristmastraditionswerecelebratedcenturiesbeforetheChristchildwasborn.The12daysofChristmas,thebrightfires,theyulelog,thegivingofgifts,carnivals(parades)withfloats,carolerswhosingwhilegoingfromhousetohouse,theholidayfeasts,andthechurchprocessionscanallbetracedbacktotheearlyMesopotamians.
ManyofthesetraditionsbeganwiththeMesopotamian(美索不达米亚)celebrationofNewYears.TheMesopotamiansbelievedinmanygods,andastheirchiefgod-Marduk(马杜克,古代巴比伦人的主神,原为巴比伦的太阳神).EachyearaswinterarriveditwasbelievedthatMardukwoulddobattlewiththemonstersofchaos.ToassistMardukinhisstruggletheMesopotamiansheldafestivalfortheNewYear.ThiswasZagmuk,theNewYear"sfestivalthatlastedfor12days.
TheMesopotamiankingwouldreturntothetempleofMardukandswearhisfaithfulnesstothegod.ThetraditionscalledforthekingtodieattheendoftheyearandtoreturnwithMarduktobattleathisside.
Tosparetheirking,theMesopotamiansusedtheideaofa"mock"king.Acriminalwaschosenanddressedinroyalclothes.Hewasgivenalltherespectandprivilegesofarealking.Attheendofthecelebrationthe"mock"kingwasstrippedoftheroyalclothesandslain,sparingthelifeoftherealking.
TheRoman"scelebratedtheirgodSaturn.TheirfestivalwascalledSaturnaliawhichbeganthemiddleofDecemberandendedJanuary1st.Withcriesof"JoSaturnalia!"thecelebrationwouldincludemasquerades(化妆舞会)inthestreets,bigfestivemeals,visitingfriendsandtheexchangeofgood-luckgiftscalledStrenae(luckyfruits).
"JoSaturnalia!"wasafunandfestivetimefortheRomans,buttheChristiansthoughitanabomination(深恶痛绝)tohonorthepagan(异教)god.TheearlyChristianswantedtokeepthebirthdayoftheirChristchildasolemnandreligiousholiday,notoneofcheerandmerrimentaswasthepaganSaturnalia.
ButasChristianityspreadtheywerealarmedbythecontinuingcelebrationofpagancustomsandSaturnaliaamongtheirconverts.AtfirsttheChurchforbidthiskindofcelebration.Butitwastonoavail(徒劳).EventuallyitwasdecidedthatthecelebrationwouldbetamedandmadeintoacelebrationfitfortheChristianSonofGod.
SomelegendsclaimthattheChristian"Christmas"celebrationwasinventedtocompeteagainstthepagancelebrationsofDecember.The25thwasnotonlysacredtotheRomansbutalsothePersianswhosereligionMithraism(密特拉教，奉祀密特拉神的宗教，纪元后最初3世纪内传至罗马帝国)wasoneofChristianity"smainrivalsatthattime.TheChurcheventuallywassuccessfulintakingthemerriment,lights,andgiftsfromtheSaturaniliafestivalandbringingthemtothecelebrationofChristmas.