Down Under Christmas Traditions Explored

Research Paper On Christmas In Australia
What is a "down–under" Christmas like? Australia is known as 'the land Down Under' for its
position in the southern hemisphere. Australia is the world's largest island and also the world's
smallest continent.The seasons in Australia are opposite to the United States. Christmas festivities
begin in late November, when schools and church groups present Nativity plays. When Australians
celebrate Christmas on December 25, it is during summer vacation. Many of the traditions in
Australia are similar to the traditions in the United States. Homes are decorated, families enjoy a
holiday meal, attend church together, Santa Claus is part of the Australian Christmas and during the
entire month of December they sing carols.
One tradition that is similar ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Some families put up a Christmas tree. They also hang stockings at the edge of their bed, and listen
their all time favorite books like Christmas Wombat and Bush Christmas.
On Christmas Eve, families attend church together. Some children expect Father Christmas to leave
gifts, and others wait for Santa Claus to visit and deliver gifts. After opening presents on Christmas
morning, the family sits down to a breakfast of ham and eggs. Then the family goes to church again.
Christmas Day is when families and close friends gather together from all over Australia. The
highlight of the day is the holiday meal in the middle of the day.
Finally, one of my favorite parts about learning Australia Christmas, is that they have huge bonfires
at the end of the day. They get together and hang out, they tell stories to each other. Also they gets
laughs in, and play around making up time that they didn't get to spend with each other over the past
year or so. Christmas is one of my all time favorite holidays! Who wouldn't enjoy getting to spend
time with family, and friends, and getting together hearing stories from your elders or your
grandchildren that's one of the best
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Naty Crib Scene History
An important part for celebrating is the Nativity Crib Scene. Using Nativity Crib Scene was a big
help to tell the Christmas story. This is very popular and was used by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223. A
lot of Italian families have a Nativity crib in their homes. In the city of Naples which is in Italy, is
very famous for making cribs. These people are known as "Presepe Napoletano". The first crib
scene in Naples was thought to go back to 1025 and was in the Church of St. Maria Del Presepe, this
was even before St. Francis of Assisi had made cribs very popular! Having cribs in your own home
has been popular since the 16th century and it's still popular today. Cribs are traditionally put out on
the December 8th. But the baby Jesus isn't put into

Christmas And Religion Essay
Intro to what Christmas is
Religious and sacred holiday, December 25
Celebrated religiously and secularly
Christians celebrate Christmas as the birth of christ
Traditions vary from culture to culture, but is mainly exchange of gifts, decorating of tree, family
dinners, and attending church
Often called the "Feast Day of Christ"
Jesus was not actually born on December 25th
It is coincide with the pagan holidays the romans used to do, honored the Harvest God and Ancient
God of Life
Historical background of Christmas
Romans before Jesus was born, celebrated many Holidays
Before the arrival of christ, early europeans celebrated it as a celebration of light and birth in the
darkest days of winter
Looked forward to having more sunlight
Therefore

Christmas Day In Japan
You might wonder what other people in the world are doing at this time of the year. Well, this paper
will tell you all about what the Japanese people do during Christmas. You may be surprised at what
they do during this special holiday. In Japan they do celebrate Christmas, but surprisingly
celebrating Christmas is not their number one priority. Although they celebrate Christmas on the
same day that we do they celebrate Christmas eve even more, and they do not celebrate it in a way
that would be common. Many people in Japan think of Christmas eve as a day of peace and love.
They celebrate Christmas eve like it is another valentine's day, and usually go to a fancy restaurant
and buy each other a gift. Another tradition that many Japanese people do on Christmas and
Christmas eve is the Disney Christmas Parade. The Disney Christmas Parade is when they have a
parade with many Disney characters who pass out candy and do some cool tricks. Not only do they
celebrate it like a valentine's day, but they also have many favorite foods. Some of their favorite
foods that they have are KFC and strawberry shortcake. It may sound weird that they eat KFC on
Christmas eve and Christmas day, but it is a tradition around Japan. KFC in Japan was first
introduced when a Japanese family could not find any turkey for Christmas and so they ate fried
chicken instead. The KFC manager saw his opportunity and decide to run a campaign called
"Kentucky for Christmas". Kentucky for Christmas was very

Research Paper On Indoor Christmas Tree
It is quite common to come across a decked up Christmas tree in December.
Where did the idea of the indoor Christmas tree originate?
Several years ago, people believed that ever–green trees had a magical element about them. Even in
winter, when all the other trees and were brown and bare, the evergreen tree soon became a symbol
of life and a sure sign that sunshine and spring would soon return, after the dark, cold days of winter.
Some traditions around the tree Some believe the Christmas tree tradition was started in ancient
times by Jews who used evergreen boughs to decorate their homes during the late autumn feast of
the autumn feast of the tabernacles.some say that the Romans used ever–greens to bring them good
fortune during their mid–winter

Analysis Of The Book ' The Terror ' Essay
The terror always begins in a holiday
Bare winter with a woody plant, dotted about the town square light up the festive with colors. A trail
of small lanterns glow the church to the middle of town up on the lonely hill inviting all to join the
night mass later that day.
A lonely , lost and forgotten wanders through the crowd. No man pays him any attention or even
notices him. Yet, he'd been coming here for years. well too many to remember. He's no longer
warmed by the sweet scents of pine trees drifting over the crowd of carol singers. He always looks
among the crowd because it remind him of the life he once had and could never retrieve.
It would be wise for him to leave now before it's too late but as always something distracts him.
With a sentimental fondness, he watches a young girl with a age of five or six years, as she stares up
into the night sky trying to glimpse Santa's sleigh. Then he smiles broadly at her squeal of joy as the
first flakes of snow begin to tumble to down, dusting everything with a soft magical powder. Her
parents shiver and wrap their scarfs tighter around their faces while clutching song sheets in their
gloved hands, determined not to let the chilly weather deter them from this annual traditional.
In the far corner of the square standing before a flood–lit nativity scene stands a man dressed in a
Father Christmas costume. He announces the next carol to be sung and Away in a Manger rises from
the assembled choir. It must be early, the

Ava Maria Plena Gratia
The story of Jesus' birth is a well known part of the Bible and an important part of Christian and
Catholic beliefs. The Nativity has been interpreted and written in many different ways, such as the
two poems "Ava Maria Plena Gratia" by Oscar Wilde and "I saw a stable, low and very bare" by
Mary Elizabeth Coleridge. "Ava Maria Plena Gratia" is a description of Mary's conception of Jesus
when the angel Gabriel visited her, while "I saw a stable, low and very bare" describes the events
after Jesus' birth in the manger with the farm animals and his two parents around him. The two
poems both describe events that contribute to the Nativity, as well as the symbol of innocence,
which is shown differently through Mary and Jesus. Mary has been given many titles, such as the
Madonna, the Holy Mother, the Virgin Mary, Our Lady, and so on. Ave Maria Plena Gratia means
"see Hail Mary full of grace" (Green), and the poem by Oscar Wilde is filled with symbols and
figures that represent Mary's religiousness and importance: A kneeling girl with [a] passionless pale
face, An angel with a lily in his hand, And over both wth outstretched wings the dove. (Wilde) ...
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The angel who appears to Mary in the poem holds a lily in his hand, and the lily is a known symbol
of purity and innocence. Above her and the angel is a dove, which symbolizes peace, purity, and the
Holy Spirit, which came to Mary as a blessing from God to give her power and strength. Mary is as
important as Jesus, and the important connection between a mother and her child are not only seen
by their relation to God, but also through their representations of

Break Someone's Heart For Christmas Research Paper
The Time I Decided to Break Someone's Heart for Christmas It was in the middle of December,
close to Christmas. I was with my girlfriend, who is my current ex, and we were breaking up. It was
bitterly cold kind of windy freeze that wasn't necessarily very harsh but still crawled throughout
your skin and shuddered your bone when you weren't prepared. I didn't feel cold though, I didn't feel
anything really but at the same time I felt everything. I could feel the very pressure coming for the
grey and white, sunless overcast sky forcing down its vast emptiness upon me. I could smell the
wind lightly rolling around carelessly, and I breathed it into my heart. But worst of all my internal
perception of my environment was focused so entirely on the existence of the human closest to me I
saw her as the epicenter of the known universe, and I'm the piece of shit that threw her feelings in
the garbage. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
We said we loved each other which I knew was true for her, but I was still struggling to submit
myself to what I knew was "love". Nevertheless, we were happy, devoted and content. We between
certain class periods and talked to each other about the things that go around in high school gossip
sessions. We were in band class sitting in a corner holding hands. Her gentle head rested on my
shoulder and I in turn laid my cheek on the top of her head. We whispered our conversation and
softly spoke into each others ears. "You still want to hang out after school?" she simply responded
with "yeah". her voice was soft and feminine, like listening to mother speak to a small child. "Okay,
Dunkin?" I wanted to try and spend some time with her and not succumb to my hormones for once
so I asked to go to a public place. She agreed with a bright & pleasant

My First Activity Of The Food Pantry
My first activity that I was involved in with Catholic Social Services was the food pantry. As my
children progressed through high school, I knew certain classes or clubs were involved with
participating in food drives. Our house was one of the most targeted homes for quite some time as
we live directly across the street from St. Michael's Elementary School which is where some of the
organizations met. St. Cecilia's is also a school that requires wearing a uniform and, occasionally,
the kids could have a free jeans day if each student brought in so many items for the food pantry and
my children were no different than a lot of the others...they wanted to wear jeans so they would raid
my pantry to take food to school. I did not really give it much thought at the time when I was pulling
food from my pantry of how this small act of kindness would help others. I knew there was a need
for the food otherwise the food drive would not take place. I was so naïve in my thought process at
that time. The night that I helped sort food at the food pantry was a major eye opener. My role for
the evening was to help supervise high school students, who were sorting through the food as a
community service project. When I walked into the basement where the food sorting was done, I
found several areas that housed certain foods. In talking with the coordinator, I found that most of
that foods had been donated by various stores whether the store has a quota that is established for
donations or if

Critique Of The Christmas Angel
Fifty–seven–year–old Landon Carter narrates the novel, reflecting on events from 40 years in the
past. In the prologue of this novel, in which the older Landon, living in the same North Carolina
town as he did when he was 17 years old, stands near the Baptist church that figures prominently in
the novel and gets himself in the mindset of his 17–year–old self. The story begins in 1958 and is,
Landon tells us, both joyful and sad.
Seventeen–year–old Landon is a senior at Beaufort High School, which collaborates each year with
Southern Baptist Church on a Christmas play called The Christmas Angel, written by Reverend
Hegbert Sullivan, the minister of the church. This play tells the story of a man who is so grief–
stricken over the death of his wife while giving birth to their only child that he is not much of a
father to his child. An angel appears to the man, and she ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Landon reluctantly agrees. The two begin spending time together – although Landon does so only
out of obligation – but in the course of their conversations, Landon discovers that Jamie's only goal
in life is to get married with a church full of people in attendance, an unlikely occurrence given
Jamie's social status.
The play is a great success, and in a pivotal scene, in which the father is supposed to notice the
ravishing beauty of the angel, Landon is shocked by how beautiful Jamie looks in her white dress;
she is wearing a touch of makeup and has taken her long hair out of a bun and let it fall past her
shoulders. The other students in the school are as surprised by Jamie's appearance as Landon.
Jamie asks Landon to help her collect the bottles and cans she set out in a donation drive to buy
presents for the orphans. Astonished by the paltry donations, Landon empties his own bank account
and adds those funds to the collection without telling anyone what he has

How To Write A Narrative Essay On The Great Gatsby
High atop a crystalline–white mountain was a wooden cabin, nestled between the towering
evergreen trees. The cabin was decorated with garish Christmas lights and poinsettias that resembled
fiery red stars. Inside, the adults were drinking and singing the night away while down the hall, the
children had fallen asleep around the Christmas tree waiting for St. Nick to come. An elderly woman
stood in the middle of the hallway with her shoulders shaking and pearl–shaped tears streaming
down her face. A tall, young man bundled in scarves and jackets was trying to comfort her, offering
frantic apologies and swearing he would never leave again. Quietly standing at the doorway that
connected the living room to hallway was me, watching the peculiar

Definitions Of Cultural Beliefs
Cultural expressions are a way that a person can identify who they are. It is a way for other people
to get to know that individual personally. I begin with talking about three cultural expressions that
identify who I am. I will talk about each expression individually and explain the importance &
meaning they each have in my life. I will talk about how each expression defines me and my beliefs.
I will conclude with what people might think or assume that my cultural expressions say about me. I
begin with my first cultural expression. When I was growing up and I would go visit at my dad's
house my Aunt Lupe would always have a candle burning on the stove. It is one of those candles
that you can buy at the grocery or dollar store. The candle has Jesus or the Virgin Mary also known
as (La Virgin De Guadalupe) on them usually or some religious figure and they also have prayer on
them. Some come in English and some in Spanish. I would always wonder way my Aunt always had
a candle burning all day long. I knew she was very religious and catholic but I never understood the
candle. One day I decided to ask my Aunt what the candle burning meant. My Aunt told me that it
keeps us safe and cleanses the house of any evil. From that day on I always believed that my Aunt
premonitions were true and that if I keep a candle burning I would always be safe in my home. My
Aunt always made me feel safe and brought me a sense of peace. I always have a candle burning in
my home and now that my Aunt

Analysis Of Pablo Picasso's Guernica
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words and that art is an expression of a human's
creativity sometimes relating to a specific theme or event. Within pictures it is easy to recognize the
story going on most of the time because it is usually a direct unobscured scene, however art is more
difficult due to human creativity. Looking back at art history, various painters and sculptors created
images inspired within their life that reflected some type of teaching or value, and telling stories
without saying a single word. Pablo Picasso is one example of these painters as one looks at one of
his most famous paintings which is Guernica. An average person would look at the painting and just
see random figures and odd shapes, but when taking more time to evaluate the art work one sees the
true meaning of the pain and suffering during the bombing of Guernica. The women and children
were depicted as defenseless and innocent and presented by Picasso as the perfection to mankind.
By portraying them as such, Pablo Picasso sent the message that the assault on the women and
children was an assault on the core of mankind. But how does the meaning of art and pictures relate
to our church that stand at Sacred Heart University? Well, not only does the church contain mosaics
and artwork inside, but the whole church itself is a big piece of art that sends a message about our
school and community. Walking by the church someone may not recognize the meaning behind the
church but like any

A Christmas Day : The Day Of Christmas
An extremely dark and cold winter night that seemed to last so endless and my father was gone for
the entire weekend. Satin front of the fire, it felt like warm butter melting on my face as the gusting
winds and snow developed outside. I meekly waited by the boiling fire for my loving father to come
in from the brisk winter air. Sitting facing the fire desperately hoping for my father to come home
and celebrate a beautiful Christmas with his family. That horrible weekend was Christmas Eve and
Christmas. He did not show up for Christmas Eve, so we sadly thought that he was going to miss
Christmas as well. In our family, we celebrate Christmas with our family so to not have my father
there it would have changed for all our family big time. I just kept wishing and wishing that he
would come home for Christmas. When a snowstorm arises, everyone would dread it because he had
to work and fix people's power.
Suddenly, after waiting for an extended by that scorching fire, he came through the front door. He
came through the front door. I said it to myself twice because I had no words and did not know what
to think, say, or act. It happened to be a Christmas miracle when he came home just in time for
Christmas. Then again I guess as, Karen Salmansohn put it, "Never stop believing because miracles
happen every day." He walked in that door. The world fell away; drained all colors, but him standing
at the door, waiting for someone to come and greet him. My father is so incredibly

Charlestown Light Display
It's the time of the year where people turn yards into a giant light displays. In many town squares
people create an electric winter wonderland by creating light displays that are set up in amazing
patterns to make props of anything that is relative of Christmas, scenes from famous Christmas
movies, famous Christmas characters, or Characters that have a cartoon or movie. have speakers that
play Christmas music, and setting lights to turn on or off to make a part. In Scottsburg sadly we have
a display, but its not interactive or impressive as other towns.
There are some alternatives to the crisis of wanting a good display you can visit these local displays
that you will enjoy. In Charlestown they have a fully automated light display with music, lights, and
fake snow machines almost every year. Each year there is something new added to the display
making it even better than before. The lights that are in the display are centered in the park in the
square, but they put the lights not only in that one space in the park but on surrounding buildings.
The Charlestown ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Go mega caverns and see their spectacular subterranean display. Mega caverns is located in
Louisville, Kentucky beneath the Louisville Zoo. This cavern is used for a bike park, underground
zip line, RV storage, and a drive in lights display. The Flaw with this lights display is that its
prohibited to walk on to the display meaning people have to stay seated in their car for the trip. On
the positive side you are allowed to have the windows down and lights off to enjoy the music and
the lights. Since i it's almost completely pitch black in the cave year round as a result the darkness
makes it perfect for lights to shine without other lights from building or street lights. The music that
is played is also enhanced by the cave as well because of the walls of the cave as a result of being
underground and away from a

Mary : The Modern Gospel Of James, And The Other Essay
The religious character, Mary, is the topic of several bible verses, gospels, and various other
religious texts. This protean array of readings ensures that Mary will have both similar and differing
depictions. One of these readings is The Proto–Gospel of James, and the other is The Book of Luke
from the bible. These texts will be the focus of comparison between the two Marys. In each of these
texts, Mary is portrayed as a humble and self–deprecating figure that accepts her role as the mother
of Jesus. These texts differ, however, in the believability by other characters of Mary. The Proto–
Gospel presents Mary as a figure that is scrutinized and doubted by other characters in the gospel.
On the other hand, Luke presents Mary as a figure of veneration and admiration amongst others in
the text. These similarities and differences lead to the overall argument of the paper; in the Proto–
Gospel and Luke, Mary remains a humble figure, but her acceptance from others is what differs
among the two religious texts. Both the Proto–Gospel and Luke portray Mary as a humble figure.
The Proto–Gospel paints Mary as humble during the scene with Elizabeth. Mary visits Elizabeth to
inform her of what the archangel Gabriel has told her. Elizabeth blesses Mary and tells her how her
child has leaped in her womb. Mary then ponders: "But Mary forgot the mysteries that Gabriel had
spoken to her, and gazed at the sky and said, 'Who am I, Lord, that all of the women of earth will
bless me?' (69). Mary

Joseph: The 'Forgotten Father Of Christmas'
So familiar are we with the Nativity story, that we scarcely need to be reminded of the key roles
required for the dramatisation of the event.The angels of the Lord, the wise men from the east, the
shepherds, the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus, the animals – the sheep, the cattle, the donkey – and
finally Joseph.
Joseph appears to be an insignificant character in the Christmas drama. All the attention is on Mary
while Joseph hangs in the background with the shepherds and animals.
Joseph is not featured in many Christmas songs either. Joseph thus takes a backseat to the shepherds,
wise men, animals and other characters. However, to me, this man stands out as the unsung hero of
Christmas. I rarely hear a message about Joseph and that makes me want to talk about the 'Forgotten
Father of Christmas'. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Other men in the Bible heard the unexpected news that their wives would become pregnant.
Abraham, the father of Isaac and Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, are two who come to
mind. Their initial reaction is quite revealing:
Genesis 17:17:
Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him
that is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
Luke 1:18:And Zacharias said unto the angel, "Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and
my wife well stricken in years."
As hard as this was for them to fathom, the fact remained that these were their wives, and the son
would be the result of their seed! Now consider the predicament of Joseph. Mary was not yet
officially his wife and this birth would not be the result of his seed! Yet, upon the declaration of the
angel, the Bible records no protesting, no unbelief, only obedience!
One might ask, "Where did God find such a man as Joseph?"
Joseph's obedience is not because he dreams a dream, but because of his knowledge of the

Christmas And Hanukkah Research Paper
Abigail Elie
Professor Carter
English 100 A
21 November 2014
The difference between Christmas and Hanukkah
Every year people are jolly to celebrate their own traditions. Whether it is Christmas or Hanukkah,
people find joys with giving and receiving gifts. Both holidays differ in many ways. There are many
differences in the holidays Christmas and Hanukkah. A difference between Christmas and Hanukkah
is the history. Christmas is one day in every year which is December 25th. Hanukkah is 8 days and
starts the evening of the 24th of Kislev. Christmas origin is the birth of Jesus who is the son of God.
Hanukkah origins date back to about 167 B.C. A Jewish army, led by Judah the Maccabee,
recaptured Jerusalem from the Greeks (who had conquered ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
25(Holiday History). Jews celebrate Hanukkah. Many Christians believe in the virgin birth. Also,
Christians give gifts and have Christmas decorations for example a Christmas tree. Jews light eight
candles and each candle represents a different day. In addition, for Hanukkah they light the menorah
and play the dreidel. Another difference is the importance of Christmas and Hanukkah. Christmas
celebrates the nativity of Christ and it is as diverse as the many countries that observe it, and was a
popular subject in the Catholic and Orthodox religious art of the middle ages and Renaissance( The
Gift of Holiday Traditions).Hanukkah is celebrated after a miracle occurred when the Jewish people
reclaimed their temple from their Seleucid (Macedonian) conquerors Judah's men tried to
reconsecrate the Jewish temple by lighting its menorah which is a sacramental lamp. The story of
the birth of Jesus can be found in the bible. Hanukkah is in the First and second book of Maccabees.
If there was no Christmas the religion Christianity would not have existed. If Judah, the Maccabee
did not lead the Jewish army and did not recapture Jerusalem from the Greeks, the Jews might not
be alive to this day and Hanukah would not be

Why I Hate Christmas Essay
Why I hate Christmas
"I despise Christmas and I always will!" –––this was a common monologue I had with my lonely
self around this time of year. I continued on my daily evening saunter, in the bitter, cold air, gazing
at the children on the other side of the fence playing outdoors in the mounds of white snow.
Joyously appearing as if layering ten garments for the sake of stepping outside was to be fun. I
would like to believe that I do not envy the children with happy childhoods and amorous families,
but I know dejectedly, I still do. You could call me a "Grinch" during this time of year I guess. But
overall, I find the holiday of Christmas extremely irritating and obnoxious. I returned to my desolate
"room" that I have had to call my home for the last couple of years, but I presume I would have no
choice. Lonesome, once ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
I had had a very wonderful dream that night. I was a child once again, filled with bliss and
contentment. My entire family and I were all together having a splendid time at Central Park on
Christmas Eve. We were all together singing Carols, building snow men, and opening gifts
together... I don't remember the last time I saw my family. Sad, but I guess better for me at the same
time. My family members were not the best people, I guess you could say, but somewhere in my
heart I know I still love them. I look around my cage at plain concrete walls. Steel bars, doors, and a
toilet. It's all a man needs, right? How I have endured this same, drab room for all this time and not
gone crazy I would really like to know. I look over at my calendar hanging by the window. It's
Christmas Eve once again. People are elatedly rushing around malls picking out last minute
Christmas gifts to put a smile on children's faces. While I'm here... isolated... staring out the small,
spherical window in my cell, struggling to remember how life was back when I was

Day Of The Dead: The Independence Day In Guatemala
Independence Day in Guatemala is hosted on September 15 with other Guatemalans, dancing,
music, parades, food, and fireworks. Guatemala's All Saints Day is celebrated on November 1. The
town, Todos Santos Cuchumatán, has one of the best festivals around where local men have a
drunken, wild, horse race. The Day Of The Dead is celebrated right after the All Saints Day, and
families go to the local cemetery to mark the gravestones where their loved ones had died with
candles and flowers. One of Guatemala's unique holidays is The Burning Of The Devil. People take
burnable items like paper, magazines, and trash and then burn them on the street. In the town of
Cobán they host a festival in late June or early August, known as Rabin Ajau, has music

Christ Birth Research Paper
Christmas is arguably the biggest holiday in the western world. It is the holiday that brings forth the
spirt of joy, giving's and love. Christmas is also the year that brings forth remembrance of Jesus
Christ's birth. However, the nativity story, the story of Christ birth, has much more meaning to it
then what people reflect on it as. When the Nativity story is told it seems the main focus or the
"happy ending" is always the savior birth. That arguably is not what the Bible fully attended the
focus to remain on. The Nativity story is more than just a story about Christ birth; it is a metaphor
that paints the picture of the two people's faith in God and ultimately the gospel in a nutshell. Many
overlook Mary and Joseph struggle during the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Mary knew that Joseph would most likely leave her due to her mysteries pregnancy and a tarnished
reputation. Although, those things are very important factors to look at when considering the risk
Mary took, when she accepted to birth the Messiah, the most significate risk Mary had taken was the
endangerment of her own life. According to the Old Testament law, if a women failed to remain
physically pure before marriage she would be brought "to the door of her father's house, and the
men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to
play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you." And if the
women was "betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye
shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they
die." Again, Mary knew the challenges she had to face. She had nothing but a story of an angel to
give to Joseph and the towns' people. The possibility of Joseph and the towns' people believing that
Mary, a poor servant, miraculously became pregnant by the Holy Spirit is as slim as it would be
now. In fact, most would conclude that Mary was covering up an immoral relationship with Roman
soldier. Yet, Mary kept the same attitude that her son had in Gethsemane when He prayed, "not my
will, but thine, be done." Regardless,

Roles Of Women In Aeneus
Roles of Women in Virgil's Aeneid and in the Gospel of Luke The women in ancient Roman
patriarchal society as seen in Virgil's Aeneid were limited by societal gendered roles and were
undervalued by men. Contrastingly, Hebrew women as seen in the Gospel of Luke were viewed as
equal to men because both were made in the image and likeness of God. Women were not important
in the epic story of the founding of Rome whereas women were crucial in Jesus' mission to preach
the word of God. This essay will look at the roles of Creusa, Dido, and Lavina in the Aeneid and of
Mary, Elizabeth, and Mary Magdalene in the Gospel of Luke. Roman society valued the tradition of
law in the hands of the paterfamilias in which the father held absolute power over his wife, children,
and slaves. The respect for fathers extended into the community and into politics creating a male
dominated society. Women were subordinate to either their father or their husband. Despite their
lower position in society, women were still expected to uphold Roman virtues such as pietas, the
duty to one's family and country. Pietas for women referred to their duty to their family, especially
to their husbands. Once a woman was married, she was expected to act honorably and respectably
by remaining chaste and doing nothing else except for her household duties. Roman women were
expected to stay out of public life and especially to stay out of politics. Throughout the Aeneid, the
hero, Aeneas, had relations with three

Las Vegas Ice Skating
Las Vegas has an abundance of winter activities in the city for those who don't want to hit the ski
slopes. Living in a hot, dry desert with little to no snow in the city it can be hard to get into the
holiday spirit. However, this winter there are plenty of fun wintertime festivities taking in Las
Vegas, that will help you feel like you live in a winter wonderland. If you enjoy gracefully gliding
on the ice like a swan, or stumbling about like an intoxicated baby deer for some of us, ice skating is
the activity for you. Downtown Summerlin mall is going to be having an ice skating rink on site
until January 18th. Skating at the DTS rink is $15 (includes skate rental). The Cosmopolitan hotel
and casino goes above and beyond and freezes The

Comparison Of Renaissance Art And Nativity With Adoration...
The Renaissance was a period of cultural innovation and rebirth that began in southern Europe and
slowly spread its influence to the north. Much like today, Renaissance artists were inspired by
history and other artists of their time. This is evident with two paintings tthat both feature Madonna
and Jesus as the main subjects, however presented with many differences. It is important to note that
artists in Italy were heavily inspired by the civilizations before them, such as the art of classical
Greece. Meanwhile, artists in the North were more inspired by Medieval art. Continuing forward,
Nativity with Adoration of the Shepherds (c. 1500) will be the first artwork examined before moving
to the Italian art.
Nativity with Adoration of the Shepherds was created by the Circle of Master of the Brunswick
Diptych, as referred to by the Denver Art Museum, and is of a modest size at only 23" by 33". The
viewer is immediately drawn to the center panel where Mary is lingering over the newly born Jesus.
The representation of the very small Jesus depicts him as frail, yet the holy halo, symbolizing the
divine, surrounds his entire body as he lays on a fabric that is a part of Mary's clothing while Jesus is
resting on the ground. A third figure to the right of Mary also is overlooking Jesus, however his
body language is difficult to decipher due to the dull emotion the man is evoking. Contextually, one
can assume he is Joseph, and in awe of the birth of Jesus. What is strikingly

The Christmas Stories : The Story Of A Christmas Story
Most Christmas stories are all about love, presents or Santa Claus. This story is far from things like
that. This story is about twins and how one christmas turned their whole world up upside down. Let
me stop talking and get straight to the story. Down in the center of a small town named Hollow was
this grand house with lights flashing a variety of colors. The yard was decorated with different but
extravagant lawn decor on top of the piles of white puffy snow. From the outside looking in you
would say the house was warm and welcoming but you would be very wrong. The snow falling to
the ground was warmer than the Marshall's house. Every christmas Diane Marshall would decorate
her house with diverse colors such at gold, blue, green, red more colors than one could think of. She
did not decorate for the joy of christmas she decorated to impress people who could care less about
her. Diane was not a nice person neither was was her husband Burt who was the coldest thing in
their house. One christmas Diane had an idea to make her seem like a great person she would foster
Zoey and Lucas the twins three houses down who lost their parents. Oh this would be a great plan
she thought to herself. As soon as Burt came home she told him her idea. He didn't question his
wife's doings he said, "That's a great idea honey" and went about his day. The next morning Diane
rushed to the foster care home and started filling out papers left and right. The last paper Diane came
across was a home

Chanyeol: A Fictional Narrative
The winds seem to whisper softly through the air. It's almost a wispy mutter against the harsh
droplets pounding against the windowsill. Maybe it's rain. The forecast said snow. "Chanyeol, do
you have the hot chocolates?" you say into the air. You lie comfortably on the sofa, tucked under a
blanket, swaddled in your warmest sweater. You see his grin form as he carries the scalding hot
mugs into the room. You watch him closely, his tall, broad figure ironically hidden into an oversized
sweatshirt. Chanyeol never seems to have a bad angle. From any distance, at any vantage point,
Chanyeol always looks perfect. "Yup!" he sets them down onto the coasters and joins you on the
couch with a plop. He buries himself underneath the fleece, wrapping his arms around your front
and his legs around your legs. You pout, "Hey I can't move!" He kisses your cheek, "Exactly." You
giggle as he ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He pulls his lips away and places one palm on each mound before clasping them under his
extremities. He heaves them to and fro, running his thumb across your hardened nipple. You shut
your eyes and bite your bottom lip, adding further pressure to the clawing that your hands do to his
shoulder caps. A long grunt echoes from your throat. His hands release your breasts and reach the
edge of your panties. In one swoop, they lie somewhere else in the room. Immediately, he cups your
inner thighs and jerks your legs apart. He brings his face to the region in the middle and proceeds to
bite your labia. It's such a turn–on. "Oh my god," you moan. You can feel his tongue pick at your
skin, gathering the wetness and smothering it onto his lips. The muscle finds its way into your
vagina, licking it just as he had licked you everywhere else. His fingers intertwine in yours, the both
of you fastening your hands in a tight embrace. He fondles your lips and bites them. His face digs
into your warmth without

Narrative Essay About My Christmas Day
My family and I have a christmas tradition that involves watching movies all night Christmas Eve
and open our presents at midnight. Six years ago I got a tablet. I was so excited for when I woke up
a few hour later after it had been charging and couldn't wait to use it. If I had known what I know
now about what happens next, I would not be so anxious. Christmas Day 2015, my sixth grade year.
I woke up and of course I was the first up of my brother, sister, mom, and dad. When I rushed to the
living room to play with my present, it happened. I started coughing to the point when I collapsed. I
was laying on the floor coughing out every bit of air that was in me and that is when I felt the lack
of breath. A lot of stuff had happened to me, but that was the first time in my life when I thought I
was going to die and the pain made me actually want to. I was alone in my house, having the worst
experience of my life, and if it wasn't for my father waking up and hearing me. He rushed to get me
an inhaler, but it only helped me regain the ability to breath. I could not stand, I could not talk, I
could not eat, I could barely breath, I felt like a fish out of water and I felt helpless. I was rushed to
the E.R where I found out that a throat infection was the cause of all the pain, and that my weight
caused the asthma attack. I had stopped caring about others opinions about me at that point, but I
realized that my weight was a real problem and not a flaw in me but something that had the

The Second Shepherd Analysis
The Second Shepherd's Play is a Wakefield cycle play written during the 15th century. The play is
set in Bethlehem and is based on the birth of Jesus Christ told from the perspective of the shepherds
attending their flock. During the Middle Ages, cycle plays were popular because they allowed the
plays to be performed from town–to–town. This was important because people could not read and
Bibles were so expensive. Cycle plays allowed Christians to learn about key elements pertaining to
Jesus Christ and other Christian figures. The Second Shepherd's Play is a unique play in that it
combines farcical elements and serious lessons. In the play, there are five main characters: Coll,
Gib, Daw, Mak, and Gill. Mak, Daw, Gib, and Coll are shepherds and, at the beginning of the play,
are all watching their sheep at night in the cold weather. The first part of the play consists of 190
lines where the shepherds are all complaining about something in their lives. Coll is complaining
about the cold weather which is relatable to the audience during this time because they often faced
harsh weather when attending their flock. Gib is seen complaining about his wife and his marriage.
As he continues to complain about his wife, he also begins to warn the audience, especially the
young men, to stay away from marriage. Both shepherds began to complain about Daw because they
feel he is too lazy and playful. However, they contribute it to his age. Daw walks in complaining
that he is hungry and

The Allusion Of Christmas
Christmas is an international holiday that is beloved by many. I, however, see Christmas for what it
really is. It isn't some festive love fest that celebrates the birth of Jesus; Christmas is an allusion.
Christmas has pulled the wool over the eyes of many by presenting the temptation of gifts, therefore
making them oblivious to the true meaning behind the holiday. Christmas has betrayed its lineage, it
has lost sight of its purpose, and it is denouncing the powerful meanings and messages for future
generations to come. This holiday has been around for centuries and over the years it has become a
façade and has found a way to hide what it truly stands for. Christmas is a holiday that is nowadays
pawned off as celebrating the birth of Jesus. If you tell a young child this, he'll think you mean that
Jesus was born on December 25th. This, however, is not the case. Most scholars doubt that
December 25th is the true date of Christ's birth. There is no biblical support for it, and some against
it. When Christmas originated; it was a time of giving. A time where, even if you weren't Christian,
you would gather together with your family and celebrate how much you mean to each other. It was
a time to rejoice and above all, a time to give rather than to receive. However, one cannot give
without another person receiving, and over the years these lines have been blurred to the point
where, for many, it has become at least just as important to receive as it is to give. Ask any child

Jacques Frank Monologue
Tell us about your Christmas Eve party, your Christmas, your gifts...
Ok, as you sound French, I shall respond in the style of Bernard–Henri Lévy a man you may be
aware of who speaks your tongue and is as provocative as they come...
Indeed, I'm taken aback by your forthrightness... my festive antics at a push only raises half a smile;
let alone vocationalising myself to culinary dos and dont's and partaking in pointless games. Why?
Y'see, I'm metaphorically weighed down with the cartoon 'Camelot' thumb of responsibility, I feel it;
call it increasing maturity – anyhow, once you've witnessed City financiers boasting of extraordinary
ventures / landmarks of achievements while vomiting up beverage excess in a plush restroom; done
so in such ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
i.e. Tell us about your Christmas Eve party, your Christmas, your gifts... this is oddly assumptive. I
could be Jewish for all you know; was it my nonchalant lopsided festive smile that verified I had
unwrapped gifts recently, partook in party frills and frollocks – overdosed on the 'Scroogedriver'
cocktail and nostalgically watched again: 'Goodby Mr. Chips.' As a child, I can recall the ghostly
echos of school' names; they surfed dreamlike on an icy breeze, ah that was modern filmology in
1939... Bataille, Baudelaire, Celine, Dostoyevsky, Ferrat......... and there was... Malraux, Morand as
experts of their art, I hasten a guess they went to L'école and therefore proficient in reading 'Le
Monde' it speaks volumes, the name is quintessentially French, there's no mistaking that.Go on... say
'Le Monde.' Pah, just as I thought, totally incoherent – le

The Birth Story Of Jesus And Interpreting It Today
The concept of a virginal birth could seem possible or probable with the advancement of modern
technology allowing women who wish to conceive a child the option of undergoing In Vitro
Fertilization to have a child without a male partner or need for sexual intercourse today. However, it
is perplexing how Mary, the mother of Jesus, miraculously conceived and bore a child as a virgin.
On the surface it may seem that it can simply be explained as a one time, divine intervention by
God, yet the details surrounding how this phenomenon occurred becomes much more complex after
delving into the accounts of this event in the books of Matthew and Luke. There are many issues
surrounding who and what the virgin Mary was in regards to her origins and the term virgin used to
describe her. Also, how this event manifested, the role Joseph played in this story, are important for
unraveling the birth story of Jesus and interpreting it today. I believe that it is reasonable to assume
that Jesus was conceived miraculously or supernaturally by a virgin female named Mary, and was
naturally born in this world. To have a better understanding of the virginal conception it is important
to have background information on the main characters involved, Mary and Joseph. The Proto–
Gospel, an apostolic writing by Jesus' half brother James, offers an omniscient perspective of Mary's
origin and upbringing through the birth of Jesus. This gives an important background for
understanding the Matthew and

The Nativity Story And The Gospel Of Matthew
The film The Nativity Story shares many similarities with the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew was
writing for the Jews, so his Gospel focuses primarily on Jesus being the messiah because he fulfills
the prophecies. His Gospel also focuses on the paternal side of Jesus's birth, since Joseph being from
the line of David connects Jesus to the Old Testament Covenant with David. In the film, Joseph's
perception of the events at had is often portrayed. Showing the story through his eyes. We also get
insight into is his thoughts on occasions, which furthers the films parallels to the Gospel of Matthew.
Within Matthew's Gospel, there are five key details used to connect the birth of Jesus to the Old
Testament prophecies, all of which appear in the film.
First, the film begins and ends with the massacre of innocents, the first key detail. This slaughter of
innocents was ordered by Herod as a way of preserving his throne. He was worried that the king of
kings was coming to end him, and he wanted to ensure that his throne was safe. He is the second
detail. This slaughter of innocents is what caused Joseph to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt,
the third key detail. Just like in the Bible, God spoke to Joseph in a dream, telling him to take his
family and flee to Egypt, only returning when he was instructed. Had Joseph not done this, Jesus
may not have survived to save us from our sins. Next in the film comes the wise men, the fourth
detail. These wisemen come from the east, showing the

Comparing Christmas In The USAd Iraq
Each culture has its way of celebrating Christmas. Millions of people celebrate Christmas around
the world. It is a very happy occasion which comes with gifts, decorations and the spirit of
Christmas. There are some differences between Christmas celebrations in the U.S and Iraq. These
differences include the date of celebration, the decorations and the type of food the two cultures
serve on Christmas Day.
First, Christmas is celebrated in the U.S on December 25th. On December 25th, families in the U.S
exchange gifts. Some families put a lot of gifts under the Christmas tree for their family members.
Families go to church and have a family feast. Most Americans believe that Jesus was born on the
25th of December, and that's why most Americans

Advent Wreath Speech
The Advent Wreath
Introduction
Most have seen the greenery with the candles in December leading up to Christmas, but few know
the truth that surrounds the Advent wreath. Even though it has been used since the Middle Ages, the
true origins of the Advent wreath are unclear. There is some evidence to suggest that pre–Christian
Germanic peoples would use wreaths with lit candles during the depressive December in order to
remind them of hope in the future and the days of spring with warm and sunlit–filled days. By the
Middle Ages, Christians soon transformed this tradition and began to use Advent wreaths as part of
the preparation for Christmas, in the spiritual sense.
The Advent wreath is represented by a wreath, three purple candles and one rose candle for each
week of the Advent Season with a fifth white candle in the center. Each candle on the Advent wreath
is meant to represent 1,000 years. When the four candles are added together, they represent the
4,000 years, in Biblical time, between Adam and Eve to the coming of the Savior, whose birth was
prophesied in the Old Testament of the Bible. The 4,000 years that humanity had to wait for the
coming of the world's Savior is signified by those four candles. Despite the origin of the Advent
wreath, its parts, the wreath, the colored candles and the single white candle, are all the same and
each has its own specific meaning.
Body Paragraphs The first part of an Advent wreath is the wreath itself. Reverend William

The Veneration Of St. Nicholas
According to Miller, a professor at Harvard University and an officer of American Embassy in
Ankara, the relics of the Saint at Myra church were taken over by some Italian merchants, who were
on a trading expedition to the Near East in 1087 A.D. (51). The Italian brought his bones from Myra
to Bari, where a church of St. Nicholas was built (Miller 51). The church is still run and has become
the center of the veneration of the Saint. In the time of the relocation of his relics, St. Nicholas
became famous and was widely acknowledged as one of the most popular saints in the Western
(Miller 51). He was honored as the chief patron saint of Russia, Greece, Germany, Austria, Belgium,
the Netherlands, France, and the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily. He

My Identity And Personal Identity
My purpose is to show my individuality and to express myself. This is for others including myself,
to see and to remind us that our identity is very complex. My parents immigrated to this country
from Mexico many years ago and they brought along their culture, which makes up a major part of
my identity. I am Mexican American and the stereotype that we have a lot of members in our family
is true, but it doesn't tell the full story. I have a lot of aunts, uncles, and cousins and I am very
grateful for them because each and every one of them has taught me important lessons that have
shaped who I am today. When all of us are together we stand out because there are so many of us
and we can also get very loud. We always know how to have a good time and we're also the life of
every party. Every Christmas eve we all get together at one of our aunt's houses and celebrate the
birth of Jesus. We set up a nacimiento, or Nativity set, made of figurines that represent the ones who
were present during his birth. We cover the set with hay, surround it with little figurines of animals
and drape Christmas lights all around the set. Then we do a rosary and commemorate the ones in our
family who have passed or could not make it. During these celebrations we always have tamales,
menudo, and hot chocolate. These foods are very important to us because most of the women in the
family get together the day before the event and prepare the food. In this time we all have time to
catch up on the latest gossip and drama that is going on in our lives. One thing that I have recently
been interested in again is the traditional Aztec dances and rituals. When I was younger I used to
participate in the dances with my mother but we had to quit due to the long and late hours of
practice. I have started to go to retreats where we spend most of our nights dancing and praying to
temples and different gods. Doing this makes me feel more connected to my ancestral roots and i
feel a sense of pride. Religion plays an important role in my life. I identify as catholic, but there are
some thing that me and my family don't follow. We don't go to church often and when we do it's
only for important events. This is because we've had bad experiences with

Winter Is The Best Time Of The Year
Some may say winter is the best time of the year. On the other hand, some may say they don't think
it's so special. I happen to think that winter is when God received the thought in his mind to create
me. Yes, that's how at one I feel with any and everything that has to do with winter. From the cold
days where you can barely walk without feeling the chilly linen rub your unshaved legs. To the
mornings where your car creates a blaring noise that communicates to the neighbors it will not be
leaving the drive way. It's all a part of the winter chronicles and I wouldn't have it any other way.
The main thing that comes to mind when I think of why I love winter so much is Christmas though.
This time of year people get in the spirit of decorating and they also change the way the treat others
on a daily basis. And thinking of their loves ones through special gifts makes it even better. The
saying goes Tis the Season to be jolly and I certainly feel jolly the whole season when I know that I
can look forward to these wonderful things taken place.
During the winter time do you ever just get in your car and go joy riding through the fogging nights.
The joy ride can turn into a light show that most can only dream of. This is because there are winter
lovers like myself that have decorated their homes, cars, businesses and sometimes there selves.
Lights surrounding every curve of the roof and driveways of their home like how gingerbread
houses are decorated in Christmas department in

Antonio Da Correggio Holy Night Nato Essay
Artwork is often used to represent and symbolise the Gospel and important figures to Christianity.
One of the artworks chosen is "Holy Night Nativity Scene" by Antonio da Correggio created in
1530. This artwork focuses on the birth of Jesus and lays the scene of which he enters the world.
The other one is the "Annunciation" by created in 2003. This artwork focuses on the moment
Gabriel tells Mary that she is pregnant with Jesus.
The "Holy Night Nativity Scene" relates directly to the verse "And she gave birth to her firstborn
son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for
them in the inn" (Luke 2:7). It is symbolic of Jesus' birth and represents that although his birth was
simple, he was surrounded by love. This artwork links to the narrative dimensions of Ninian Smart's
seven dimensions of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Jesus is the brightest figure in the painting as this represent that he is the light of the world. It
symbolises that he will guide others just as the star of bethlehem guided the three wise men. The
other figures in the painting have a slight glow to them which symbolises that Jesus has touched
them with his spirit as he will do the rest of his life. They are all looking down at him especially
Mary whose sole focus is directly on Jesus. This highlights her nurturing nature and the love she has
for him and signifies just how big a part she plays in Jesus' life and teachings. The allows the
audience to understand and appreciate the deep connection between Jesus and Mary. As Mary looks
at Jesus, Joseph is looking at the two of them adoringly. Although Jesus isn't his biological child, it
can be seen that Joseph is going to love and support him. This is a valuable lesson for Christian as it
reminds them to love anyone and everyone. This is one of the main aspects Jesus taught throughout
his life as he believed it to be of utmost importance.

Greccio-Christmas Crib At Midnight Mass
Greccio – Christmas Crib at Midnight Mass
After returning from the Holy Land, Francis conceived the idea of reenacting Christ's birth in
Bethlehem. By doing this, pilgrims would not have to take a dangerous trip to the Holy Land
(controlled by the Turks) and could see "the hardships a newborn babe must endure: how he was
placed in a manger, and how he lay on straw between an ox and an ass." At Greccio (60 miles SSW
of Assisi) on December 25, 1223, Francis created the first "living crib." This dramatization
continues to the present day and conveys God the Father's universal message that "Jesus came for
each and every person in the world." As Francis picked the lifeless Baby Jesus up in his arms from
the manger, there were witnesses who testified that it appeared Baby Jesus opened His eyes as if
awakened from sleep.
Isaiah referenced the presence of an ox and a donkey in the Nativity of Jesus in Isaiah 1:3 (NKJV):
"The ox knows its owner, And the donkey its master's crib; But Israel does not know, My people do
not consider." Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
How wondrously considerate of us is God's pity! How priceless a love of charity which would
sacrifice a Son to redeem a slave! God neither neglected the gifts of his mercy, nor failed to protect
uninterruptedly the vineyard planted by his hand. He sent laborers into it at the eleventh hour to
cultivate it, and with their hoes and plowshares to uproot the thorns and thistles, as did Samgar when
he killed 600 Philistines (Judges 3: 31). After the copious branches were pruned and the sucker roots
with the briars were pulled out, this vineyard will produce a luscious, appetizing fruit, one capable
of storage in the wine cellar of eternity, once purified in the wine–press of patience. Wickedness had
indeed blazed like fire, and the human heart had grown cold, so as to destroy the wall surrounding
this vineyard, just as the attacking Philistines were destroyed by the poison of worldly

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