The true meaning of Christmas can vary depending on individual beliefs and cultural interpretations. For many people, Christmas is a Christian religious holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a time for Christians to reflect on the significance of Jesus’ birth and the message of peace and goodwill that is associated with his life.

However, Christmas has also become a widely celebrated cultural and secular holiday in many parts of the world. For many people, it is a time for family gatherings, gift-giving, acts of kindness, and spreading joy. It often involves traditions such as decorating Christmas trees, exchanging presents, and sharing festive meals.

In essence, the true meaning of Christmas is subjective and can be deeply personal. For some, it is a religious observance, while for others, it is a time for expressing love, generosity, and kindness. Ultimately, the meaning of Christmas is shaped by the values and beliefs of the individuals and communities celebrating it.

Jonathan Manafo talks about the true meaning of Christmas.

Jonathan Manafo is The Village pastor. He is a husband, a father, a friend, a neighbor, and a follower of Jesus. He hopes that every day he’s a little better at it than the day before. He loves his family, his community, and God’s world.

Jonathan, please tell my audience a little about you.

I am a husband, a dad, a neighbor, a pastor, a musician, a writer, and hopefully a good friend. I love spending time with the people I love. I write and play music, it’s a long-time passion of mine. I enjoy golf, cycling, and sports of all kinds. When it’s all said and done, may others simply see me as a person who loved, who gave, and who lived a full life. 

Why did you decide to become a minister?

I didn’t choose…it chose me. In my mid to late teen years, I felt God might be leading me to at least prepare to be in pastoral ministry. (Note the difference, we all have some way to minister and serve, mine happens to be pastoring, among other things). I was accepted into a linguistics program at Concordia University. I was 100 students away from registering for my first set of classes and just knew I had to do something else. I left the line and began thinking about how I would go about this vocational calling in my life. Becoming a pastor was always gradual for me. Always felt like if God wanted to use me in this way, opportunities would arise. They did, I walked into them, and here we are, over 20 years later.

Share a little about the village and what you want to accomplish.

The Village is a church community in Whitby that is discovering what it means to love God, love others, and make the world better. We started 6 years ago with a hand full of people. We are now well over 100. We simply want to be a fresh expression of the local church where people who need to discover Jesus can do so alongside other people who are discovering Jesus. The Village wants to be connected in our communities – helping, loving, being present and being Jesus. I feel at home in my church community. Being part of a church like The Village makes me better.

During Xmas, we focus on shopping, stress about meeting people, and all these expectations. Explain what it is all about and the true meaning of Christmas.

I think we all know that Christmas is more than gifts, spending, and hectic schedules. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being generous with your family, friends, and especially those in need. Let’s keep this party going. However, we do get caught up in what becomes a rat race, when we forget that Christmas, specifically, Advent, is about waiting patiently for God to arrive on the scene.  If we would simply incorporate Advent into Christmas, we would have a better perspective of things. Why? Advent slows us down. It makes us think. We learn to wait. We learn to stay present. And if we slow down just enough, we will then be able to appreciate what this season is really about – Jesus, the God, moving into our neighborhood (s).

Please challenge my audience to do something completely different this year during the month of Christmas.

Well. Since you asked. Don’t spend any money on yourself. That’s a good start. If you are in the habit of giving gifts, look for things in your house that you can give away so the gifts that come in are at least replacing what you had and not adding to what you don’t need. One line that may help us think differently is, “less presents – more presence”

I would challenge you (if you’re not already part of a church community) to look for a local church to attend during December. Not just a one-off Christmas Eve service, but two to three gatherings in December. The only way that your personal Christmas story can become more meaningful is if you make time to experience THE Christmas story. If you’re not into Christianity, that’s okay, use it as a learning experience. It’s so worth a try.

I know Italians love food. What are your favorite dishes and how important is food in living a balanced life?

I sing The Beetle’s song, ‘8 days a week…I love you’ when it comes to pasta :). I honestly just love food. Food that is made well. If it’s been cooked and prepared well and with passion, I love it. I will spend more on food if it’s good and healthy, rather than save a few bucks to eat bad food (i.e. fast food or junk food). Life is too short to eat bad food. Now, I understand that life is not always that simple, and some people can’t afford to eat well. But we should all do the best we can, within our means, to eat healthily, and enjoy the food we do eat.

I also want to say that food is very communal. It brings people together. We get together over drinks and food. Don’t take those moments for granted, with your family or with your friends and neighbors.

Give me three tips on being a good father and on being a good husband.

First, I’m becoming a father and husband. What I mean by that is I’m hopefully better than I was, but I have lots to learn. Two, tell your kids and your spouse that you love them. In-person, via text, any way possible. If they hear it and know it from you, they will never feel like seeking it elsewhere. Three, balance providing (working hard) with pleasure (time well spent). It’s very honorable to provide for your family. Work as hard as you can to make a living and save for the future. However, know how to rest, how to stop, and how to simply be together.

You have been a minister for a long time, what have you learned about human behavior?

We are all broken. We all need a community. We all need grace.

How do you balance food faith family and finance in this busy world?

I already talked about food ;). Faith is so important – it is a reference point that is the opposite of your human selfishness. For me of course, my faith in Jesus. The family is your closest neighbor. Love them as you love yourself. If you steward your money well, you’ll have enough to live, give, play, and plan. Lots to say on this, but I’ll quote a well-known equation, 100% of your money should at least be divided like this, 10% give, 10% save, 80% live. If you can start there and increase the 10% part incrementally, you’ll be happier, more satisfied, less fearful, and very content.

Lastly, tell me a good minister joke.

They did a survey with Young Adults. They were asked to share what three topics they were most interested in hearing about at church. The top three answers were: SEX, END TIMES, and WILL THERE BE SEX IN THE END TIMES.

Jesus had to have been Italian. His dad was a carpenter, he lived at home until he was 30, and his mother thought he was God.

Photo Credits: Dan Kiefer Vidar Nordli-Mathisen  Gareth Harper Gian Reichmuth Anthony DELANOIX Carolyn V Spencer Davis

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 Irene Baron will talk about Christmas from a woman’s perspective. She is the author of Mindreacher, Unraveling the Christmas Star Mystery, and  Mary knew ~ A Biography of Mary from Ancient Scriptures .

Christmas has always fascinated me. There are the stories of Joseph, the three wise men, and Bethlehem. As a blogger, I wanted to see Christmas from a woman’s perspective and someone who has written about Mary.

A former teacher and current pilot, Irene Baron also worked with the Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA), Supreme Command Headquarters, and Research & Development Center in Thailand for four years on Top Secret work while employed by Battelle Memorial Institute as an Information Specialist in Geology & Hydrology, and as an Aerial Photographer.  In that capacity, she directed aerial photography from Air America/CIA Sikorski Helio-19 helicopters and two-winged aerial imaging aircraft. Irene authored the geology and hydrology sections of the now unclassified Mekong River Project book. She also authored the Operational Procedures Manual, Laboratory Material Division (all levels) for that ARPA facility.

I interviewed Irene about the Christmas Star and this time I asked her just one question to explain to me Christmas from a woman’s perspective.

Irene, please explain to me Christmas from a woman’s perspective.

To a Christian woman, Christmas is one of the most significant days of the year. This day celebrates the birth of Christ who was born to the Virgin Mary, the most important woman to ever be born on Earth. 

Mary’s birth was preordained by God. Prior to her conception, she was consecrated by God to be the mother of His Son, the Savior of mankind. Messenger angels instructed Mary’s elderly parents to name their daughter Mary and have their grandson named Jesus Immanuel. They were also told how to take care of their blessed daughter.

Apostle James, Joseph’s youngest son by his first wife, accompanied Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem along with two of his brothers. Unlike his brothers, James was present at the holy birth. Later in life, after Christ’s death, James became the first Bishop of Christian churches in Jerusalem. 

The woman who created Christmas through the birth of her Son, Jesus Immanuel, lived with her parents her first three years of life before going to live in the Jerusalem Temple for over a decade. When told of their future daughter, Angels directed her parents on what to feed her, how to take care of her, and that she was to be kept separate from people in Nazareth so she would never hear arguments, cursing, or vulgarities that might occur on the streets of their home in Nazareth. The few female children with whom she was allowed to play those first three years in her sanctuary had to be vetted to ensure they and their families were pure in their life and activities. 

The only time outsiders saw Mary during her first three years was during the child’s first birthday celebration. All citizens of Galilee were invited to attend. The only persons allowed to see Mary at that event, however, were the Rabbis and Priests during a private meeting. Mary was to never experience anything that could, in the future, be held against her.  The most famous woman to ever live on Earth was also the purest from her birth until she married Joseph after the birth of Christ. She became the only woman associated with the Christmas holiday.

During more than ten years that Mary lived in the Jerusalem Temple, angels daily communed with her and fed her food from heaven. These heavenly hosts ensured that health-wise, Mary’s body was nurtured perfectly to carry the Christ child. 

Christmas represents to many women a time when life could be difficult during pregnancy. Any pregnancy is filled with nine months of hope and love for the growing fetus. In Mary’s time, to be pregnant and not married was difficult for Joseph also. Upon finding Mary pregnant, the High Priest required Joseph to take and pass a life-threatening religious test by the High Priest to prove he had no sexual relations with his betrothed before their marriage and the birth of the Christmas child. His test was one of two ways it was proven Mary was a virgin.

Except for Mary, until chromosome tests originated a few thousand years later, women were not aware of the sex of their child before birth. Since all of Galilee, including every Rabbi and Priest who knew about Mary’s future by her first birthday, also knew she would bear a Son who was destined to be the Savior of mankind. As the mother of Jesus, Mary became the definitive Christmas mother figure. 

When American archaeologist, Ron Wyatt, found the Ark of the Covenant in Jeremiah’s grotto beneath the crucifixion site in 1982 after several years of excavation, he discovered a few dark drops on the surface of the Ark. He reported the blood of Christ must have dripped down after the earthquake at Christ’s death. The earth under the cross had cracked allowing a few drops of blood to drop onto the Mercy Seat below the Cross.  Angels told Wyatt to take a sample of the dark material from the Mercy Seat to the university to have it examined. 

When Wyatt returned days later to learn the examination results, those in the pathology lab hushed at his entrance.  One incredulous technician asked where he obtained the sample. When he told them about finding dark material on the Mercy Seat of the newly discovered Ark of the Covenant, they understood what they had found concerning the dark material. 

Totally in awe, they reported the dark material was not only blood, but the most unique blood ever witnessed in written history. The laboratory personnel stated the blood cells each contained the correct number of chromosomes from the mother but only one chromosome from the father. God supplied only one holy chromosome to create His Son, Jesus Immanuel, the Christ.  Mary was very important in that her body held the pure female chromosomes needed during Christ’s creation. She protected that creation in her womb through gestation.

At the laboratory, when Ron Wyatt asked for the sample of Christ’s blood to be further tested, everyone was overwhelmed that the cells began mitosis, the natural dividing that takes place in living cells. The blood, over 2,000 years later, was still alive. It is true that Jesus lives.

Although God was with Jesus for most of His life, God’s presence was withdrawn for a short time when Jesus was being crucified. Jesus then felt all the sins of mankind that had occurred up to that point in time and all the sins of the future. We can never begin to imagine the pain He felt as He became the Savior of mankind. 

Before Christ was born in human form on Earth, people could only communicate with God if they had a sacrifice at the altar. Christ became the sacrifice for all future contact with God. Prayers to God from that time forth had to be said through the name of Jesus Christ to reach our Heavenly Father. Therefore, prayers to God now begin or end with, “… I/we pray to thee in the name of Jesus Immanuel.”

The beginning of Christmas story began with the angels announcing Mary’s birth and the future birth of Christ. It is that birth of Christ which is celebrated at Christmas, the birth of a God carried through gestation by the pure human female, Mary, and born to her in Bethlehem.

Christian women know we are to love God and pray to Him through Jesus Christ. This is one of the reasons Christmas is so special. Love abounds everywhere and is shown to others as at no other time of year. We were told to love and Christmas is the perfect time to show His love to the world. 

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”   Mark 12:30-31 

 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12 

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2 Corinthians:6-7 

When I discovered Apostle James’ written and signed testimony about Mary, I was enthralled learning the facts about the mother of a God being born on Earth. Bible Scholars state James’ testimony was not put into the Bible because it was either too sacred or because it was ‘about a woman.’ 

As I read the facts about Christ’s birth, I could only think about how other women would be captivated to learn what miracles happened at the birth of Christ.

Many people are not “readers” and find scripture hard to read. That’s why I put his scripture in an easy-to-read ‘historical narrative’ format in the book, MARY KNEW – A Biography of Mary from Ancient Scriptures. 

The story is so phenomenal; men and women alike can’t put the book down. They report they go to read a few paragraphs to see what it is like and can’t stop. They read through meals all day and night until finished, even if it takes more than one day. They are enthralled with the story. They learn the background and facts about the birth of a God. 

Females can’t help but be proud that Jesus Immanuel, the Son of God, was born to an Earth-bound mother. God had him born to a human so the child would have the human experience. But it was not exactly a human birth. Learning the details, I think women who have given birth nod and say, “So, that’s what happened.” We women have always wondered how a child can be born and the mother remains a virgin. Being an eyewitness to the event, James cleared that up. I often wondered if men were as curious as women about that birth. 

Almost every mother I know wants all their acquaintances to know they gave birth.  I think deep down, we are awed that the birth of Christ was announced to everyone on Earth with a celestial GPS-type marker showing the birth location. There were earlier announcements showing who was being born at that location and on that date and how important that child would be to the universe. 

When I searched the skies for the Christ child’s birthplace using NASA astronomy programs, I examined the skies directly over Bethlehem at six o’clock in the morning because the ancient astronomers observed the celestial heavens in the predawn hours, not at night like present-day astronomers.  That is why current astronomers never found the Christmas star previously. They were searching for an evening star position, not dawn like the ancient astronomers.  Using the correct time, latitude (declination), and longitude (right ascension), I located not only the GPS star marker for Bethlehem but previous other star positions which told WHO was being born to Mary, the most important woman, and mother to ever be born on the earth.  

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December is known as the birthday of Jesus Christ. We know it as Christmas.

However, there is more to Christmas than gifts under the tree, shopping, lights on the tree and outside the home, spending time with friends and family, snow outside, stockings all over the home, singing carols, turkey dinners, and wishing people ‘Merry Christmas’.

It can also be a stressful time for many people who do not have family or friends or funds to buy gifts. Christmas is a time to be joyful, heal, and renew our strength.  The star shone brightly over Bethlehem.

I talk to Lauren, who runs a blog called Mindful of Christ, to find out about the Christian faith and Christmas.

Lauren is the mum of two beautiful children. She recently completed a BA Hons in Health and social care and also has a diploma in CBT. Lauren became a born-again Christian in 2004. She is transparent about her ups and downs with mental health, depression, anxiety, and self-harm. But God helped her with these and she has learned to refocus from the negative and towards Christ. She practices being mindful of Him, thus the name of her blog ‘Mindful of Christ’. She is the author of ‘Christian-based Cognitive Behavioural therapy.’ She is also a Coach; helping people recognize & overcome limiting beliefs & negative mindsets and helps them grow in their relationships with Christ & themselves and find their God-given purpose & begin on this journey.

Lauren, I want to know something unique about you?

I went paragliding for my 18th birthday, it was amazing!

Walk me through what attracted you to English literature? What does writing do for you?

I’ve always enjoyed writing. As a child, I loved to write stories and poetry. Then three years ago, God asked me to begin this writing journey, with blogging.

Writing is extremely therapeutic, I love expressing myself and being guided by God in what I’m writing, in order to encourage, inspire and uplift others.

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Volunteering is an act of an individual or group freely giving time and labor for community service. It is an act of giving yourself for the greater needs of the community.

I talk to Taras Kulish a lawyer in the charity sector about volunteering.

Taras brings over 20 years of experience to the Business Law Group at Mills & Mills LLP. Before joining the firm in 2020, Taras was for many years the chair of the Charity/Not-for-Profit and Intellectual Property groups at a well-known mid-sized firm in Toronto.

In the Charity sector, Taras has extensive hands-on experience as a director, president, Country Director, and now International Relations Volunteer for the Canadian affiliate of an international NGO, which gives him insider knowledge about the challenges facing not-for-profit organizations in today’s complex world. Taras represents numerous churches, mosques, synagogues, and other faith-based groups as well as many other foundations and service organizations in the not-for-profit sector in Ontario.

Taras is co-chair of the organizing committee and spearheads the annual Churches, Charities, Not-for-profit Knowledge Hub for Ukrainian Canadian Social Services – Toronto, Ukrainian Canadian Bar Association, and the Ukrainian Canadian Professional Business Association

Taras, please tell my audience a little about you and your volunteer work?

Let me start Jerry by thanking you for the opportunity‎ to share with your audience how I practice my faith and make a difference. This year has been a milestone year. My wife, Sandra, and I have just celebrated our 20th anniversary; and since October, I now live in a household with two teenage girls. It’s a good thing we have a boy hamster named Jack Henry! As well, this is my 25th year practicing law and since Day 1, I have been involved in the charity sector helping organizations serve their community.

As a lawyer you do a lot of work for non-profits and charities tell us little about that as a volunteer?

I was lucky to start off as a first-year lawyer with a small Christian law firm in the GTA. I started working on foundations for evangelical Christian charities – the very first one was a children’s foundation. Over the years, as I grew in my career, I kept working with community-based charities and not-for-profit sports organizations. I really started to focus on this area as my involvement as a volunteer grew with HOPE worldwide Canada, first as a director in 2000, then as the President, and later Country Director. This experience gave me a great deal of hands-on, real-world experience to understand the challenges faced by a charity. Because of my legal training, I gravitated to all the legal work in the organization especially the international agreements required when an organization runs programs overseas or assists in disaster recovery. Now, I run an annual conference that attracts over 100 attendees and growing called Knowledge Hub for churches, charities, and not for profits. ‎My father always used to say, “The community is the most important thing.” I have been privileged to work with many organizations that do good work in their communities.

What drives you to help people in Ukraine as a volunteer?

Through HOPE worldwide Canada, I started out as a volunteer in international disaster recovery in Haiti after the earthquake in 2010; in the Philippines after Hurricane Haiyan; and in Ivory Coast after the Civil War. When the war in Eastern Ukraine first exploded on the international scene in 2014, I started to think about how we could help. My mentor at HOPE worldwide, Dr. Mark Ottenweller, would tell me frequently that after a disaster, whether man-made or natural, it is always the children who are left behind, not cared for, and who need the most help. Mark impressed upon me that the niche of HOPE worldwide was in helping children with their psycho-social needs post-disaster. So, when the conflict in Ukraine had not stopped by March 2015, I woke up one day with the following thought in my mind: “It is time”. Time to put to good use my skills as a lawyer, my experience as the International Relations Officer,  and my Ukrainian heritage and volunteer. So, I got in touch with my colleague at HOPE worldwide Ukraine, Vladimir Yermakov, and we brainstormed for a month, got input from some excellent people in our organization in Canada, the Philippines, and the USA, and created a Trauma Therapy program to help children in Ukraine who were suffering from war trauma. What drives me to help is knowing that when we help children, we help their future and ours.  ‎In June 2017, I visited Ukraine for HOPE worldwide Canada and went to a children’s recovery/therapy camp outside of Kyiv, the capital. We drove from Kyiv to Lviv to meet with the director of the Trauma Centre at the Ukrainian Catholic University since they trained our lead therapists and oversee the therapy program content. On our drive, we stopped at Dubno for a few hours and got to see the town where my father grew up and lived before, he was taken by the Nazis by train to Germany with all the able-bodied people from the town to work as slave labor during the War. That’s another reason why I am compelled to help the children of Ukraine as a volunteer – the people of my father’s generation did not have the chance to receive the kind of help we are able to provide.

Walk me down your own journey to faith and how has that changed you?

Well, I come from a mixed-faith background. My father is a Ukrainian Orthodox Christian and my mother is Jewish. She converted to my father’s religion when they were married so when I was young, I attended the Ukrainian church. The problem is that my parents got divorced when I was 5 years old, so I never really learned Ukrainian. Going to a Ukrainian language church was not cutting it for me. Also, because I came from a multi-generational divorce-affected family, I somehow knew that I needed God in my life if I was to have any chance of staying married. My mother also had a strong influence on me as her Christian faith grew over her life and she impressed on me the importance of being “equally yoked”, meaning it is important to be married to a Christian spouse. So, in my early thirties, at a time when I was looking to deepen and strengthen my relationship with God, I met Stuart Carmichael. He arranged for me to have a series of bible studies that led me to come to certain convictions about ‎God that changed my life around 180 degrees. Shortly after I placed membership with the Montreal Church of Christ, I was introduced to Sandra, and the rest is history! 

Has becoming a husband and father changed you as a person?

Sure! First, getting married was a dream come true – like heaven on earth! But of course, not without challenges over the years that we overcome through our faith and support from friends at church. I am lucky to have Sandra as my best friend and partner – she is such an accomplished person and she really keeps me and my girls on our toes! Becoming a father has also been a remarkable experience and journey. I guess these two events have changed me most as a person because you always have to think about other people, not just yourself, in particular, my wife and her thoughts and needs.  I still don’t have the winning formula for this! So, I’m fortunate that my girls and my wife are forgiving and put up with me!   

Give me some tips on how you handle your household finances?

I listen to my wife! Sandra is a very good manager of our resources and we live within our means. Sandra always looks for ways to optimize what we have. In the first few years of our marriage, we aggressively paid down debt (all mine from University and a private loan). Then we got rid of our mortgage in record time. This helped us get through some leaner years later on. My mother was also very frugal, having grown up in post-war England during food rationing. As a single mother in Canada, she used these skills and her entrepreneurial business acumen to keep our family clothed and fed. Growing up with this approach, it became easier to transition to marriage and family life and live within our means. Don’t get me wrong, it can still be a challenge to not give in to consumerism – my weakness would not be electronics or sports toys, but a nice new shirt and tie or some shoes! 

As a lawyer how do you balance faith finance family, volunteer work and good food?

Hmmm – I’m not sure whether being a lawyer makes it easier or harder to balance these different baskets! The charity work I do as a volunteer and as a legal professional probably helps me to be grounded and connected. It’s easier to connect emotionally with people about this side of my life and practice as opposed to another of my areas of specialty like trademark law. As a family, we try to find balance by living within our means so that financial pressures do not overwhelm faith, food, and family. My Granny always used to say, “Debt collectors can wait; but you must never scrimp on food to eat.” I also try to be connected with several guys in the church and have to work that into my obligations as a lawyer. Sometimes I invite friends from church to networking events to have a “wingman”. I am also mentoring a fellow from a church who wants to enter the legal profession. In addition, by working together on some volunteer projects for HOPE worldwide in Canada, I also get connected with people from church and others in the community. Volunteering is an area where the boundary between being a lawyer and Joe Christian is harder to discern. However, when I am doing something like flipping burgers at a community BBQ or giving backpacks to the kids at a Youth Academy program, Mr. Lawyer is not even in the room‎ – and I like that!

I really believe in the adage that “To whom much is given, much is expected”. So that is one reason why I have given countless volunteer hours over the years to local programs and international disaster recovery. As a lawyer, I am the black sheep of my family! My mother and sister are artists and my father was a musician. So, I have some artistic tendencies and that gets expressed mostly when I cook. I am also learning to play guitar and just started a year ago – it’s a good way to relax! The hours I work are longer, so it takes faith to be able to cut off the day and not worry about the work still left to be done -it will be there in the morning, but my family needs me in the evening.

Tell me a little about Ukrainian food and some of the dishes I should try?

Ukrainian food is simple, hearty, East European food, meant to fill you up so you can go out and do a hard day’s work. There are lots of stews, cabbage, and potatoes. Everyone knows about perogies and sausage. Try Chicken Kyiv one day! Or come over to my house and I’ll make you a traditional cabbage stew with sausages! If you want, we can break out my traditional Ukrainian cookbook and cook an entire Ukrainian-themed dinner, including beet soup (borshch) and beet salad. When I was in Ukraine, I tried “salo”, which is 100% cured pig fat, an inch thick – eat it like that with a pickle, onion, and a whole clove of raw garlic! It’s not for everyone, but I liked it and my friend Vladimir said, “now you are really Ukrainian!”

You have so much on your plate, why decide to go into politics?

Politics is something I was drawn to, probably for the same reason, I became a lawyer. I ran for Toronto City Council in 2014 and 2018. Sure, I have a lot on my plate, but I felt I could contribute to the community and bring good community programs, the same type that we learned to create in HOPE worldwide Canada, as the Youth Academy. At the same time, I saw a lot of waste and duplication in government and believed I could make a difference – after all, I was raised by a single mother who had survived the War!

Tell me a good lawyer joke.

People who know me – well they know that I can take a short joke and turn it into a 45-minute story! So, if you want to hear my best lawyer joke, you’ll have to come to my house to make that cabbage stew!

What’s the difference between God and a lawyer? God doesn’t think He’s a lawyer.

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What would Christmas be without traditions and gifts?

It has taken nearly a decade for the Christmas tree in front of the house to grow up. I look forward to putting ornaments and lights on it. I look forward to spending time with family and friends and playing catch-up. It is also a time to reflect on our own life.

Four Columns believes in getting views of women from across the world.

Nora Breyer from Austria the creator of Vividly Christmas talks about Christmas traditions and gifts.

Nora tell me a little about you and what is Vividly Christmas all about? 

My name is Nora, born in the 80s; I am married and have a wonderful daughter. I work part-time at the hospital as a radiology technologist at the nuclear medicine department. I have been blogging on the side for three years. I started with my Christmas food and crafts blog Vividly Christmas, in February 2021, so it is still a very young blog. It was created out of my enthusiasm for Christmas and the decorating, baking, and cooking that goes with it. And it gives me an insane joy to write it. 

For me, Christmas has always been the most beautiful time of the year. The baking, crafting, cooking, and decorating, always brings back wonderful memories of my childhood. During the annual cookie baking with my grandmother, I learned a lot and inherited many recipes.

Christmas itself, the time that is the most hectic of the year for many people, fills me with peace and contentment. I can switch off so wonderfully when baking and cooking, and thanks to the blog, I can now do that all year round. (Even if it is only part-time.) 

Talk to me about what Christmas is all about and why it is important to have traditions? 

It’s winter; as nature rests, I try to de-stress this time at the end of the year. For me, Christmas is a time of reflection and joy. To be a lot outdoors in the cold, breathe in the wonderful cold air, and then rest in the warm room with coffee, tea, or mulled wine, beautiful Christmas music, and wonderful homemade delicacies. 

But, to have this serenity, in this time and to be able to preserve, it needs, in my eyes, a good preparation. For example, appointments that still have to be done this year will be completed by the end of November at the latest. As far as possible, to carry out the Christmas preparations until the end of November, to keep December as a contemplative time free. To then have time to do the things that make you happy. 

Christmas, the festival itself, which is celebrated in Austria on 24.12., is for me a celebration with the closest family. The holidays afterward are then in a larger family circle.

Traditions create lovely memories, and the anticipation of them is almost as incredible as the tradition itself. I also think it’s a beautiful thing to be able to pass these traditions on to future generations. 

For example, I inherited the annual cookie baking tradition from my grandmother. 

Since my daughter was born, my husband and I started the annual Christmas photoshoot as a tradition. 

A tradition I have taken over from my mother is that we create a different Christmas menu every year, and months before, we think about what delicious food we will cook this year. 

Let’s see what traditions my daughter might adopt and which she develops herself? I am already very excited!

Let us talk about gifts. Walk me through some of the gifts for mom, dad, brother, sister, and our spouses? 

Tastes are so different, and what gives pleasure to one may not be liked by the other! It is also best to listen to your heart and be attentive to your loved ones here. 

If it should be difficult with the gifting and not stand there entirely without a plan, my husband and I have a shared Google spreadsheet that we use for our wishes. We enter what we like throughout the year, and we can always fall back on this list if all else fails. In this sheet, we also have a tab for our daughter and the grandparents. When they tell us about stuff they adore, we add them to the list and then have it a little easier for gift planning. 

Should we call our family and say let us give gifts only for the kids and for a certain amount? 

We have here among the adults the agreement, one gift per person. For example, my husband gets one gift from me, one from his mother, and one from his mother-in-law. So in total three. And so it counts for all of us.

Why are cards such an important part of Christmas? 

The thing I love about Christmas cards is that they are so long-lasting. They are a wonderful reminder of past celebrations. For example, I have a box where I keep all my Christmas cards. From time to time, I pick up this box and look through the cards, which brings back such beautiful memories of the celebrations and events that it is an absolute joy! 

Help me understand what are some of the things we can write to encourage people? 

Of course, it depends on the person to whom the encouragement should go and what you should encourage him or her for. But in principle, it is about emphasizing the wonderful things that make up this person, his/her strengths and wonderful qualities. To show the person what a wonderful, unique person he/she is so that he/she emerges built up and strengthened by these words. 

Are there big no-nos of gifts? 

As long as the gift comes from the heart and you think about what makes the other person happy, then you have done a great job. 

What are some of the ways we can de-stress during the holidays? 

As I mentioned before, I think you should start de-stressing as early as the beginning of December. You will get much more out of the wonderful winter and Advent season and be perfectly prepared for the Christmas holidays to enjoy them to the fullest. 

Talk to me about what woman empowerment means to you? 

In principle, just like men, women have the same right to decide about themselves – to have the same rights and duties as men. To be treated equally, be it in terms of opportunities, payment, education, etc. For example, men should also have the same possibilities as women to be at home with their children because that is not yet the case. 

As long as there is a big difference in salary between men and women in the same job, women (if they want to) will not have the opportunity to pursue their career and men (if they want to) will not have the opportunity to be at home with their children. 

This is one example, and of those, there are many others where there is no equality. And as long as such things are not clarified, one still cannot speak of equality. We women have come a long way to have an equal right as men. Nevertheless, the goal has not yet been reached. So we have to keep on fighting for equal rights. 

The post Christmas Traditions & Gifts appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

We need Christmas gift ideas. Christmas gift ideas change with time. It is important to be practical and sensitive at the same time.

It is hard to believe, but Christmas is here. I am seeing neighbors put on Christmas lights. The Christmas ornaments are being put on trees, friends are posting on social media who their secret Santa will be, the stocking stuffers, Christmas gift ideas, and personalized Christmas ornaments.

What are Advent and Christmas? What is the Christmas Star? Is it always about only Christmas presents and Christmas gift ideas, or also about His Presence?

Melissa from Heavenly Imperfections talks about Christmas gift ideas, Christmas cards, traditions, stocking stuffer ideas, women’s empowerment, and family.

Hi Melissa, I want to know a little about you and what is heavenly imperfections all about?

Hey Jerry, thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself to your audience!  I am Melissa, I live in the North East with my family- My husband of six years and our 2 little loves, with a 3rd on the way.  As a full-time stay-at-home mama, we have epic bubble dance parties, homeschool, and look for joy in all of life’s moments.

I find myself trying to build our home on Christian values while walking through life and everything that comes our way.  Motherhood really impacted my life and my faith, and through that journey, I created Heavenly Imperfections.  Born out of the idea that we are all at different points in our walks with Jesus, and on our motherhood journeys.  I wanted to create a space where we could all check-in at any point.  If you are searching for ways to grow your child’s faith, distract them with crafts for a few minutes, or see some newborn sleep solutions…all things, in a community of like-minded women.

Talk to me about what Christmas is all about and why it is important to have traditions?

In our home, we keep Christmas Christ-centered and we try to teach our kids about the spirit of giving.  We take time to talk about the story of Christmas, build nativity scenes and really find ways to put our faith into action around the holiday season.  Cultivating family time is also really important to us, so we do a lot of holiday crafts (advent rings, gingerbread houses,  making Christmas cards, popcorn strings, etc.) and we spend time together away from distractions (tree shopping, decorating, hanging stockings, volunteering, etc.).

Traditions are super important!  Those are the moments and the memories that our children will carry with them through their lives and into their own families.  Growing up in my home, we didn’t have any traditions, nothing that was done consistently, and I knew when I had a family, I wanted to create those memories.  So in our home, we have carried over some of my husband’s traditions, and we have created some of our very own.

When it comes to creating traditions, it is important to think about what you want to convey, how you want to convey it, and why.  Then brainstorm some in-action ideas from there, and see what sticks.  Not every tradition is right for every family.  Find what you enjoy and stick with it.  

Let us talk about Christmas gift ideas. Walk me through some of the gifts for mom, dad, brother, and sister and for our spouses?

Christmas gifts are actually another great way to start a tradition!  We have a large group of families and friends that we give gifts to, and making handmade gifts has been a great tradition.  The kids are involved and everyone seems to appreciate the thoughtfulness.  This year we are going to make personalized family establishment ornaments.

When it comes to gift-giving, I believe it is important to be thoughtful.  Thinking about what the person would like, or what they may need, decoding their love language, and then adding a bit of yourself into the mix.  The last two years have really opened up the possibilities of what we think about gifting.  With more people being at home, we can do more necessities or home comforts, and with things reopening, we can think about giving experiences. 

Should we call our family and say let’s give gifts only for the kids and for a certain dollar amount?

Christmas isn’t about over-stretching ourselves or our family’s finances.  It is important to set healthy boundaries and limits while respecting our own comfort zones. 

As I mentioned before, we have a large group that we give gifts to during the holiday, and as a family, we came together a few years ago and decided that we would just give gifts to the kids.  For siblings that are single or married without kids, we of course give differently, but as a group, we decided this was best.

These conversations aren’t always the easiest to have, but they are important.  A tip I have found helpful is to create a Christmas list for gifts for my kids and send it as ideas to my family members.  This helps them see the price points I am hoping to stay within and gives them ideas for gifts that My husband and I have already approved.  Many of them return the favor. 

Why are cards such an important part of Christmas? What are some of the things we can write to encourage people?

As a family, when we receive Christmas cards, we place them near our tree and we keep them up into the New Year.  Talking about the people who sent them, and who they are to us.  In our online world, we all post-holiday greetings, but that isn’t personalized and it doesn’t make viewers feel special.  Is it easier?  Sometimes, absolutely!  But a card allows you to connect and gives people something to hold onto, it is tangible.  It means someone took a moment to really think about you.

The greatest part about Christmas cards is that you get to decide what you write!  Even on the mass electronic photo cards, you pick your greeting.  You can have your kids help you fill them out, use the opportunity to add Christ into someone’s season or reach someone who needs encouragement.

Writing from the heart is most important, but we can also take a moment to wrap someone in prayer or spread an encouraging scripture.  Sometimes reminding someone that they are in our hearts this season, that goes a long way. Using a card to tell them that you are thinking of them and that you are wishing them well, and then they have it to hold when they may need it most.

What is the big no no’s of Christmas gifts?

Personally, I don’t really have any no-no’s, just basic guidelines.  It is important to always consider appropriateness.  Sometimes humor doesn’t mesh, love languages are opposite, or things are too extravagant for that relationship.  My rule of thumb is, if I have to question it or explain it, then it isn’t the gift I should be giving.  

What are some of the ways we can de-stress during the holidays?

Personally, I always remind myself to take a break before I break.  If it is a quick 5-minute self-care routine, sitting in quiet, reading my bible, or sipping hot cider.  Small moments can make a big difference, especially in a season full of commitments and busy moments.

When a quick 5-minute break just won’t do it, here are a few helpful de-stressors I have found over the years:

-If you are having a large gathering, take people up on their offers to bring items and lend a hand.  

-Let go of expectations and set healthy boundaries.  

-Pick things that are most important to your family and focus your time and energy on those.

-Make sure you are getting enough sleep and taking care of your needs.  An old but true saying is, “you can not pour from an empty cup”.

Talk to me about what woman empowerment means to you?

To me, women’s empowerment can mean a lot of things, but where all of this starts is really promoting every woman’s self-worth.  Recognizing that we are all in this sisterhood together.  When we stop telling each other what is better and instead lock arms against the waves, that is where things really start to change.

As a society, we have devalued the worth of a woman.  

If she goes to work and leaves her kids in care, how dare she.  If she quits her job to “just stay home all day” with the kids, how dare she?! A woman who climbs the ladder at work- she must be dating someone.  But a woman who stays in her position for 2 years, she has no drive…..As a mom struggles and screams at her kids to leave the park, we think of “bad parenting” instead of, “wow, she is having a hard day.”

As women, we even exchange these thoughts amongst ourselves.  We perpetuate the cycles of devaluing ourselves, and when we can get past that, lifting each other up instead, that is when things truly change.

To me, female empowerment is about embracing our sisterhood and building each other up.  Congratulating each other, and meaning it.  Learning from each other without judgment.  

That is when we help build each other up in the workplace, in corporate America.  When we help each other get access to the education and health care that we need.  This is how we build our self-worth and learn to trust ourselves and ask for opportunities to make the choices that are best for us.

I come to your place as a stranger and ask for a meal during the holidays. What will you make for me and why? I eat anything.

This is a really great question!  

During the holidays, we always have a smorgasbord of things throughout the day.  Lots of finger foods and then the main meal.  We haven’t fallen into a meal of tradition, so it would be anything!  But one thing I can guarantee is that we would have plenty of food for you and cake.  There is cake every Christmas.   

My husband is from Angola, and one of the traditions he carries with him is that we have Cake every Christmas.  We actually call it a birthday cake for Jesus in our house.  So I hope you like red velvet with buttercream frosting, that is our cake of choice.  But I also hope you would come with an empty belly and room for a to-go container, because food really is love in our home, and there would be plenty to share.

The post Christmas Gift Ideas appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

One of my earliest memories of Christmas is the Star of Bethlehem, also called the Christmas Star, on top of the Christmas tree.

However, behind all the movies and the galore, did the event really happen?  Was it a figment of imagination? Was it a bright star, supernova, planetary conjunction, comet, sparkling star, or the heliacal rising of pious fiction?

Irene Baron is the author of Unraveling the Christmas Star Mystery. It is an award-winning illustrated book proving the birth events written in the Bible are factual. Written for understanding by readers ages 12 and older, it is an excellent source of information for Bible scholars, teachers, and the population in general. This book of ancient astronomy was awarded a Gold Medal as the best Christian Education Book for 2013. The International Association of Top Professionals named Irene Baron Top International Female Writer for 2020.

Over 15-years of ancient skies were surveyed using 68 NASA astronomy computer programs. Correlating events with symbols, symbolism, and interpretations used by the ancient sky watcher of 2,000 years ago, ten significant celestial announcements just before Christ’s birth were discovered and verified with additional computer programs. The Christmas star was the geographical position marker for the birthplace of God, Jesus Christ.

A former teacher and current pilot, Irene Baron also worked with the Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA), Supreme Command Headquarters, Research & Development Center in Thailand for four years on Top Secret work while employed by Battelle Memorial Institute as an Information Specialist in Geology & Hydrology, and as an Aerial Photographer.  In that capacity, she directed aerial photography from Air America/CIA Sikorski Helio-19 helicopters and two-winged aerial imaging aircraft. Irene authored the geology and hydrology sections of the now unclassified Mekong River Project book. She also authored the Operational Procedures Manual, Laboratory Material Division (all levels) for that ARPA facility.

I ask Irene to explain to me the process.

Irene, your book is fascinating about 68 NASA astronomy computers looking at 15 years of ancient skies and found the Christmas Star was at the exact place. Help me understand this process as it is mind-blowing?

Albert Einstein stated, “To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks a real advance in science.” This book was written using his philosophy.

Thank you, Jerry, for realizing that the process that was involved in discovering the Christmas star IS mind-blowing, especially to those who have no conception of astronomy.

My undergraduate background included classes in every science with a General Science major and Chemistry minor. Astronomy 101 is a class I took my senior year with Professor Emeritus, Dr. Clarke. He was considered the 13^th top mathematician in the world at that time. To be enrolled in his class was an honor.  Not many people think of studying astronomy at the college level for a few colleges or universities to offer the field of study.

I taught astronomy for many years. When NASA originated, I was busy collecting their lithographs, data newsletters, photographs, slides, and information about every level of their research, especially enjoying the thick SpinOff journals which informed the business world how the NASA discoveries could be used in commerce. I had a 4-drawer file cabinet filled with information about NASA and astronomy which I utilized in teaching and later in writing the Christmas Star book. The display walls of my classrooms were changed daily or weekly with materials based on the subject of astronomy being taught.

When I received a small packet in the mail from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratories which contained over 30 of their astronomy programs, I was surprised. The next day I received another packet of 38 more programs.  They were fascinating and I used them in my classrooms. My students would come in during study hall to quietly use them during my other classes. At lunchtime, I would be on my classroom computer to investigate the mathematical astronomy programs.  It was during one of those days I questioned if the programs could locate the Christmas star.

It is true that astronomy is primarily mathematics.  The movements of moons and planets follow mathematical patterns which are the same, year after year.  Sumerian, Akkadian, and Babylonian astronomers, over 5,000 years ago, learned they could accurately predict where our Sun, Moon, stars, and planets would be located at any time of the year for years in advance. Our computers can do this now for thousands of years forward and backward in time.

These astronomers were also called mathematicians, Wisemen, magicians, magi, and alchemists. It is important to know they studied the dark skies in the predawn hours. In their studies, they assigned symbols and symbolism to everything that happened in the sky. Those were the symbols and symbolism which astronomers used for thousands of years.

I brought the computer programs home and began to investigate.  The exact date of Christ’s birth was unknown. However, the calendar in use began dating time at the time of Christ’s birth. There has been much argument concerning the accuracy of that date. Since the date was off, I stretched my search years to include 15 years of total AD and BC. I was looking for significant events that took place at dawn. I set the search time for 6:00 am Bethlehem local time in every instance.

I set the location of the birth with the GPS position of Bethlehem using latitude and longitude.  Extend those lines into space and you have right ascension (latitude) and declination (longitude) which become measuring lines for astronomical positions.

It is interesting to note that the majority of present-day astronomers since they make their observations after sunset, assumed that was the time when ancient astronomers studied the skies. This is why they would never find the Christmas star. It was a dawn event. They were off by 12 hours.

I used a printer that had the connected sheets. I used the “Print It” program. When my computer found data it would print whatever was on the screen. The first time I set a search for that long ago, the computer did nothing. I worried that the program/s or my computer were not working correctly.  To alleviate suspicion, I set the computer to find the predawn dark sky within the time frame of 100 years. Within a few hours, I heard the printer start.

The programs were not set by year, but by hours. To go back in time with any of the NASA programs, I had to figure out how many hours were involved. That took a little time.

I quickly realized to understand what the ancient astronomers thought, I had to know their symbols and symbolism for everything that happened in the sky between the planets, Moon and Sun. More research using the public library. At that time, my local reference librarians could access books from libraries across the United States using interlibrary loan. They kindly found almost 100 books I read and used to glean the information I needed. I studied the bibliographies and references for each one to find books that might help me. It was a long and tedious study.

What I found was fantastic. Before the Christmas star appeared exactly over Bethlehem at 6:00 am one predawn morning, there were nine previous and significant signs in the sky referring to Christ’s birth.  The Christmas star was a minor event. It only told the exact location. The previous 9 announcements told who was being born, how important that God was, and all about His significance in the known universe.  Those previous events were not important to Herod or scribes of that time. All they were concerned with was the star telling the location of the birth.

If any writing is not in the Bible, pastors and ministers are not allowed to use the material, from what I understand.  Since the other events which occurred within a few months of Christ’s birth were not listed in the Bible, they could not be used in church services.  Don’t expect my data to be used by ordained pastors. They aren’t allowed to use it.

The information about Christ’s birth is mind-blowing! Astounding! It actually happened.

What is a blessing in that I was led to find it? So many events in my life led me to that time where everything came together.  My astronomy training, my love of research, my reading skills, my understanding, patience, gained wisdom, the availability of computers and printers, and the NASA programs. These were each little miracles that enabled the information to be found and understood by someone who was a Christian and understood astronomy. By someone who desired to learn what happened with a zeal of excitement. By someone who had the patience to spend every night for several years to set up computer searches for significant events relating to the birth of God, Jesus Christ.

The book, Unraveling the Christmas Star Mystery, includes basic astronomy to allow the reader to understand what happened. I have had readers 12 to 90 years old tell me how much they loved the book. They express surprise at being able to understand the astronomy presented in the book. The astronomy is written in a way that readers easily grasp the concepts. One middle school student in the state of Delaware let me know she overheard 2 teachers agreeing about the best book they ever read. She stopped to ask what book they were talking about. She said both teachers held up my book. I appreciated her telling me about that. It made me feel good to have provided information about Christ’s birth.

During one radio interview I had, the interviewer stated he always wondered why God only had one “dinky” star announcing the birth of Christ. He was relieved to know there were additional celestial announcements much more significant than the position marker star. Had Herod known that, he would have had the child found and killed immediately and not waited for the Wisemen to give him information later. It was a blessing of God that Herod and his priests were ignorant of the other announcements. Their ignorance was planned in the fullness of time.

Each of the ten events is illustrated in the book and explained. I state what happened, where the celestial bodies were, what the symbolism meant to the Wisemen, and how that affected their understanding of the greatest God to be born in the universe.

The post Unraveling the Christmas Star appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Today I’m sitting down with Victor, the driving force behind Bigfoot Bank, a band known for its remarkable versatility and crowd-pleasing performances. Whether it’s pop, classic rock, reggae, country, or timeless oldies, Victor and his group of seasoned musicians can play more than 300 songs on demand—making every show a unique experience.

Originally from Goa, India, Victor brings an international flair to the GTA music scene. His journey spans lively wedding receptions, intimate socials, and everything in between. Along the way, he’s released a warmly received Christmas album and is currently working on his first collection of original music.

In this conversation, we’ll explore Victor’s musical style, the band’s dynamic live shows, and the personal ingredients that keep his creativity flowing—faith, family, food, and even a treasured Goan recipe.

Victor, please explain your style of music to me.

The Versatility in music ranges from Pop, Classic rock, Reggae, Country, and Oldies. I can play any song regardless of the style.

Do you write, record your own music or do you strictly play other artists’ music?

I mostly perform other artists music but last year I did a Christmas album (received great feedback). Apart from doing live gigs,  I’m working on an original album.

I see your posts about performing at different venues. Talk to me about your band, music, and venues?

This is a band with a compilation of the best of talented musicians with several years of experience. We mostly perform for socials, weddings….Highlights of the band are that we engage the crowd and perform songs that people want/request. We have a big repertoire of songs (over 300 songs).

Did your background help you in music?

Absolutely – growing in Goa we performed pretty much the same kind of music that is performed here.

How important is music to us as humans?

It’s a major therapy – cannot imagine life without music.

Name me some of your favorite Indian and Goan restaurants in the GTA?

Not many Goan restaurants out here – Konkan Delite and Mango Mirchi. Indian restaurants – The Host and Saravana Bhavan.

How do you keep the romance alive in your marriage?

Every now and then we go out for outings, getaways, drives, and vacations.

Help me understand how food, faith, family and finance are important in your own life?

It is a full circle. Everything is interrelated. One compliments the other.?

Give me a good family recipe of food?

Tuna (Canned) Fish Croquettes:

For the Croquette Mixture:-

1 Medium-sized onion (chopped)

3-4 Garlic cloves (chopped)

1-2 Green chilies (chopped )

1 tsp Black pepper powder

2 cans Tuna (well-drained(Each tuna can weigh 142 grams) )

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1 tbsp Vinegar

Salt (as required)

2 small Potatoes (peeled and mashed)

2 tbsp Coriander (chopped)

Breadcrumbs ((See the recipe for use of breadcrumbs in the mixture) )

For Deep-Frying Croquettes:-

1 Egg (egg beaten, add 1 tbsp water, mix well)

Bread crumbs (as required )

Oil (as required)

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What is Advent?

Advent is derived from adventus which in Latin means ‘visit’ or ‘coming’ of something very important. Christians focus on the advent of Christ when He was born in Bethlehem and the second that is yet to come.

Advent Calendar

The start of Advent is exactly four Sundays before Christmas and it ends on Christmas Eve. Christmas starts on Christmas Eve and ends on January 6^th.

The themes of advent

Advent has purple, dark blue, and pink themes attached to it. The purple or dark blue represents royalty, nobility, repentance, and seriousness. Jesus was of royal lineage from the house of King David. Joy is a small motif in Advent and is represented by pink. Red, green, white, silver, and gold are linked with Christmas and the weeks leading up to it. White represents holiness, joy, and light and is the correct liturgical color for Christmas.

For Christians who follow Advent, the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent are purple and blue Sundays. The third week is pink Sunday. The jubilant color of pink is a reminder that Advent makes Christians eager for Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came to us the first time in the flesh.

Christmas is the celebration of the humble birth of Jesus Christ to the Virgin Mary in a barn in Bethlehem.  The angel appears to the astrologers and tells them to visit the newborn king. They bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh as gifts. Therefore, at Christmas in churches, you will see a barn, with Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus in a cradle, animals, and the three wise men. On top of the Christmas tree is a star. The angel that appeared to the wise men told them to follow the star and that will lead them to Jesus.

The time-honored customs of Christmas that include feasting, lights, mistletoe, giving gifts, and the Christmas tree have no biblical roots and are secular. Santa Claus comes from Saint Nicholas of Myra, in Greece who was known for his generosity towards the poor people.

The look of Santa Claus comes from Germanic folklore and Scandinavian religions that existed in Northern Europe. The Dutch pilgrims who came to the United States in the seventeenth century brought Sinter Klaas the Dutch legend and this became the American version of Santa Claus. Americans adopted this concept into Santa Claus, who comes from the North Pole on a sleigh and gives gifts to good boys and girls on Christmas Eve.

For Christians, Christmas embodies the spirit of giving. It is a time to celebrate with family, and friends and to give money and time to charities.

Advent Wreath

The artifact that represents Advent is a wreath. It is a circle of evergreens. There is one white candle in the middle, surrounded by four candles, three purple, and one pink. The wreath is in the shape of a circle that reminds Christians about the unconditional love of God and his endless mercy. Hope is represented by the greenery of the evergreens.

Advent Candles

The purple candles are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sunday. The pink is lit on the third Sunday. The white is lit on Christmas Day. Once the candle is lit, then certain scripture is read from the bible about the coming Messiah. The previous candles are also lit. So, on Christmas Day all five candles are lit.

Origin of Advent

The historical origin of Advent is from the fourth century. The Bishop of Turin in 415 AD and the Bishop of Arles in 502 AD mention preparation for the birthday of Jesus Christ. It became official when a synod was held in 581 AD at Macon in France. The synod proclaimed five Sundays but was reduced to four Sundays by Pope Gregory VII. Various synods came later regarding rules and regulations and the final one restricted the celebration of marriage during this time. In 1720 AD at the council of the Ruthenians, a fast was ordered for Advent.

Christmas

Christmas is Christians celebrating the all-powerful enigma of God coming to earth in human flesh.  God becomes a man and dies to save mankind from sin and death. Christmas is twelve days to focus on how Jesus Christ revealed Himself to mankind.

December 26^th, 27^th, and 28^th are called witness days. In Acts 7:54-60 St. Stephen is the first Christian Martyr. He was stoned by a crowd. December 26th is in honor of St. Stephen. December 27th honors St. John who was an Apostle and Evangelist and who wrote the Book of St. John in the Bible. John was the closest friend of Jesus and the disciple who was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the book of John. December 28th is in memory of the baby boys killed by King Herod in his endeavor to kill Baby Jesus.

The three do not have anything in common but help Christians understand Christmas better. St. Stephen died willingly to defend and preach the gospel.  Apostle John endured hardship, exile, and persecution because of the gospel. Innocent kids were killed by King Herod. These three days remind Christians that we live in a broken and sinful world. Christ was born to save mankind. He suffered, was crucified on the cross, and died for the sins of mankind. It is also a stark reminder of how powerful and dark Satan is.

The Eighth Day of Christmas is a tribute to the circumcision of Jesus Christ as per Jewish law. It is at the circumcision that he is given the name of Jesus formally. This is important for two reasons. In the Book of Genesis 17: 1-13, circumcision is a clear sign of God’s promise to Abraham and his progeny. When the flesh is cut and blood is spilled it is a prediction of Jesus Christ dying on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. The second is in Matthew 1:20-21 where the angel tells Mary that her son will ‘save people from their sin’.

The birth of Jesus is mentioned in two of the gospels and by the 4^th century was celebrated on December 25 in the Julian calendar and January 6^th as per the Gregorian calendar.

Photo Credits:  Waldemar Brandt Vidar Nordli-Mathisen Julian Hochgesang  Kelly Sikkema Debby Hudson Carolyn V Jon Tyson Mateus Campos Felipe  Sandra Grünewald  Gian Reichmuth Max Beck Dan Kiefer Nine Köpfer  Ben White Jude Beck  Aaron Burden

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