MarywasengagedtobemarriedtoJoseph，acarpenter，butbeforetheycametogether，shewasfoundtobewithchild.BecauseJoseph，herhusband，wasarighteousmananddidnotwanttoexposehertopublicdisgrace，hehadinmindtoporceherquietly.Butafterhehadconsideredthis，anangeloftheLordappearedtohiminadreamandsaid，“DonotbeafraidtotakeMaryhomeasyourwife，becausewhatisconceivedinherisfromtheHolySpirit.Shewillgivebirthtoason，andyouaretogivehimthenameJesus，becausehewillsavehispeoplefromtheirsins.”

AlthoughtheexactdateofthebirthofJesusnearly2，000yearsagoisnotknown，thecalendaronthesupposeddatepidesalltimeintoB.C.(BeforeChrist)andA.D.(aLatinphrase，AnnoDomini，“intheyearofourLord.”)Forthefirst300years，Jesus‘birthdaywascelebratedondifferentdates.Finally，intheyear354，churchleaderschoseDecember25ashisbirthday.

第二篇：

ChristmasisaChristianholidaythatcelebratesthebirthofJesusChrist.NooneknowstheexactdateofChristsbirth,butmostChristiansobserveChristmasonDecember25.Onthisday,manygotochurch,wheretheytakepartinspecialreligiousservices.DuringtheChristmasseason,theyalsoexchangegiftsanddecoratetheirhomeswithholly,mistletoe,andChristmastrees.ThewordChristmascomesfromCristesmaesse,anearlyEnglishphrasethatmeansMassofChrist.ThestoryofChristmascomeschieflyfromtheGospelsofSaintLukeandSaintMatthewintheNewTestament.