25 圣诞节 Christmas Day

I love Christmas. It’s one of the best times of the year. It’s such a great time for everyone – kids and adults alike. The thing I like most about it is everyone getting together and eating and giving presents. When I was a kid, Christmas was an amazing occasion. We’d spend weeks at school making decorations, singing Christmas carols and practicing to perform in the nativity play. As I got older, I enjoyed giving presents more than receiving them. Even though Xmas shopping is stressful, it can be fun trying to find the perfect present for my children. One thing that has stayed with me since I was a child is my love of Christmas dinner. It has to be my favourite meal ever. Christmas just isn’t Christmas without roast turkey.

I’m sure Christmas brings the same happy feelings wherever it is celebrated. I hope it continues to keep its message of love and peace. The Christmas spirit is very important. Nowadays it seems to get a bit lost. Everyone is so busy buying presents they forget the true meaning of Christmas. I spent quite a few Christmases in Japan, which was interesting. Everything looked as Christmassy as in England. The stores even had Frosty the Snowman playing. People bought presents and had a party, but then they went for a Kentucky Fried Chicken dinner. One thing I would like to experience is Christmas on the beach in Australia. I can’t imagine Christmas being so hot. But then I suppose it wasn’t that cold in Bethlehem when Jesus was born.

圣诞节（Christmas）又称耶诞节，译名为“基督弥撒”，西方传统节日，在每年12月25日。弥撒是教会的一种礼拜仪式。圣诞节是一个宗教节，因为把它当作耶稣的诞辰来庆祝，故名“耶诞节”。

大部分的天主教教堂都会先在24日的平安夜，亦即12月25日凌晨举行子夜弥撒，而一些基督教会则会举行报佳音，然后在12月25日庆祝圣诞节；基督教的另一大分支——东正教的圣诞节庆则在每年的1月7日。

圣诞节也是西方世界以及其他很多地区的公共假日，例如：在亚洲的香港、澳门、马来西亚和新加坡。圣经实际上并无记载耶稣诞生日期，圣诞节是后人公定的。