The history of Christmas

Christmas is for joy, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for coming together with family and friends. But mostly, Christmas is for love, the love for which Jesus came to this world and sacrificed his life. Christmas is a celebration of love symbolized by the Nativity and Santa. It is all that brings the family and friends the spirit of love and life. This spirit is what makes Christmas so popular throughout the world.

St. Nicholas was a Christian priest, who later became a bishop. He did not like to be seen when he gave away presents, so the children of the day were told to go to sleep quickly or he would not come. Still today this has not changed and Santa Claus will not arrive during any Christmas unless children go to sleep early. There is a famous story about St. Nicholas, that is about a poor man who had no money to give to his three daughters on their wedding day and then he dropped bags of gold into the stockings which the girls had left to dry by the fire. They found the gold and ever since, children have hung up stockings on Christmas Eve hoping that they will be filled with presents by Christmas morning.

Santa was then portrayed by dozens of artists in a wide variety of styles, sizes, and colors. He appeared in magazines, on billboards, and shop counters, encouraging Americans to see Coke as the solution to "a thirst for all seasons." By the 1950s Santa was turning up everywhere. This commercial success led to the North American Santa Claus being exported around the world where he threatens to overcome the European St. Nicholas, who has retained his identity as a Christian bishop and saint.

The Christmas tree, one of the most famous symbols of the modern Christmas celebration. By the 19Th century the Christmas tree had become very popular in America. Early Christmas trees were decorated with apples, nuts and candles. But today they are decorated with electrical lights, tinsels, ornaments and a large star is usually placed on the top of the tree. Because of his kindness Nicholas was made a Saint. St. Nicholas is also the saint of sailors. One story tells of him helping some sailors that were caught in a storm. All the men were scared that their ship would sink. They prayed to St. Nicholas to help them and how the legend goes is that he was standing on the deck before them. Nicholas ordered the sea to calm down, the storm died away.

Christmas is the most looked forward to holiday for most Christian children. Many people often think only of gifts, and not about the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is many times celebrated by people who do not believe in Jesus. The real cause is to remember the birth of Jesus. The modern day Christmas includes gifts, church celebrations, and the many decorations. Like the Christmas tree, lights, mistletoe, nativity scenes and holly. Santa Claus has become the main focus of Christmas. Santa is generally believed to be the result of St. Nicholas. (bookrags) (Online source)

online book: Bookrags:http://www.bookrags.com/essay-2003/12/24/184125/97
online source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

Salah al Din

Saladin was born into a prominent Kurdish family, and it is said that on the night of his birth, his father, Najm ad-Din Ayyub, gathered his family and moved to Aleppo. He grew up in Damascus, where he apparently had an undistinguished youth, with a greater taste for religious studies than military training. Historians believe he was a short man with a neat beard and in some ways frail. Salah al-Din founded the Ayyubid dynasty of Egypt and Syria. He was born in 1138 in Tikrit. He was a Kurdish warrior, who became the Sultan of Egypt. Salah al Din became a legend in the East and West for his role in clearing the Crusaders from Jerusalem.

Saladin learned his military lessons and began to stand out among Nur ed-Din's forces. In several campaigns between the years of 1164 and 1169 he had made many lasting impressions on people. In just two years Saladin united Egypt with the Abbasid Caliphate. When Nur ed-Din died in 1174, Saladin began his expansion of the territories. After a three-month battle he captured Jerusalem in 1187.

Saladin achieved a great reputation in Europe as a chivalrous knight. His relationship with King Richard I of England, was one of mutual respect as well as military rivalry. When Richard was wounded, Saladin even offered the services of his personal physician. Saladin brought an entirely different concept of a city to Cairo after the Fatimids, because he wanted a unified, thriving, fortified place, protected by strong walls.

By the end of 1185 Saladin had imposed his authority in northern Syria and Mesopotamia. He was ready to turn his full attention to the crusading kingdom. The jihad was declared in the beginning of 1187. Saladin set a trap for the crusaders; they marched into it and were surprised and slaughtered. (Cantor)

The kings of western Europe responded to the fall of Jerusalem by taking the cross and then by gathering their knights and this was known as the Third Crusade. King Richard I defeated Saladin. In February 1193, Saladin rode out from Damascus to welcome pilgrims returning from Mecca. His greatest ambition had been to make the pilgrimage to Mecca but he had never found the time. It was a very cold day and that evening Saladin had to go to bed with a fever. As days passed his condition worsened and he became unconscious and died on March 3rd. (bookrags)

Bookrags:http://www.bookrags.com/biography/saladin/ (Online book)
Cantor, F, Norman. The civilization of the Middle Ages. New York. 1993. Harpercollins publishers, Inc.