Why is there Christmas & who celebrates it?
The origin of Christmas dates back to a small babe born in a manger in Bethlehem. Although the exact month is unknown, historians believe that Jesus Christ was born on the 25th day of the month; they just don’t exactly know which month. Early accounts actually place his birth in the springtime. Due to the closeness of December to the Roman Winter Solstice it is believed that Catholic leaders used December as the date of celebration in order to compete with other ancient Pagan holidays that were routinely celebrated during that time of the year. Religious historians surmise that Christmas was started by the early church in the Roman Empire as early as the 4th Century. More recently, it was not until 1870 that President Ulysses S. Grant formally made Christmas a federal holiday to be observed in the United States. Christmas is celebrated by Christians. A Christian is someone who believes that Jesus Christ is God’s son. As Christianity expanded to the western world, the tradition of Christmas followed it. Many of the Europeans who fled Europe during the 16th century brought their Christmas traditions with them to the New World and passed on the traditions of Christmas. Many of these are seen today in our society. It is estimated that over 400 million people world-wide celebrate Christmas today. Although the meaning of Christmas is rooted in a religious observance, there are many non-Christians who celebrate the commercialized version of the holiday season that includes Santa Claus, Christmas trees, wreaths and mistletoe. This has lent many non-Christian groups to embrace the holiday season and participate in the gift giving of the season; although it is not necessarily part of their religious celebration. Essentially, Christmas is a massive birthday party that is looked at by the religious community as a celebration of the birth of God’s son. Throughout the years the image of Jesus Christ has been replaced with Christmas trees and Santa Claus, but the origin of the holiday remains the same. The reason Christmas is such a popular holiday stems back to the Bible and the story of Jesus’ birth in a manger in Bethlehem. |
What Symbols Represent Christmas and Why?
There are many things that indicate the Christmas season is upon us. Traditionally, you begin to see decorations in the form of wreaths, mistletoe, poinsettias, red and green tinsel, angels, Christmas trees, lights and of course Santa Claus right after the Thanksgiving holidays. Although most of these do not have a correlation with the birth of Jesus Christ; they are symbols of the holidays. Many of them have specific meanings that make them a special part of the Christmas Season. Have you wondered how mistletoe made its way to the Christmas scene? Today if you are standing under the mistletoe it means you are supposed to kiss the person next to you. This tradition originated from ancient civilizations that believed mistletoe would ward off evil or bad things from happening. In order to do this they would hang the mistletoe on the entrances to their home. Similarly, that is how the tradition of wreaths hanging on the front door of a house got started. Tinsel also has an interesting background. There is an old legend that says parents had decorated their Christmas tree on Christmas Eve in order to surprise their children. But during the night, spiders weaved webs all over the tree and when the Christmas angel came and saw it; he turned the cobwebs into silver tinsel. It is very common to see angels used for decorations and ornaments during Christmas. The angels are significant because they represent the angels that told of the birth in the historical story of the nativity. This is also true for decorations that depict donkeys, cows, Shepherd’s men or sheep; as all of these were present at the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Obviously Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Santa and the reindeer. This is based on a Dutch tradition where a real man used to give gifts to children who left wooden shoes outside their door. His name was Saint Nicholas and he is the basis for the idea behind Santa today. The real Saint Nicholas was said to have traveled by a sleigh pulled by reindeer on Christmas Eve. |
Why is there Hanukkah & who celebrates it?
Each and every year around the holiday season Jewish people have a celebration of their own called Hanukkah. Hanukkah is a commemoration of an event that happened over 2,000 years ago and is a very special time for Jewish people. In 167 BC, Jewish people were forced to adhere to a different religion by a Syrian King named Antiochus IV. He outlawed Jewish religious practices in an attempt to make them adopt ancient Greek rituals. This is often called persecution. In order to force the Jews to comply, they burned their temples and destroyed them. This upset many people. A few of them decided that they would not tolerate this and began to rebel. They chose to fix their Temple and were indignant to the persecution that was being attempted. As they worked to rebuild their temple, they lit lights and decided to call their efforts a “rededication.” Hanukkah means dedication. They were able to find enough oil among the ruins of their temple to light their Menorah for one single night. They were planning to use that light to work on their temple. What happened afterwards is truly worth celebrating because the oil lasted 8 nights instead of 1. Today, Hanukkah is symbolized by the lighting of the Menorah for 8 days and 8 nights to celebrate this ancient miracle that allowed them to rebuild their temple. Hanukkah is celebrated on the 25th of Kislev, which is a calendar used by Jewish people. Most of the time this falls in December either before, during or after the Christmas holiday season. The initial tradition of Hanukkah included the lighting of the candles at sundown as well as giving ‘kelt’ which was chocolate or real coins as a way to celebrate the miracle. Throughout time, this tradition has evolved into gift giving similar to Christmas. Hanukkah is celebrated by people who follow the Jewish religion. One of the most identifiable symbols of Hanukah is the menorah which has a placing for 9 candles. One central candle in the middle of the eight is used for lighting the others. Sometimes Hanukkah is referred to as the Festival of Lights. |
What Symbols Represent Hanukkah & Why?
There are many things that you can see which mean that Hanukkah is coming. Although many of the symbols are not as well known as Christmas, there are many things that are telling of the season and symbols of the holiday. If you have ever driven around during the holidays you might notice that Jewish people traditionally use blue lights in the form of the Star of David to decorate their houses with. The Star of David is made with two triangles that when put together form a six sided star. This is the religious symbol for Jewish people. Another symbol of Hanukkah is of course the menorah. The menorah is an array of candle holders that are used in a horizontal line. There is one single candle holder in the middle that stands above the rest and this is used for the candle that is to light the menorah each day at sundown. The 8 smaller candles are representative of the 8 days and nights that the oil lasted while the Jewish people rebuilt their temple that was destroyed some 2000 years ago. The menorah is the most significant symbol of the holiday. It is often referred to as a candelabrum. While green and red normally depict Christmas, Hanukah also has colors associated with the holiday. Traditionally, Jewish people decorate in blue and silver. Decorations are as varied as pillows, blankets and banners that have many of the Hanukkah blessings on them. Another symbol of Hanukkah is the dreidel. The dreidel is a 4 sided top that has 4 Hebrew letters on each side. The letters are Shin, Heh, Gimel and Nun and in Hebrew they translate to mean “A great Miracle Happened Here.” There are many dreidel games that children play. One of the traditions of Hanukkah is to eat sufganoit or latkes during the Hanukkah holiday. You may seem in plentiful quantities in your local grocery store around the time of Hanukkah. Sufganoits are jelly filled glazed donuts that are deep fried in oil. Latkes are deep fried potato pancakes. The significance of these foods are the oils used in cooking them which represents the oil that burned for 8 days. While the symbols of Hanukkah are not as varied as they are for Christmas they are very distinct. Many people will wear special clothes or head gear during the holiday season as a way to show pride for their religion. |
Kwanza - AfricanWhat is Kwanza & who celebrates it?
Kwanza has been celebrated in the United States since 1966. This festival is traditionally for Afro-Americans and is essentially a celebration of life festival that lasts from December 26th to January 1st. It was brought to the United States by Dr. Maulana Karenga as a response to the commercialism of Christmas. It is estimated that as many as 60% of Black Americans celebrate this holiday. The festival is based on five traditional and common sets of values that are universal to all people as well as seven principles for well being which celebrators are encouraged to focus on in their own life. The five values are ingathering, reverence, commemoration, recommitment and celebration. The seven principles of living are unity, self- determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. The festival attempts to bring together the expanse population of African Americans to renew their ties with one another and the world. Kwanzaa can be celebrated by anyone, however primarily African American or black people take part in this festival. It does not have ties to certain religious backgrounds like many of the other holidays celebrated during this time. The festivals main symbol is that of crops and the celebration revolves around bringing home the first harvests of the season, which traditionally occur at this time of year in other parts of the world. Kwanza uses a candle holder to signify the 7 principles of the holiday. Each day, a new candle is lit and a unity cup is used for celebrators to drink from that symbolizes the long standing tradition of African American heritage in agriculture and beyond. Kwanza does involve gift giving. On New Years Eve, there is a normally a large celebratory banquet that consists of massive amounts of native cuisine indigenous to the various African countries. Participants share a greeting of “habari gani” which translates into how’s the news with you? Then they break bread and enjoy their feast. It is important to understand the principles of kwanza and the meaning that they have to you. Kwanzaa is definitely about bringing together a community of like minded people and coming to the realization that by working on improving themselves and their own lives they can leave a trail of abundance for all. Elders, children and parents are honored in this tradition and the atmosphere is one of acceptance, love and peace. |
Diwali - HinduWhy is there Diwali & who celebrates it?
Diwali is a holiday that is celebrated by Hindus in India and abroad. It is often called the festival of lights. Basically, Diwali is the Hindu New Year and it is a very exciting time for Hindus. Normally, this holiday is celebrated in October or November and it falls on a different date each year. In 2009, it was celebrated on October 17th. The Hindu people have several different traditional ways of celebrating their New Year. The festival of lights can last 3-5 days depending on the locale where the people live. There is a lot of preparation that goes into Diwali and families typically spend several weeks cleaning their homes and baking goods in order to welcome the “goddess of wealth” into their lives. It is traditional to make sure that all the windows of the home are opened during this time to ensure that she can enter the homes of celebrators. One of the other traditions of Diwali is to have clay lamps throughout the homes to light up the house. These are used to attract the Goddess of Wealth into the home and legend says that she will not enter a home that is not lit up. These clay lamps are burned constantly during the festival in homes of Hindus across the world. Much like in the United States, the children in India do not have to go to school during Diwali. They also share gifts with one another and prepare special holiday meals to commemorate this event. Diwali is a time to celebrate all the blessings that people have and it is common for adults and children to adorn new clothes or jewelry during this festival. Just like on the 4th of July in the United States, fireworks are a big part of the Diwali festival. The fireworks are a way for the Hindus to scare away evil spirits so that only good things can come into their lives and their homes. One very unique part of Diwali is that there is a special day at the end saved for siblings. This day is called Bhaiya-Dooj and entails that brothers give their sisters special gifts and in return the sisters cook a very special meal for their brothers. Children enjoy this holiday very much because they have a lot of parties, treats and games that are played to herald in the New Year. One way you can tell is someone is celebrating Diwali is because they will usually place a rangoli at their door step. Rangoli’s are very colorful and bold designs that are made on the floor and they are usually drawn with paints. The patterns for rangoli’s are diverse and they serve as a welcome mat for the Goddess Lakshmi to enter the homes if Hindus. She also brings luck and fortune to families. The New Year for everyone is a time of reflection, rejuvenation and renewal and celebrating Diwali sets the stage for the good fortune families can expect during the upcoming year. |
Rohatsu -Zen BuddhistsWhat is Rohatsu & who celebrates it?
Rohatsu is a celebration that usually takes place from December 1st to December 8th of each year and it is celebrated by Zen Buddhists. The name, Rohatsu translates to mean the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. Another name for Rohatsu is Bodhi Day. Essentially, the holiday is about enlightenment of Buddha which refers to their belief that the Buddha holds all the answers in life and is “all knowing.” He became this way by intense days he spent alone in meditation. There are certain groups of Buddhists who celebrate Rohatsu in May instead of December. The entire month of December is special for Zen Buddhists. They see this month as a time to reflect upon their year before and the new year that is approaching. They work very hard to let go of “things” in their life and center themselves on their ability to live with gratitude and selflessness. They also like to leave behind the world of all their possessions so that they can feel happy living a simple life. For monks, or people who practice Buddhism, they spend 7 days preparing for Rohatsu. During these times their lives are very quiet and they spend time meditating. This is what the Buddha did before he became all knowing. On the 6th day legend tells that Buddha saw a star rise in the morning which gave him his powers of knowing everything about life. To celebrate this, Monks stay awake the entire 7th night until sunrise. The star that the Buddha saw on that 8th morning was the planet that we all know as Venus. For people who practice Zen Buddhism it is important that they spend time becoming the best person that they can be. “Selfless living” is an important principle of this holiday. This means that they try to live their life without needing or wanting too many things in life and that they are happy to have their families, their lives and their minds and bodies. Gifts are not exchanged during this holiday. For children, Rohatsu is about learning to meditate. They are taught to sit with their hands in their lap as if they are holding a full bowl of water. Their goal is to not spill the water. They sit this way and think for a very long time and then they are allowed to ask questions of the elders or teachers in their family. This is how children learn the traditions of Rohatsu. The children are congratulated for being brave enough to ask their questions and for remaining still and quiet long enough for the celebration.
![]() About Tihar : The Nepali festival Tihar is also known by many names such as Dipawali or Bhai Tika or Laxmi Puja or as a festival of lights.
It is a five-days festival, which comes soon after the Dashain Festival, and Tihar is all about worshiping of different animals such as crow, dog, cow, and worshiping of the Hindu Goddess of Fortune or Wealth (Goddess Laxmi), and cooking great meals at home, brothers and sisters shopping for gifts, flying kites, decorating homes and streets, playing cards with friends, resting and relaxing, and finally ending the festival with an exchange of a special temporary mark on forehead (tika in Nepali). The last day of the festival is known as Tika day or popularly known asBhai Tika day (Bhai in Nepali means Brother). To sum up Tihar festival, Tihar is the festival when sisters wish a long life to their brothers (Bhai)! Tihar is a festival for brothers and sisters, but What if you are a brother without a sister or a sister without a brother. Well, you can make one by accepting someone close to you in your relatives. If nothing works, you find one among your friends and neighbors, it becomes almost as if it was real. Whom ever you made your sister or brother remains so for life, and each year this festival makes your bond stronger. Tihar is a festival of sisters wishing a long life to their brothers, and Tihar is the most popular festival in Nepal. So hold on to your topi (hat), loads of excitement and fun are coming at you now! |
Ramadan -MuslimWhat is Ramadan & who celebrates it?
Ramadan is a religious holiday that is celebrated for one month by around 1 billion Muslims around the world. This holiday starts in the ninth month of the Muslim calendar which is different than ours because it is based on the moon rather than the sun. Unlike Christmas, Ramadan does not fall on the same date every year. This is because in order for Ramadan to begin, an Islamic leader has to decide that the first sliver of the crescent moon during the ninth month has officially appeared. Once this happens, Ramadan begins. One of the most interesting things about Ramadan is that a large part of the celebration is based on fasting. During this month, no food or drinks (not even water) can be consumed during day light hours. The reason behind this fasting is to offer more time for people to spend together, thinking about other things and doing good for others who are less fortunate than them. There are some Muslims who do not even swallow their own spit during Ramadan. After dark, they are allowed to eat and drink and the fast is broken with a snack of milk, water and dates. After that, humble celebratory meals are given which are not supposed to be very elaborate. Many Muslims have a quick meal in the early morning before daylight arrives in order to make their day time fasting easier. There are some rules during Ramadan that Muslims are expected to follow besides not eating. One of these rules is that they are supposed to be on their very best behavior. They are not allowed to talk badly about other people, tell lies and they are instructed to spend their time trying to help one person each day that is less fortunate than them. They are also forced to stay away from bad habits that they may have and are supposed to put all things aside in order to live perfectly. Each and every day it is most important that Muslims do good for others in some way. This is perhaps the most important part of the holiday. Some of the other things that Muslims are expected to do during Ramadan besides fasting are; pay alms tax, profess their faith, and take part in ritual prayers five times a day. They also must do a prayer of intention every day that dedicates their fast to the Gods that bless them. All people, even children are expected to fast. Once a child reaches the age of 12 it is a mandatory part of the Muslim religion that they fast the entire day. Young children are expected to eat sparingly. When Ramadan is over, large services are held at the Mosque and women are even allowed to attend. A service is given that thanks the Gods for their blessings. Afterwards, families usually congregate at each others homes to celebrate the end of the holiday. Young people are encouraged to ask for forgiveness for their sins and all people are expected to pay homage to their parents. This means that they visit their parent’s home on this night. During this night, large festive meals are prepared of traditional foods and many people hold open houses to welcome visitors. Eid - Muslim![]() Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity", while Fiṭr means "to break fast"; and so the holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period. It is celebrated after the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, on the first day of Shawwal.
Eid al-Fitr is sometimes also known as the "Smaller Eid" as compared to the Eid al-Adha that lasts three days following the Hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca) and is casually referred to as the "Greater Eid" At the end of Ramadan every Muslim is required to pay Zakat al-Fitr (a special fast breaking alm) as a token of thankfulness to God for having enabled him or her to observe the obligatory fast. Typically, on the day of the al eid Muslims generally greet each other have a small breakfast before attending a special Eid prayer that is performed in congregation at mosques or open areas like fields, squares etc. Muslims are encouraged to dress in their best clothes (new if possible) for the occasion. Source: Wikipedia |
Boxing Day - Britain, Australia, New Zealand and CanadaWhat is Boxing Day and who celebrates it?
Boxing Day is the day after Christmas, or the 26th of December. The only time this changes is if December 26th falls on a Saturday or Sunday; in which case Boxing Day will fall on the Monday after Christmas. It is celebrated in many parts of the world such as in Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. On this day business offices are closed and children are kept home from school much like they are during the Christmas holiday in the United States. Boxing Day became an official holiday in England under Queen Victoria in the 19th century. She decided that it would be a great day for the Upper Class to give gifts to the lower class. Some people refer to Boxing Day as St. Stephens Day. Traditionally, cash and goods were given by the wealthy to the poor. There are two theories that involve the origin of Boxing Day traditions. The first has to do with trades-people who were given boxes of gifts by their employers the day after Christmas. For instance, mail carriers, servants, maids and other lower class employers would be afforded gifts by their bosses. These boxes were full of cash and goods and were looked at as a bonus to the employees who worked hard all year long. The second theory about the origin of Boxing Day revolves around the fact that churches commonly opened their alms boxes on the day after Christmas and delivered the cash and goods inside them to the people in the community who needed it on December 26th. Commonly alms boxes are left in churched beginning at the first of December so that people can donate items to the needy. Today, Boxing Day is to be enjoyed with friends and family. Many people go shopping where the stores offer extensive sales, while others volunteer their time into the community and try to help those in need. In the UK, Boxing Day is filled with festivals and sporting events and it is typically a time where families get together to relax after the Christmas holiday season. Some people look at Boxing Day as simply an extension of Christmas, where instead of giving to family and friends – you give to the needy. It has also become a tradition in many areas to plan community projects and events that are an outreach to people in need and some people spend the day serving the homeless or others who are less fortunate. |
Winter SolsticeWhat is the Winter Solstice & who celebrates it?
The solstice happens twice a year. One solstice happens in the winter while the other occurs in the summer. You may have heard them referred to as equinoxes. What happens during these times is that the Earth is either at its furthest or closet point from the sun. During the winter solstice, the Earth is at its furthest point from the sun which makes this day the shortest day of the entire year. Normally, this occurs on or around the 21st of December which marks the start of winter. According to the Solar Calendar the Solstice can occur anywhere from December 21st – 23rd. Throughout history, the solstice was a time of celebration as it marked the return of the Sun. The Pagans celebrated this day as one of their special days in Yule, which was a 12 day celebration of the end of winter. The reason this is so special, is that for ancient civilizations the winter months were very difficult and they had to scavenge for food and warmth. The return of the sun meant they could grow crops and there was less illness. In addition to that, they had no electricity and limited ways to light – which meant that longer days would provide more daylight for them to work with. The Winter Solstice also stands for a new beginning. During this time, civilization from the Pagans to the Romans looked at this as a celebration similar to our New Year’s Eve celebration. They had many festivals that would last for days that revolved around ideas like hope, joy and peace. This is very similar to the spirit of Christmas which is celebrated around the same time of the year. If you have ever heard the term “Yule” around the holidays, you should know that this was initiated by the Pagans. They saw the Winter Solstice as a major part of their festive season which they called the Yule. It is also important to know that many ancient civilizations built tombs, temples and sculptures that align themselves with the sun on the day of the Winter Solstice. They are found in England, Ireland, and South America and in other parts of the world. Today, there are few people who celebrate the Solstice, however there are many religious and ceremonial celebrations that exist in almost every culture during this time of the year that have many similarities to the old Solstice celebrations. Many Christmas traditions today such as wreaths, holly and the use of Christmas trees and lights originated in Winter Solstice festivals and are still very common in modern society. |
Maria wanted to make a very special gift. She had helped her mother before with the loom, so she tried, on her own, to weave a colorful blanket. But Maria was too inexperienced and the yarns became a mess. Maria was heartbroken. She wanted so much to be able to march in procession with the other village children, but she had no gift to give to the Christ Child.
Finally it was Christmas Eve! The villagers gathered in the villiage. Holding lit candles, all the villagers began to process down the aisle amid joyous music and singing. All except for Maria, who hid in the shadows, watching with tears in her eyes as the procession to the church started. "I don’t have a gift for the Baby Jesus," she sniffled softly. "I tried and tried to make something beautiful, but instead I ruined it." Suddenly, Maria heard a voice. She looked up and saw only a bright star in the sky; it seemed to hover and shine over the village church. Was it this star that spoke to her? "Maria," she heard the voice again, "The baby Jesus will love whatever you give because it comes from your heart. Love is what makes any gift special." With that, Maria stepped out from the shadows. Nearby she noticed some tall green weeds. She rushed over and quickly filled her arms with the weeds, covering them with her manto. Then she ran swiftly to the church. By the time she arrived, the candles were ablaze and the children were singing as they walked down the aisle carrying their gifts to the Christ Child. Padre Francesco placed the figure of the baby Jesus in the manger, with the children’s gifts all around it. Suddenly, Maria was scared when she saw all those people dressed in such beautiful clothes, and she was dressed so poorly. She tried to slip behind one of the big pillars, but she was too slow. Padre Francesco saw her. "Maria, Maria," he called out. "Hurry girl, come, bring up your gift!" Maria was terrified. She wondered, "Do I run away? Do I go forward?" The Padre saw her apprehension and coaxed her more gently, "Maria, come up here and see the Baby Jesus. There is space left for one more gift." Before she could think, Maria found herself walking down the main aisle of the church. "What is Maria carrying under her manto?" the villagers whispered. "Where’s her gift?" Padre Francesco stepped down from the altar and walked with Maria to the Christmas crèche. Maria bowed her head and said a prayer then opened her manto and let the weeds tumble out. Voices gasped, "Look! Look at those glorious flowers!" Startled, Maria opened her eyes. She was stunned. For each weed was now topped with a flaming, bright, red star. And outside, too, every weed now bore a bright red star. Maria’s love had created a miracle. |
María quería hacer un regalo muy especial. Ella había ayudado a su madre antes con el telar , por lo que intentó , por su cuenta, para tejer una manta colorida. Pero María era demasiado inexperto y los hilos se convirtió en un desastre. María tenía el corazón destrozado . Quería tanto poder marchar en procesión con los otros niños de la aldea , pero no tenía regalo para darle a el Niño Jesús .
Finalmente llegó la víspera de Navidad ! Los habitantes del pueblo se reunieron en el Village . La celebración de velas encendidas , todos los aldeanos comenzaron a procesar por el pasillo en medio de alegre música y el canto. Todos a excepción de María, que se escondió en las sombras , mirando con lágrimas en sus ojos mientras la procesión a la iglesia comenzó . " Yo no tengo un regalo para el Niño Jesús ," ella sollozó suavemente. "Traté y traté de hacer algo hermoso , pero en cambio me arruiné . " De repente , María oyó una voz . Levantó la vista y vio más que una estrella brillante en el cielo ; parecía flotar y brillo sobre la iglesia del pueblo . ¿Fue esta estrella que habló con ella ? "María," escuchó la voz de nuevo, "El niño Jesús amará lo que usted da porque viene de su corazón. El amor es lo que hace que cualquier regalo especial." Con eso, María salió de las sombras. Cerca de ella se dio cuenta de algunas malas hierbas verdes altos. Ella corrió y rápidamente llenó sus brazos con las malas hierbas, los cubre con su manto. Luego corrió rápidamente a la iglesia. En el momento de su llegada, las velas ardían y los niños cantaban mientras caminaban por el pasillo llevando sus regalos al Niño Cristo. Padre Francesco coloca la figura del niño Jesús en el pesebre, con los regalos de los niños a su alrededor. De repente, María se asustó cuando vio a todas esas personas vestidas con ropa tan hermosas, y ella estaba vestida tan mal. Ella trató de deslizarse detrás de uno de los grandes pilares, pero era demasiado lento. Padre Francesco vio. "María, María", gritó. "Chica de Prisa, ven, abrir su regalo!" María estaba aterrorizado. Se preguntó: "Haz huyo? ¿Voy a seguir?" El Padre vio a su aprehensión y su engatusó con más suavidad, "María, llegar aquí y ver al Niño Jesús. No queda espacio para uno más de regalo." Antes de que pudiera pensar, María encontró caminando por el pasillo principal de la iglesia. "Lo que está llevando a María bajo su manto?" los aldeanos susurraban. "¿Dónde está su regalo?" Padre Francesco bajó del altar y se dirigió con María a la guardería de Navidad. María bajó la cabeza y dijo una oración y luego abrió su manto y dejar que las malas hierbas caen fuera . Voces jadeó , "¡Mira! Mira esas flores gloriosas ! " Asustada, María abrió los ojos. Ella se sorprendió . Para cada uno de malezas ahora estaba cubierto con una llameante , brillante , estrella roja . Y fuera , también, todas las malezas ahora llevaba una estrella de color rojo brillante |