Religious Significance
For
the Christian, the celebration of Christmas is not a celebration of the 25th of
December. The day is only symbolic 
of
the celebration of the birth of the Messiah, the Savior Jesus Christ, sent as
the sacrificial lamb of God to save mankind from sin.
Two accounts in the Bible talk about the birth of Christ. One account is found in Luke 2:1-20. The other is found in Matthew 1:18-25. Matthew 2:1-12 tells the account of the visit by the magi. This is the account of the birth of Jesus taken from the Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version).
The Birth of Christ
Matthew 1:18-25
Now
the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When
his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was
found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just
man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as
he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream,
saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that
which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you
shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his 
people
from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken
by the prophet: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his
name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke
from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but
knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.
Luke 2:1-20
In
those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be
enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from
Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea,
to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and
lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave
birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in
a manager, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And
in that region there were shepherds out in the field, 
keeping
watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and
the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the
angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a
great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the
city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you:
you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. And
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God
and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with
whom he is
pleased!"
When
the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
"let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which
the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste, and found Mary
and Joseph, and the 
babe lying in a manager. And when they saw it they made
known
the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it
wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things,
pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising
God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Matthew 2:1-12
Now
when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the 
days
of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying,
"Where is he who had been born king of the Jews? for we have seen his star
in the East, and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this,
he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief
priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to
be born. They told him, "In
Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: 'And you, O Bethlehem,
in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from
you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.' " Then Herod
summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star
appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently
for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come
and worship him." When they had heard the king they 
went their way; and lo,
the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest
over the place
where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with
great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and
they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered
him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream
not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
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