Following the four-week season of preparation known as “Advent”, Christmas Day commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ some 2,000 years ago in the town of Bethlehem (in what is now Palestine). Most Christians consider Jesus to have been the “Messiah”, or son of God. For this reason, Christmas constitutes a particularly important occasion for Christians, and observers often attend worship at church on Christmas Eve, Christmas morning, or both, to mark the event.
To all those celebrating today and over the next week, British Online Archives wishes you a very Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year!