Christmas & Advent - Exodus Books

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The Christian year begins with the birth of a baby. No one knows the exact day Jesus was born, but the date of December 25th was specifically chosen and introduced to Christian believers in order to counter the pagan feast of the "sun god," which was a popular winter solstice festival held in Rome. Instead of trying to coax the sun to return North again, this Christian theological corrective was meant to celebrate the source of true light in our dark world: the Son of God.

It was not until the fourth century that people began to celebrate Christ's birth. In keeping with Old testament feasts and festivals, it was designated a feast day called the Feast of the Nativity. The celebration began with a special Mass in honor of the remembrance of His coming, first called "Christ's Mass," later simply "Christmas." It was Christ being celebrated, not the day!

Later, the four week period before December 25th was declared a sacred and holy season. It was called "Advent," which comes from the Greek through the Latin and means "to come." It was a special time, designed to remind us that the Old testament saints had anxiously awaited the Messiah for centuries, and to provide a period of preparation that would allow time for reflection before the celebration of His birth. Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas day, our actions and activities should remind us of our need for Jesus.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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Parent Categories

Just for Fun

Holidays / Church Calendar

Christmas & Advent

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Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol

Related Links

Corrigenda Denuo
Is Christmas Christian? Here's a list of articles to discuss the topic.
Readings for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany
from the pastors of the CREC
Truth in the Tinsel
Advent ebook for young kids (affiliate link)

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10th grade (Ages 15-16)

	Charles Dickens Christmas A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Warren Chappell from Oxford University for 6th-12th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Christmas Carol Whole Story Series by Charles Dickens, illustrated by William Geldart from Viking Press Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Christmas Carol Everyman's Library Children's Classics by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Arthur Rackham from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Everyman's Library Children's Classics (Location: FIC-ELC) $17.00
	Christmas Carol Puffin Classics by Charles Dickens from Puffin Books Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $6.79
	Christmas Carol Sterling Classics by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Scott McKowen Unabridged from Sterling Publishing Co. Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens from Bantam Books for 6th-10th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $3.95
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Enriched Classic from Pocket Books for 9th-12th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Greg Hildebrandt Unabridged from Simon and Schuster Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Christmas Carol A Ghost Story of Christmas by Charles Dickens, illustrated by John Leech from J. G. Ferguson Publishing Co. for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Roberto Innocenti Unabridged from Stewart, Tabori, & Chang Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman Unabridged from Holiday House Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by P.J. Lynch Unabridged from Candlewick Press Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $16.99
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Robert Ingpen Unabridged from Palazzo Editions Limited Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $24.99
	Christmas Carol Macmillan Classics by Charles Dickens, illustrated by John Groth from Macmillan Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens; illustrated by Julian Brazelton from Pocket Books for 9th-Adult in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Robert Ball from Macmillan Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Maraja from Grosset & Dunlap Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Roberto Innocenti Unabridged from Creative Editions Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $35.00
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, retold by Howard Martin and illustrated by Carlo Molinari from Carlton Books for 9th-12th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Brett Helquist from Balzer & Bray for 9th-12th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger from North-South Books for 9th-12th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $21.24
	Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Philip Reed for 9th-12th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Christmas Carol (condensed) Books of Wonder by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Carter Goodrich from HarperCollins Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Christmas Carol: An Engaging Visual Journey by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Jill De Haan from Tyndale House for 9th-12th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $14.44
	Little Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Joe Sutphin from Moody Press for 3rd-Adult in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $25.49

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