KILAJAMBO MAISHANI LINA MWANZO NA MWISHO

UPENDO UNA ALAMA MBILI MAISHANI.

AMBAZO NI:

1 MATENDO MAZURI

2 MANENO MAZURI


UTAMTAMBUA ANAEKUPENDA, PINDI UTAPATA UKWELI WA MANENO YAKE KATIKA MSINGI WA MATENDO KAMILIFU MAISHANI.NENO NAKUPENDA HULETA MAANA, PINDI LINAPOKUWA NA MUUNGANO WA TENDO LENYE MFUMO WA AMANI NA UTULIVU BAINA YA WAPENDANAO MAISHANI.

Uhusiano wa Krismas na Yesu

Yesu alikuwa Myahudi mwanamume aliyeishi miaka 2000 hivi iliyopita (labda 6 KK - 30 B.K.).



Kutokana na umuhimu wake katika historia ya binadamu, kwa kawaida miaka yote inahesabiwa kwanzia ujio wake (ulivyokadiriwa kimakosa katika karne ya 6).



Mazingira yake
Nchi ambayo Yesu alizaliwa akafundisha ni nchi ileile ambayo Mungu aliwaahidia Waisraeli tangu zamani za Abrahamu, ni nchi ileile waliyoiteka chini ya Yoshua, ni nchi ileile waliyoirudia kutoka utumwani Babeli.

Lakini wakati wote wa Agano Jipya, yaani tangu Yesu alipozaliwa hadi mwisho wa maisha ya mitume wake, nchi hiyo haikuwa huru, bali chini ya himaya ya Warumi, ingawa pengine hao waliwakabidhi vibaraka, yaani watawala wenyeji waliowekwa na wakoloni.

Vibaraka hao ni Herode Mkuu (37 KK-4 KK) na wazawa wake, ambao tena hawakuwa Waisraeli halisi bali Waedomu ingawa kabila lao lililazimishwa kuingia dini ya Kiyahudi karne iliyotangulia. Ukoo huo unajulikana kwa ukatili, uchu wa madaraka na uzinifu wake.

Vilevile maliwali wa Kirumi waliowekwa pengine kutawala nchi au sehemu fulani walionyesha mara nyingi ukatili na dharau kwa Waisraeli na dini yao, hata kusababisha chuki na mapigano kati ya jeshi na wananchi. Mfano mmojawapo ni Ponsyo Pilato aliyesimamia Uyahudi kuanzia mwaka 26 hadi 36 B.K.

Mbali na hayo, utawala wa Roma, ulioenea Ulaya Magharibi na Kusini, Afrika Kaskazini na nchi za Mashariki ya Kati kupakana na Iraq ya leo, kwa jumla ulihakikisha hali ya amani kwa muda wote wa Agano Jipya na karne za kwanza za Kanisa. Hali hiyo, pamoja na umoja wa dola hilo lote, na urahisi wa mawasiliano kwa njia ya barabara zilizotengenezwa na Warumi, na uenezi wa lugha ya kimataifa (Kiyunani yaani Kigiriki cha zamani), ilichangia kasi ya uenezaji wa habari njema (Injili). Lugha hiyo ndiyo iliyotumiwa na waandishi wote wa Agano Jipya ili vitabu vyao viwafaidishe watu wengi zaidi, ingawa baadhi yao hawakuijua vizuri.

Lugha asili ya Yesu na ya Mitume ilikuwa Kiaramu ambacho ni jamii ya Kiyahudi na ambacho polepole kilishika nafasi yake kati ya Wayahudi kuanzia karne ya sita K.K. Hao wote walitokea mkoa wa Galilaya, uliokuwa na mchanganyiko wa watu (Waisraeli na mataifa), kiasi kwamba huko Wayahudi wenyewe walifuata kwa urahisi desturi za Kiyunani hata wakadharauliwa na wenzao wa Kusini (Yerusalemu na mkoa wa Yudea).

Kati ya mikoa hiyo miwili ulienea mkoa wa Samaria ambao wakazi wake walijenga uadui mkubwa na Wayahudi baada ya uhamisho wa Babeli, walipokataliwa kuchangia ujenzi wa hekalu la pili la Yerusalemu.

[hariri] Maisha yake
Dionisi Mdogo, mmonaki aliyeanzisha (mwaka 533 hivi) mtindo wa kuhesabu miaka kuanzia kuzaliwa Yesu kurudi nyuma (K.K.) au kwenda mbele (B.K.), alikosea hesabu zake. Leo tunakisia Yesu alizaliwa mwaka 6 hivi K.K. kwa sababu alizaliwa Bethlehemu chini ya Herode Mkuu aliyefariki mwaka 4 K.K.

Huyo alipojaribu kumuua mtoto Yesu, familia takatifu ilikimbilia Misri mpaka baada ya kufa kwake. Hapo ikarudi Galilaya hata Yesu akajulikana kwa jina la kijiji cha Nazareti kilichodharauliwa na Wagalilaya pia. Ndipo alipokulia na kuishi akifanya kazi ya ufundi.

Mwaka 26 hivi B.K. ndugu yake Yohane Mbatizaji aliacha maisha ya jangwani na kuanza kuhubiri toba kandokando ya mto Yordani. Kwa kuwa Waisraeli walikosa manabii kwa muda mrefu, na walitamani sana ukombozi, walimuendea kwa wingi hata wakamtia hofu Herode Antipa.

Ingawa huyo akamfunga mapema akamuua, kazi ya Yohane ilikuwa imetimia kwa sababu aliweza kuwaandaa Waisraeli wengi (hasa watu wadogo na wakosefu) wampokee Yesu aliyebatizwa naye. Katika nafasi hiyo Yohane alimtambulisha kama Mwanakondoo wa Mungu aondoaye dhambi ya ulimwengu.

Ndipo Yesu naye alipoanza kuhubiri, lakini pia kutenda miujiza ya kila aina, akapata haraka wafuasi wengi. Kati yao akachagua Mitume wake 12 kama msingi mpya wa taifa la Mungu. Alifanya kazi hizo kuanzia Galilaya, akitangaza ujio wa ufalme wa Mungu, kwa maana ya kwamba ufalme uliotazamiwa na Wayahudi umewajia kwa njia yake.

Ingawa hakupitia shule yoyote ya Biblia, Yesu alionekana anafundisha vizuri kuliko walimu wa sheria wa kawaida, kama mtu mwenye mamlaka juu ya Torati. Mafundisho yake yalilingana na yale ya Mafarisayo kuliko na yale ya Masadukayo, lakini alishindana pia na hao wa kwanza.

Kijicho na upinzani vikazidi hasa Yerusalemu, walipoanza kufanya njama za kumuua. Ingawa Yesu alijua hayo, alijikaza kwenda katika mji mtakatifu autangazie habari njema na kufia huko. Baada ya kupokewa kwa shangwe kabla ya sherehe ya Pasaka ya mwaka 30 (au 33) akakamatwa na baraza la Israeli kwa tuhuma ya kufuru ya kujilinganisha na Mungu, halafu akakabidhiwa kwa liwali wa Kirumi aliyekuwa na mamlaka ya kutoa adhabu ya kifo. Baada ya kikao ambapo Wayahudi walitafuta kisingizio cha kisiasa, Ponsyo Pilato akalazimika kuagiza Yesu asulubiwe, na kisha kufa kwake kaburi lilindwe na askari.

Hata hivyo siku ya tatu kaburi likaonekana tupu, na Yesu akaanza kuwatokea wanafunzi wake wa kike na wa kiume kwa muda wa siku arubaini, halafu akapaa mbinguni mbele ya macho yao.

Habari hizo zikatangazwa kwa sauti tu kwa miaka kadhaa, halafu zikaanza kuandikwa. Kanisa linaheshimu kwa namna ya pekee, kama ushuhuda mkuu juu ya maisha na mafundisho ya Yesu na kama moyo wa Maandiko matakatifu yote, Injili nne zilizoandikwa na Marko, Mathayo, Mwinjili Luka na Yohane kati ya mwaka 65 na 100 hivi.

[hariri] Imani juu yake
Waumini wake wanaunda Kanisa la Kikristo ambalo linapatikana leo katika madhehebu mengi. Karibu wote wanamwamini kuwa Mungu aliyechukua umbile la mwanadamu au, kwa lugha nyingine, kuwa Mwana wa Mungu. Wakristo wengine wanaamini kuwa yeye ni mtume wa pekee wa Mungu ila sio Mungu.

Katika dini ya Uislamu, Yesu anajulikana kama Nabii Isa. Waislamu wanaamini kuwa yeye alikuwa ni nabii wa Mungu ila hakuwa mwana wa Mungu wala Mungu.

[hariri] Maadhimisho yake
Maisha yake yamekuwa msingi wa sikukuu mbalimbali zinazosheherekewa katika nchi nyingi duniani, kama vile Noeli auKrismasi (kuzaliwa kwake), Epifania (kuonekana kwake na kubatizwa kwake), Majilio (kuandaliwa ujio wake), Kwaresima (mafungo na mateso yake), Ijumaa Kuu (kifo chake); muhimu kuliko zote ni Pasaka (kufufuka kwake).

[hariri] Misingi ya ujuzi wetu juu yake
Yesu hakuacha maandiko yoyote. Habari zake zinapatikana hasa katika Biblia, kwa namna ya pekee katika Injili.

Nje ya Ukristo kuna habari fupi kuhusu Yesu katika maandiko ya waandishi Waroma, Wagiriki na Wayahudi. Habari hizi zinaangaliwa sana kwa sababu zimetungwa na watu wasiomwamini Yesu. Kwa ujumla zinathibitisha ya kwamba Yesu alikuwepo, alikuwa na wafuasi huko Roma na ya kwamba awali Waroma hawakuelewa tofauti kati ya wafuasi wake na Wayahudi. Muhimu ni hasa:

1. Mtaalamu Myahudi Flavius Josephus aliandika mnamo 90 B.K. kitabu cha „Antiquitates Judaicae“ (Habari za historia ya Kiyahudi) akitaja kifo cha „Yakobo ndugu wa Yesu“ (sura ya 20, 200).

2. Mwandishi Mroma Tacitus aliandika mnamo mwaka 117 ya kwamba Kaisari Nero alishtaki kikundi cha “Chrestiani” ya kuwa wamechoma moto mji wa Roma. Aliongeza: “Mtu ambaye ni asili ya jina hili ni Chrestus aliyeuawa wakati wa Tiberio kwa amri ya Pontio Pilato” (Annales XV,44).

3. Mwandishi Mroma Svetonius alimtaja “Chrestos” katika kitabu chake juu ya maisha ya Kaisari Claudius (25,4) ya kwamba huyu amesababisha fujo kati ya Wayahudi wa Roma hivyo Kaisari aliwafukuza mjini.

4. Mwanasiasa Mroma Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus aliacha barua kadhaa zinazotaja Wakristo mnamo mwaka 100 B.K. Alimwuliza Kaisari Traianus jinsi ya kushughulikia Wakristo waliokataa kutoa sadaka mbele ya sanamu za Kaisari.





Krismasi (pia Noeli)



Krismasi (pia Noeli) ni sikukuu ambako Wakristo husheherekea kuzaliwa kwake Yesu Kristo zaidi ya miaka 2000 iliyopita. Kwa kawaida husheherekewa tarehe 25 Desemba katika Ukristo wa magharibi na tarehe 6 Januari katika ule wa mashariki.





Historia ya Krismasi

Uchoraji wa Kiorthodoksi unaoonyesha kuzaliwa kwake Kristo. Yesu anaonekana amevikwa sanda na kulazwa kaburini, kwa maana alizaliwa ili atukomboe kwa kifo chake


Tarehe halisi ya kuzaliwa kwake Yesu haijulikani kwa sababu utamaduni wa Wayahudi wa wakati ule haukuwa na sherehe au kumbukumbu ya siku ya kuzaliwa.

Lakini baadaye Ukristo ulienea katika Dola la Roma na kati ya mataifa yaliyokuwa na kawaida ya kuzingatia siku ya kuzaliwa. Hivyo ilijitokeza hamu ya kusheherekea pia sikukuu ya kuzaliwa kwake Kristo. Ndiyo asili ya Sikukuu ya Krismasi.

Tangu mwanzo wa karne ya 3 BK kuna kumbukumbu ya waandishi mbalimbali waliojadili tarehe ya kuzaliwa kwake Yesu Kristo.

Habari za kwanza kabisa za makadirio ya tarehe ya kuzaliwa kwake Yesu zinapatikana kutoka Misri mnamo mwaka 200. Mwandishi Mkristo Klemens wa Alexandria (kitabu cha Stromateis I, xxi) alilalamikia udadisi wa wataalamu kadhaa wa Misri waliodai kwamba wamekadiria tarehe hiyo katika mwezi Mei, wengine katika Aprili. Alisema pia kuwa kikundi cha Kikristo cha wafuasi wa Basilides huko Misri walisheherekea Epifania pamoja na kuzaliwa kwake Yesu tarehe 6 Januari.

Labda kadirio la tarehe ya Desemba 25 pia lina asili katika Misri. Kuanzia mwaka 200 (kwa mara ya kwanza katika maandishi ya Sixtus Julius Africanus) tunasikia kwamba wataalamu wa Misri walifikiri tarehe 25 Machi ilikuwa tarehe ya kufa kwake Kristo na pia siku ya kuzaliwa kwake. Kwa kuongeza miezi tisa ya mimba inajitokeza 25 Desemba kama tarehe ya kuzaliwa.

Mwaka wa liturujia
Magharibi
Majilio
Krismasi
Kipindi cha Noeli
Mama wa Mungu
Epifania
Ubatizo wa Bwana
Kwaresima
Siku tatu kuu za Pasaka
Pasaka
Kupaa Bwana
Pentekoste
Kugeuka sura
Kipindi cha kawaida

Mashariki
Sikukuu ya msalaba
Mfungo wa Krismasi
Krismasi
Epifania
Kwaresima kuu
Pasaka
Pentekoste
Mfungo wa Mitume
Sherehe kuu
Kugeuka sura
Kulala kwa Mama wa Mungu
Ulinzi wa Mama wa Mungu


Inaonekana tarehe 25 Desemba ilijitokeza wakati huo. Kuna taarifa ya mwaka 204 kutoka Ipolito wa Roma kwamba tarehe 25 Desemba ilikuwa sikukuu ya kuzaliwa kwake Yesu Kristo.

Wataalamu mbalimbali walidai kwamba Kanisa lilipachika sikukuu ya Kristo kwenye tarehe hiyo kwa nia ya kuchukua nafasi ya sikukuu ya jua kama mungu "Sol invictus". Lakini pengine mambo yalikwenda kinyume, yaani kwamba Makaisari walianzisha sikukuu hiyo halafu wakaipanga tarehe ya Krismasi ili kushindana na Ukristo uliokuwa bado chini ya dhuluma.

Aliyeingiza sikukuu ya Kuzaliwa Jua (Mitra) huko Roma ni Eliogabalus (kaisari kuanzia 218 hadi 222). Baadaye Aurelianus akaithibitisha rasmi mwaka 273, hatimate ikahamishiwa tarehe 25 Desemba. Wakati wa Licinius (308-324) sikukuu hiyo ilikuwa ikiadhimishwa bado tarehe 19 Desemba. (Taz. maandishi yaliyotajwa na Allan S. Hoey katika ukurasa 480 (rejeo 128) wa Official Policy towards Oriental Cults in the Roman Army, Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association (70) 1939, pp 456-481).

Kutoka Roma, uliokuwa mji mkuu wa Dola la Roma, sherehe ya 25 Desemba ilienea kote katika Ukristo.

Wakristo wengi husheherekea tarehe 25 Desemba (Wakatoliki, Waprotestanti, sehemu ya Waorthodoksi). Kati ya Waorthodoksi kuna tarehe nyingine, hasa 6 Januari kutokana na tofauti katika kalenda.




Habari za Krismasi katika Biblia




Habari za Krismasi kama sherehe hazipatikani katika Biblia kwa sababu zilizotajwa hapa juu.

Lakini hasa vitabu viwili vya Agano Jipya vina habari za kuzaliwa kwake Yesu, yaani Injili za Mathayo na Luka.



Katika Injili ya Mathayo





Mathayo anasimulia habari hizo katika mlango wa kwanza kuanzia aya 18 na katika mlango wa pili.

Bikira Maria alipata mimba wakati alipokuwa mchumba wa Yosefu. Yosefu alitaka kumwacha lakini aliambiwa na malaika aanze kuishi naye na kumkubali mtoto kama wake kwa kumpa jina "Yesu".

Mamajusi kutoka mashariki waliwatembelea na kuwaletea zawadi kwa sababu waliona nyota ya pekee iliyokuwa kwao alama ya kuzaliwa kwa mfalme mpya katika Uyahudi ikawaongoza hadi Yerusalemu. Lakini walipompitia mfalme Herode Mkuu, huyo alikasirika akimwogopa mfalme mpya. Hata hivyo aliwaelekeza Bethehemu kadiri ya utabiri wa nabii Mika.

Yosefu alipata tena ujumbe kutoka kwa malaika akaondoka na mtoto na Maria kukimbilia Misri kabla ya askari wa Herode hawajaweza kumuua Yesu.

Baada ya kifo cha Herode walirudi kutoka Misri lakini hawakuenda tena Bethlehemu bali kuhamia Nazareti katika mkoa wa Galilaya.



Katika Injili ya Luka




Katika taarifa ya Luka (mlango wa 1 na 2) Maria alipokea huko Nazareti ujumbe wa malaika mkuu Gabrieli kwamba atapata mimba na mtoto wa pekee.

Yosefu na Maria walikwenda Bethlehemu kwa sababu ya sensa iliyowataka kwenda katika mji alikotokea Yosefu. Hapo Yesu alizaliwa katika hori la kulishia wanyama; wachungaji mabondeni walitangaziwa na malaika habari hiyo wakaja kumwona mtoto.

Baada ya kuzaliwa wazazi walimpeleka Yesu Yerusalemu katika hekalu kufuatana na sheria ya Agano la Kale (Kitabu cha Kutoka 13,2; 13,15) halafu wakarudi kwao Nazareti.




Habari za Krismasi katika Korani




Korani pia ina habari za kuzaliwa kwake Yesu (nabii Isa).

Sura ya tatu (Al Imran, 42-47) ina habari za tangazo la malaika kwa Bikira Mariamu zinazofanana na Luka 1.

Sura ya 19 (Mariamu, 16-34) inarudia tangazo la malaika kwa Mariamu na inasimulia kuzaliwa kwake Yesu chini ya mti wa mtende, halafu majadiliano kati ya Mariamu na ndugu zake. Mtoto mchanga Yesu akaanza kusema wakati wa kuzaliwa akimtetea mama yake dhidi ya ndugu zake.




Krismasi katika maisha ya binadamu




Watu wote ni wakosefu na kujenga mazingira maovu hata wanayakinai na kutamani wamuone mtu tofauti, yaani mwema na mtakatifu. Pengine wanadhani fulani ni mwema kabisa, kumbe siyo.

Haja hiyo inaturudia sisi: kwa nini nisiwe mimi mtu wa namna hiyo? Kwa nini nisianze na moja kama kwa kuzaliwa upya kabla sijawadai wengine? Zaidi tena, haja kuu ya binadamu ni kumuona Mungu mwenyewe: lakini wapi, lini, namna gani




Krismasi katika liturujia




Kama kawaida, imani na liturujia ya Kikristo zinaitikia haja za binadamu. Kipindi cha Noeli kinatimiza haja tulizozitaja, kwa kuwa anazaliwa mtu mpya kabisa ambaye anatuvutia kwa wema wake na ambaye tukimuona tumemuona Mungu, tena tukimpokea tunazaliwa upya kama wana wa Mungu.

“Leo amezaliwa kwa ajili yenu Mwokozi, ndiye Kristo Bwana”. Tunapoadhimisha Noeli tangazo hilo la malaika kwa wachungaji linatufikia sisi. Si kujidanganya, kana kwamba Yesu angezaliwa leo, wala hatukumbuki tu tukio la zamani, bali fumbo la kuzaliwa Bwana linatufikia leo katika liturujia na kutuletea neema zake. Hivyo tunaweza tukazaliwa upya kwa kushiriki kuzaliwa kwa kichwa chetu.

Liturujia inashangilia hivi, “Lo! Mabadilishano ya ajabu! Mwana wa Mungu anakuwa mtu kusudi mtu awe mwana wa Mungu!”. Tena si binadamu tu, bali viumbe vyote vinapata heshima mpya kwa Neno wa milele kujifanya kiumbe

what is Christmas

Christmas[3] or Christmas Day[4][5] is a holiday observed generally on December 25[6] to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity.[7][8] The date is not known to be the actual birthday of Jesus, and may have initially been chosen to correspond with either the day exactly nine months after some early Christians believed Jesus had been conceived,[9] the date of the Roman winter solstice,[10] or one of various ancient winter festivals.[9][11] Christmas is central to the Christmas and holiday season, and in Christianity marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days.[12]

Although nominally a Christian holiday, Christmas is also celebrated by an increasing number of non-Christians worldwide,[1][13][14] and many of its popular celebratory customs have pre-Christian or secular themes and origins. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, music, an exchange of greeting cards, church celebrations, a special meal, and the display of various decorations; including Christmas trees, lights, garlands, mistletoe, nativity scenes, and holly. In addition, several figures, known as Saint Nicholas and certain mythological figures such as Father Christmas and Santa Claus among other names, are associated with bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season.[15]

Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, the holiday has become a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact of Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of the world




Etymology



The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning "Christ's Mass". It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038.[8] "Cristes" is from Greek Christos and "mæsse" is from Latin missa (the holy mass). In Greek, the letter Χ (chi), is the first letter of Christ, and it, or the similar Roman letter X, has been used as an abbreviation for Christ since the mid-16th century.[16] Hence, Xmas is sometimes used as an abbreviation for Christmas.

Celebration
Further information: Christmas worldwide
Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in countries around the world, including many whose populations are mostly non-Christian. In some non-Christian countries, periods of former colonial rule introduced the celebration (e.g. Hong Kong); in others, Christian minorities or foreign cultural influences have led populations to observe the holiday. Countries such as Japan and Korea, where Christmas is popular despite there being only a small number of Christians, have adopted many of the secular aspects of Christmas, such as gift-giving, decorations and Christmas trees. Notable countries in which Christmas is not a formal public holiday include People's Republic of China, (excepting Hong Kong and Macao), Japan, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Thailand, Nepal, Iran, Turkey and North Korea. Christmas celebrations around the world can vary markedly in form, reflecting differing cultural and national traditions.

Among countries with a strong Christian tradition, a variety of Christmas celebrations have developed that incorporate regional and local cultures. For Christians, participating in a religious service plays an important part in the recognition of the season. Christmas, along with Easter, is the period of highest annual church attendance. In Catholic countries, the people hold religious processions or parades in the days preceding Christmas. In other countries, secular processions or parades featuring Santa Claus and other seasonal figures are often held. Family reunions and the exchange of gifts are a widespread feature of the season. Gift giving takes place on Christmas Day in most countries. Others practice gift giving on December 6, Saint Nicholas Day, and January 6, Epiphany.


The Nativity by Charles-François Poerson, 1667.Date of celebration
For centuries, Christian writers accepted that Christmas was the actual date on which Jesus was born.[17] In the early 18th century, scholars began proposing alternative explanations. Isaac Newton argued that the date of Christmas was selected to correspond with the winter solstice,[10] which the Romans called bruma and celebrated on December 25.[18] In 1743, German Protestant Paul Ernst Jablonski argued Christmas was placed on December 25 to correspond with the Roman solar holiday Dies Natalis Solis Invicti and was therefore a "paganization" that debased the true church.[11] According to Judeo-Christian tradition, creation as described in the Genesis creation narrative occurred on the date of the spring equinox, i.e. March 25 on the Roman calendar. This date is now celebrated as Annunciation and as the anniversary of Incarnation.[19] In 1889, Louis Duchesne suggested that the date of Christmas was calculated as nine months after Annunciation, the traditional date of the conception of Jesus.[20]

The December 25 date may have been selected by the church in Rome in the early 4th century. At this time, a church calendar was created and other holidays were also placed on solar dates: "It is cosmic symbolism...which inspired the Church leadership in Rome to elect the winter solstice, December 25, as the birthday of Christ, and the summer solstice as that of John the Baptist, supplemented by the equinoxes as their respective dates of conception. While they were aware that pagans called this day the 'birthday' of Sol Invictus, this did not concern them and it did not play any role in their choice of date for Christmas," according to modern scholar S.E. Hijmans.[21]

However, today, whether or not the birth date of Jesus is on December 25 is not considered to be an important issue in mainstream Christian denominations;[22][23][24] rather, celebrating the coming of God into the world in the form of man to atone for the sins of humanity is considered to be the primary meaning of Christmas.[22][23][24]

Some Christians have called for opposition to the commercialization of Christmas, since the exchange of purchased gifts has nothing to do with the philosophy of Christ. [25]

Orthodox Christian Churches
For details on religious observances, see Christmas Eve.
Eastern Orthodox national churches, including those of Russia, Georgia, Egypt, Ukraine, the Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem mark feasts using the older Julian Calendar. December 25 on that calendar currently corresponds to January 7 on the more widely used Gregorian calendar. However, the majority of Orthodox Christians began using the Revised Julian Calendar in the early 20th century, which corresponds exactly to the Gregorian Calendar. Therefore, most Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on the same day as Western Christianity. Oriental Orthodox churches also use their own calendars, which are generally similar to the Julian calendar. The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the nativity in combination with the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6. Armenian churches customarily use the Gregorian calendar, but some use the Julian calendar and thus celebrate Christmas Day on January 19, and Christmas Eve on January 18 (according to the Gregorian calendar).




Orthodox Christian Churches



For details on religious observances, see Christmas Eve.
Eastern Orthodox national churches, including those of Russia, Georgia, Egypt, Ukraine, the Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem mark feasts using the older Julian Calendar. December 25 on that calendar currently corresponds to January 7 on the more widely used Gregorian calendar. However, the majority of Orthodox Christians began using the Revised Julian Calendar in the early 20th century, which corresponds exactly to the Gregorian Calendar. Therefore, most Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on the same day as Western Christianity. Oriental Orthodox churches also use their own calendars, which are generally similar to the Julian calendar. The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the nativity in combination with the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6. Armenian churches customarily use the Gregorian calendar, but some use the Julian calendar and thus celebrate Christmas Day on January 19, and Christmas Eve on January 18 (according to the Gregorian calendar).[26]

Commemorating Jesus’ birth
Main articles: Annunciation, Nativity of Jesus, and Child Jesus
Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary as a fulfillment of the Old Testament's Messianic prophecy.[27] The Bible contains two accounts which describe the events surrounding Jesus' birth. Depending on one's perspective, these accounts either differ from each other or tell two versions of the same story [28] [29][30][31] These biblical accounts are found in the Gospel of Matthew, namely Matthew 1:18, and the Gospel of Luke, specifically Luke 1:26 and 2:40. According to these accounts, Jesus was born to Mary, assisted by her husband Joseph, in the city of Bethlehem.

According to popular tradition, the birth took place in a stable, surrounded by farm animals, though neither the stable nor the animals are specifically mentioned in the Biblical accounts. However, a manger is mentioned in Luke 2:7, where it states, "She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Early iconographic representations of the nativity placed the animals and manger within a cave (located, according to tradition, under the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem). Shepherds from the fields surrounding Bethlehem were told of the birth by an angel, and were the first to see the child.[32] The Gospel of Matthew also describes a visit by several Magi, or astrologers, who bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus. The visitors were said to be following a mysterious star, commonly known as the Star of Bethlehem, believing it to announce the birth of a king of the Jews.[33] The commemoration of this visit, the Feast of Epiphany celebrated on January 6, is the formal end of the Christmas season in some churches.


Anbetung der Hirten (Adoration of the Shepherds) (c. 1500–10), by Italian painter Giorgio da CastelfrancoChristians celebrate Christmas in various ways. In addition to this day being one of the most important and popular for the attendance of church services, there are other devotions and popular traditions. In some Christian denominations, children re-enact the events of the Nativity with animals to portray the event with more realism or sing carols that reference the event. Some Christians also display a small re-creation of the Nativity, known as a Nativity scene or crèche, in their homes, using figurines to portray the key characters of the event. Prior to Christmas Day, the Eastern Orthodox Church practices the 40-day Nativity Fast in anticipation of the birth of Jesus, while much of Western Christianity celebrates four weeks of Advent. The final preparations for Christmas are made on Christmas Eve.

A long artistic tradition has grown of producing painted depictions of the nativity in art. Nativity scenes are traditionally set in a barn or stable and include Mary, Joseph, the child Jesus, angels, shepherds and the Three Wise Men: Balthazar, Melchior, and Caspar, who are said to have followed a star, known as the Star of Bethlehem, and arrived after his birth.



Decorations and symbols


Main article: Christmas decoration
See also: Christmas tree, Christmas lights, Christmas stocking, and Christmas ornament

Clifton Mill in Clifton, Ohio is the site of this Christmas display with over 3.5 million lights.The practice of putting up special decorations at Christmas has a long history. From pre-Christian times, people in the Roman Empire brought branches from evergreen plants indoors in the winter. Decorating with greenery was also part of Jewish tradition : "Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. " (Leviticus 23:40)

Christians incorporated such customs in their developing practices. In the 15th century, it was recorded that in London it was the custom at Christmas for every house and all the parish churches to be "decked with holm, ivy, bays, and whatsoever the season of the year afforded to be green".[35] The heart-shaped leaves of ivy were said to symbolise the coming to earth of Jesus, while holly was seen as protection against pagans and witches, its thorns and red berries held to represent the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus at the crucifixion and the blood he shed.[36][37]

Nativity scenes are known from 10th-century Rome. They were popularised by Saint Francis of Asissi from 1223, quickly spreading across Europe.[38] Different types of decorations developed across the Christian world, dependent on local tradition and available resources. The first commercially produced decorations appeared in Germany in the 1860s, inspired by paper chains made by children.[39] In countries where a representation of the Nativity Scene is very popular, people are encouraged to compete and create the most original or realistic ones. Within some families, the pieces used to make the representation are considered a valuable family heirloom.

The traditional colors of Christmas are green and red.[40] White, silver and gold are also popular. Red symbolizes the blood of Jesus, which was shed in his crucifixion, while green symbolizes eternal life, and in particular the evergreen tree, which does not lose its leaves in the winter.[40][37]


A Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, New York CityThe Christmas tree is considered by some as Christianisation of pagan tradition and ritual surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of evergreen boughs, and an adaptation of pagan tree worship.[41] The English language phrase "Christmas tree" is first recorded in 1835[42] and represents an importation from the German language. The modern Christmas tree tradition is believed to have begun in Germany in the 18th century[41] though many argue that Martin Luther began the tradition in the 16th century.[43][44] From Germany the custom was introduced to Britain, first via Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, and then more successfully by Prince Albert during the reign of Queen Victoria. By 1841 the Christmas tree had become even more widespread throughout Britain.[45] By the 1870s, people in the United States had adopted the custom of putting up a Christmas tree.[46] Christmas trees may be decorated with lights and ornaments.

Since the 19th century, the poinsettia, a native plant from Mexico, has been associated with Christmas. Other popular holiday plants include holly, mistletoe, red amaryllis, and Christmas cactus. Along with a Christmas tree, the interior of a home may be decorated with these plants, along with garlands and evergreen foliage. The display of Christmas villages has also become a tradition in many homes during this season. The outside of houses may be decorated with lights and sometimes with illuminated sleighs, snowmen, and other Christmas figures. Other traditional decorations include bells, candles, candy canes, stockings, wreaths, and angels.

Christmas lights and banners may be hung along streets, music played from speakers, and Christmas trees placed in prominent places.[47] It is common in many parts of the world for town squares and consumer shopping areas to sponsor and display decorations. Rolls of brightly colored paper with secular or religious Christmas motifs are manufactured for the purpose of wrapping gifts.

In some countries, Christmas decorations are traditionally taken down on Twelfth Night, the evening of January 5.

Obama asaini sheria ya mashoga jeshini

Rais Barack Obama ametia saini sheria ambayo kwa mara ya kwanza itaruhusu mashoga jeshini kuwa wazi na hali zao za kijinsia bila ya kuwa na wasiwasi wa kufukuzwa kazi.



Rais Barack Obama
Rais Obama amesema mabadiliko hayo yataimarisha jeshi na kwamba ilikuwa ni hatua sahihi ya kuchukua.

Katika sera ya zamani, iliyojulikana kama "Usiulize, Usiseme" iliruhusu mashoga kufanya kazi jeshini, lakini kwa kuweka hali ya jinsia zao siri.


Sera hiyo ilianzishwa miaka kumi na saba iliyopita wakati wa utawala wa rais Bill Clinton,


ikichukua nafasi ya kupiga marufuku mashoga jeshini.

KANISA Katoliki katika Jimbo la Sumbawanga, mkoani Rukwa, limevunja ukimya na kunena kuhusu mambo yaliyosababisha waumini wake, kutengwa

Mussa Mwangoka,
Sumbawanga

KANISA Katoliki katika Jimbo la Sumbawanga, mkoani Rukwa, limevunja ukimya na kunena kuhusu mambo yaliyosababisha waumini wake, kutengwa na wengine kuwekewa pingamizi kwa kukufuru utatu mtakatifu wakati wa uchaguzi mkuu, uliomalizika Oktoba 31 mwaka huu.

Hatua hiyo imekuja siku kadhaa baada ya baadhi ya vyombo vya habari, kuandika na kuchapisha habari kuhusu sakata hilo huku kanisa likiwa halizungumzi lolote.

Kitendo hicho, kiliwafanya baadhiya wananchi waliowahi kusoma habari hizo kutaka kujua ukweli kuhusu madai kuwa kanisa, limewatenga baadhi ya waumini wake kwa kukufuru utatu mtakatifu wakati wa uchaguzi mkuu.

Jana, Wakili wa Kiaskofu katika Jimbo la Sumbawanga, Padri Modest Katonto, alikiri kuhusu adhabu hiyo kwa baadhi ya waumini wa kanisa hilo na kwamba hakuna anayeweza kuitengua.

"Kanisa lingependa ifahamike kuwa hakuna mamlaka yoyote ya kidunia, inayoweza kuwaoondolea waumini hao adhabu hiyo, isipokuwa kwa jitihada za mtu mwenyewe binafsi kujipatanisha na kanisa kwa wale waliotengwa," alisema Padri Katonto.
Kanisa hilo pia limesema halina itikadi za kisiasa na kwamba adhabu zimetolewa kwa waumini hao, hazijali wadhifa wa mtu yeyote katika jamii.

Alisema kilichozingatiwa ni makosa ya kwenda kinyume cha imani na kushabikia mafundisho potofu.

Wakili huyo wa kiaskofu, alisema waumini waliokumbwa na adhabu hizo wako katika makundi mawili na kwamba la kwanza, ni la waliotengwa kwa kosa la kujilinganisha na utatu mtakatifu na kushabikia mafundisho potofu, huku wakijua wazi kuwa kitendo hicho ni cha uovu.

Kwa mujibu wa Padri Katonto, kundi hilo lina jumla ya waumini 27.
Alisema kwa mujibu wa sheria ya kanisa namba 1364, kosa lililofanywa na watu hao, linawatenga na umoja wa kanisa hata bila kutangaziwa au kujulishwa na kiongozi wa kanisa.

Alisema chini ya adhabu waliyopewa, waumini hao wamepoteza haki ya kushiriki katika idaba zote za hadhara za kanisa katoliki, kutoshiriki katika maadhimisho ya sakramenti, kutopokea akramenti na kutoshirki katika shughuli za uongozi wa kanisa .
Alisema "ikiwa aliyetengwa atahudhuria au atakuwepo katika mazingira ya inapofanyika ibada, lazima aondoke au au kama hatatoka, ibada itasitishwa. Na ikiwa atakufa bila kutubu, hatapewa maziko ya kanisa," alisema Padri Katonto.
Padri Kantonto alisema kundi la pili ni la waumini waliowekewa pingamizi ambao hata hivyo, hakutaja idadi yao.

Alisema chini ya pingamizi walilowekewa, waumini hao wananyimwa haki ya kupata huduma za kanisa kwa muda, wakati makosa yao yakichunguzwa na kwamba kama itabainika kuwa hawakufanya, watarudishiwa huduma zote.

Alisema hata hivyo, pingamizi hilo haliwaondowi watu wa kundi katika umoja na kanisa, kama ilivyo kwa waliotengwa.

Alisema katika kipindi cha uchaguzi mkuu, kanisa lilijitahidi kuwakumbusha waumini wake kuhusu nafasi zao na wajibu wao, lakini kinyume chake kanisa limeshuhudia, na kusikia baadhi ya waumini wakionyesha utovu wa nidhamu kwa kukufuru utatu mtakatifu.

"Walikufuru utatu mtakatifu, baadhi ya wagombea wakajifafanisha na Mungu mwenye nafsi tatu, kukufuru msalaba mtakatifu wa kanisa kwa kuuzika, kukejeli, kutukana na kudharau viongozi wa kanisa na wakristo wenzao," alisisitiza Padri Katonto.

Alisema vitendo hivyo vimesikitisha mno mama kanisa kwa sababu vimeambatana na usaliti wa imani na maadili ya kikristo.

"Lakini pia vitendo hivyo ni makwazo kwa wana kanisa na wakristo wa madhehebu mengine na watu wote wenye mapenzi mema," alisema.
Alisema wanaotenda makosa kama hayo kwa mujibu wa sheria, kanisa, lina haki ya msingi ya kuwaadhibu na kwamba adhabu hizo si ngeni ndani ya kanisa.
Kasisi huyo alifafanua kuwa shutuma dhidi ya kanisa kuwa limewatenga na kuweka pingamizi waumini wake kwa sababu za itikadi za kisiasa ikiwa ni pamoja na kuipigia kura CCM ni uwongo na uzushi wenye lengo la uchochezi.

"Kanisa Katoliki linahoji hivi uchochezi huo unafanywa kwa maslahi na manufaa ya nani," alisema.
Alisisitiza kuwa kamwe kanisa halitokaa kimya bila kukemea uovu kwa hofu ya vitisho na uzushi unaolenga katika kutetea maslahi ya kundi la watu wachache wasio na dhamira safi

Bashir asalimu amri kuhusu kura ya maoni

Mwanamke akicharazwa viboko.

Sheria za kiislamu zitakuwa kali Kaskazini.
Rais wa marekani Barrack Obama ametangaza kuwa swala la Sudan ni mojawepo wa ajenda kubwa ya mashauri ya nchi za kigeni ya serikali yake.

Rais Omar Bashir.

Msemaji wa Ikulu ya White House Mike Hammer amesema bwana Obama amekwishawaandikia barua viongozi wa Afrika akiwataka kuunga mkono kura ya maoni kuhusu uhuru wa Sudan Kusini itakayoandaliwa kwa njia ya amani.

Awali rais wa Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, alisema Sudan Kaskazini itaimarisha sheria za kiislamu ikiwa Sudan kusini itapiga kura ya kujipatia uhuru.


Bwana Bashir amesema kwamba ikiwa taifa hilo litagawanywa, katiba ya Sudan itabadilishwa , Kiarabu itakuwa ndiyo lugha ya pekee, dini ya pekee itakuwa ni Uislamu, na sharia ndiyo katiba ya pekee itakayotumika nchini humo.

Mwandishi wa BBC mjini Khartoum amesema maneno ya bwana Bashir yanawatia hofu raia wa Sudan Kusini ambao si waislamu na ambao wanaishi Kaskazini.

Katika mkataba wa amani wa mwaka 2005 uliomaliza vita vya wenyewe kwa wenyewe, raia wa Sudan Kusini walilindwa dhidi ya makali ya sharia.

Uingereza yafikiria kumzuia Terry Jones

Waziri wa Mambo ya Ndani ya Nchi wa Uingereza, Theresa May, anasema, anazingatia kama anafaa kumpiga marufuku kasisi mmoja wa Marekani, kuingia Uingereza au la.



Terry Jones


Kasisi Terry Jones, alizusha tafrani ya kimataifa mapema mwaka huu, alipotangaza mpango wa kuchoma moto Koran, wakati wa kukumbuka mashambulio ya tarehe 11 Septemba.


Kasisi Terry Jones, aliiambia BBC, anapanga kuzuru Uingereza, kuitikia mwaliko wa chama chenye msimamo mkali wa mrengo wa kulia, English Defence League.


Wanaharakati wamesema, Kasisi Terry Jones akiingia nchini Uingereza, kunaweza kuzuka hisia dhidi ya WaIslamu