What Is Christmas?

Earlier this month, I asked my students to each answer the following questions:
1. What do you think Christmas is about?
2. What did you used to think Christmas was about?

Now many students know Christmas is the celebration of the day Jesus was born on earth. They know that He was born to die then live again, taking the full punishment for OUR sins, so that all who believe in Him will have a relationship with God and live with Him forever.

For the 1st question, all but one of my students wrote that it is about the birth of Jesus / Jesus' birthday. Jesus came to save the world ...

Before, many thought it was:
- a Western / US holiday
- New Year for European / Western countries
- the day of love where "honeys" give gifts to each other. (Valentine's Day)
- a festival / holiday for people to celebrate and be happy
- a holiday for people to be "happy in their country for friend, family, and all people join together."
- a day to have parties
- a program that people made up to have a party and exchange gifts
- an international holiday for the end of the year.
- "wish day. (everyone wish for me)"
- "ceremony of Christian"
- "I never used to think Christmas before."
- to share candy
- "Before I used to think Christmas was about the program of Christians. One more thing I used to think they just celebrate it to make their group happy.

(For some, "before" meant 1 month ago, while for others it could be several years ago.)