Christmas Posters
for the classroom, home schoolers, and theme decor for offices.

Christmas is the annual Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus, on whose teaching the Christian religion is based. The word Christmas is from the Old English and is a contraction of ‘Christ's mass’. When written as Xmas it is because the X resembles the Greek letter ‘chi’, an abbreviation for Christ.

Celebrating Christmas on December 25 (January 7 for Eastern Orthodox Christianity) is related to the practice of adapting the relatively new Christian faith to already established Roman and Germanic holidays as conversions took place. The pagan holidays marked the winter solstice, the time when the sun, which appeared to be sinking in the sky, reverses and ascends signaling that winter will end and life will return, appropriate symbolism for Jesus.

Many of the traditions associated with modern Christianity such as the Christmas tree, the yule log, and mistletoe are from northern Europe. The wreath, a circular garland with origins in Egyptian, Greek and Roman traditions, is woven with holly, a symbol of goodwill and friendship at Christmas time. The poinsettia was used in colonial Mexico as a Christmas decoration.

Also see seasonal Observances and Events lists - November | December | January

For Christians the Annunciation is the revelation to Mary by the angel Gabriel that she would conceive a child to be born the Son of God. The Feast of Annunciation is usually celebrated March 25, the Incarnation nine months before the feast of the Nativity of Jesus, or Christmas.

• Luke, Chapter 1, verses 26-38.

The Magi (word related to magic) were astrologists, very early astronomers, who studied the motion of the stars, and might be considered early pyschologists as they also helped intrepret dreams; they were considered wise by the people who relied on them to prepare for future events.

The Magi were following a celestial phenonmena and only learned of the Jewish prophecies about a star appearing that would indicate the arrival of a Messiah, from King Herod. The Magi's visit is celebrated on Epiphany, a Christian feast celebrated on January 6 (Twelve Days of Christmas). The Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah, was already an established celebration.

The Holy Family,
Joseph, Mary & Jesus

The tradition of gift giving to children is personified in Santa Claus whose contemporary image as a large, jolly man in a red suit was created by Clement C. Moore, the author of the famous lines 'Twas the night before Christmas...' Santa is based on a real life man by the name of Nicholas who was born in Turkey during the 4th century and was known for his devotion to Christianity, his generousity to the poor and love of children. When Nicholas was canonized he became known as Saint Nicholas which evolved into Santa Claus.

FYI ~ The name Nicholas is from the winged Greek goddess of victory, Nike.

Christmas Ornaments on Tree

• tree posters

Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men

• peace posters

Mr. Pickwick Under the Mistletoe with a Number of Ladies

• Charles Dickens posters

The red and green poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a shrub plant native to parts of Mexico and Guatemala is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family.

The plant has been associated with Christmas since it was used in 17th century Spanish missions as a decoration to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

The plant was introduced into the US in 1828 by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Ambassador to Mexico.

• The Legend of the Poinsettia
• more flower posters