Welcome to The Jersey Cats Emporium *CHRISTMAS* Home Page
This is the 3 of us this year 2008 Angel Buster, Lady & Simba aren't we cute little kitties???!!!!
IN KEEPING WITH
CHRISTMASTIME,
WE ALL WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT
WE WANT FOR THIS
MERRY CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR!!!!
Angel Buster's Wish - Peace on Earth and lots to eat
Lady's Wish - Love for Everyone and More food to eat
Simba's Wish - Lots of Love, Hugs and Kisses for all
and more going out doors
Meowmie's Wish - Love and Peace to Everyone
CAT VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Christmas time is here
again
Santa's on his
way
Bringing toys
and lots of love
Filled up in his
sleigh
Watch the magic
happen
The reindeers
are in sync
Moving now with
so much speed
They travel in a
wink
Don't forget the
cookies now
Hot cocoa will
be fine
Top it off with
whipping cream
He never will
decline
'Tis the season
he loves best
Just because of
you
Merry Christmas
one and all
May all your
dreams come
true.
~Francine Pucillo(c)~
Here is an older photo of the Christmas Kitties
all dressed up waiting for Santa to arrive:
The Story of the Birth of Christ Jesus as
found in the Holy Bible, in the book of Luke.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken
throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius
was the governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his home
town to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town
of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's hometown, for the
census. As a decendant of David he had to go there. He went
with Mary, his fiancee, who was pregnant.
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped Him in
a blanket and laid Him in a manger, because there was no
room for them in the hostel.
There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had
set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel
stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They
were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here
to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for every
body worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town,
a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you are to
look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."
At once the angel was joined by huge angelic choir singing
God's praises: "Glory to God in the heavenly heights; Peace
to all men and women on earth who please Him."
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked
it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see
for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running,
and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the
angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherds
were impressed.
Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep
within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying
and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It
turned out exactly the way they'd been told! ~ Luke 2:1-20
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was a simple scene that first Christmas – a rough room, a
young couple, and nothing but a feeding trough to put the child
in. It was probably quite cold and with family far away there
was little help. Not exactly the Hallmark moment we like to
show in Christmas pageants. And yet this rustic scene marked
the greatest event in the history of mankind.
God's Son became human and came to earth to save us. God had
promised to send a Messiah, one who would save His people. He
could have easily burst on the scene as a full grown man, a
seven foot warrior with fiery eyes and arms of steel. This was
what many people were looking for, but it wasn't how God did it.
He arrived in the arms of a young girl. He was, as another of
our authors put it "a very small package, wrapped in rags,
given from the heart of God. The perfect gift."
God gave His only Son to die in our place so that we, in all
our brokenness, could know forgiveness. He came so that we
could know what love feels like, real love – love that never
leaves, love that never disappoints, love that is never
betrayed. He sent His Son into a sad world to bring us hope.
THE HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS
Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
No one knows the exact date of Christ's birth, but most Christians
observe Christmas on December 25. On this day, many go to church,
where they take part in special religious services. During the Christmas
season, they also exchange gifts and decorate their homes with holly,
mistletoe, and Christmas trees. The word Christmas comes from Cristes
maesse, an early English phrase that means Mass of Christ.
The story of Christmas comes chiefly from the Gospels of Saint Luke
and Saint Matthew in the New Testament. According to Luke, an angel
appeared to shepherds outside the town of Bethlehem and told them
of Jesus's birth. Matthew tells how the wise men, called Magi, followed
a bright star that led them to Jesus.
The first Mention of Christmas
The first mention of December 25 as the birth date of Jesus occurred
in A.D.336 in an early Roman calendar. The celebration of this
day as Jesus's birth date was probably influenced by pagan (unchristian)
festivals held at that time. The ancient Romans held year-end celebrations
to honor Saturn, their harvest god; and Mithras, the god of light.
Various peoples in northern Europe held festivals in mid-December
to celebrate the end of the harvest season. As part of all these
celebrations, the people prepared special foods, decorated their
homes with greenery, and joined in singing and gift giving. These
customs gradually became part of the Christmas celebration.
In the late 300's, Christianity became the official religion of
the Roman Empire. By 1100, Christmas had become the most important
religious festival in Europe, and Saint Nicholas was a symbol of
gift giving in many European countries. During the 1400's and 1500's,
many artists painted scenes of the Nativity, the birth of Jesus.
The popularity of Christmas grew until the Reformation, a religious
movement of the 1500's. This movement gave birth to Protestantism.
During the Reformation, many Christians began to consider Christmas
a pagan celebration because it included nonreligious customs. During
the 1600's, because of these feelings, Christmas was outlawed in
England and in parts of the English colonies in America. The old
customs of feasting and decorating, however, soon reappeared and
blended with the more Christian aspects of the celebration.
Gift
giving
The custom of giving gifts to relatives and friends on a special
day in winter probably began in ancient Rome and northern Europe.
In these regions, people gave each other small presents as part
of their year-end celebrations.
Other
customs
In the 1800's, two more Christmas customs became popular--decorating
Christmas trees and sending Christmas cards to relatives and friends.
Many well-known Christmas carols, including ``Silent Night" and
``Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," were composed during this period.
In the United States and other countries, Santa Claus replaced Saint
Nicholas as the symbol of gift giving.
The celebration of Christmas became increasingly important to many
kinds of businesses during the 1900's. Today, companies manufacture
Christmas ornaments, lights, and other decorations throughout the
year. Other firms grow Christmas trees, holly, and mistletoe. Many
stores and other businesses hire extra workers during the Christmas
season to handle the increase in sales.
The word Xmas is sometimes used instead of Christmas. This tradition
began in the early Christian church. In Greek, X is the first letter
of Christ's name. It was frequently used as a holy symbol.
