【正文】 e holiday. Major exceptions, where Christmas is not a formal public holiday, include People39。 prophecies from the Old Testament.[15] The Gospel of Matthew also describes a visit by several Magi, or astrologers, who bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant. The visitors were said to be following a mysterious star, monly known as the Star of Bethlehem, believing it to announce the birth of a king of the Jews.[16] The memoration of this visit, the Feast of Epiphany celebrated on January 6, is the formal end of the Christmas season in some churches.Christians celebrate Christmas in many ways. In addition to this day being one of the most important and popular for the attendance of church services, there are numerous other devotions and popular traditions. Prior to Christmas Day, the Eastern Orthodox Church practises the Nativity Fast in anticipation of the birth of Jesus, while much of Western Christianity celebrates Advent. The final preparations for Christmas are made on Christmas Eve.Over the Christmas period, people decorate their homes and exchange gifts. In some Christian denominations, children perform plays retelling the events of the Nativity, or sing carols that reference the event. Some Christians also display a small recreation of the Nativity, known as a Nativity scene or crib, in their homes, using figurines to portray the key characters of the event. Live Nativity scenes and tableaux vivants are also performed, using actors and animals to portray the event with more realism.[17]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.[18]Varied traditionsAmong countries with a strong Christian tradition, a variety of Christmas celebrations have developed that incorporate regional and local cultures. For many 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 many Catholic countries, the people hold religious processions or parades are held 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 practise gift giving on December 6, Saint Nicholas Day, and January 6, Epiphany.A special Christmas family meal is an important part of the celebration for many, and what is served varies greatly from country to country. Some regions, such as Sicily西西里島(地中海之最大島嶼), have special meals for Christmas Eve, when 12 kinds of fish are served. In England and countries influenced by its traditions, a standard Christmas meal includes turkey (brought from North America), potatoes, vegetables, sausages and gravy肉汁。 while others distance themselves from religion with an allinclusive Season39。che de No235。 birthMain articles: Annunciation, Nativity of Jesus, and Child JesusFor more detail on religious observances, see Christmas Eve.Adorazione del Bambino (Adoration of the Child) (143943), a mural by Florentine painter Fra Angelico.In Christianity, Christmas is the festival celebrating the Nativity of Jesus, the Christian belief that the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament39。 7 References 3 History o PreChristian background 167。 bushfires and road accidents. Most recently, Ms Tabart said, koalas have been found starving to death and dying of dehydration through lack of water due to the drought in Australia. She also added that climate change could be behind their most recent decline. “The koalas are just dropping out of the trees like flies because there’s no water,” she said. “And a vet told me recently that he had done 700 post mortems on koalas and half of them starved to death, so it is a real problem.” She said that while there was no way to put a figure on the exact amount of koalas in the wild, the foundation’s current population estimate of between 43,000 and 80,000 would still make it able to be categorised as an endangered species. “I really believe there is no more than 50,000 koalas left in Australia,” she said. “We drove through western Queensland recently and didn’t see one for three days which traditionally had been full of them.” In 2003 there were estimated to be 100,000 koalas in mainland Australia. Some scientists believe the numbers may be higher. However, last year the Australian Government endorsed a national conservation strategy for koalas . Professor Bob Beeton, the chairman of the TSSC, said that the mittee was open to discussions over the issue at a meeting in Canberra today, but would not make a decision on the status of the koala until next year. “We’re interested in whether there’s a decline in numbers, whether there’s a decline in range, how rapidly those things are occurring, what’s the probability of extinction,” Professor Beeton told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, adding that the iconic status of the Australian koala would not influence their decision. “We’d consider the koala with the same level of diligence and dedication as if it were the death adder.” North American Origins for the Falklands Wolf Zoology of the Voyage of . BeagleAn illustration of the Falklands wolf from The Zoology of the Voyage of . Beagle, which was published in the late 1830s. 窗體頂端The Falklands wolf has puzzled evolutionary biologists since Charles Darwin first encountered it during the voyage of the Beagle in the 1830s. It was the only native land mammal on the Falkland Islands, which are 300 miles off the coast