Christmas is a popular festival celebrated throughout the world. Though the main theme behind the celebrations is same everywhere, every country has slightly different customs related to Christmas celebration. Christmas is a popular and joyous festival celebrated by Christians around the world.
The festival of Christmas falls on 25th day of December and marks the birth or Nativity of Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity. Festivity of Christmas continues from December 24 to January 1, the New Year’s Day. Fun-filled activities takes place all through these days and people enjoy the festival my participating in masses, prayers, carols and plays specially organized to celebrate Christmas. Another joyous part of Christmas celebration is decoration of Christmas Tree and arrival of mythical merry old man Santa Claus.Christmas Festival is celebrated with lot of fanfare and gusto. Days before the festival markets wear a festive look. One can find shops decorated with Christmas Trees and others traditional symbols of Christmas. Santa Claus moving around the street and distributing sweets to children is also a common site. Hectic shopping takes places at this time as people buy Christmas gifts for all their near and dear ones. At home womenfolk make themselves busy in the preparation of Christmas Cakes and cookies. On the day of Christmas people participate in the special mass in the morning and thereafter visit friends to exchange greetings and gifts. Children take pride in showing to the guests scenes of Nativity or the birth of Jesus Christ and their Christmas Tree decorations. All their elders pamper them with gifts.While Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, many of the symbols and rituals associated with the holiday go back far beyond this important event.
In India too festivities of Christmas continue all through the ten days of the festival. Christians and even the non-Christian communities enjoy themselves by participating in Christmas Balls, feast and get together that are organized by Churches and societies all across the country.
