1. Christmas Festival
Christmas Festival falls on 25th day of
December every year and commemorate the
birth of Lord Jesus Christ, the central figure of
Christianity. Christian communities across the
globe celebrate Christmas with faith, joy and
enthusiasm. Celebrations for Christmas begin
on the eve of Christmas on 24th December
and continue till New Year's Day. During this
entire period people make merry, party with
friends and exchange seasons greetings and
gifts with dear ones. High point of
Christmas Festival celebrations
include decoration of Christmas
Tree, Christmas cakes, carols, and
the jolly old Santa Claus - the
mythical character who brings gifts
for children.
Origin of Christmas Festival
The word 'Christmas' comes from 'Cristes
Maesse', or "Christ's Mass." Historians claim
that Christmas Festival was first celebrated in
Rome circa 336 AD. In early times, there was a
controversy on the date of Christmas
celebrations as the exact date of Christ's birth
was not known. But in 336 AD, Christian
leaders fixed the Christmas date to December
25. This date was mainly an attempt to eclipse
Saturnalia a popular pagan holiday in Rome
that celebrated the winter solstice. Gradually,
the 25th December got acceptance from the
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2. Western World and later even Eastern Churches
started celebrating Christmas Day on
December 25th.
Christmas Festival Traditions
Christmas festival centers around various
popular traditions. Adding age old traditions in
your Christmas traditions helps you enjoy the
festival to the fullest. The most popular
tradition of decorating Christmas Tree is
followed with great excitement by people
across the world. In many countries, people
decorate artificial spruce trees to keep alive
the spirit of the tradition. Houses are
decorated with auspicious mistletoe, lights and
display of Nativity scenes. Christmas is highly
enjoyed by young children as it brings along
winter holidays and time to perform some
traditional activities. They keenly participate in
cleanliness and decoration of their house.
Children behave very nicely to make their
favorite Santa Claus happy who brings gifts for
them. Christians actively participate in
midnight Christmas Mass and the joyous
Christmas carnival. Christmas evening is the
time to relish some traditional Christmas food
especially the Christmas Cake. Tradition of
singing Christmas carols and songs is also
practiced with faith and dedication.
Celebrations for Christmas Festival
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3. Festive air pervade everywhere when
Christmas is near. It is celebrated with high
spirits and gusto. Though the way of
celebrating Christmas differs in various
countries but the fervor and enthusiasm
remains the same. Caroling, feasting and gift-
giving are the main ingredients of a perfect
Christmas celebration. Christmas preparations
begin many days before the festival. Markets,
streets, homes and churches are illuminated
with colorful lights and decorated with Nativity
scenes, Christmas trees and artificial snow.
Pubs, party halls, restaurants, discotheques
and even beaches are thronged by people at
the time of Christmas. These celebrations are
escalated with multiple fireworks and other
festivities. It is celebrated with immense joy
and mirth all around. Merry-making with family
and friends is the significant part of the
Christmas fiesta. No celebration is worth
unless spent with loved ones. Some people go
to their native place, stay at home or indulge
in lavish balls and enjoy get-together with their
dear ones.
These days workplaces also hold special
theme parties. It gives people a chance to
dress in their best. Now-a-days, many Christian
schools perform Nativity plays and hold
Christmas parties. Sumptuous meals also form
an important part of Christmas celebrations.
People spend a lot of time preparing their
special Christmas delicacies. People are in the
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4. fun and frolic mood especially children as they
get gifts from their beloved Santa Claus.
1. The Origin of Christmas
The origin of Christmas differs as the
precise date of the birth and historicity of
Jesus are much debated. Christmas, literally
meaning the Mass of Christ, is a traditional
holiday in the Christian calendar. The festival
of Christmas takes place on 25th December,
every year to celebrate the birth of Jesus
Christ. Christmas is also celebrated as a
secular holiday throughout the world,
including countries with small Christian
populations like India. Various theories of the
origin of Christmas exist that give a clear
insight into the celebration of Christmas.
Date of Christmas
Christmas is celebrated on December 25
in all Christian churches including Eastern Rite,
Roman & Protestant. Since most Eastern
Orthodox churches have not accepted either
the Gregorian calendar or the Revised Julian
Calendar reforms, December 25 will fall on the
civil date of January 7 for the years from 1900
to 2099. It is believed that the nativity was set
on December 25th by a Roman bishop around
the third century A.D.
The Roots Of Christmas
Christmas is from Christes Maesse, which
means Christ Mass. It is referred that during
the 4th century, the celebration of Christ's
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5. birth on December 25 was gradually adopted
by most Eastern churches. In Jerusalem,
opposition to Christmas lasted longer as
according to them the exact date of birth of
Jesus Christ is unknown. It is said that
December 17-24th was the period of
Saturnalia, a well-known festival in pagan,
Rome. December 25th was the birthday of
Mithra, the Iranian god of light. This day was
adopted by the church as Christmas to
counteract the effects of these festivals
The Acceptation
Though the true origin of Christmas is
filled with controversy and compromise, today,
Christmas has turned out to be one of the
most popular festival that fills joy, happiness
and love in people's life. The festival of
Christmas has absorbed various customs and
traditions of world and 25th December has
emerged as the most important day for
Christians, irrespective of its roots. It is taken
as a day that reflects the power, glory and
salvation of Jesus Christ and his message of
hope to the world.
Various Theories Of The origin of
Christmas
As the origin of Christmas has been a
debatable issue, various theories has been
suggested, supporting the date of 25th
December as the birth of Jesus.
2. Christmas Tradition
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6. The Tradition of Christmas festival has
gradually evolved from times that long
represented the Christian period. All the
traditions and customs performed on this day
are only the extension of Roman Pagan to
Christian ceremonial. The tradition of
Christmas include the 12 days of Christmas,
the bright fires, the yule log, the giving of
gifts, carols, the feasts, and the church
processions, can all be traced back to the early
times.
With the passage of time, the nature of
Christmas celebration has undergone
tremendous change and every year a new
tradition begins. Christmas, celebrated to
remember and honor the birth of holy Jesus,
has evolved from a staunch religious affair into
a merry hearted event that include carnivals,
cookies and off course Santa Clause. The
Traditional Elements Of Christmas:
Yule Log
The burning of the Yule Log was taken
from ancient sun worship rituals. Yule Logs are
supposed to be cut from red oak trees and
burned all of Christmas Eve and into Christmas
Day.
Snow
Christmas has been widely associated with
snow fun activities such as skiing,
snowboarding, sled riding, snow mobile riding,
or hiking with snowshoes.
Wreath
6

7. To worship evergreen holly is taken as a
sign of eternal life because it did not brown or
die in the winter. Some religious groups say
that the crown of thorns placed on Jesus' head
was made of holly. The berries were
supposedly white but turned bright red from
Jesus' blood.
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is rarely used in churches
because it comes from the ancient Druid
ceremony celebrating winter solstice. This
once pagan tradition started when a girl would
stand beneath the hanging plant and a boy
would walk up, pick a berry and then kiss her.
Cookies
There is no exact date recorded but the
idea of leaving cookies for Santa started
sometime in the 1930's. Naughty kids use
them to bribe Santa at the last minute and nice
kids use them as a way of thanking him for all
his hard work on Christmas Eve.
Santa Claus
Santa' has been around since the 4th
century. Originally known as Saint Nicholas,
the patron of children and sailors, the bishop
was immortalized because of his generous and
loving nature towards children.
Lights
The very first person to have Christmas
lights on their tree was Edward Johnson who
worked for Thomas Edison. The use of
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8. decorative light has been imperative on the
Christmas Day.
Christmas Tree
The tradition of the Christmas tree comes
from Germany. The very first trees were oak,
the same tree used for the Yule Log. Trees
have been a symbol of good luck since the
middle Ages.
Caroling
The custom of singing Christmas carols is
said to have come from 13th century Italy
where a man named St. Francis of Assisi led
songs of praise. It is very bad luck to send
carolers away empty handed. It is customary to
offer food, drink or even a little money.
Rudolph
The invention of Rudolph was an
advertising gimmick. The red-nosed reindeer
was born in 1939 when a 34-year old writer for
Montgomery Ward named Robert L. May was
asked to invent a Christmas story. The
company gave copies of the story to customers
during the holiday season as a promotion for
their stores.
3. Christmas Day in the Morning
Christmas mornings are the most spirited
time of the year after spending a great
Christmas Eve. All christians attend Christmas
services held on the Christmas day. It is a
prayerful service and people pray on Christmas
mornings celebrating the birthday of Jesus
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9. Christ. The prayer is usually followed by carol
songs which is the traditional songs sung
during the Christmas season. People of all age
group join in singing the Christmas carols
which set the right spirit for the festival. After
this they wish each other greetings of the
seasons. People also visit the crib which is a
depiction of the scene of the birth of Jesus
Christ in Bethlehem.
Decoration of Christmas Tree
Most of the houses set up the Christmas
tree in their garden or house before the
Christmas mornings. This tree is decorated by
all the members of the family and the stars are
fixed. Lights, buntings and other decorations
brighten up the Christmas tree. Gifts for all the
family members are kept next to the christmas
tree and are to be opened up only on the
Christmas Eve or the Christmas morning. It is a
well known belief that children of many
cultures across the world are known to hang
stockings in the house and believe that Santa
Claus will stuff the stocking with gifts.
Christmas Celebration
All young boys and girls wake up early in
the morning to see the gifts that they got from
their parents as well as from Santa Claus. They
are exited to open up the new toys and sweets
that they have received as presents. Dressed in
the best clothes brought for Christmas,
children also check the gifts in the stocking
that they have hung near the fire place or near
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10. the Christmas tree. They also have a special
sumptuous Christmas breakfast that includes
puddings, cakes and special cookies that are
all home made and delicious.
The melodious carols sung by the carol
singers in the vicinity make the occasion all
the more special and memorable. The singers
visit every house and sing melodious carols.
Every member of the family come together to
celebrate on Christmas mornings and have
lunch or dinner together. The meals are really
filing with a variety from, chicken, pork, beef,
meat and wonderful desserts to feast on.
Christmas mornings are one of the best times
of the year for enjoying with your family and
loved ones
4. About Santa Claus
The whole persona of Santa Claus is well
etched out and is a very attractive icon of
children. Christmas is a festivity most awaited
by children and this has immensely helped in
the survival of the legends of Saint Nicholas or
Santa Claus and particularly his reputation as a
bringer of gifts. The American version of St.
Nicholas, or Santa Claus originally came from
the Dutch version called Sint Klaas. The Dutch
settlers in New York brought this fun and lively
tradition to America.
The Persona
This version of Santa has given the current
myth its visual form and some very curious
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11. traditions. A merry old man with red and white
clothes, along with eight flying reindeer, which
is later joined by Rudolph the red nosed
reindeer. The home of Santa Clause is located
on or near the North Pole and he is in habit of
filling socks or stockings with presents on the
night of December 24th. Santa Claus is also
said to possess the habit of entering houses
through the chimney.
The Transformation
The basis for the Santa Claus is Bishop
Nicholas of Smyrna (Izmir), in what is now
Turkey. Nicholas lived in the 4th century A.D.
He was very rich, generous, and loving toward
children. Often he gave joy to poor children by
throwing gifts in through their windows. The
modern day image of Santa Clause has been
very much evolved and has attained a
commercial status. But nonetheless this image
has still preserved the essence of the old cult.
Actually the old "cult" of Santa Claus
incorporates many traditions: Christian and
Pagan, Old Catholic, Scandinavian, Dutch,
German and English.
The Real Saint Nicholas
Born to relatively affluent Christian parents
in Patara, Saint Nicholas was at one time
bishop of Myra, a town in Asia Minor (modern-
day Turkey). Recognized for his great
generosity, he is the real saint Nicholas.
Santa Around the World
11

12. Santa around the world is recalled in a
different versions. But the common facts
related to him is that he is virtually
omnipresent and can visit hundreds of millions
of homes in one night.
5. The Christmas Tree
A Christmas without the Christmas tree is
incoherent. The fragrance and essence of the
Xmas trees have been an integral part of the
celebrations as well as of the family unit since
time immemorial. The celebrations usually
begin with the selection of the tree, and
carries on with the decorations till the day of
Christ, when all the revelry takes place in front
of this very tree. Gifts are placed under the
tree, as family and friends gather around to
celebrate the birth of Christ.
A Christmas Symbol
For families in North America, Germany
and other parts of Europe, the Xmas Tree is
the symbol of the Christmas season. They
played a symbolic part because they stayed
green and alive when other plants appeared
dead and bare. They represented everlasting
life and hope for the return of spring. The use
of evergreens was and is most widespread in
England and Germany. At least 500 years ago
the religious meaning began to be associated
with these plants.
Choosing the Tree
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13. There are many varieties of evergreen
trees around the world, and finding the first
variety used is a matter of myth. Some of the
oldest legends include fir trees. Some older,
verifiable accounts include hemlocks, though
hemlock branches are often too frail to
support most ornaments. There are
approximately 50 different kinds of conifers
sold to eager holiday shoppers. Common types
include pines, spruces and other firs.
Decorations
Once the right kind of tree is secured, the
next step is to source various ornamental
items for its decorations. It is up to the taste
and preference of individual to decide the kind
of look wanted to give to the tree. This is true
time to showcase the creativity with the help of
color and style theme. The Christmas tree is
decorated with colorful ribbons, ornaments,
glistening garland and blinking lights. No
matter how the tree is decorated it still
symbolizes a timeless Christmas tradition of
families gathered together exchanging
presents and love.
Christmas Tree Evolution
The Christmas tree evolution is believed to
have begun in Germany, in the first half of the
700s. Later on various additions were made
and the Christmas tree custom became
popular in other parts of world.
Christmas Celebrations
13

14. Christmas celebrations include spending
time with the family, decorating the entire
house, inside and out and shopping, for
friends and relatives. Spending Christmas with
the family is very important. On this day, all
family members spend time in baking cookies,
making fudge and preparing a big Christmas
dinner, with all the trimmings. The children
love to see each other and spend the day
playing games and sharing their new gifts and
toys that Santa Claus brought for each of them
1. Christmas Day
People love everything about Christmas Day
- the nativity scene, caroling, scripture reading
and concerts. November onwards, it is
impossible to forget that Christmas is coming.
Colored lights decorate many town centres
and shops, along with shiny decorations, and
artificial snow painted on shop windows.
During the season people take the time to
enjoy the city or town when it's all decorated.
The Tradition of Christmas
The Tradition of Christmas have combined
from over half a dozen cultures and
accumulated over the centuries. An in-depth
look in into its tradition, and one is moved
with all the sentiments, symbols and meaning
associated with Christmas. All of which
combine to give a touch of liveliness and
harmony to the season of celebrations.
However, no matter which part of the world
you are in, the tradition of Christmas blossoms
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15. with fun and celebration and carries along with
it faith, hope and love.
Celebrating Christmas
Celebrating Christmas has nothing to do
with spending a lot of money and having
elaborate parties. The biggest celebrations are
the most personal ones spent with people
whose company we love. A simple thing as
watching a beautiful Christmas movie with a
special someone can be all it takes. Or maybe
share a home cooked meal with friends in
front of the decorated Christmas tree.
Christmas Meal
On Christmas Day, a special meal of
Christmas dishes is usually served, for which
there are traditional menus in each country. In
the United Kingdom, the traditional meal
consists of roast turkey or goose, served with
roast potatoes and other vegetables, followed
by Christmas pudding, a heavy boiled pudding
made with dried fruit (traditionally plums) and
flour.
2. Christmas Gifts
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of
Jesus for members of the Christian religion.
The first celebration of Christmas took place in
Rome. Christmas is a wonderful catalyst for
enjoying the precious and simple pleasures of
being, if only for a brief time, close together in
the warm familiarity of friends and family,
renewing relationships and sharing memories.
15

16. People enjoy this festival with lots of love and
enjoy the cherish of Christmas with sweets and
gifts.
Every country is having a unique way of
celebrating christmas,but certain customs are
same throughout the world people exchange
gifts and sweets, decorate their houses and
illuminate it with light, decoration. 'Christmas
trees' will also be decorated with lights and
Christmas ornaments.
From December onwards it is impossible
to forget that Christmas is coming. Colored
lights decorate many town centers and shops,
along with shiny decorations, and artificial
flowers. Shops are decorated in a new and
impressive way,people start planning before
the Christmas it needs a lot of care before the
purchasing of christmas gifts your gifts
selection choice will do the right the job and
bring cheer in your life.
On christmas when you decide the shpping
place to buy a gift because there are countless
of shops are reflecting their product it is
essential to choose peculiar one from a huge
market.it is essential to keep in mind the
person for whom it is presented, whether it is
special presents for close friends and family or
corporate gifts for business customers.
Nowadays,people used to purchase a specific
gifts for their mother, father, kids, teenagers
and any one special for you.
16

17. Christmas home made gift can save
money, depending on the materials, but they
definitely cost you in time, so it’s an even
trade off. But there is an additional benefit to
hand-making this year’s Christmas gifts. You
can be definitely sure that the gift you give will
be an original.When you make your own gift,
you have the luxury and comfort of knowing
that this will never happen to you.Enjoy this
Christmas with kids and with your relatives
with new gift and make this christmas a
memorable and delighted.
3. Christmas Shopping
With the beginning of December, people
begin making plans and look forward for
shopping. It is a time of dual celebration, of
Christmas and New Year. People tend to think
that Christmas shopping and shopping for
gifts is the same thing. However, there is much
more to Christmas shopping than just gifts.
One has to take some important decisions to
make it a wonderful experience.
When do I start my Christmas Shopping?
To set the festive mood, start shopping as
early as possible. Start noticing the pre-
Christmas sales that have been running at
most shops. Grab a bargain, and visit stores
that offer discounts. Always avoid shopping in
a hurry.
What do I buy?
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18. If you are shopping for kids and ladies, the
nature of gift or product would differ and the
place from which you are buying would also
change. So always keep in mind, and make a
separate list for each category.
Some Popular Ideas on Christmas
shopping
Market Selection:
Come Christmas time and all of us start
searching the market to select those perfect
gifts for all our near and dear ones. But if you
choose the market before shopping, it will
make your shopping session much simpler and
convenient, it helps in saving your precious
time and makes shopping successful.
Shopping on a Weekday:
Weekends have always been considered a
favorite time to go shopping. But the festive
season added to the fact that it is a weekend
makes it so much more difficult to shop at
peace. A great solution to this is to shop on
weekdays.
Make the Budget for Christmas Shopping:
Its Christmas time, the best time to go for
shopping! Christmas holiday represents the
perfect reason to indulge in shopping for self
as well as family members and friends. One
should prepare and make up their mind before
they go and shop for that perfect gift. It helps
in avoiding the splurging or the feeling that
one has overspent.
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19. 4. Christmas Song
Christmas Songs stand as one of the most
important pillars of holiday music. The vast
collection of Christmas songs prompt a lot of
lovers of Christmas music to fall in love with it.
These songs are sung by one & all and are also
presented by famous singers in their
incomparable style and timeless voice.
Christmas songs capture the warmth of the
Christmas season like no other. All the songs
are beautiful, bringing that unmistakeable
Christmas charm to each and every household
Christmas Decorations
There are many things that can spark the
Christmas spirit, the arrival of cold weather,
the smell of cookies baking in the oven, the
presence of family are all examples. But
nothing seems to trigger the magical feelings
of the holiday season quite like holiday
decorations
The nature of the Christmas decorations
has changed noticeably over the past sixty
years. Tastes have changed, of course the
themes that were so popular in the fifties and
sixties are no longer in evidence. Perfect
Christmas decorating needs a plan or a theme
such as selecting among the rustic lodge
Christmas, a Toyland Christmas, countries
around the world, Victorian, country, Santa,
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20. snowmen, old fashioned, the list goes on and
on.
1. Christmas Ornament
During Christmas, various store offers a
wide collection of luxurious Christmas
ornaments. These include glass balls, glass
eggs, wooden balls, hand curved Santas,
ornament dolls and many more including
costly items and souvenirs. Sparkling and
gleaming, they create festive atmosphere and
merry mood, decorating the home inside and
outside on Christmas.
Molded to perfection by skilled artisans,
Christmas ornaments is one-of-a kind
decorative pieces that are rich in color and
luxurious details. The Christmas tree just isn't
complete without absolutely charming
Christmas ornaments. These are covered with
high-gloss finish depicting various Christmas
ornaments and provided with attractive
ribbons. One can hang them on the Christmas
tree or simply hand over as a gift.
Christmas ornaments are one of the best
ways to express the cheer and meaning of the
holidays in one of the simplest ways. Such a
small thing can really make a big difference in
the Christmas decorating. The different
themes and feelings can be conveyed merely
through Christmas ornaments. A history of
love and connections spoken in ornaments,
hanging upon the boughs of pine-scented
greenery.
20

21. The beauty of the season is expressed in
the tradition of bringing out the ornaments
each year, remembering which ornament was
added to the collection in what year, bringing
back to memories of years past. Some
memories holding joy, some even sadness, but
each holding on to love. Christmas ornaments
bring the nostalgic element to Christmas, the
love and warmth of tradition into your home.
Ornaments with religious themes, such as
angels and inspirational nativity scenes, are
available from leading names in collectibles,
such as Fontanini, Precious Moments, and
Bradford Editions, crafted in fine porcelain and
resin. Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, and
other traditional symbols of the season such
as candy canes, gingerbread houses, and gaily
wrapped presents all remain popular ornament
themes.
Christmas Lights
Christmas Lights are a fabulous way to
bring a touch of class to holiday celebrations.
Christmas, the winter festivals use lights and
fires to symbolize life and warmth in the midst
of winter's cold and darkness. These usages,
like gift giving, have persisted. The most
splendid symbol of a modern Christmas is the
brilliantly lighted evergreen tree with strings of
multicolored lights. Uniquely themed lighted
trees that break from tradition have grown in
popularity the past few years.
21

22. Decorating a Christmas tree is a family
event. The Christmas lights, ornaments and
tree topper enhance the beauty of the tree.
The decorated and fully lighted Christmas tree
has an aura in itself. It fills the air with
warmth, love and happiness that are symbolic
of the holiday season. Apart from Christmas
tree, the lighting is done everywhere, be it on
a roof top, to the driveways, home, restaurants
as well as commercial places.
The Decorations
The decorations on the Christmas trees
draw their root in traditional values. The
crystal balls symbolizes the fruit of
redemption, the electric light or the candles
are ancient symbols that stand for the triumph
of spring over the darkness of winter. The light
also symbolizes the light that Jesus Christ cast
upon the lives of the people.
Christmas is the time of year to deck out
the trees, shrubs, windows and eaves with
hundreds and thousands of Christmas lights.
Christmas lights are a big part of the holiday
season. As November and December roll
around, one can see strands of lights
everywhere - on Christmas trees, houses,
shrubs, bushes and even the occasional car.
The early Christmas trees were lighted
with candles, then glass covers with candles
inside or metal lanterns with small wicks hung
on the Christmas tree branches like
ornaments. With the invention of the electric
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23. lights, people use red ,white, and blue,
flashing light bulb colors to light up the
Christmas holiday season.
Christmas Recipes
Christmas recipes always include terrific
holiday offerings which make a great
appetizer. There are huge collection of books
and articles on Christmas Recipes that one can
find. Christmas cookies, Christmas Candy,
Christmas Cakes and many other delicious
dishes are specially made on Christmas Eve.
Various Christmas recipes make a great
addition to the table and it is a holiday
tradition for families to get together and try
out new Christmas recipes each year
Families usually have their favorites,
whether it's chocolate chip, shortbread or
pinwheels. They make great gifts when you
combine them with other items. One can make
a great gift by tyeing colorful ribbon on the
Christmas recipe instructions or Christmas
Recipes cook book.
1. Christmas Candy
Preparing Christmas candy is one of the
most important activity done by family
members on Christmas days. People enjoy
Christmas candy during the holiday season as
these have many good uses. Apart from eating
it, one might also consider giving Christmas
candy as gifts. It is great fun to make
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24. Christmas candy as most homemade candy
lasts quite a long time, and has the added
benefit of being custom made. The recipes can
be adjusted to the individual taste of the
intended recipient.
Early candy canes were intentionally
shaped like that of a shepherd's crook to
remind us that Jesus Christ is the Good
Shepherd who laid down his life for humanity.
The earliest candy canes were pure white and
were invented in the 17th century. But modern
day Christmas candy is as extremely colorful
and decorative in their looks.
Christmas candy are also used to hang up
for decorations, can act as the perfect gift, and
is a holiday treat that can be very indulging.
There are various types of Christmas candy
that can be prepared at home or can be
bought at the holiday times. Few of them are
decorative such as candy canes for Christmas
tree, ribbon candy, red and green chocolates,
some can act as stocking stuffers such as
novelty candies; candy toys; and interactive
candy
2. Christmas Cookies
Christmas cookies are the perfect way to
celebrate the Holiday season and are a family
favorite all the year round. Christmas Cookies
are giveaways that is filled with Christmas
spirit, loving memories and delicious buttery
taste. Christmas cookies are more than just
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25. baked goods as these help to stay connected
to all loved ones and to friends and family
around the world. They are a tangible and
tasty link to the Christmas traditions, and
memories.
The origin of Christmas cookies is related
to Santa Clause. People just made cookies on
Christmas because they wanted santa to have
something to eat before he would go to the
next house and cookies are also a festive thing
to eat on Christmas. They are fun to make and
decorate and when they are done they look
nice. They just taste really and are a good
thing to eat on Christmas.
3. Christmas Cakes
If you want some inspiration in the kitchen
this Christmas Season, then making beautiful
Christmas Cakes is the perfect solution for
you. There are an array of different cakes and
designs to suit all tastes of one and all. The
Christmas cakes are imaginative and inspiring
for even the most basic baker.
The design of Christmas cakes are made
according to the age ranges and are also
specifically made for typical boys, feminine
girls and for those children who fall into
neither category.
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26. X'mas Around the World
Christmas around the world is celebrated
in different ways by different countries.
Customs differ around the world for observing
Christmas, but they all center on celebrating
the birth of Jesus Christ. Thus, all around the
world, people have taken the celebration of
the birth of Jesus and made a Christmas that
fits with the culture of their own country.
Christmas is a happy, festive time filled
with great spiritual significance. Caroling,
feasting, and gift giving along with the prayers
and wishes - the Christmas is celebrated with
high spirits all over the world. Though the
mode of celebration, the dates and the
traditions vary, the main spirit remains the
same everywhere. It is interesting to see how
different countries celebrate Christmas. Here,
one can have a glimpse over the different ways
Christmas is celebrated in different countries
1. Christmas in UK
The English Christmas celebrations include
the beautiful Christmas music, decorated
Christmas Trees and hang up evergreen
branches. The English gift giver is called
Father Christmas and he wears a long red or
green robe, and leaves presents in stockings
on Christmas Eve. However, the gifts are not
usually opened until the following afternoon.
Christmas in England began in AD. 596,
when St Augustine landed on her shores with
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27. monks who wanted to bring Christianity to the
Anglo Saxons. Father Christmas delivers them
during the night before Christmas. The
Children leave an empty stocking or pillowcase
hanging at the end of the bed. In the morning
they hope it will be full of presents.
In England the day after Christmas is
called Boxing Day because boys used to go
round collecting money in clay boxes. When
the boxes were full, they broke them open. In
England Christmas dinner was usually eaten at
Midday on December 25, during daylight.
In England the traditional Christmas dinner
is roast turkey with vegetables and sauces. For
dessert it is rich, fruity Christmas pudding with
brandy sauce. Mince pies, pastry cases filled
with a mixture of chopped dried fruit.
The Christmas tree is central to England's
holiday celebration and, although it had been
seen in various places in England, it grew
extremely popular when Queen Victoria's
husband, Prince Albert, brought the tradition
to the Royal Family from his native Germany in
the mid-nineteenth century. However, it has
not entirely eclipsed the kissing bough (a
mixture of evergreens and mistletoe).
2. Christmas in Europe
Christmas throughout Europe is a
celebration time, which includes spending time
with the family, decorating the entire house,
inside and out and shopping, for friends and
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28. relatives. Spending Christmas with the family
is very important for European people. On this
day, all family members spend time in baking
cookies, making fudge and preparing a big
Christmas dinner, with all the trimmings. The
children love to see each other and spend the
day playing games and sharing their new gifts
and toys that Santa Claus brought for each of
them. Though the underlying zest of
celebration is same, some of the distinct
tradition can be seen that varies with different
European countries.
Christmas Fun
The spirit of Christmas isn't about gifts,
decoration, lights, but it's more about love. It's
about being with those people love to spend
some quality time and telling them how you
feel. Christmas is about showing and sharing
love for those dear to one's heart and for one's
common man. Christmas is a also a fun time
that can consist of a child's homemade card
for a parent, a unexpected kiss on the cheek
to your beloved, a phone call to a friend or
relative who is alone, or any number of things
that can make others happy and content.
Nowadays Christmas is all about style and
enjoyment, but people are also very passionate
about traditions and throughout the country in
November and December there is an
undeniably festive ambience. The thousands of
Christmas lights that line the streets that bring
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29. a warm glow to the long evenings. Christmas
markets feature stalls selling handicrafts and
the sort of homemade foods that send
appealing aromas in the air.
For the majority of people, December 25th
is associated with has all the glitter, tinsel and
razzmatazz of a Christmas. Christmas Party,
Christmas Candle, Christmas ornaments,
Christmas Recipes, Christmas Gifts and
Christmas Cards are some of the major
aspects of a modern day celebrations. For
many, the children in various households,
wake up the family at dawn. Gifts are
unwrapped and the joy of Christmas begins.
1.Christmas Party
Christmas is a wonderful time of the year
when joy, hope, generosity, goodwill, and
fellowship abound, and is one of the most
exciting and festive holiday. It is also a unique
day to party along with friends and relatives.
Christmas party is a social and family get
together that also features gift giving,
entertainment, and feasting. But one must be
always sure enough by planing the event
ahead, since Christmas is a busy time of year
for everyone.
The most important aspects that are to be
planned quite early includes making a guest
list, sending out invitations, planning a menu,
setting a budget for food and decorations. If
these are planned out properly, the organizers
need not be tensed about all the tiny details as
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30. these can be looked in a couple of days before
the big day.
2. Christmas Candle
Christians world over light candles at
Christmas as a symbol of the birth of Christ,
and his renewing light force that guides his
followers along the righteous path that has
been chosen by them. People widely follow the
tradition of lighting candles in the windows
and lighting candles on the Christmas tree.
Christmas candles are manufactured only out
of the best waxes, dyes, fragrances essential
oils, and lead free wicks. Manufacturers with
their expertise on candle making, produce
high quality candles that are slow burning and
virtually dripless.
In today's Christmas ceremonies, candles
can be found everywhere from the carolers
who walk around and sing to us to many of the
beautiful greeting cards we send to our friends
and loved ones. Candles are a part of almost
every culture's Christmas. Smooth and texture
surfaced candles are available in a variety of
sizes and fragrances as well as unscented for
the festive occasion of Christmas.
Candles have been around for centuries
and no one really knows who actually invented
the candle. But, we do know that candles
where replaced by oil lamps and that they were
used by prehistoric people to make wall
paintings deep inside caves. The candle
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31. continues to play an important role in many
seasonal celebrations. In China, Christians
celebrate by using paper lanterns to turn
Christmas trees into trees of light. In parts of
India, clay oil-burning lamps are used. In
Sweden, many believers participate in what is
known as Lucia. This is a celebration in which
they give thanks to the Queen of Light for
bringing hope during the darkest time of the
year.
3. Christmas Cards
Be it any occasion, the personal touch is
what makes all the difference when conveying
your wishes. To make an occasion memorable
and special, homemade cards, no matter how
simply done. Christmas letters are a way of
using Christmas as the time for connecting
with people and keeping in touch by writing to
them about the year gone by. E-cards are the
instant yet creative way to keep in touch with
everyone. The effort and time invested is so
less and that is the reason that with the
changing times everyone has adapted
themselves to this quicker way of sending
Christmas wishes across.
Christmas Symbols
Christmas is the most widely celebrated
festival world over, and also the most popular
festival globally. Apart from traditions,
customs and rituals, there are some of the
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32. interesting and enjoyable information on the
different icons and symbols that are
associated with Christmas. In fact, these things
have become so common with the celebration
of Christmas, through these symbols people
come to know that Christmas has come. For,
these are what Christmas mean to the masses,
at least symbolically. Following are some of
the symbols that have been eventually
attached to the Day celebrated as the birth of
Jesus Christ
Christmas Star
For centuries scholars and laymen alike
have speculated on the nature of the star that
led the wise men from the east to seek out the
Messiah. The Christmas star has traditionally
been associated with the spirit of the
celebration and their is something very special
about it. The significance of the star can be
found in the story related to the birth of Jesus
Christ.
One wintry night a new star came to visit
the other stars. It was so radiant that its rays
shone upon the gray hills and made them light
as day. The shepherds saw it and were
frightened at its strange brightness; but an
angel came to them and said: "Do not be
afraid; the star has come to bring you good,
tidings of great joy, and to show you the place
where a little babe is born,--a little babe whose
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33. name is Jesus, and who will give peace and joy
to the whole world."
When the angels had gone back to Heaven,
the shepherds said, "Let us go and see this
child." So they left their flocks sleeping on the
hillsides, and took their crooks in their hands
and followed the star. It led them to the little
stable in Bethlehem, when the Baby Jesus was
cradled in a manger. Then the star moved on
again to a country far away, where some good,
wise men lived. They saw the bright light, and
noticed the star moving on and on, as if it
were showing them the way to go. So they,
too, followed the star till it rested above the
birthplace of Jesus.
The star watched over them, casting a
peaceful light over all. At last the dawn came
over the hill tops, and the star went away, far
back into the blue heavens, to tell the other
stars the story of the Christmas day. The
Christmas star symbolizes high hopes and
high ideals - hope for good fortune, hope for
reaching above oneself.
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