| CHRISTMAS | | | | is the exchange of gifts among friends and family |
| Traditionally observed on December 25, Christmas | | | | members, some of them being attributed to |
| or Christmas Day is an annual holiday that | | | | Santa Claus. Santa Claus is also known by other |
| celebrates the birth of Jesus. Although some | | | | names, such as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, |
| churches observe it on different dates, the fact is | | | | Kris Kringle, Saint Basil and Father Frost. Santa |
| that the precise chronology of Jesus' birth and | | | | Claus is based on the tale about Saint Nicholas, or |
| death is yet to be determined. Christmas has | | | | Sinterklaas, who gave gifts on the eve of his |
| many sides to it, some religious and some secular, | | | | feast day of December 6. He became associated |
| including the exchange of gifts, the Santa Claus | | | | with Christmas in 19th century America and was |
| myth, decoration and display of the Christmas | | | | renamed Santa Claus or Saint Nick. In Britain and |
| tree, and religious ceremonies. | | | | France too, Father Christmas and Pere Noel |
| History | | | | respectively were made to adopt the Santa |
| We can trace the origin of Christmas to several | | | | image. |
| pagan holidays. It was since AD 354 that the | | | | Christmas tree |
| christians in the West started celebrating the | | | | The Christmas tree owes its origin to the ancient |
| birthday of Jesus Christ on December 25, | | | | pagan idea, later appropriated by the christians, |
| replacing an earlier date of January 6. By that | | | | that the evergreen tree represents a celebration |
| time, the christians had appropriated several | | | | of the renewal of life. Christmas trees first |
| pagan festivals and traditions of the season that | | | | became popular in Germany in the late 18th |
| were practiced in many parts of the Middle East | | | | century. Christmas trees may be decorated with |
| and Europe, as a means of stamping them out. | | | | lights and ornaments. The poinsettia then became |
| Among those festivals were Saturnalia of the | | | | associated with Christmas, while other popular |
| Romans, the birth celebrations of sun - God Attis | | | | holiday plants include holly, mistletoe, red amaryllis, |
| in Phrygia (December 25) and Persian sun - God | | | | and Christmas cactus. In some parts of the world, |
| Mithras (December 17-24). | | | | it is traditional to decorate the outside of houses |
| The Nativity | | | | with lights and sometimes with illuminated sleighs, |
| The Nativity refers to the birth of Jesus Christ. | | | | snowmen, and other Christmas figures. Town |
| The christians celebrate Christmas by | | | | authorities also hang Christmas banners from |
| remembering or re-creating the Nativity. While the | | | | street lights and place Christmas trees in the |
| Eastern Orthodox Church practices the Nativity | | | | town square. |
| Fast in anticipation of the birth of Jesus, the | | | | Feasts and cards |
| Western Church mostly prefers celebrating | | | | A special meal of Christmas dishes is usually |
| Advent. Children often enact the events of the | | | | served on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve. |
| Nativity, or sing some of the numerous Christmas | | | | Another extremely popular tradition is to send |
| carols that reference the event. Some christians | | | | Christmas cards to friends and family members. |
| display a small re-creation of the Nativity in their | | | | Cards can also be produced with messages such |
| homes, using small figurines to portray the key | | | | as "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays", to |
| characters. | | | | include senders and recipients who may not |
| Santa Claus | | | | celebrate Christmas. |
| In Western culture, a main feature of Christmas | | | | |