Christmas doesn't need any introduction! This annual winter festival is celebrated to remember Jesus Christ's birth. Predominantly a Christian festival, Christmas is celebrated with incredible zeal and gusto all over India. Keep reading here to know the significance, popular customs, and more about this magical winter festival.
It is that jolly time of the year!
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birthday of Jesus Christ. The festival is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believed to be the son of God and the third member of the holy trinity. This festival is a joyous celebration observed worldwide as a religious holiday and a time of celebration by Christians. On the other hand, it is celebrated as a seasonal holiday by non-Christians.
Let’s get to know more about this winter festival.
Christmas Day 2024: Know Here!
Christmas is the annual festival of Christians known for its religious and spiritual significance. Christians celebrate the day by indulging in various Christmas traditions and practices that are of immense religious importance. Christmas or Christmas Day marks the birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity. Christmas 2024 will fall on 25th December (Wednesday).
This festival is observed on 25th December every year. Even though the fixed date of the birth of Jesus Christ is 25th December, there is no actual historical data to corroborate it. As the actual month and day of Jesus Christ's birth are unknown, this particular date is widely accepted. Now, 25th December marks the universal celebration of Christmas. In India, Christmas is a public holiday.
Christmas: Significance That You Should Know About
Even though Christians comprise a small part of the population in India, the festival has an immense popularity. Midnight mass, attending Church, decorating houses, setting up Christmas trees, getting together with one's loved ones, exchanging gifts, and eagerly waiting for Santa Claus are some of the most popular customs in India.
The term 'Christmas' originates from 'Ctistes Maesses.' This is an early English phrase for the 'Mass of Christ.' A Mass service, sometimes also referred to as the Eucharist or Communion, is where Christians remember that Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed and died for the people and then came back to life. Lord Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, is God's penultimate prophet and messenger. You would be surprised to know that 'Christ-Mass' service is the only service permitted to happen after sunset and before the rise of the Sun the next day. This means that people have the service at midnight. The name 'Christ-Mass' was shortened to Christmas. Nowadays, Christmas has become a much-awaited and loved festival that allows families and friends to get together and exchange pleasantries and gifts. Christmas has now become a global secular and religious festival.
The festival commemorates the birth of Lord Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity. Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph. He is the second among the Holy Trinity of Christianity, i.e., the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ sought to transform the lives of the people. He brought in a new spiritual turn to the lives of the people. Therefore, a new era dawned upon the world. The birth of Jesus Christ holds utmost significance for Christians because they believe that God sent his beloved son on Earth as a sacrifice to redeem the people from their sins. Jesus Christ was born to guide human beings on the righteous path and restore the moral order. He helped humankind to overcome the dark times. An individual who is humble, devoted, and has purity can enter into a new life of spiritual aspiration when the spirit of Christ takes birth within his heart.
Many non-Christian and Christian communities all over the globe celebrate this festival as the beginning of the New Year festivities and an opportunity to meet and greet their loved ones.
Christmas is synonymous with Santa Claus. You cannot think of Christmas without the legendary Santa Claus. 'Father Christmas' or 'Santa Claus' is the figure who is the traditional patron of Christmas who is known to bring gifts to children. The prevalent image of Santa Claus is based on the traditions associated with Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century Christian saint.
The legend of Santa Claus states that he resides in the North Pole, where he makes toys throughout the year with the assistance of his elves. In the North Pole, he receives letters from the children asking for Christmas presents. Santa Claus loads his sleigh with presents and flies worldwide on Christmas Eve, and eight reindeers draw his sleigh. He visits the houses to distribute gifts to the children. Children are encouraged by their parents to leave stockings before going to bed so that they receive gifts from Santa. It is commonly believed that Santa slides down the chimney with a sackful of presents, leaves the gifts, and then eats the cookies and drinks the milk left for him by the children. The famous figure of Santa Claus is based on the traditions and legends surrounding the historical personage Saint Nicholas, who is the English figure of Father Christmas and the Dutch figure of 'Sinterklaas'.
Christmas is widely observed as a cultural holiday celebrated by billions of people around the world. In India, Christmas is a gazetted holiday. The Christians across India celebrate this festival with extraordinary zeal, joy, and happiness. The festival is meant to honor the birth of Lord Jesus Christ. Regarded as an important festival for Christians in India and around the globe, Christmas has become a significant festival in India that is celebrated by people from all faiths with fervor.
Christmas is that wonderful time of the year when family and friends come together and take the time out to remember the good things in life. For children, Christmas is when they receive presents and enjoy a joyful time. Undoubtedly, Christmas is the most loved and famous winter festival in India. People celebrate the occasion by exchanging gifts, listening to Christmas carols, enjoying delectable dishes, and decorating the Christmas tree. The Christian and non-Christian populations are equally immersed in enjoying the presents brought by Santa Claus and the delicious Christmas cakes.
The manner of celebration of Christmas differs from one region to another. Christmas in India is often a mish-mash of traditional Christian activities alongside secular customs and rituals of the local origin. The celebration of this occasion comprises numerous customs and traditions, such as the arrival of Santa Claus, the exhibition of the nativity scene, and obviously, the Christmas trees.
Some of the ways Christmas is celebrated in India are given below-
People not only decorate the Christmas tree, but they also decorate their houses with wreaths, holly, lights, candy canes, mistletoe, and stockings. Many people use large paper stars and paper lanterns to decorate their homes. The star is commonly believed to have guided the three wise men. People in small groups visit door to door singing carols. Moreover, many people also attend the special Church services and the Midnight mass at churches on Christmas Eve. Some people put up a genesis scene with clay figures. Nativity scenes are also hugely popular. Lavish and festive meals are cooked, and people wear new clothes.
Homemade sweets and rich fruit Christmas cakes are prepared and are shared with visitors and neighbors.
Churches throughout the nation hold evening amenities on Christmas Eve. Many churches also hold special candlelight amenities at midnight.
A large number of Christians in India are Roman Catholics who reside in Mumbai, so Christmas is celebrated with a lot of splendor and pomp in Mumbai.
In many parts of India, mango or banana trees are decorated as Christmas trees instead of Pine trees.
In Southern India, Christmas celebrations involve people lighting small oil lamps and decorating their homes. This is quite similar to Hindu customs followed during the festival of Diwali. The light signifies that Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
Christmas celebrations can be seen even in Goa. Most of the Christian population in Goa are Catholics. People go carol singing around their neighborhood for about a week before Christmas, and midnight masses are held.
Malls, shopping centers, and offices all put up Christmas trees and decorations. Parties are organized, and people sing carols. People dress up as Father Christmas or Santa Claus and give presents and sweets to everyone.
Christmas Day is now celebrated by most people around the world, whether they are Christians or not. This is a time of merriment when friends and family come together to count their blessings, remember the good times, and make new memories. This festival is also dearly loved by children as it's the time to give and receive gifts. Christmas is truly the festival when people spread joy, love, and positivity.
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