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Christmas Festival is celebrated on December 25 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ. This auspicious occasion is a prime festival of Christian community and hence, is celebrated zestfully around the world. Christmas conveys his message of love, tolerance and brotherhood. Though, it is a religious festival of Christians, it has a special significance in everyone's life. In India, Christmas is widely celebrated by the people of all religions and communities. December 25 or Christmas Day is a public Holiday in India.
Like any other religious festival, the celebration of Christmas begins month before the day of festival. During Christmas week, markets and shopping places are embellished with different types of Christmas gifts and Christmas items. People prepare themselves for the festival by decorating their houses. Cakes, Candles, Christmas Carol and most importantly, Christmas tree are the attractions. Churches and other public places are decorated elegantly to celebrate the festival with great zeal. On the day of festival, people perform prayers at the Church and wish everyone with open heart and sacred soul. Also, various cultural programmes are organized across the nation to make this auspicious day memorable for everyone. Santa distributes gifts to the children and listens to their demands with a smile.
The festival of Christmas reflects the cultural unity of India as on this auspicious occasion, the whole nation comes together and celebrates the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ. This cultural unity sets an excellent example of brotherhood and humanism. British and European invaders brought Christianity into India and now it has become an integral part of the country. The doctrines and philosophy of Christianity has attracted people of many sections and hence, India has a large population of Christian community at present.
On the occasion of Christmas, people in India decorate banana or mango tress instead of traditional pine tree and also light up their homes through small clay lamps or candles, just as Hindus do during the celebration of Diwali. Churches across India are decorated with poinsettia flowers for the midnight mass. As a part of celebration, people exchange gifts on this auspicious day and donate of money to poor people so as to bring happiness in their lives. South India has large population of Christians and hence, it witnesses wide celebration of Christmas. The most visited place during Christmas in India is Goa, where people from across the world come to celebrate Christmas. In Goa, all hotels are jampacked during Christmas period and one must plan well in advance if planning a stay in one of the Goa hotels. Lavish party and ceremonial programmes are organized by the local community to attract tourists.
History
Christmas is signified as the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was believed to be the son of God, born as a human. The story goes back to the first book in 'The Bible' where Adam and Eve committed their first sin. The only consequence of sin was death. It was then told by God that a savior will be born to save humankind from sin. Birth of Jesus Christ is most important event in the entire Christian mythology. This is why Christmas is said to be the only festival of the Christians. According to the Bible, Mary was engaged to marry Joseph who was a carpenter. But one day an angel visited her and told her that she will conceive a child and she is to name him "Jesus". He was born near a village called Bethlehem. Since they were traveling at that point of time, they had no place to stay. So Jesus was born in a stable nearby. The western, which is the universal, dating system, is based on this very event. B.C means Before Christ and A.D. meaning Anno Domini which means "the year of our Lord" according to the Gregorian calendar. So 2000 A.D. mean 2000th year of our Lord. Stating this against the secular nature, today the international use of this system has been rejected. It is replaced by C.E. and B.C.E. (Common Era and Before Common Era).
Celebrations and Rituals
Christmas is the season of holiday in most countries. In Europe it is also the season of shopping. People shop like crazy during Christmas. That is why it is also the season of gifts! It is time to get together and spend some quality family time. The celebrations start on Christmas Eve, otherwise, the evening before Christmas. People usually sit up till 12 to wish each other "Merry Christmas!" The house is decorated with Christmas tree, bells, angels, lights and so on. Christmas morning all the children run to the Christmas tree to find the gifts that "Santa Clause" might have left for them. People make tarts and cakes. Plum cakes are the most famous during Christmas. Indian urban celebrations might vary a little in terms of food and clothing, but the spirit of the festival more or less remains the same. In Hindi, Christmas is known as Bada Din.
