The celebration of Christmas is mainly associated
with the Christians. It is regarded as a Christian holiday that
celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ but surprisingly no one knows
the actual date of Christ's birth, but most Christian observes
Christmas on 25th December. According to the Christian calendar it
is the most important festival. Though it is celebrated worldwide
but each place has a way of its own to celebrate it. Irrespective of
the way it is celebrated the significance and the reason behind its
celebration remains the same through out the world. The variation in
the traditions and cultures of the countries gave birth to the
variant styles of celebration. Today the way Christmas is celebrated
worldwide is mainly due to commercialization, which has taken place
in each and everything. While most of the Western world associates
this festival with Santa Claus and gift giving and family get
together, fun and enjoyment but there are still a number of people
who consider it as festival, which signifies all about Jesus his
message, his preaching and his mission.
For most Christians, the Christmas season begins on the Sunday
nearest 30th November. This date is regarded as the feast day of
Saint Andrew, one of the twelve apostles of Christ. The nearest
Sunday is the first day of Advent, which means coming and refers to
the coming of Christmas festival. It's a four-week period during
which Christians prepare for the celebration of Christmas. Many
Christians have an Advent wreath in their homes during the holiday
season. To keep track of the 24 days before Christmas in many
countries, people use special Advent calendars or Advent candles.
The Christmas season reaches a climax at midnight Mass or other
religious services on Christmas Eve. Churches are decorated with
candles, lights, evergreen branches, and bright red poinsettias.
People sing Christmas carols and listen to readings from the Gospels
of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew. Priests and ministers speak to the
congregations about the coming of Christ and the need for peace and
understanding among all people.
Most churches also hold services on Christmas Day. This is mostly
the universal way Christmas is celebrated around the world. Only the
ways which may differ from place to place. In most of the places the
Christmas season ends on Epiphany, 6th January. Mostly in the
Western Christian churches, Epiphany celebrates the coming of the
Wise Men to the Christ child. Among the Eastern Christians, this day
celebrates Jesus's baptism. The 12th day after Christmas is known as
Epiphany. The song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" refers
to those twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany.
