Introduction
Christmas is the festival of joy, happiness and feasts which is observed to celebrate the birth of Lord Jesus Christ. 25th December is the day which is considered as the day when Jesus Christ was born to father Joseph and mother Mary at Bethlehem. The birth of Jesus was considered as the birth of a savior of mankind and people were overjoyed on this day. Christmas is one of the most important festivals for the Christian community. It is celebrated with great happiness and joy with various events and activities. Though Christmas is a Christian festival but the joy and happiness associated with the festival makes it a festival of many non-Christian communities also.
Christmas and its Importance
The birth of Jesus Christ, who is considered as the son of God, holds an important place in Christianity. Jesus was the one who taught a new way of life to the people and saved them from their sins and sorrows.
It is believed that birth of Jesus took place at the time when the society was encircled with many evils like greed, hatred, superstitions, violence etc and he was sent to earth to save mankind from these evils. Jesus was considered as the light of the world and he came to save people from the darkness of ignorance, misery, sorrow etc and Christmas is the day when people welcome this great savior of mankind.
Twelve Days of Christmas Celebration
Christmas is celebrated for twelve days which is also known as Twelvetide. The first day of the Twelvetide is the Christmas Day, the birth of Jesus Christ. The second day is the Boxing Day or the St. Stephen’s Day for his martyrdom. The third day is celebrated as Feast of St. John the Apostle for his contribution to ‘Book of Revelation’. Fourth day is the Feast of Holy Innocents and fifth day is Feast of St. Thomas Becket.
Sixth day commemorates St. Egwin of Worcester who is considered as the protector of orphans and widows. Seventh day is celebrated as the New Year’s Eve. The eight day is celebrated to give tribute to mother Mary. The ninth day of Twelvetide honours St. Basil. The tenth day is the day when Jesus was named in the holy temple and the eleventh day is the Feast of St. Simeon. The twelfth day is known as the Epiphany Eve which marks the end of the twelve days Christmas celebration.
Christmas Celebration in India
Christmas in India is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm. People all over India take part in the Midnight Mass with their family. Massive feasts are organised at various places with delicious cuisines. Churches are spectacularly decorated with flowers, Christmas trees and electronic lightings on the occasion. Markets on Christmas get draped in colourful lightings and decorative items ranging from sparkling tinsels to colourful Christmas bells and stars.
Christmas in Goa is one of the most vibrant celebrations in India. The festivity of the occasion fills the air with lots of excitement and joy. People sing, dance and enjoy the festival with their friends and families. The ringing sounds of church bells, melody of Christmas carols and drenching of streets with lights and fireworks embarks the mood of a carnival. The delicacies of Christmas foods in India ranges from mouth watering fruitcakes, pastries and grape drinks to plum puddings, plum cakes and rose cookies.
Christmas Tree
Christmas celebration could not be complete without the Christmas tree. There is a tradition of decorating Christmas tree on the occasion as a symbol of Christ. The Christmas tree could be a natural fir, spruce or pine trees or it could also be an artificial tree. People decorate the Christmas tree with lots of decorative items like tinsels, stars, balloons, lights, gifts, candies etc. It is believed that Christmas trees invite positive energy and chase out negative or evil spirits.
Santa Claus
Santa Claus or Saint Nicholas is an integral part of Christmas. It is believed that Santa Claus comes riding on his sleigh that is pulled by seven reindeers and distributes gifts to children on Christmas. Children get very excited and wait eagerly on Christmas so that they can get gifts from Santa. Many people also wear the costume of Santa Claus and distribute gifts and chocolates to children at various places.
Christmas Feasts and Delicacies
Christmas is the festival of feasts when people get a break from their routine work and prepare delicacies for the occasion. Each country has a special cuisine which is prepared on Christmas but cakes and cookies with different flavors are the integral part of Christmas. This is the occasion when friends and family members invite each other for a delicious homemade delicacies and party with them to enjoy the moment and share gifts.
Conclusion
Christmas is the festival which spreads peace, harmony and love among people. People start the celebration on the Christmas Eve i.e. 24th December by wishing Merry Christmas to everyone hoping to spread joy and happiness. It is the time of the season when family and friends get together and spread the message of love, peace and unity. Christmas also reminds us the teachings of forgiveness, brotherhood and sacrifice as professed by Lord Jesus Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment