Christmas is celebrated around the world and involves various traditions and customs. It originated from a Christian religious holiday but is now widely celebrated with both secular and religious observances. Common traditions include special meals and foods, decorating trees and homes with holly, ivy and lights, attending church services, sending greeting cards, giving gifts often delivered by Santa Claus or Father Christmas, and spending time with family and friends. In Vietnam, Christmas is becoming more popular especially among young people who celebrate with parties, going to karaoke and church, though many do not know its religious meaning.

1. 1.introduce
Christmas is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ. and a widely
observed holiday, celebrated generally on December 25 by billions] of peoplearound the world.
A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it closes the Advent season and initiates the twelve
days ofChristmastide Christmas is a civil holiday in many of the world's nations, is celebrated by
an increasing number of non-Christians and is an integral part of the Christmas and holiday
season.
2.celebration
Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in countries around the world,
including many whose populations are mostly non-Christian. In some non-Christian countries,
periods of former colonial rule introduced the celebration; in others, Christian minorities or
foreign cultural influences have led populations to observe the holiday. Countries such as Japan,
where Christmas is popular despite there being only a small number of Christians, have adopted
many of the secular aspects of Christmas, such as gift-giving, decorations and Christmas trees.
3.decorations:
The practice of putting up special decorations at Christmas has a long history. In the 15th
century, it was recorded that in London it was the custom at Christmas for every house and all
the parish churches to be "decked with holm, ivy, bays, and whatsoever the season of the year
afforded to be green The heart-shaped leaves of ivy were said to symbolize the coming to earth
of Jesus, while holly was seen as protection against pagans and witches, its thorns and red berries
held to represent the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus at the crucifixion and the blood he shed.
The traditional colors of Christmas are green and red. White, silver and gold are also popular.
Red symbolizes the blood of Jesus, which was shed in his crucifixion, while green symbolizes
eternal life, and in particular the evergreen tree, which does not lose its leaves in the winter.
4. Traditional cuisine
A special Christmas family meal is traditionally an important part of the holiday's celebration,
and the food that is served varies greatly from country to country. Some regions, such as Sicily,
have special meals for Christmas Eve, when 12 kinds of fish are served. In England and
countries influenced by its traditions, a standard Christmas meal includes turkey or goose, meat,
gravy, potatoes, vegetables, sometimes bread and cider. Special desserts are also prepared, such
as Christmas pudding, mince pies and fruit cake
The eating of sweets and chocolates has become popular worldwide, and sweeter Christmas
delicacies include the German stollen, marzipan cake or candy, and Jamaican rum fruit cake. As
one of the few fruits traditionally available to northern countries in winter, oranges have been
long associated with special Christmas foods.
5. Cards
Christmas cards are illustrated messages of greeting exchanged between friends and family
members during the weeks preceding Christmas Day. The traditional greeting reads "wishing
you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year", much like that of the first
commercial Christmas card, produced by Sir Henry Cole in London in 1843.[65] The custom of

2. sending them has become popular among a wide cross-section of people with the emergence of
the modern trend towards exchanging E-cards.
Some prefer cards with a poem, prayer or Biblical verse; while others distance themselves from
religion with an all-inclusive "Season's greetings".
6. Gift giving
The exchanging of gifts is one of the core aspects of the modern Christmas celebration, making
the Christmas season the most profitable time of year for retailers and businesses throughout the
world. Gift giving was common in the Roman celebration of Saturnalia, an ancient festival which
took place in late December and may have influenced Christmas customs
The best known of these figures today is red-dressed Santa Claus, of diverse origins. The name
Santa Claus can be traced back to the Dutch Sinterklaas, which means simply Saint Nicholas.
Nicholas was Bishop of Myra, in modern day Turkey, during the 4th century. Among other
saintly attributes, he was noted for the care of children, generosity, and the giving of gifts. His
feast on December 6 came to be celebrated in many countries with the giving of gifts
Father Christmas, a jolly, well nourished, bearded man who typified the spirit of good cheer at
Christmas, predates the Santa Claus character. He is first recorded in early 17th century England,
but was associated with holiday merrymaking and drunkenness rather than the bringing of gifts
In many parts of the world, Christmas is the day when people celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ
in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. People who remember Christmas as a religious holiday
celebrate the birth of Jesus and his coming into this world. To them, he is recognized as the Son
of God and the Savior of the world. According to the Bible, Jesus was born in a manger because
there was no room for him and his parents, Mary and Joseph, in an inn. Today, people
often attend church, organize family gatherings, and decoratetheir homes and businesses
(with Christmas flowers from ProFlowers or with real or artificial Christmas trees). People feel
the giving spirit and donate their time and money to worthy causes, or provide volunteer service
to the needy. Christmas is also celebrated as a secular holiday when parents and children talk
about Santa Claus and Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer.
7.christmas in viet nam
Christmas day is more and more popular in Vietnam. They are interested in this Day. Many
young people don’t know the meaning of itbut they like it. They often hold a party with their
friends, go to karaoke and go to the church in the night of Christmas Day.
At that day, many girls in nice clothes and hats have attracted smiles. You can see many crowds
sing and play together with brilliant faces. Couples are hand in hand to go out, they will come
back after the middle of night.
Church is crowded place. Many people go there to pray for themselves.
Karaoke shops are the place for young people go to relax. They often stay here two or three
hours with bear, wine, snack and fruit.

3. Older people often go to restaurant with their friends or families. They will have a small party.
Many people like mix foods because this food is hot. It’s better for very cold weather in Vietnam
this time.