Christmas, celebrated on December 25, has a rich history dating back over 4000 years, with various traditions including Christmas Eve celebrations, festive dinners, and gift exchanges. Key symbols include the Christmas tree, decorations like wreaths, and colors such as red and green, which represent festivity and hope. The holiday features carols, traditional feasts, and the beloved character of Santa Claus, whose gift-giving spirit is rooted in the legend of St. Nicholas.

1.  Christmas History
 Gifts Exchange Ceremony
 Christmas Decorations
 Christmas Eve
 Christmas Trivia
 Christmas Feast
 Colors of Christmas
 Christmas Carols

2. Christmas is one of the most popular festivals around the world.
The approaching winter season indicates us that Christmas is around
and we usually associate the winter with the Christmas celebration and
with 25th December as the birth of Lord Christ
However the history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years and it
tells us that celebration during the winter season were common, even
way before the Christ was born.
It has been celebrated at different places for different reasons and date
of the celebration was fixed to be 25th December quite later.

3. Christmas Eve
• The day is preceded by Christmas Eve, which falls on December 24, and
followed by eleven days of the festival, ending on January 6.
• On Christmas Eve, houses are cleaned from top to bottom and are
decorated beautifully with lights and other lovely festoons
• Planning dinners on Christmas Eve is a tradition that follows since a
long time. Usually, a typical Christmas Eve is celebrated by organizing a
family dinner or an elaborate meal
• The main attraction and highlight of Christmas Eve is the arrival of the
famous and everyone's favorite - the legendary character Santa Claus
• The idea is to have fun and spread good cheer, on Christmas Eve.

4. Christmas Trivia
The word 'Christmas is an old English word and is a
contracted version of 'Christ's Mass'.
The tradition of ringing church bells on Christmas
morning dates back to the medieval times. The
ringing bells symbolize the birth of Jesus Christ.
The tradition of gift-giving during Christmas has
originated from the legendary characters of the Three
Wise Men, who brought presents to Jesus, when he
was born.
Many people believe that the legendary character
Santa Claus is based on a real person named St.
Nicholas. It is also believed that St. Nicholas brings in
Christmas gifts, on the Eve of the festival.
Holy represents the crown worn by Lord Jesus
Christ, when he was crucified and the red color of
the berries represents his blood.
Christmas is the season, when the world witnesses
the maximum sale of diamonds.
Every year, during the Christmas season, more than
a billion cards are sold in UK.
Rudolph, the legendary reindeer of Santa Claus, was
a creation of Montgomery Ward. He created it for
the purpose of a holiday promotion, in the late
1930s.
The world's tallest Christmas tree was erected in
America, in 1950. The tree was as high as 76 m.
Candy canes, one of the popular sweet treats used
for Christmas, originally were straight white sticks of
sugar candy. They were used as an embellishment
for Christmas tree. The ends of the candy were bent
by Cologne Cathedral, to symbolize shepherd's crook

5. Christmas Decorations
The Wreath
The wreath of evergreen leaves symbolizes hope and life
The Star
The Christmas Tree
A decorated Christmas tree with candles and lights and gifts heaped around its base is the center
of attraction at Christmas. Normally, a two-feet tree is enough for a normal-sized house
Ornaments
Small teddies, dolls, miniature hats, pinecones, colorful balls, clip on
fairies, daisies, hollies and candies are just of the items that one can
use as Christmas ornaments to decorate the fir tree
Lights
One should start from the top and descend while
wrapping each or alternate branch from inside
the tree to the trunk of the tree. Another option
is to place lights along the perimeter of the tree.
Green wiring will easily merge with the color of
the tree.
Bells
A unique way to make use of Christmas bells as embellishments for the tree is to make a
string of bells and place them around the tree skirt

6. Christmas Feast
Speaking of the modern day Christmas celebrations, families
prepare a menu exclusively for the feast, weeks prior to the
celebration. Some of the main delicacies are as follows;
Cookies Scalloped potatoes
Cocktails & Drinks Roasted Vegetables
Christmas Punch Cheese Breads
Cakes and Cupcakes Prosciutto Roasts
Christmas Candy
Lasagnas
Gingerbread and Cinnamon Rolls
Dry and Rum Cakes

7. Colors of Christmas
 Main colors of Christmas are red and green. They are generally used
with white, sparkling silver and gold to compliment them.
 Rudolph has a bright red nose and is the favorite reindeer of all
children. Red and green candle and flower arrangements of
poinsettia and mistletoe make beautiful centerpieces for Christmas
dinner table setting.
 Red denotes the festivity and cheery mood of the season
 Green from pine trees, topiaries and wreaths is the obvious
background for Christmas season and brings Nature into the house,
soothing our senses and sore eyes. The color denotes hope of the
arrival of spring and long lasting life.

8. Gifts Exchange Ceremony
• Celebration of Christmas is incomplete
without the exchange of gifts. This
custom, which is followed since
ages, makes the festival livelier and cheerful.
• Christmas exchange gift games are usually
played during the holiday season, in which family
members, friends and relatives gather to bestow
presents upon each other.

9. Christmas Carols
Here are few popular
carols and songs-
• Silent Nights
• C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
• Christmas is Coming
• Oh Holy Night!
• Santa Claus is
coming to town
Christmas carols add the gaiety and festivity to the celebrations of the festival. Caroling has
its roots in ancient Greece, where it originated as 'choraulien' meaning 'to dance to a flute'.