Christmas is a festival for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a Christian focused holiday for those who believe. The Nativity tells the story of his birth in a stable where angels and the group of Magi also known as the “wise men” visited him.
Christmas is celebrated annually on the 25th of December. It is celebrated with traditions like decorating Christmas trees, putting stockings on the fireplace, building gingerbread houses and many more fun activities.
Some other holidays that are celebrated at the same time are Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Hanukkah is an eight day Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean Revolt against the Syrian-Greeks. Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1.
Baking is a very popular Christmas tradition. Sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies are classics with colorful icing and sprinkles.
Everyone knows the famous Christmas tree decorating tradition. This is a central tradition where an evergreen tree is decorated with lights and ornaments. Tree toppers are traditionally stars that resemble the Star of Bethlehem in the Nativity story, or angels that represent the angels who announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds.
The tradition of hanging up stockings originated from the legend Saint Nicholas who would secretly drop gold coins down a chimney for poor families. Now people have decorative stockings filled with small gifts and candy by fireplaces, mantels, and beds.
Christmas is a very fun time to decorate your house with many different colors and excitement. People decorate around the house in some ways by putting up festive lights, wreaths, mini villages scattered around the house and a bunch more things to do.
Lots of people also participate in that Christmas spirit by decorating the exterior of their homes with lights and inflatables of Christmas related concepts.
Exchanging gifts is one of the most exciting parts of Christmas. Being able to go shopping for friends and family while also being in for a surprise for what people get for you is great fun. Making Christmas lists and circling what catches your eye in the books your grandparents give to you when you’re younger is fun for all ages.
Music is a big cultural part of Christmas. It blends traditions and religions together and provides the experience with nostalgia and joy.
Christmas music as we all know makes it to the radio as early as November 1st. Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” and Jingle bells being the first song to hear on the radio. Throughout the holidays, this music seems to be everywhere.
While there are traditions all year long, this seems to be the one time of the year everyone, regardless of their culture, celebrates.
