[sildi07]

An Overview of Christmas

Christmas is an annual festival in Christian culture to commemorate the birth of Jesus, celebrated on December 25. The night before Christmas is Christmas Eve (midnight December 24).

Christmas is also called Xmas, Noel, Yule depending on different cultures. St Nicholas is considered the Father of Christmas or Santa Claus. Father of Christmas also have different names: “Old Man Christmas” or “Father Christmas” (UK), “Père Nöel” (France), “Christkind” (some parts of Austria, Germany), “Kris Kringle” (from Christkind, in early US).

Here are some popular Christmas traditions:

1. Presents

The tradition of giving and receiving presents originated from the custom of hanging stockings in St.Nicholas story. Children leave hay in the stockings for St.Nicholas’s donkey overnight and the day after the hay becomes gold coins.

2. Christmas Carols

Christmas Carols tradition is when a group of choirs, orchestra perform carols in public or show up at people’s house to deliver seasonal carols.

3. Red and Green colors

Red and Green are official colors of Christmas. Green may have come from the evergreen tree color (used as christmas tree) and the red comes from holly berries.

4. Sending Christmas cards

5. Christmas tree

The evergreen fir tree has been used traditionally as Christmas tree. People decorate the tree with lights and different ornaments before christmas.

6. Mistletoe

Mistletoe is believed to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits. In Norse mythology (Norway), it was also a sign of love and friendship. A popular custom comes from this mythology is kissing under Mistletoe. Mistletoe is different from holly with holly berries, a plant that is often used as decoration during christmas.

7. Yule Log

Yule log is the log people throw in the fire based on the belief that the ashes will protect against lightning strikes and evil spirits. The practice is scaled down overtime as nowadays people have central heating and it was dangerous to keep the fire on overnight, so Yule log as a delicious dessert evolved instead. Chocolate Yule Log or *'bûche de Noël' becomes popular dessert during Christmas.

8. Boxing Day

Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26 in some countries that have history connected to the UK (Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand) and some European countries. Boxing Day often is the day with big sales after Christmas (similar to Black Friday in the US).

In Eastern Orthodox Christian traditions, countries like Russia, Belarus, Serbia, Ukraine... celebrate Christmas on January 7 according to Julian Calendar.

Australia also celebrate Christmas on December 25 in the summer. People go out to the beach for the day. For dinner, instead of hot roast dishes, they eat cold turkey and ham, seafood and salads and many versions of ice-cream pudding as desserts.

Wish you all a wonderful Christmas ✧⁺⸜(●′▾‵●)⸝⁺✧

sildi07 @ EngBox.VnS