A quick glance into Chrismas Celebrations

Christmas is celebrated widely in every corner of the world and it is the season of love and joy. It falls on the 25th of December every year to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is also the time for families to have fellowship among themselves. On that day, Christmas carols and greetings bathe the atmosphere, even the dingling of church bells, bright-lit decorations and adorable Christmas trees join in to add their touch on a Christmas day. Simply magical!

Christmas celebration back down here
For me, Christmas always gives me the serenity and also the peace within me, the unseen happiness and also celebrations! I usually spend my time in church on a Christmas day and it is the routine for me every year. On the night of Christmas eve, I enjoy spending my time watching Christmas programs shown on the television.I guess that's the best way to build up the Christmas spirit inside me! Of course I do spend time with my family members eating a nice Christmas dinner and that's where all the nice stuffs comes in. Instead of roasted turkey, we did an exchange for a plate of Spaghetti Bolognaise, fried chicken wings, smashed potatoes and grape juices for all.

On the day of Christmas, early in the morning, my family goes to church for Christmas service. It is not the usual scene in church like every Sunday because the church is heavy decorated with Christmas items which gives the building a Christmas touched atmosphere.
Everyone in the church will dress themselves beautifully too and sometimes we would wear according to the "Christmas Colour- Red and Green". It is indeed an awesome scene seeing everyone dressing in the same colour. During the service, as usual we would sing some Christmas Hymns. On that day, we would also have choir singing and some performances and nativity dramas. After that, our pastor will have sharings and we would have a gathering after the service. Very often it will be held in the church and we will together enjoy our food that is laid on the table. After spending half of my day in church, I will have my own free time and that is when I can do whatever I want, like going for shopping and watching movies etc. That's how I celebrate my Christmas day.


Now let us open the gateway to other countries and discover their way of celebrating their Christmas day.

Christmas celebration in Italy
The Christmas season is three-weeks long in Italy. It starts at Novena that falls eight days before Christmas. During the holiday season, the shepherds play musical instruments and sing Christmas songs in the villages. Children collect in groups dress up as shepherds, play pipes and recite Christmas poems and sing Christmas songs door to door. In return, they receive money to buy presents. There is a strict 24-hour fast observed before Christmas Eve, which is followed by a special celebration meal that features chocolate and a light Milanese cake called Panetoni. On Christmas day, crowds gather in the huge Vatican Square by noon, where the Pope blesses them. Italian children receive their gifts on Epiphany or 6th of January, which are delivered by the ugly but kindly witch called Befana, who flies around on a broomstick.

Christmas celebration in India
In India, Christians decorate banana or mango trees, light small oil-burning lamps to decorate their homes and used red flowers to decorate their churches. Indians give Christmas gifts to friends and family and 'baksheesh' or charity to the poor.

Christmas celebration in Ethopia
Ethiopian Christmas is known as Ganna. It is celebrated on 7th of January. Christmas celebrations take place both in ancient churches carved from solid volcanic rock and modern churches designed in three concentric circles. Men and boys are made to sit separately from girls and women and the choir sings from the outside circle. Candles are given to people as they enter the church. They light the candles, then walk three times around the church and stand throughout the mass, which may take as long as three hours.
Traditional Christmas dish includes Injera, a sourdough pancake like bread, which serves as both plate and fork along with Doro Wat, a spicy chicken stew served in ornamented baskets.


Christmas celebration in Portugal
Portuguese burn Cepo de Natal or the Christmas log, which is a piece of oak that burns on the hearth all through the day on Christmas. On 5th of January or Epiphany Eve, children keep their shoes along windowsills and doorways and fill them with carrots and straw to lure the horses of the Three Wise Men to their household during the night.

Christmas celebration in Switzerland
Christkindli, an angel in white robes and veiled face and a jeweled crown, arrives with silver bells tinkling to announce it, in all the homes in Switzerland on Christmas. As he enters the house, people light candles on the tree and then, he hands out presents. Presents are kept in a basket held by the angel's child helpers. A week before Christmas, children go home-to-home with small gifts, in their best festive dresses. Tradition of ringing bells has almost become a competition and cillages ring loudly to call the parishioners to Midnight Mass. After the service, huge doughnuts called Ringli and hot chocolate are shared in family gatherings.


It's really a different scene and event happening around the globe during Christmas with different cultures and celebration! Hope u enjoy my sharing..