Christmas Traditions and Customs
An enormous number of customs, with either secular, religious, or national aspects, surround Christmas, and vary from country to country. Most of the familiar traditional practices and symbols of Christmas, such as the Christmas tree, the Christmas ham, the Yule Log, holly, mistletoe, and the giving of presents, were adapted or appropriated by Christian missionaries from the earlier pagan midwinter holiday of Yule.
Rather than attempting to suppress such popular pagan feast days,
Pope Gregory I allowed Christian missionaries to give them a Christian
reinterpretation, while permitting most of the associated customs to continue
with little or no modification. The give and take between religious and
governmental authorities and celebrators of Christmas continued through the
years. 
Since the customs of Christmas
celebration largely evolved in Northern Europe, many are associated with the
Northern Hemisphere winter, whose motifs are prominent in
Christmas decorations and in the
Santa Claus myth.
Gift-giving is a near-universal part of
Christmas celebrations. The concept of a mythical figure who brings gifts to
children derives from Saint Nicholas, a good hearted bishop of 4th-century Asia
Minor. The Dutch modeled a gift-giving Saint Nicholas around his feast day of
December 6. In North America, English colonists adopted aspects of this
celebration into their Christmas holiday, and Sinterklaas became Santa Claus,
or Saint Nick. In the UK, whilst this name is widely known, "Father Christmas"
is more common, and is also used in many West African countries.
In many
countries, children leave empty containers for Santa to fill with small gifts
such as toys, candy, or fruit. In the United States, children hang a Christmas
stocking by the fireplace on Christmas Eve, because Santa is said to come down
the chimney the night before Christmas to fill them. In other countries,
children place their empty shoes out for Santa to fill on the night before
Christmas, or for Saint Nicholas on December 5. Gift giving is not restricted
to these special gift-bringers, as family members and friends also bestow gifts
on each other. 
Decorating a Christmas tree with lights and
ornaments, and the decoration of the interior of the home with garlands and
evergreen foliage, particularly holly and mistletoe, are common traditions. In
North and South America and to a lesser extent Europe, it is traditional to
decorate the outside of houses with lights, and sometimes with illuminated
sleighs, snowmen, and other Christmas figures.
Municipalities often
sponsor decorations as well, hanging Christmas banners from street lights or
placing Christmas trees in the town square. In the United States, decorations
once commonly included religious themes. This practice has led to much
adjudication, as opponents insist that it amounts to the government endorsing
one particular religious faith.
In many countries, businesses, schools,
and communities have Christmas parties and dances during the several weeks
before Christmas Day. Christmas pageants, common in Latin America, may include
a retelling of the story of the birth of Christ. Groups may go caroling,
visiting neighborhood homes to sing Christmas
songs. Others are reminded by the holiday of man's fellowship with man, and
do volunteer work, or hold fundraising drives for charities.
On
Christmas Day or on Christmas Eve, a special meal of Christmas dishes is
usually served, for which there are traditional menus in each country. In some
regions, particularly in Eastern Europe, these family feasts are preceded by a
period of fasting.
Portions
of this article is licensed under the
GNU Free Documentation
License.
It uses material from the
Wikipedia article
"Christmas".
Explore more about Christmas Traditions and Customs
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is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the anointed one
and His anointing. It is a most Holy day and cannot be celebrated without
remembering Christ's death and resurrection.
Christmas Celebration
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have been made to be at peace with Father God.
Family Christmas Traditions - This Year
Start Your Own
As you start having a family of your own, it is important
to create Christmas traditions that make the holiday special for your
family.
Christmas
Decorations And Social Customs
In many countries, businesses, schools,
and communities have Christmas parties and dances in the weeks before
Christmas. Christmas pageants may include a retelling of the story of the birth
of Christ. Groups may visit neighborhood homes to sing Christmas carols. Others
do volunteer work or hold fundraising drives for charities.
Family Christmas Traditions from
Germany
German legend says that, on Christmas Eve, all the rivers turn
to wine, the animals speak to each other and to humans, trees bear fruit,
church bells ring from the sea, and gems pour forth from the mountains. Is it
any wonder, then, that family Christmas traditions in Germany are bold,
beautiful, and full of cheer?
Christmas Traditions In
Germany
Germany has numerous traditions that it shares with the 9
neighboring countries that abut it. They also have quite a few that they have
started themselves.
French
Christmas Traditions
Christmas, always called 'Noël in France, is
largely characterized by exchanging gifts within families, and by gifts brought
by Father Christmas, or Père Noël, as he's called in
France.
A Pickle of a
Tradition - Christmas
As legend has it, in Germany parents decorate
their Tannenbaums on Christmas Eve. The last ornament hung is die
Weinachtsgurke-a delicate glass ornament in the shape of a pickle. This is a
significant ornament, for the next morning the children will rush in to open
their gifts from St. Nicholas.
Christmas Party Ideas For Memorable Holiday
Celebrations
Christmas parties are thrown for a wide variety of guests,
and each should be considered in order to be a success. Christmas parties can
be for family, friends, office co-workers, or one big combined party. Here are
some ideas for different guests in mind:
Why are Christmas Parties the seasonal place to
be?
Christmas parties will remain a lucrative and important business to
both the corporate and private industries.
Christmas - How To Create A Fun & Cherished
Christmas!
Adding rituals to the festivities will create fun and magic
moments that will not only live in your families memories forever but will be
excitedly looked forward to each year.
How
to Enjoy Your Christmas Season
Do you envision the perfect holiday, the
kind featured in greeting card commercials and portrayed in home magazines, and
then feel discouraged and disappointed when your Christmas fails to live up to
the hype? Here are five ways to help you enjoy your holiday season:
Games for a Christmas Party
Since the
Holiday season is a very special period of the year a party at this time is
always more than welcome. The Christmas decorations which are still up save
extra work and give the desired festive air. When entertainment and games have
been carefully planned ahead of time the party goes off smoothly without long
lapses of nothing to do. The following games have been tried out many times and
are most entertaining.
Christmas
Wedding
What a fabulous time of the year to get married if you are one
of those lucky brides tying the knot over the festive period. If its good
enough for Tom Cruise, then its good enough for the mere mortals amongst us
too!
Christmas Quotes
An
occasion as warm as Christmas has rightly inspired wonderful thoughts and nice
quotes on it. These Christmas quotes are many and are worth a glance for anyone
who'd like to be in the spirit of the holidays and share some warm notes with
all far and near.
