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
12 Days of Christmas
There
have even been many versions of the song that have come out, since the
structure lends itself well to variation and even humor. But did you ever stop
to think what this seemingly nonsensical song really is about?
How to Start Family Christmas
Traditions
Christmas traditions bring families together. If your family
doesn’t have any family traditions, or you would like to start new
Christmas traditions, it is actually fun and easy to do. Here is how.
Victorian
Christmas Recipes
Victorian dessert recipes for Gingerbread, Christmas
Cake, Spotted Dick, Sugar Mice, Sugar Plums and Victorian Style
Coffee
Christmas Cookie Recipe:
Chocolatey Church Windows
This nifty little cookie gets its name because
it resembles a stained glass “church” window.
A Christmas Story
The True Christmas Story
- It's Worth Telling
Keeping Christ
in Christmas
Christmas 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
I realize that it is easier to tell somebody to be at peace
than it may be for them to actually receive it, yet God's Word is telling us
there is peace on Earth. We have been made to be at peace with Father
God.
How to Start Family
Christmas Traditions
Christmas traditions bring families together. If
your family doesn’t have any family traditions, or you would like to start
new Christmas traditions, it is actually fun and easy to do. Here is how.
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?
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:
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.
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:
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.
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