Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity. It is celebrated on the 25th of December each year. The celebrations for Christmas start from December 24th to January 1st, the New Year Day. Prayers, plays, parties, carols and fun filled get together are the items of Christmas Festival, India. Also other issues like cakes, Christmas trees, gifts and Santa Claus are also included. The festival is celebrated with lot of happiness and fanfare all over the world. Christians and non-Christian community took part in great enthusiasm in the different festivities linked with it. Balls, Christmas trees, delicious cakes and Santa Claus distributing goods to the children are the main attractions of the festival.

Christmas in India

Christianity was brought to India in 52 A.D. Twenty years after the crucifixion of Christ, one of his apostles, St. Thomas, is thought of to have landed on Malabar Coast. He established a few churches and converted many local people in Kerala. This was the initial Christian settlement in the subcontinent. In Christmas Festival, India, the towns and villages get ready to do brisk business and offer discounts and sales on articles. Markets are packed with huge crowds. People buy gifts for their loved ones with great thought and affection, decorations and number of items to cook. The ambience of the houses is made festive by decorating their homes to the hilt with Christmas trees, wreathes with bright red decorative baubles, festoons, bells and small trinkets. In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, people hang stunning star-shaped paper lamps of different colors and sizes outside their homes. Such star lamps in Kerala are more beautiful with some patterns or cutwork designs on them. About a week before Christmas, the church, club and school choirs are greeted by people with cakes and other eatables. Christmas carols are sung in different local languages all over the country.

Prayers

In Christmas Festival, India churches hold a special Midnight Mass, which is attended by most people of the community. This is looked at as not only a sacred prayer but also an important social event as well. Members of both sexes wear new clothes and remain present for the Mass, looking their absolute best. The Mass continues for a few hours and remembers the Savior who gave up his life so that they may live. The ceremonies held in Calcutta, Kottayam, Delhi, Sardhana, Martandam, Aizawl, Kohima, Shillong, Panaji and Pondicherry deserve special mention.