CHRISTMAS: A

FESTIVAL OF MAGIC

Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way.

Oh! what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh.

Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way; Oh! what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh…

SANTA SAYS "WELCOME HO-HO-HO"

SOMETHING TO KNOW ABOUT CHRISTMAS

Christmas is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a widely observed cultural holiday, celebrated generally on December 25 by billions of people around the world.

Christmas is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature.

CONTD…

Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion.

Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. December 25–Christmas Day–has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

DECORATED HOMES ON CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival

and public holiday in countries around the world

Christmas celebration comprises of decorating home with flowers, lights, candles etc…

Decorating Christmas tree with gifts and chocolates

Cooking traditional meals for family & drinking wine together

Listening to music and dancing, carols

DECORATED CHRISTMAS TREE AND GIFTS

DECORATIONS

The traditional colors of Christmas decorations are red, green and gold.

Along with decorating a Christmas tree, the interior of a home may be decorated with flowers, along with garlands and evergreen foliage.

The display of Christmas villages has also become a tradition in many homes during this season.

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The outside of houses may be decorated with lights and sometimes with illuminated sleighs, snowmen, and other Christmas figures.

Other traditional decorations include bells, candles, candy canes, stockings, wreaths and angels

TRADITIONAL CUISINE A special Christmas family meal is traditionally an

important part of the holiday's celebration, and the food that is served varies greatly from country to country.

Some regions, such as Sicily, have special meals for Christmas Eve, when 12 kinds of fish are served.

In the United Kingdom and countries influenced by its traditions, a standard Christmas meal includes turkey or goose, meat, gravy, potatoes, vegetables, sometimes bread and cider. Special desserts are also prepared, such as Christmas pudding, mince pies, and fruit cake.

CONTD… In Poland and other parts of eastern Europe and

Scandinavia, fish often is used for the traditional main course, but richer meat such as lamb is increasingly served.

In Germany, France, and Austria, goose and pork are favored. Beef, ham, and chicken in various recipes are popular throughout the world.

The Maltese traditionally serve Imbuljuta tal-Qastan, a chocolate and chestnuts beverage, after Midnight Mass and throughout the Christmas season.

DESSERT AND WINE

CONTD… Slovaks prepare the traditional Christmas

bread potica bûche de Noël inFrance, panettone in Italy, and elaborate tarts and cakes.

The eating of sweets and chocolates has become popular worldwide, and sweeter Christmas delicacies include the German stollen, marzipan cake or candy, and Jamaican rum fruit cake.

As one of the few fruits traditionally available to northern countries in winter, oranges have been long associated with special Christmas foods.

CHRISTMAS CARDS