THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTMAS

As is with any festival, Christmas too has many traditions and customs which are being carried forward by families the world over. These traditions and customs may be as varied as the diversity in cultures. Some though are common to everyone celebrating Christmas in any part of the world.

Christmas Gifting and Exchanging Christmas Cards

One of the most popular traditions on Christmas is exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. Everyone loves receiving gifts on Christmas. Children, with their innocence wait eagerly for Santa Claus to bring them gifts. In many countries children hang stockings believing that it will be filled with goodies by Santa Claus. But, as adults we understand the significance of giving more than receiving and plan way ahead to get something thoughtful for our near and dear ones.

Christmas Ornaments
The tradition of collecting and passing on Christmasornaments from one Christmas to the next helps in creating fond memories for years to come. Christmas ornaments can be homemade or bought from a store. But a commercial ornament can never compete with the personal touch of an ornament handed down a family tree.

Decorating the Christmas tree
Christmas tree is one of the symbols most easily associated with the festival of Christmas. The Christmas tree takes the pride of place in every living room of every home from Christmas and right up to New Year. Decorating a Christmas tree spells family time as it brings the whole family together right before and at Christmas time. Usually decorations start way ahead of the eve of Christmas. People, irrespective of regions and cultures plan on beautifying their Christmas tree. One can get as creative or individualistic as they want to in the process of looking after and decorating their Christmastree.

Christmas Dinner
Christmas Dinner is the primary meal eaten on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Though the menu of this meal may differ across regions or cultures but some of the essential items which are Turkey, Christmas pudding, chicken, and Christmas cake are present more or less in every menu. The whole charm of cooking and eating Christmas Dinner with family and people close to you is what makes it different from any meal.

Enacting Plays and Singing Carols
These are the traditions that have undergone a lot of change with time. The plays usually depict the Nativity scene associated with the birth of Jesus Christ but may consist of adaptations to the same theme. The word carol represents a festive song mostly associated with the festival of Christmas. No festive occasion can be complete without music. This holds true for Christmas as well, people sing carols and songs to create the perfect atmosphere for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Traditions and customs are the special flavor of any festivity and that holds true for Christmas as well. It is a festival that is known for its spirit of joyousness and its celebratory atmosphere. These traditions define the gaiety and spirit of the season of celebrations that we know as Christmas.

My warmest Merry Christmas to all readers of this article and the entire clue of modernghana.com. My beloved country Ghana, the oppressed, depressed the orphanage and every living soul. Enjoy this great season with care and joy.

Author of STEP UP FATHER BOOK
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