Christmas Is Around: Know The Main Traditions Of The Festival
THE LITERATURE reveals that the history of winter or December time festival dates back over 4000 years
. It is said that the festival traditions were celebrated centuries before the Christ Child was born and gained eventual acceptance of the Church to be the part of Christmas Day.According to the ancient descriptions, the 'Twelve Days of Season' had the traditions of lighting fires, the Yule log, carnivals, carols, feasts and processions and all were observed by early Mesopotamians.
Furthermore, members of the pagan order celebrated the Winter Solstice or Saturnalia. During the celebrations, the Roman halls would be cleaned and decked with garlands of laurel and green trees adorned with lighted candles.
As Christianity spread, the Church tried to prohibit Saturnalia revelry and the pagan festivals held in December, but it was to no avail. Eventually, a decision was made to tame such celebrations and make them into a festive occasion better suited to honour the Christian Son of God and as Christmas Day.
The literal meaning of Christmas is Christ's Mass and is the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth and baptism in December. With some controversy, the Christmas Day is now largely accepted to be celebrated on December 25.
Some common and mainstay Christmas traditions are as follows:
Colours: The colours most often associated with Christmas decorating are green, red, white, blue, silver and gold. These colours have been used for centuries and as with most traditions, the reason may be traced to religious beliefs.
Snow: Snow has an important significance in Christmas traditions. So the festival days are full with fun activities on snow playing such as making snowman, skiing, snow boarding, sled riding, etc.
Wreath: Christmas days exclusively represent greenness to represent life and vitality. In these days, evergreen is worshipped as a holy entity representing eternal life and the crown of Jesus.
Yule log: Yule logs are a part of red oak trees. They are burned during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Cookies: The cookies are left for Santa to appease him and thanksgiving occasion.
Santa Claus: This tradition is as old as fourth century. Santa Clause was born on the memory of Saint Nicholas for his loving and caring nature towards children by giving the gifts.
Christmas trees: This was made popular during the rein of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert by bringing a tree inside the Palace and decorating it with apples and other pretty things.
England also has the tradition of hanging stockings to receive Santa's presents. The tradition of Christmas celebration is very old but keeps on evolving with time.
Traditionally, it involves 12 days of Christmas Season with mainly dazzling fires, the Yule log, and exchange of gifts, feasts, carols, and the church processions as the integral parts of Christmas traditions.
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