Festivals in India - Christmas

Christmas is a festival for the Christians. The Christ crucifixion resulted in establishing churches and in converting the inhabitants towards Christianity.

The Syrian Church was the foremost settlement of Christians and today they are popular for their spiritual practices as well as adoption.

The Europeans and the missionary made a permanent place for Christianity.

India today has millions of Christians and nearly 50% of them live in Tamil Nadu as well as Kerala.

Mizoram and Nagaland have the majority Christian population and Goa also represent a significant strength.

The Christianity influence can be apparent in these Indian states. Christmas is the main festival for Christians and is celebrated on 25th December, the birth date of Jesus Christ. The Christmas period is as well a fascinating period.

The shops are brisk with business and shower discounts on sales. The markets are filled with clothes and gifts. People also flock to the markets to buy lots of new things for gifts as well as for the festival.

There is a variety of cooking and the Christmas decorations are available in abundance. Christmas greeting are send to families and friends residing at distant places.

However, during Christmas the Christian houses are well decorated with Christmas trees with hangings such as bells, small trinkets, decorative baubles and festoons.

People hang paper lamps in various sizes and colors. People prepare cakes and distribute to their kith and kin, friends, neighbors and relatives. Christmas carols are sung in all the local languages.

Churches hold special prayers and majority of the people attend these prayers. This is not a mere prayer ceremony, but also a social event. Women and men adorn with new clothes and attend the mass that goes for couple of hours.

The savior is remembered fondly and is prayed. Fire crackers are burst and on the Christmas day people get ready for a big feast. This is viewed as a special occasion and the entire community has a splendid time.

Christmas is celebrated with zeal and fervor. Friends and relatives are visited on this occasion and wished. It is also special as many towns conduct carnivals as well as circus shows on this occasion so that people have a merry time.

People also organize excursions or watch films. They enjoy to the best so that the memories are worth cherishing until the end of the next year.

They also give away alms to the poor and help in all possible ways during this occasion. Christmas is a prominent festival and the church looks the best during this period as it is embellished with lights.