Mangalore, Dec.19: Christmas is a sacred festival of the Christians. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and gaiety all over the world. Many Christians in India celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth on Christmas Day, which is annually held on December 25. Christmas Day is a gazetted holiday in India. From the beginning of the December month only, the celebration of Christmas begins.
In the coastal districts also celebrates Christmas with enthusiastic. It is an important festival for every Christian all over the world and also for the Christian community who lives in coastal district. . Along with celebrating birth of their God, it is the time to be with the loved ones and make merry. Christmas is the time when people rejuvenate and feel the glory of love which Jesus Christ spread through his words and deeds. Christmas imbibes feeling of togetherness and power to love every person on this earth.
Christmas celebration:
Christians start preparing for Christmas several days before the festival. All streets and homes are illuminated with colourful lights, candles, chandeliers, ribbons, halogen lights etc. Artificial snow is very often used to give snow laden spruce Christmas Tree effect and as decorative on shop windows. These days people even embellish their garden trees with lights, paper and other decorative to give them a traditional Christmas Tree effect. Shops stay open till mid-night and streets are abuzz with activities by last minute shoppers. Sound of festive music pervade all over and make the atmosphere in the market even more lively. Christmas parties are organized at various work places, restaurants, pubs and clubs days before the festival. People dress in their best and enjoy the spirit of the festival.
Many Christians mark Christmas Day by attending special church services, spending time with family members, wearing new clothes and eating a festive meal. Some families exchange gifts or give small presents or sweets to children. Some also put up a nativity scene with clay figures or a Christmas tree. Christmas trees in India are usually imitation pine trees or branches of native trees or bushes.
Some stores and malls may put up Christmas decorations and have actors playing Santa.
Folks send Christmas greetings to their friends and families in faraway places. People decorate their homes to the hilt with Christmas trees, wreathes with bright red decorative bulbs, bells and other small trinkets. People hang beautiful star-shaped paper lamps of various colours and sizes outside their homes.
Nearly a week before Christmas, the church, club and school choirs start doing the rounds of their neighbourhood and are greeted by people with cakes and other eatables. Christmas carols are sung in the praise of Lord Jesus Christ.
Churches hold a special ‘midnight mass’, attended by most people of the community. People especially look forward to this mass as this is not only a sacred prayer ceremony but an important social event as well. Men and women dress up in new clothes for taking part in the mass-special prayer session.
Christmas symbolizes incarnation of God in the form of human being. Christmas also marks an end to the present year and feast for the coming year
