Christmas has plenty of fascinating traditions. Some are purely religious, while others are the easy type. There are countries that practice their Christmas traditions differently from the others. Obviously, Christmas customs and traditions vary all over the world. It changes from region to region, and from country to country. Famous traditions such as gift giving, Christmas tree decorating, the use of yuletide logs and holly bough and many others are pretty much common to almost all places.
In countries who are predominantly occupied by Christians, Christmas happen to be the most important holiday of the year in terms of cost-effectiveness. In United Kingdom, this special holiday is celebrated for 12 days following December 25. This tradition usually starts with a big festival and banquet and ends on the Feast of the Epiphany. This tradition of lengthening the festival is fast becoming famous by the year. Christmas festival starts weeks before the actual day both in the United States and United Kingdom to prolong the shopping days of the event and also to consider more time for meeting and greeting friends, family and loved-ones.
For countries celebrating Christmas on December 25, they call the day before Christmas "Christmas eve" and the day after by different names. In Germany and Poland, they call it the Second Christmas Day. Commonwealth countries call it "Boxing Day" and Irish and Romanians call it "St. Stephen’s Day".
Christmas customs and traditions with pagan practices have been adopted by some Christian missionaries during the celebration of the holiday, while conservative ones avoid the said practices. Back then, Christmas celebrations was strictly forbidden in the Soviet Union for almost 75 years right after the Russian revolution. Christian fundamentalists still judge Christmas a pagan holiday, unauthorized by the Bible and therefore not celebrating it.
Aside from the religious nature of Christmas tradition, there are also who are more peaceful in observing the holiday. For example the custom of gift-giving is one of the popular traditions of holiday regardless of region or country. People exchange greetings and kids put stockings or keep empty toy-boxes waiting for Santa to fill it up with toys or goodies. In other places, children put up their shoes on window sills for the Christmas night.
A very famous and well-practiced tradition of Christmas is the sending of Christmas cards to friends, family and loved-ones. Probably all countries in the world are practicing this tradition.
Filling our homes with embellishments and decorating our Christmas tree is also a well-known custom, involving the whole family in decorating the whole house.
Hosting and attending Christmas parties is surely an enjoyable tradition. Specific Christmas meals and menu are traditionally served in several countries. However, in other places, like Eastern Europe, families observe fasting days before the Christmas feast.
Some countries have Christmas dances and plays which are yearly held. Caroling in groups and hopping from every home in the neighborhood for a good cause is also a well-known tradition.
With all the merriment of the celebration, Christmas is still mainly observed as a religious holiday for most people across the globe. It is the time for reflection and spiritual renewal, seeking blessings and wishing good tidings to all our loved-ones in the coming days ahead.
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