Christmas: The Season of Giving and Celebrating
This year, Christmas will arrive on Wednesday, December 25. It is a public holiday that is celebrated on a worldwide scale, even in many non-Christian countries. Most schools, offices, and government operations, shut down for a period of up to two weeks just prior to and after Christmas. This time period is often called “Christmas Break”.
The term “Christmas” originally came from the words “Christ’s mass”, which was later compounded. For many Christians and Catholics, this is one of the most important religious festivals of the year, after Easter.
Tradition
A day or two prior to Christmas day, many parades and religious processions are held. Many of these parades feature a large scale Santa Claus which has become an annual tradition. For most, this day commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. As a result, many people set a nativity scene in their homes using porcelain figurines of Mary, Jesus, Joseph, and the manger. Children lend an element of realism by re-enacting the events from the Nativity. Carols are also sung to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Although there is difference between how people get ready for Christmas in the Eastern Orthodox Church and Western Christianity, most families observe Christmas on the evening of the 25th.
Food
Traditionally, the Christmas feast consists of a main course which is either a roasted turkey, duck, or goose. This is accompanied by stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, dinner rolls, and pumpkin pie.
Decorations
The Christmas tree has long been a symbol of the Christmas season. It is decorated with everything from lights, to tinsel, to even popcorn garlands. In places like the Rockefeller Center, the Christmas tree is usually adorned with precious gems and stones. The top and bottom of the tree is quite significant. At the top, most people usually adorn it with either an ornamental angel or star. At the bottom, colorful wrapped presents surround the base of the tree. Many people also decorate their homes with ivy, mistletoe, and red berries. As for traditional decorations options, some people pick a prominent area of the home where they set a grand nativity scene. There are many online store that offer creative and unique Christmas decorations.
Gifts
The season of Christmas is also synonymous with gift-giving. During the time leading up to Christmas, many people spend their time shopping for various gifting items. For children, these items usually include toys, clothing, and video games. For women, these include jewelry items, perfumes, clothing items, and kitchenware. For men, most people tend to purchase electronic items such as electric razors, software programs, and even blu-ray players and DVD players. Many people also hold toy drives in their communities, whereby they collect new unwrapped toys and donate it to various charities. Most online and offline stores offer great deals and discounts on Christmas shopping. The stores are beautifully decorated to catch the attention of the shoppers. But beware, if you are planning to shop in nearby stores, be ready to tackle traffic and parking hassles.
Boxing Day Sale
Boxing Day is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year. It is held annually, on 26th of December. Traditionally, the term referred to a time when tradesmen and servants would receive a “Christmas box” from their bosses. Today Boxing Day is synonymous with shopping, great discounts, and holiday-making.
In countries such as Canada, Australia, and Britain, Boxing Day is the time when retailers acquire the most amounts of profits. Just before Christmas, many retailers send out large amounts of flyers and sales promotions, either by mail and or email. This gives shoppers a chance to peruse through the items that are up for grabs. Many shopkeepers then open their doors very early in the morning, sometimes as early as 5 am, and present customers with loss leaders and doorbuster deals to lure more people in. It is not surprising to see long queues outside shops on Boxing Day, especially outside of electronics stores. Because of the large crowds, many people opt out and stay at home to avoid the chaos. There is often local media coverage of this event. Recently, many retailers have expanded their sale to “Boxing Week”. Some retailers will extend their Boxing Day sales up until New Year’s Eve.
Entertainment
Boxing Day is also synonymous with various entertainment outlets. Firstly, many television stations hold movie marathons for the entire day. Secondly, many important sporting events are also held on Boxing Day. For instance, in England many rugby league matches are held on this day. In countries such as South Africa and Australia, many cricket test matches are held. Boxing Day is also the time for hunting in the U.S. and UK. In many colleges in the U.S., non-conference games are held across cross-regional or cross town rivalries. In many African Commonwealth areas, it is common practice to hold prize fighting battles on this day.
Enjoy this Boxing Day & have lot of fun!!!