Christmas is an annual religious and cultural festival mainly celebrated on every 25th December. Christmas is a public holiday in many countries and is religiously celebrated by the majority of the Christian community and as well as non-Christians.
In this detailed article, we will discuss different aspects of Christmas Day and how it is celebrated in different countries. Furthermore, we will learn how not only Christian as well as non-Christian communities celebrate this religious festival. Here you will also learn who celebrate Christmas and which religious don’t celebrate Christmas festivities.
Christmas Day
Not only a religious but also an annual cultural day, Christmas is a blissful festival and celebrated by billions of people all around the world. Christmas is primarily observed globally on 25th December. This religious feast festival is related to the Christian liturgical year. The native sequence of Christmas day is included in the Gospels of Luke & Matthews. Many early Christian writers suggested different dates to celebrate the anniversary of Christianity. But there is no confirmation about the date in the Gospels.
When was Christmas first celebrated?
Different factors contributed to the selection of the annual religious festival. First time in history, Romans marked Christmas Day as a winter solstice on 25th December. The very first Christmas in history was celebrated in Rome _ 25th December, AD 336. In the 3rd Century, the selection of the annual date for Christmas day was the subject of great interest for writers. In AD 200, a writer Clement of Alexandria mentioned that
“There are some people who have already determined the birth year and date of our Lord. Those people exclaimed that it was already happened on the year 28 of Augustus and on the 25th day of Pachon (An Egyptian Month). Some other people also share their opinion and say, he was born on 24th and 25th of Pharmuthi.”
Why do we celebrate Christmas?
The word Christmas comes from an old English Term “Cristes Maesse” and it means Christ’s Mass. Christmas is a religious festival of the Christian community to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Not all Christian scholars agree and know about the exact birth date of Jesus. Different factors equally contributed to selecting 25th December to absorb festivity spirits.
On the Roman calendar, 25th December is marked as a Winter Solstice. Christmas was not included on the list of festivals prepared by early Christian writers, named Tertullian & Irenaeus.
How is Christmas celebrated in most countries?
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is a very special part of Christmas, especially for children. Because it is the time when Father of Gifts visits houses and gives presents to kids. In Britain, there is less prominence about Christmas Eve than in other countries. In UK,
Christmas is more about gift exchanging and National Boxing day. Some Christian families and communities take part in carol singing, arrange midnight masses and attend family dinners.
According to old traditions in the UK, Children arrange their stockings near the fireplace or Christmas tree for Santa to fill them with goodies. Children leave cookies and milk on the table to make Santa Clause happy. In England, Christmas celebrations typically involve exchanging gifts, eating a traditional turkey with family, listening to Queen’s Speech, arranging lunch/dinner, attending Church, and sharing drinks with family members.
What countries celebrate Christmas Festival?
Christmas is considered as both a religious and cultural festival that is observed by both Christian and non-Christian communities on 25th December of every year. The festivity spirit of Christmas takes over in more than 160 countries on the globe and celebration traditions are different in every country.
From setting up a Christmas tree to decorating houses, hanging advent wreaths, and arranging stockings, Christmas celebrations and traditions greatly vary in different countries. Let’s talk about how people in different countries celebrate this festival.
How does France celebrate Christmas?
If you love spending your Christmas in different countries then France should be on top of your bucket list. With magical traditions to incredible decoration, magical markets, scrumptious food, and dreamlike lightings, France is the best place to make endearing memories of Christmas.
People in France put decoration balls and delicate lights on the Christmas tree, visit a special midnight mass at church, exchange gifts, elaborate delicious food with loved ones, and open gifts on Christmas Eve.
Let’s take a look at a list of traditions and celebrations that occur in France every year.
- Advent Calendars _ Les Calendriers De L’AVENT
- The Nativity Scene
- La Chandeleur
- Pére Fouéttard
- Shoes by the Fire
- Christmas Dinner
- Le Reveillon De Noël
How does Germany celebrate Christmas Day?
Germany celebrates this religious festival with two public holidays. In Germany, people celebrate Christmas on the 25th & 26th of December. Christmas Eve on 24th December is different for people. Christmas Eve is all about preparing an evening feast and chaotic morning. Unlike other countries, if Christmas Eve falls on weekdays in Germany, all shops stay open till noon. At this time of the year, sales in Germany go higher because people don’t stop shopping for presents even till the last minute.
Let’s take a look at Christmas celebrations traditions that occur in Germany
- St Nicolas Day _ Sankt Nikolaus Tag
- Krampus Night _ Krampus Nacht
- Advent Wreath
- Christmas Markets _ Weihnachtsmarket
- Epiphany & the Stringsinger
- Mulled Wine
- Feuerzangenbowle
- Christmas Angels _ Weihnachtsengel
- Christmas Stollen
- Lebkuchen
When does Spain celebrate Christmas festival?
Christmas is also called Navidad in the Spanish language. From December 24 to January 6, Spain comes alive to celebrate the Christmas festival traditionally. During this Holly time of the year, people try to fill their life with joy and family harmony.
Although, 24th December is Christmas Eve in Spain celebrations of Christmas come alive on December 22. On this day, the famous Spanish Christmas Lotteries are drawn and announced live on TV. Christmas Eve is also known as Nochebuena is Spanish and is celebrated on 24th December. Christmas Eve in Spain is all about family affairs. Generally, family members gather to share a scrumptious feat, typical desserts, wine, and all other foods (that are not eaten at other times of the year).
Let’s take a look at a list of traditional and cultural events and celebrations of Christmas in Spain.
- El Gordo _ The Christmas Lottery
- The Three Kings Event
- Portal de Beléns
- The Caga Tió
- El Arrastre
- Roscon de Reyes
- Dia de los Santos Inocentes
- Midnight Mass
When does Poland Celebrate Christmas?
Christmas in Poland is considered a major celebration of the year. Like other Christian countries and communities, awareness about Christmas grew over centuries in Poland. Combining old traditions with Pagan customs, higher religious authorities of the Catholic Church introduced this festival after the Christianization of Poland.
Like other countries in Poland, people celebrate the Christmas festival on December 25. There is a national holiday on December 25 to celebrate the birth of Jesus. On this festive event, all businesses, firms, and educational institutes are closed. This year, Christmas 2021 will fall on Saturday and some businesses are allowed to follow their working hours till noon.
There are different Christmas traditions in Poland that are unique and you should know about them.
- Advent
- Christmas Fasting
- Decorating Christmas tree with Stockings
- Leave an extra seat for unexpected guest
- Culinary traditions
- Share sweets
- Exchange gifts after Christmas Dinner
- Singing Carols
- Attend Midnight Mass
- Hay on Table
- Celebrate Christmas & Boxing Day together
Do Jews Celebrate Christmas?
For the majority of people, 25th December is the date to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. But in the Jewish religion, it is a time to expand one’s relationship in society. Jews only recognize Jesus as a false prophet, this is the main reason Jews don’t celebrate Christmas.
Some Jews celebrate Yuletide Festivities. Jewish scholars have emphatically rejected all rituals and customs to celebrate Christmas. Instead of this Christianity festival, Jews have sought ways to celebrate Jewish religion and the festival is called Hanukkah.
There is more to know about Christmas, its facts and traditions all around the world. Stay connected with us to get more updates about Christmas 2021. Subscribe our Newsletter and don’t forget to give us your feedback.
