About Christmas

Christmas is a Catholic festival celebrated on 25^th December, every year, to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. Celebrated around the world with great enthusiasm, it is a day filled with joy and merrymaking. The festival is also considered a public holiday in many countries around the world.

History of Christmas

It is believed that Jesus Christ was born to Mary and Joseph in the city of Bethlehem, located in the State of Palestine. Scholars assume the birth year of Christ to be located sometime between 6 BC to 4 BC, while other historical events place the birth year in 6 AD. These events are largely talked about in the Bible. The popular date which thereafter came t be celebrated as Christmas was reportedly chosen based on the winter solstice in the Roman calendar.

Traditions

Christmas, like most other festivals, isn’t limited to any one particular faith. A festival of hope and joy, it is celebrated around the world by people of various different faiths. They come together to put up and decorate Christmas trees, bake plum cake, Christmas cookies, prepare festive drinks and sing carols. Santa Claus is also one of the most popular ideas associated with Christmas, as children look forward to the idea of Santa Claus giving them their Christmas presents. But, that’s not all. A few other elements that are part and parcel of the Christmas celebrations are kissing underneath the mistletoe, burning of the yule log, lighting of the four advent candles, preparing egg nog and decorating the house with poinsetties – also known as the Christmas flowers. Christmas feasts usually include elaborate turkey roasts, gingerbread and enjoying wine.

Here’s a little more about some of the most important elements of Christmas:

Mistletoe: It is a plant widely used for decoration during the occasion of Christmas. It is believed that Mistletoe brings good luck to households as it possesses mystical power that wards of evil spirits.

Yule Log: During the occasion, a piece of log is burnt through the Twelve Days of Christmas and different colour of flames can be observed by spraying different chemicals.

Advent: It is a period before Christmas wherein people light four candles on every Sunday that depicts different meanings. The first candle represents Isaiah and other prophets that predicted the arrival of Jesus, the second candle represents the Bible, the third candle represents the mother of Jesus, Mary and the fourth candle represents Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist.

Eggnog: It is a traditional American drink consisting of egg and rum (Ale used in the earlier times).

Poinsettias: A famous plant found mainly in the Central American region; it is widely used in bouquets. The leaves in this plant represent purity.

Candy Canes: Candy Canes originated as Candy sticks. They were simple sugar flavoured sticks which now have peppermint or wintergreen added to it. The candy is made out of white and red colour. White representing purity, while red representing the blood shed by Lord Jesus when he was crucified.

Roast: Feasting on a roast certainly adds joy to the occasion as people prepare different kinds of roasts to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones.

Gingerbread: Gingerbread is an important meal on the occasion of Christmas. It is considered as sacred and is available to the people on this special occasion. Gingerbread cookies are one of the famous feasts that people eat during the holiday season.

Things to do during Christmas

Known as the holiday season, people enjoy travelling with their loved ones to places where Christmas celebrations are at their peak. Families can visit various areas where Christmas stalls are set up, and also, they can meet Santa Claus and interact with him.

Few of the things to do during Christmas Eve:

1. Shopping: Christmas shopping is an exciting affair, and there are tons of places to shop during this festival. The German Christmas Market in Mumbai and Delhi is one such area to shop wherein the markets are well-decorated Children can enjoy the mouthwatering treats sold by different bakeries. A shopping mall is another place for good Christmas shopping. Renowned bakeries offer the best of their Christmas treats for purchase. One cannot miss the Cochin Carnival held every year at Fort Kochi. The carnival displays India’s diverse cultures and different forms of dance.
2. Best places to visit: Travelling is definitely on the bucket list during the holiday season, and it gets better when booking your travel plans with IndiGo. Some of the suggested destinations during Christmas are Goa – for the expansive Christmas celebrations that take over in the state during the month of December. A well known destination for churches, and a hub for the Indian Christian community, you can never have a dull moment in Goa during Christmas, even with the coastal weather. Shimla and Jammu are two destinations that are the epitome of a winter wonderland, especially during the Christmas festival. Delhi, known for its chilly winters comes close to being a great place to enjoy the Christmas season in India; from popular restaurant and cultural hubs introducing festive offerings and events, to malls and public places being decorated in the spirit of Christmas – the capital city is a hotspot during the Holiday season.
3. Feasting: A festival is incomplete with feast, and Christmas brunch is undoubtedly the best way to end the festival on a happy note.
4. Snow cities: Winters and snow fall go hand in hand as experiencing snow during the Christmas is the best time one can think of. The best cities to visit during snowfall are Nainital, Mussoorie, Manali, Ladakh, Jammu and Srinagar. The nearest airports for these destinations are Dehradun, Chandigarh, Leh, Jammu and Srinagar respectively.
5. Activities during Christmas: There are several activities conducted on the day of Christmas. Some of the famous ones are:
   1. Bake Christmas cookies
   2. Ice skating
   3. Decorating Christmas trees
   4. Sending greeting cards to loved ones.
   5. Singing Christmas Carols

Book your tickets now to enjoy the holiday season.