| Come December, and it is impossible to escape | | | | December presents, laid out under the tree, are |
| the approaching signs of Christmas. The roads | | | | unwrapped. Curiosity and anticipation gives way to |
| and shops are decorated with lights, shiny tinsel | | | | exclamations of joy and delight. The Christmas |
| and snow, artificial or real is present at every | | | | dinner is the main meal taken either at midday or |
| cornice and awning. By mid December, every | | | | early afternoon. |
| house has a Christmas tree strung with lights and | | | | A typical Christmas dinner will consist of turkey |
| plastic or glass decoration. Many houses also have | | | | with gingerbread stuffing, roast potatoes, Brussels |
| strings of lights on their garden trees or house | | | | sprouts & chestnuts, parsnips with Swede, bread |
| walls. | | | | sauce and cranberry sauce. The scrumptious |
| Christmas is celebrated on the occasion of the | | | | dinner is followed by a rich Christmas pudding |
| birth anniversary of Christ. The festivities of | | | | which is a lot like fruitcake except that it is |
| Christmas often combine the commemoration of | | | | steamed not baked. There are a lot of traditions |
| Jesus’ birth with many secular customs | | | | and superstitions surrounding the Christmas |
| influenced by winter festivals. Christmas is | | | | pudding. The most common tradition demands |
| celebrated on 25th December with the previous | | | | that each member of the house should stir the |
| day being known as Christmas Eve and the | | | | pudding mix while it is being made and drop a |
| following day as Boxing Day. The festival of | | | | silver coin into it while making a wish. The people |
| Christmas has evolved and spread to such an | | | | who get the silver coins once the pudding is cut |
| extent that it is celebrated in most countries even | | | | are supposed to be lucky. Sometimes a thimble |
| by non Christians. December 25th is a national | | | | or a button is also added to the pudding and the |
| holiday in most nations and is eagerly awaited by | | | | person who gets it is said to remain a spinster or |
| all. | | | | bachelor forever. Christmas pudding is served with |
| The word Christmas is a contraction of | | | | a sprig of holly stuck on top of it and eaten with |
| Christ’s mass. The word is derived from the | | | | custard or brandy cream. |
| Middle English word Christemassa. Christmas in the | | | | With the food finished, it is time for crackers. |
| western world is characterized by the exchange | | | | Christmas crackers are long toffee shaped things |
| of gifts. Small children are led to believe that | | | | that burst when pulled. The crackers contain a |
| these gifts are from Santa Claus who watches | | | | small gift or token inside such as a toy or a |
| over the actions of children throughout the year | | | | crown. Christmas crackers are usually placed next |
| and then rewards them if they are good. Children | | | | to individual plates on the Christmas table. |
| hang stockings for Santa Claus to put their | | | | For many nations, Christmas is the largest annual |
| presents. And for his efforts, Santa is rewarded | | | | economic stimulus. Shopping for Christmas is |
| with a glass of milk and a plate of cookies. | | | | traditionally said to begin on Black Friday, which is |
| Christmas celebrations begin with singing of carols | | | | the day after Thanksgiving. In many cities, it is a |
| on Christmas Eve and the midnight mass. The | | | | common sight to see shoppers lined up outside |
| following morning that is on the 25th of | | | | stores hours before they open. |