When Christmas is mentioned, what comes to mind? Lights on, carols, mistletoe, family gatherings, and so many things of happy cheer. Many people enjoy and are genuinely delighted with this season. They say it is the most wonderful time of the year, so knowing how to celebrate Christmas best is important.
There are many ups and downs throughout the year, and the time to refresh that everyone looks forward to is the Christmas season; not only do we get to enjoy sales offers, but we also get to be with people whom we love, reflect on what happened throughout the year, and plan for what should be done in the next year.
1. What is the Origin of Christmas?
Christmas is a Christian holiday. The word comes from a combination of Christ and mass, the mass of Christ, thus making Christmas the shortened version.
In the Christian world, the most important event that saved humanity from sin was the birth of Jesus Christ. This birth is the foundation of all Christianity and salvation. That information makes remembering the day when something as great as the behaviour happens extremely vital.
The story of Jesus’s birth is found in the four gospel books of the New Testament: Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John. It explains the Lord declaring to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive his birth in a manger in Bethlehem. It also describes how angels spread the good tidings and the wise men who followed a star to visit baby Jesus.
1.1. Who celebrates Christmas?
Christmas is for everyone.
Even though Christmas originates in the Christian community, everyone has a chance to celebrate the day. There are many ways that both believers and nonbelievers can choose to celebrate Christmas. It all depends on the preferences, likes, and family traditions. One can have a secular or religious Christmas.
2. How to celebrate Christmas best
If you want to make your Christmas more meaningful, impactful, and full of happiness, here are a few things you can try doing.
2.1. Indulge in the Christmas spirit and the holiday cheer
Before anything else, you need to set the mood for Christmas. When the whole atmosphere is Christmas, it will be easy to celebrate Christmas. A lot can happen in a year, and in one way or another, it affects the holiday cheer. It is prime to set the celebratory mood. Here are a few things that can be done to bring up the Christmas spirit.
2.1.1. Set a calendar notification
You will not be the only one who has marked the Christmas day. There are a lot of many other people who put down countdowns; you can do it manually or digitally. Counting down the days to Christmas will bring Christmas excitement and allow one to look forward to it and make better preparations beforehand.
2.1.2. Reflect on the reasons for the Christmas celebration
For anything to be a success, it should come from clear and genuine motivation. Celebrating something for the right reasons makes it easy for you to enjoy the celebration. As far as Christmas is concerned, one can look back on the significance of the birth of Christ, how it happened, and what it means to them.
2.1.3. Attend a candlelight service
Another way to get into the holiday spirit is by attending a candlelight service on Christmas Eve. This service opens the heart to Christmas itself. It can also help reflect on the significance of the holiday.
2.1.4. Read Christmas stories
Many stories are associated with Christmas. If you have children, This can be a time for a religious family to introduce Jesus Christ to their children by reading them gospel books on how Jesus was born. It might not be from the bible, but many children’s storybooks are made for children concerning the birth of Christ.
2.1.5. Play Christmas songs
There is no successful Christmas without Christmas songs. Many all-time favourite songs can be played early to revive the Christmas spirit. From old to new Christmas songs, they are always helpful in lightening the holiday season.
2.1.6. Watch Christmas movies
Classical Christmas movies are a sure way to get into the holiday spirit. These movies never get old, from the 19th to the 20th century to even the 21st. These movies always show warmth, joy, cheer, and love. They could be the best movies of the year. If you are looking for great Christmas movies, you can start with the Home Alone movie series, 12 Days of Christmas, A Christmas Melody, A Wonderful Life, and many more. Go to your favourite streaming platform and choose the movies of your choice. You will not regret watching them,
2.1.7. Go outside and visit displays of Christmas decorations
Most people will enter the holiday spirit immediately after Thanksgiving, and decorations will be put up as early as a few weeks before Christmas. Some government offices put Christmas decorations all around the city associated with big, beautiful Christmas trees.
Private and locally owned stores will lighten the town with decorations, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, and many more Christmas traditions. Walking around during the season, hearing the songs, and seeing the beautiful decorations will inspire you to get into the mood and have the holiday Christmas spirit.
2.2. Decorate for christimas
2.2.1. Put a Christmas tree
Just like Diwali is incomplete without lights or Holi without colours, the same Christmas is incomplete without the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree is an evergreen conifer tree. The tradition dates back to European countries. It can be pine, fir, or spruce.
In some cases, one can purchase artificial look-alike of these trees. The tree is a very important symbol; it signifies the immortality and eternity of Jesus Christ; the candy sticks hanging around represent the shepherds, and the belles represent all the joy that Christmas brings to the world.
Decorating the Christmas tree is the best and most fun part of Christmas; you can choose artificial or homemade decorations. There is no single way of decorating a Christmas tree; you can make and style it with your family in whatever way you want it to be
In addition to the Christmas tree, many other plants have become of significant importance. Mistletoe, poinsettias, and other evergreens. You can put poinsettia pots around the house for more effect and hang mistletoe over the door. There are a lot of myths that surround the mistletoe, making it part and parcel of Christmas.
2.2.2. Hung Christmas lights
Christmas is also a holiday of light. There are many reasons why lights are put up during this time of the year. For religious reasons, Christmas signifies the Saviour, meaning he is the Saviourddition; the shepherds saw the bright light of angels, which led them to where baby Jesus was. This and many other reasons can tell why lights have become an important part of Christmas.
You can line up the lights around your roof, ceiling, and whole yard, or even decorate your tree with as many lights as possible. The number of lights or even the design is unlimited. In the end, the lights should not only brighten the room but also brighten hearts.
2.2.3. Put up stockings
Stockings are part and parcel of Christmas. They date way back to when kids put their wet stockings on the mantel, and often, simple presents were put in them. It has become a Christmas tradition passed from generation to today. The stockings are not necessarily hung on the mantel; you can also decide to hang them anywhere near the Christmas tree.
2.2.4. Add a nativity scene
A nativity scene is a three-dimensional depiction of the birth of Jesus with Joseph, Mary, shepherds, baby Jesus in a manger, and all the other animals there. You can put small nativity scenes on your Christmas tree, the mantle, or any other lace of preference. You can decide to place a live one outside your home to improve it.
2.2.4.1. When is the right time to start decorating for Christmas?
Christmas’s excitement may often make people wonder when it is too early to put up Christmas decorations. Frankly, any time your heart wants to put them up, then put them up.
2.2.4.2. When should you remove the Christmas decorations?
Christmas decorations are good to look at even after Christmas. But they should not hang around for a long time. Most people have them taken down after the new year, but you can do what you want and what makes you happy; there is no rule to it.
2.3. Christmas traditions
2.3.1. Enjoy holiday-baked foods
Plenty of baked dishes are enjoyed during the season of Christmas; the list is very long. Firstly, you can indulge in baking Christmas cookies such as gingerbread men, thumbprint cookies, or any other sugar cookies, and you can shape them into Christmas themes such as candy cane sticks and stars.
You can do the baking with your spouse, children, parents, or any family members in many ways, and it can be a sure way to bring people together.
Apart from baking cookies, many pies are made around Christmas: apple pies, pumpkin pies, sweet potato pies, and mincemeat pies. These traditions contribute to a perfect and complete Christmas celebration.
2.3.2. Go for christimas caroling
Christmas carols are a big part of Christmas traditions and celebrations. There are a lot of people who either enjoy listening to carols or performing and singing carols to others. Either way, if you want to enjoy Christmas fully, carolling is not something you can escape. Most Christmas carols are songs that have been sung for ages, and they are still sung up to today.
If you have never tried indulging in carols and Christmas music, you can always find them on the Internet, in hymn books, or on a local radio station.
Carolling is fun. You can organize families and friends or join a carolling group and start singing in the neighbourhood, shelter homes, senior care facilities, or church.
Carolling is good for you and a way of spreading joy and cheer to those around you.
Carolling is not just a tradition; it is also a sure way to help people reflect on the reasons for Christmas and its importance.
2.3.3. Enjoy Christmas dinner
Christmas is the season that brings many people together, including family, friends, colleagues, and other loved ones. It is a chance to enjoy each other’s company, catch up, makeup, and encourage one another.
A dinner fixes it all. If you have an extended family, you plan where you will have Christmas dinner; if you are not close to your family, try calling friends and people you care about for dinner. In many ways, this will rekindle relationships and keep you all close.
2.4. Giving
There is always so much to give as the year ends. Christmas is when almost everyone you love is in one place, making giving easy and lovely. There are many ways to make Christmas meaningful and joyful for everyone around.
2.4.1. Gifting family and friends
There is no lie that there are people who look forward to Christmas because of the Christmas presents and exchanging gifts that come along with it. This is the time when you can show love to people by giving. The gift does not have to be extreme; it just needs to be within your means and from your heart.
As much as you want to make people around you happy with Christmas gifts, try not to go into debt while giving them.
If you have no idea what to give, you can try gifting pyjamas, stockings, or a chocolate bar. To make it even more meaningful, try to find out what someone has longed for for a while and give it to them on Christmas.
2.4.2. Charity works
Giving is not limited to your family or friends alone; you can also provide gifts for people who are in need. The gifts don’t always have to be new; they can be things you no longer need. Such presents can be toys you have outgrown, books you have read already, food, or even money. Donating to any charity centre is one of the many ways to obtain blessings, find happiness, and share happiness during the Christmas season.
2.4.3. Offer help to neighbours
Christmas is a time when one can interact with and help one’s neighbours. If you do not know many neighbours, this might be the time to get to know them. You can help your neighbours with Christmas decorations, hanging lights, and baking Christmas-themed foods, and for countries with winter around this time, you can help them.
Staying close to your neighbour is extremely important in your daily activities and maintaining peace and security.
2.4.4. Mailing cards
Not everyone gets to be around people they love around Christmas time; as sad as it sounds and looks, holiday cards are a very traditional way of reaching out to people who are not close. Christmas cards date back a long way and continue to be a part of Christmas. If you miss your family, mail them a card with warm, happy, and joyful thoughts for happy holidays to make their days brighter.
3. Why is Christmas important?
3.1. Celebrate salvation
For believers in Christ, Christmas is vital as they celebrate the birth of a saviour who saves the world from all its sins and that one day, the SaviouSaviourcome to take them to SaviouSaviouration is the symbol of the love of God towards man by bringing his only begotten son in the form of a human through the virgin Mary.
3.2. Time to celebrate love
Love is celebrated every day, everywhere, at any point in time. Still, when you look at it closely, holidays often bring people together, and Christmas brings all the loved ones in one space. Differences that occur throughout the year are usually resolved during this time.
4. Is Christmas the exact date that Christ was born?
The holy bible does not mention the exact date on which Jesus Christ was born but mentions the atmosphere, environment, and circumstances of Jesus’ birth.
This date has brought criticism and questions to many religious groups, but that is not the most important thing. The most important thing to remember is the world’s behaviour, and that reason is enough to call for a celebration among Christian believers.
4.1. Why is it celebrated on the 25th of December?
The choice of date has a lot to do with ancient Roman history. Many sources and theories explain the choice of date and month. One thing is for sure: the calendar that is currently used was not there by then, so it is hard to tell and confirm.
5. Why are the colours red, gold, and green used?
The Christmas colours have a great meaning: the colour red represents the blood of Jesus Christ that he shed on the cross, the gold represents the presents that baby Jesus was given at his birth by the magi who came to worship him, and the colour green symbolizes the eternal life that Jesus has and brings to all human race who believe in him.
6. Debunking myths
6.1. Is Santa Claus real?
Everyone probably has the answer to this question and is often scared to say it out loud to kids. While Santa is not a real single feedback, it does not mean that this is just a created myth. Santa Claus is a character that has evolved through time from a real person named Saint Nick or Saint Nicholas.
Saint Nick was a famous saint in Turkey who was renowned for his kindness and selfless heart. Who used to help the needy and often defended young people. His acts of giving spread all over Europe, and because of that, a day was set to celebrate his contribution. The Dutch later nicknamed him Sinter Klass, the shortened form. The migration of Europeans to America and the mixture of accents gave birth to the name Santa Clause.
6.2. How is the Santa Clause related to the Christmas season?
Christmas is a season of giving, and since Saint Nick was known for his selfless acts of giving, Santa Claus and Christmas are synonymous.
Further thoughts on Christmas
Many traditions, myths, stories, and beliefs surround the whole Christmas season; it can be dancing sugar palms, flying reindeer, and even Santa Claus’s acts of giving, whatever creates the magic, love, and joy of Christmas.
There are many celebrations to look forward to throughout the year, and they are all equally important, but there is no lie that almost everyone’s favourite season is Christmas.
As much as Christmas is almost everyone’s favourite holiday, some people do not look forward to it; it can be because of past trauma or the chaos of dealing with family and friends during that time. The tips given hopefully will help one enjoy Christmas traditions alone or with others. Ultimately, it is a wish that everyone will have a good time.
Last Updated on by Sathi
