Christmas pictures.

 

Wishes for Christmas!

Bless us Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind; Teach us to be patient and always to be kind.   

A long year of waiting and Christmas is back again. Christmas imparts magical touch to the whole earth with glittering light, food, love, gifts, and joy. The whole season has its own special feel to it and everyone seems to be happier and kinder.Love, Peace and Joy came down on earth on Christmas day to make us happy and cheerful.

Merry Christmas!

How to choose gift for Christmas.

With the chill descending in the November air, your excitement builds as you realize that December is just around the corner, and that it is almost time for the greatest celebration of the year... Christmas!

The Significance Of Christmas Gifts

Christmas celebration is a time of family get-togethers, and also the giving and sharing of Christmas gifts. This tradition that began with the three wise men offering precious gifts to the infant Jesus still continues all over the world to this day.
For many people, some of life's most cherished memories are often related to Christmas and the giving and sharing of Christmas presents with loved ones. How can anyone forget the night of eager anticipation on Christmas Eve for the family gathering and the opening of Christmas presents?
So Christmas gifts are an integral part of the joyful celebration of Christmas. The gifts received from our friends and loved ones over the years make up some of the sweetest memories.

What Makes For The Best Christmas Gift?

Perhaps the world famous short story of O.Henry 'The Gift of the Magi' best explains what makes for the ideal Christmas gift. One has to surpass his self to reflect his true emotion through gifts.
Why is it that some Christmas presents remain so close to our hearts? It is definitely not because of the material value of the gift, but because it is the giver's sentiments and feelings behind the gift that makes it so meaningful and dear to our heart. And if you want to express your feelings through Christmas presents, it is a good idea to add some personalized touches to them.

Remember these points when choosing the ideal Christmas gift for a special person:

·         Expense has nothing to do with the value of the gift; how much thought you have put into choosing and preparing the Christmas present makes it that much more special.

·         Keep the recipient in mind when selecting and purchasing the gift; a gorgeous evening gown may enthrall your sweetheart, but for your aged mother, you have to think a bit more creatively. Why not search for a childhood family picture and frame it with an exquisite photo frame and present this to her as her Christmas gift! It will surely bring tears to your mother's eyes, but rest assured they would be tears of happiness.

Last of all nothing can beat the sweet feeling of reading a handmade Christmas card with heartfelt and personal good wishes to your friends and dear ones.

Christmas celebrations around the world.

United States

Christmas is one of the most important and most enthusiastically celebrated festival in United States. In the multi-cultural and pluralistic society of US, Christmas is celebrated in several interesting ways.

History of Christmas in United States

History of Christmas celebration in United States dates back to the 19th century. In 1800s, Christmas was celebrated by Protestant Christians of Czech Republic. During 1830, Christmas started gaining popularity in America. The concept of decorating Christmas Tree came in 1840s. 1860 saw the appearance of Santa Claus - the mythical character with traditional white beard, red suit and round belly.
In United States of America, the traditional Christmas dinner is roast turkey with vegetables and sauces. For dessert it is rich, fruity Christmas pudding with brandy sauce and pumpkin pies. At Christmas it snows in many states, so dinner is usually eaten indoors.

Christmas Celebrations in Various Parts of US

Given here are some interesting and differentiating aspects of Christmas celebrations in various states of USA.

Canada: In Canada, Eskimos celebrate big Winter festival called Sinck Tuck by dancing and gift-giving party.

Alaska: In Alaska, favorite song Gristuusaaq suu'uq , or Christ is born is sang at each home. Alaskans decorate their doorways with pineapple representing, a symbol of hospitality.

Washington: A huge Christmas Tree is lit by the President to mark the Christmas celebration.

Boston: It is famous for its carols sung accompanied with hand bells.

New Orleans: A huge Ox decorated with holly and ribbons tied to its horns is paraded over the streets

Arizona: People of Arizona have kept alive the ritual of playing parts of Mary and Joseph. They visit each other's houses and look for each family's crib.

Hawaii: Here Christmas starts with the coming of the Christmas Tree Ship. This ship brings a lot of Christmas fare.

California: Santa Claus comes on a surf board.

Belgium

On the sixth of December Sinterklaas or Saint-Nicholas is celebrated, which is an entirely different holiday from Christmas. Santa Claus in Belgium is called de Kerstman or le Père Noël and he does come around on Christmas day to bring children presents. 

Brazil

Father Christmas is called Papai Noel. For dessert people enjoy some Brazilian sweets Brigadeiro made of condensed milk and chocolate. Both rich and poor have Christmas trees.

As there’s no snow in Brazil poor people put cotton over their Christmas tree branch to simulate snow.

People dressed as Santa Claus rappel down the facade of the Julio Prestes train station building in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

Finland

Finnish people believe that Father Christmas (Santa Claus) lives in the north part of Finland called Korvatunturi, north of the Arctic Circle. People from all over the world send letters to Santa Claus in Finland. There is a even big tourist theme park called 'Christmas Land' in the north of Finland, near to where they say that Father Christmas lives.

Children receive their presents on Christmas Eve, usually with a family member dressing as Father Christmas. As children grow older, they come to realise that 'Father Christmas' is really a bigger brother, sister or family member.

France

In France, Christmas is always called 'Noël. Everyone has a Christmas tree, sometimes decorated in the old way with red ribbons and real white wax candles. Fir trees in the garden are often decorated too, with lights on all night.

Father Christmas is called Père Noël. The Christmas meal is an important family gathering with good meat and the best wine. Not everyone sends Christmas cards.

 

Germany

Germans love to decorate their houses at Christmas. Many houses will have little wooden frames holding electric candles in their windows, and coloured pictures of paper or plastic which look beautiful from the outside at night. Most homes will also have little wooden 'cribs' - a small model of the stable where Jesus was born, with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and animals.

Father Christmas - 'Der Weihnachtsmann' - brings presents in the late afternoon of Christmas Eve, after people have been to a church meeting. 

Portugal

People adhere to the tradition that Father Christmas brings presents to children on Christmas Eve. The presents are left under the Christmas tree or in shoes by the fireplace. A special Christmas meal of salted dry cod-fish with boiled potatoes is eaten at midnight on Christmas Eve. 

Russia

In the days of the Soviet Union, Christmas was not celebrated very much. New Year was the important time - when 'Father Frost' brought presents to children. With the fall of Communism, Christmas can be openly celebrated - either on December 25th; or more often on January 7th. This unusual date is because the Russian Orthodox church uses the old 'Julian' calendar for religious celebration days. Special Christmas food includes cakes, pies and 'meat dumplings'. 

Sweden

The most important day is Christmas Eve. A special Christmas meal is eaten on Christmas Eve - ham (pork), herring fish, and brown beans - and this is the time when families give presents to each other. Many people attend a church meeting early on Christmas Day. 

Christmas in Georgia.

Georgians celebrate Christmas (Georgian: შობა) on 7 January (25 December on the Julian calendar). It is traditional in Georgia to go on Alilo, a mass walk in the streets, dressed in special clothing to celebrate and congratulate each other.

  In most songs these words are used: "ოცდახუთსა დეკემბერსა, ქრისტე იშვა ბეთლემსაო"– "on 25th December Christ was born in Bethlehem".

A local variant of the Christmas tree, called Chichilaki, is made of soft wooden material with curled branches.

 The Georgian equivalent of "Santa Claus" is known as tovlis papa (or tovlis babua in western Georgian dialects), literally meaning a "Grandfather snow", and is traditionally portrayed with long white beard, dressed in national costume "chokha" and wearing a fur cloak "nabadi".

 

Christmas traditions.

Santa Claus

Santa Claus is a fictional character and is mostly shown as a fat and happy man wearing a red suit with white trim. According to the American version of the legend, Santa, as he is often known, lives in the North Pole with his wife, Mrs. Claus, some elves who build his toys, and reindeer who pull his sled.

On Christmas eve Father Christmas piles all of the toys onto his sleigh and rides across the sky with his reindeers. The most famous one is Rudolf, the reindeer at the front who leads the way with his red nose.

He enters our houses down the chimney at midnight and places presents for the children in stockings or bags by their beds or in front of the family Christmas tree. 

The Christmas tree

In most homes families have a tree of some sort or other which they decorate and place the presents under.

The traditional Christmas tree is a fir tree but now-a-days more people buy artificial trees to 'save the earth'. The decorating of the tree is usually a family occasion, with everyone helping.

Interesting Christmas Tree Facts

• Trees were decorated with apples, cakes and sweets for many centuries.

• Many people decorate their homes at Christmas time. These decorations and the Christmas tree are generally inside, but may be put where they can also be seen through a window by people passing by.

Christmas Cards

People around the world send Christmas Cards to their friends and family.

Traditionally, Christmas cards showed religious pictures of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, or other parts of the Christmas story. Today, however, it is more common to see winter scenes, Father Christmas, cartoon characters or jokes.

Interesting Christmas Card Facts

•         In 1846 1000 cards, with the same design as the first Christmas cards, were sold to the public  at 1 shilling each  by  Felix Summerly's Treasure House in Bond street.

•        Postmen in Victorian England were popularly called "robins" because their uniforms were red.

•        Victorian Christmas cards often showed a robin delivering Christmas mail.

•        The average person in Britain sends 50 Christmas cards each year.