Jingle bells Jingle bells jingle all the way!! The
carol puts you in a
Christmas mood and
brings with it memories of the years gone by and the many December
moons. Christmas, the festival of giving, sharing and rejoicing is
that time of the year when everything appears radiant. Carols are
sung, houses decorated and the whole place is vibrant with the
festive preparations.
Besides singing, dancing and merry making you will be
pleasantly surprised to learn few facts regarding the festival.
Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December every year.
December is that time of the year when the world spruces up for the
festivities. Be it Catholics or non Christians, the festival is
renowned the world over, irrespective of cast and creed.
Christmas is a day to enjoy with gifts,
cakes,
wine
and sweets. With all the hype and commercialization it is hard to
believe that most of us have overlooked the importance of the day.
So let us remind ourselves of a few facts that embrace the
celebrations.
Happiness: It is the
happiest time of the year. An estimated majority of people are in
high spirits just by the thought of the fast approaching festival.
Carols are sung and there is music all around.
Red: The color red is
the Christmas color. Red candles, red berries,
red flowers, red ornaments and what's more? Santa Claus dressed
in a red garb is the icing on the cake for the festive season. The
color red is also symbolic of Christ's blood and his sacrifice for
us.
Intent: The time of
Christmas brings in
a feeling of good intentions in people for others. There is
compassion, charity and a feeling of brotherhood during the festive
season.
Smile: It is a known
fact that people around the world smile the most during
Christmas.
Togetherness: People
spend more time with family during Christmas. Be it the spring
cleaning or festive
decorations, Christmas is a time of gaiety and
togetherness.
Merry: It is not a
mere decorum to wish one another Merry Christmas but the hearts are
merrier too.
Abundance: There is
plenty of love, cheer and good wishes for all during Christmas.
There is thanksgiving and those who have more, give more to the
needy. It is a time of abundant giving which makes one richer in
deeds.
Sharing: This is the
time to share not only material gifts but also love, happiness, and
the spirit of oneness.
Besides these facts, there are a few
'did you know' particulars that may
just have you asking for more. Well it is believed that bread baked
on
Christmas day
never goes moldy. The Christmas pudding that you so relish were
once made in the soup consistency with ingredients like raisins and
wine
. Did you know that Christmas was not celebrated on
the 25 of December till AD 440?You will be amazed to know that
Oliver Cromwell abolished
Christmas and declared it to be a normal working day in the
year 1649. People caught celebrating the festival were
arrested.
Moving on to postcards and letters,
• The first British Christmas card was sent in 1840.
• The British Post Office used to deliver Christmas cards on
Christmas morning until 1961.
• The Daily newspapers were published on Christmas Day until
1912.
• The first Christmas stamp was released in Canada in
1898.
Have you heard of Christmas crackers? Well they were invented
by Thomas Smith. Initially the novelties which he got from France
did not do very well as
Christmas gifts so he wrapped them into a tube and added a
snapper to make them appear more appealing.
Interesting isn’t it? Well it would be even more fascinating
if some research was done regarding the culture and region specific
celebration of Christmas across the world.
Christmas celebrations in India
are akin to that
elsewhere. The only difference is perhaps in the Christmas goodies
and other delicacies that are native to a particular region.
December with its chilly evenings is the perfect time to sing
and make merry. Red being the color of the festival is set to
spread vivacity like never before. As December is fast approaching
gear up for the festival of singing, dining, sharing and merry
making.
By: Amrith K.A
Best Selling Christmas and New
Year Gifts