The celebration of Christmas is a joyful mixture of customs that have developed in many different lands over thousands of years. Integrated into our customs are ancient Roman traditions, early Christian practices, medieval pagan rituals and Victorian nostalgia. Many customs - caroling, Santa, stockings, and gingerbread - originated in Europe. Germans introduced the Christmas tree to America. Christmas is a time of joy and celebration - a time to share traditional rituals with family and friends. Gift-giving, caroling, tree decorating, hanging stockings and baking cookies are all traditions that have been passed down through the years. before the celebration of Christmas began the Germans used evergreens to decorate their homes. They believed that these trees represented life and immortality and would protect their homes from evil during the coming year. Christmas Is celebrated all over the world.

Christmas season starts from November itself. Coloured lights decorate many town centers and shops, x-mas, along with shiny decorations, and artificial snow painted on shop windows. Christmas trees with lights and ornaments would decorate houses & shops. Shopping centers become busy with December festival open until late night. Father Christmas' or 'Santa Claus' has become the human face of Christmas. Pictures can be seen everywhere of the old man with long white beard, red coat, and bag of toys. Children are taught that he brings them presents Christmas Eve, and many children really believe this is true. In most countries, it is said that he lives near the North Pole, and arrives through the sky on a toboggan (snow-cart) pulled by reindeer. He comes into houses down the chimney at midnight and places presents for the children in socks or bags by their beds or in front of the family Christmas tree.

People use to stay in church on Christmas Eve to celebrate the arrival for Jesus the lord. X'mas or Christmas Day is celebrated on 25'Th of December and the festivities last for ten day up to 1'st January which is the New Year Day. Meaning of Christmas The English word Christmas has been derived from the words Cristes maesse (from Middle English), or Christ`s Mass (from old English) meaning Mass on Chirst's Day. The term Christmas is also reduced as X'mas, in which 'X' has been used for Christ in Roman. Christmas festival is known by different names like: Nativity, Incarnation, Yule Tide, Noel and Winter Pascha. Christmas is celebrated on a majestic-scale all over the world. Christians and even the non-Christian community participate with great passion in the various festivities associated with it. Markets, homes and churches take on a festive air. There are many activities all over the world. So much enthusiasm is witnessed everywhere that people get high on the spirit of the festival. Balls, elaborately decorated Christmas trees, delicious cakes and Santa Claus moving in the streets distributing gifts to the children are the main attractions of the festival. Santa Claus is also called popularly as Saint Nicholas, Father of Christmas and represents the spirit of cheerfulness and the joy of giving gifts to children across the world. This legend is believed by some to have originated from Saint Nicholas who is considered a historical figure of giving gifts. During the ten days, long celebrations of Christmas one thing among the others play a rotate role that is called a Christmas tree. As an integral part of ethnicity associated with this festival, a Christmas Tree is bought and placed inside or outside the house and decorated with lots of colorful toys like stars, balloons, candies, light-bulbs, bells, Santa doll, teddies with an angle placed at the top as the host of the angles. For decoration of a Christmas Tree, generally the family traditions and individuals' likings triumph but most commonly the tree is adorned by colors, lights and shimmering ornaments.