Christmas! When you hear the name, the first thing that comes to mind is a tree with bright lights, colourful balls, stars, chocolates, lamps and many more. It reminds us of an old red-dressed grandfather with white hair and a beard who brings gifts to everyone. Christmas Day means arranging various items on the dining table where a cake is a must. Without this cake, you can’t really imagine Christmas, because December 25th is the birthday of Jesus Christ, the incarnation of Christianity. Though the exact date of birth is unknown, there are lots of myths regarding this.
In different countries of the world, Christians celebrate this special day in different ways. Although the main event follows a tradition, it varies from country to country. The event starts on December 25 and lasts till the 5th of the New Year. History says there are many differences about this day; many stories have been made based on this but outside of religious culture, Christmas is a happy day for everyone. This day is covered with joy, food and celebration. Let’s take a look at them.
Christmas Tree:
A tall slender tree is shining with lights, it is decorated with more ornaments including food, this special thing can only be seen on this special day. Yes, the significance of the Christmas tree is huge to Christians. There are many stories about this. It is said that on a winter night, a small child arrives at the house of a poor family. The house owner takes great care of the baby with food and shelter. When the child wakes up in the morning, he introduced himself as ‘Jesus’ and gives them a branch of a tree as a gift. They planted the stalks on the ground. On Christmas day, they saw that the tree was full of golden apples.
It is also said that a little boy gave four pine trees to the gardener of a church for money. The gardener planted the trees in the garden. On Christmas day, it is seen shining like a star in a tree. After that, the ornamentation of the Christmas tree is a part of this event. Although different types of trees are used in different places, there is a lot of mention of fir trees. The first Christmas tree arrangement was seen in Germany but Queen Victoria of England made this Christmas tree as a big function of this big event. The matter has since been reflected in a new form.
Dinner Party:
Christmas is the biggest festival of Christianity and there will be no food and drink, how is it possible! The cake is the main attraction of Christmas. The inside of the cake also differs according to the rituals of different countries. However, in addition to the cake, there is a meal on the Christmas dinner table. Cranberry sauce, a whole turkey, pork, pie, wine, salad, bread, boiled potatoes or much more are there. In addition to these meals, there are special arrangements in different countries, such as eating white cream strawberry cake in Japan. In the Philippines, cocoa bean cheese balls and pork are eaten. Duck roast, pork, and potato roast are served in Denmark. In Britain, there are various arrangements including cranberry, turkey, vegetables and pork. The same arrangement and variation go for desserts also. In such a splendid environment, these dinners are also known in different countries, such as Revlon, Noshes Buena etc.
Santa Claus:
One of the attractions of Christmas is Santa Claus. There are several myths about Santa Claus but all stories mean one thing and that is love. Santa (St. Nicholas) used to go to poor families with gifts. Many people would get benefits from this secret gift. Once upon a time, because of being poor, a girl couldn’t get married; Santa left some gold in the place where they dried their socks. As soon as the owner of the house grabbed the socks and pulled them, the gold fell in front of him. Since then, children still hang red socks in front of the house to receive secret gifts.
Every story has another story behind it. There are lots of myths, stories, rituals and beliefs, but in the end, all festivals bring love and happiness to people. Every year Christmas gives birth to new stories of joy through family gatherings, celebrations, get-togethers and making connections. Enjoy Christmas by visiting the Recipe section of ‘The Diniverse’ and you can prepare all the fun Christmas food at home. Say Merry Christmas to all!
