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1. The Origins of Christmas

The origins of the holiday and its December date lie in the ancient GrecoRoman world, as commemorations probably began sometime in the 2nd century. There are at least three possible origins for the December date. The Roman Christian historian Sextus Julius Africanus dated Jesus conception to March 25 (the same date upon which he held that the world was created), which, after nine months in his mothers womb, would result in a December 25 birth. In the 3rd century, the Roman Empire, which at the time had not adopted Christianity, celebrated the rebirth of the Unconquered Sun (Sol Invictus) on December 25ththis holiday not only marked the return of longer days after the winter solstice but also followed the popular Roman festival called the Saturnalia (during which people feasted and exchanged gifts). It was also the birthday of the Indo-European deity Mithra, a god of light and loyalty whose cult was at the time growing popular among Roman soldiers. As the church in Rome only formally celebrated December 25th in 336 during the

reign of the emperor Constantine, who made Christianity the effective religion of the empire, some have speculated that choosing this date had the political motive of weakening the established pagan celebrations.

2. The Traditions of Christmas Tree

The custom of the Christmas tree developed in early modern Germanywith predecessors that can be traced to the 16th and possibly the 15th century, in which "devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes".It acquired popularity beyond Germany during the second half of the 19th century. The Christmas tree has also been known as the "Yule-tree", especially in discussions of its folkloristic origins. Both setting up and taking down a Christmas tree are associated with specific dates. Traditionally, Christmas trees were not brought in and decorated until Christmas Eve (24 December) or, in the traditions celebrating Christmas Eve rather than on the first of day of Christmas, 23 December, and then removed the day after Twelfth Night (5 January); to have a tree up before or after these dates was even considered bad luck. In many areas, it has become customary to set up one's Christmas tree at the beginning of the Advent season. Some families in the U.S. and Canada will put up a Christmas tree soon after American Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday of November), and Christmas decorations can show up even earlier in retail stores, often the day after Halloween (31 October). Some households do not put up the tree until the second week of December, and leave it up until 6 January (Epiphany).

3. Traditional food on Christmas

Christmas dinner is the primary meal traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Christmas dinner around the world may differ and the traditions present below can reflect the culture of the respective country it is being celebrated in. Turkey is present in a fair number of these meals. Traditional Christmas dinner features turkeywith stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, vegetables such as carrots, turnip and parsnip, and for dessert, raisin pudding, pumpkin pie, Christmas pudding or

fruitcake. Eggnog, a milk-based punch that is often infused with alcohol, is also very popular around the holiday season. Other Christmas items include butter tarts and shortbread, which are traditionally baked before the holidays and served to visiting friends, at various Christmas and New Year parties, as well as on Christmas Day.

4. Santa Claus History

Also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle and simply "Santa", is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric origins who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children on the night before Christmas, December 24. However in some European countries children receive their presents on St. Nicholas' Day, December 6The modern figure of Santa Claus was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which, in turn, was part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of Christian bishop and gift giver Saint Nicholas. During the Christianization of Germanic Europe, this figure may have absorbed elements of the god Odin, who was associated with the Germanic pagan midwinter event of Yule and led the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession through the sky. According to a tradition which can be traced to the 1820s, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, with a large number of magical elves, and nine (originally eight) flying reindeer. Since the 20th century, in an idea popularized by the 1934 song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", Santa Claus has been believed to make a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior ("naughty" or "nice") and to deliver presents, including toys, and candy to all of the well-behaved children in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer who pull his sleigh

5. Include tree Christmas Song

 Christmas Day Snow covered rooftops Lights on the trees The sound of singing I hear down Every street

Decorate With green and red Made the cookies For old Santa Made a runway For his sled

Families Have gathered From miles away Oh, Merry Christmas It's Christmas day

Singing carols On a sleigh ride Gather 'round The manger scene Open presents Read the letter

You see that old tree Down Cotton Lane Those lights Keep shining It's always the same

And together We will sing

Oh Merry Christmas Joy to the world

We hear The church bells Ring out to say Oh, Merry Christmas It's Christmas day Oh, Merry Christmas It's Christmas day

For every nation For every boy And girl

Let's light a candle For peace we pray Oh Merry Christmas

Swing the lights And hang The stockings

It's Christmas day It's Christmas day It's Christmas day

Oh Let's light a candle For peace we pray Oh Merry Christmas It's Christmas day Christmas time is here Merry Christmas It's Christmas day

Christmas time is here Happiness and cheer Fun for all that children call Their favorite time of the year Snowflakes in the air Carols everywhere Olden times and ancient rhymes Of love and dreams to share Sleigh bells in the air Jingle Bells

Beauty everywhere Yuletide by the fireside And joyful memories there Christmas time is here We'll be drawing near Oh, that we could always see Such spirit through the year Oh, that we could always see Such spirit through the year..

Dashing through the snow In a one-horse open sleigh O'er the fields we go Laughing all the way Bells on bobtail ring Making spirits bright What fun it is to ride and sing A sleighing song tonight! (chorus) Jingle bells, jingle bells,

Jingle all the way. Oh! what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh. Jingle bells, jingle bells, Jingle all the way; Oh! what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh. A day or two ago I thought I'd take a ride And soon, Miss Fanny Bright

Was seated by my side, The horse was lean and lank Misfortune seemed his lot H e g o t i n t o a d ri ft e d b a n k A n d then we got upsot. |: chorus:| A day or two ago, The story I must tell I went out on the snow, And on my back I fell;

A gent was riding by In a one-horse open sleigh, He laughed as there I sprawlin g lie, But quickly drove away. |: chorus:| Now the ground is white Go it while you're young, Take the girls tonight and sing this sleighin g song; Just get a bobtailed?bay Two forty as his speed Hitch him to an open sleigh And crack! you'll take the lead. |: chorus:|

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