Decorating a Christmas Tree

Decorating a Christmas Tree
Posted in Christian Festivals, Festivals in December on 13. Dec, 2009
The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree goes back to the 16th century when Christmas candies were used as decorations by the Germans. The Christmas food later gave way to candles, bells, glass balls, light bulbs and many other glittering ornaments.
Decorating a Christmas tree is one of the most enjoyable activities at Christmas. The decorations used to depend upon the country and the type of tree used. Conifer trees make the best Christmas trees and live Christmas décor such as pine cones look great on a real Christmas tree. In places where fir trees are not available, synthetic trees can be used along with artificial décor. No matter which tree is used, the real fun lies in decorating it.

To add color and brightness, strings of small bulbs are wrapped around the tree (make sure that each bulb is working before stringing it). The color scheme of the decorations should match the color scheme of your room. Among some decorations commonly used are garlands, glass balls, tinsel, ribbons etc. You can make some of your own decorations to give your tree a personal touch. When placing the ornaments, ensure that they are evenly spread and are not placed only on the edges; this gives the tree a fuller, better look. Place the expensive delicate ornaments on the top branches well out of reach of little children. The top of the tree can be decorated with either a star or an angel.
The best part of decorating a Christmas tree is that you get to spend time with your family. Decorating is not easy, but with the help of little hands it becomes more of a family bonding than a ritual. After all, Christmas is all about spending time with your loved ones.

Santa Claus

Santa Claus
Posted in Christian Festivals, Festivals in December on 13. Dec, 2009
Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, is perhaps the most popular Christmas figure among kids. He is a stout, jolly old fellow with a white beard who wears a red suit. He lives at the North Pole. Santa Claus brings gifts to children on Christmas Eve. Children write to the Santa telling him what gifts they want for Christmas. On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus gathers all the toys on his sleigh which is driven by a team of reindeer as he rides across the sky. Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer leads the team and is Santa’s favorite. Santa slips down the chimneys of houses and places the toys in stockings by the beds of children. In some shopping malls or parties for children someone usually dresses up as Santa Claus and gives gifts to the children.

The fictitious character of Santa Claus is based on a real life person Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas was a kind-hearted but rather shy person who loved helping people. Once to help a girl in need, he slipped a purse full of gold coins down the chimney which incidentally landed in the girl’s stocking that had been placed by the fire for drying. This is reportedly the beginning of the tradition of placing gifts in stockings.

It’s Christmas Time!!

It’s Christmas Time!!
Posted in Christian Festivals, Festivals in December on 13. Dec, 2009
As November ends, the preparations for Christmas pick up. The streets and malls are decorated with colored lights and have a festive look. From the first week of December, people start decorating their houses and yards. Multicolored ribbons, paper and plastic decorations and lights are seen everywhere. The Malls stay open late into the night and are crowded with shoppers. Special Christmas sales make purchasing accessible for many. The air is filled with excitement and Christmas carols are on everyone’s lips.Most families set up their Christmas trees by mid-December. Christmas trees are a central aspect of Christmas as most festivities are centered around it. Decorating a Christmas tree is a family affair. Many decorative ornaments are available in the market, though some people prefer to make their own decorations. The gifts are kept under the tree a night before the big day.
On the night of 24th December, a Midnight Christian Vigil is held in churches shortly before midnight. It is followed by a Midnight Mass.

In some places the Midnight Mass is held in the early morning on Christmas day.
The rest of the big day is spent exchanging gifts, meeting friends and relatives. The Christmas dinner is the highlight of the day. Turkey and Christmas pudding are the main dishes for many.

Nativity of St John, the Baptist: June 24, 2009

Nativity of St John, the Baptist: June 24, 2009

Note: Some report the details of the event while in the womb differently.

Posted in Christian Festivals, Festivals in January, Festivals in June on 20. Jun, 2009
St John the Baptist was Jesus Christ’s cousin. He was born on June 24 as the first son of the Jewish priest St. Zechariah and Elizabeth. St John’s birth was a miraculous event. The celebration of St John’s nativity is one of the oldest in the Christian religion. The Church observed this day as the primary festival subsequent to Christmas and Easter. According to the Gospel of Luke, when Elizabeth was six months pregnant with St John, the Archangel Gabriel came to Mary and gave her the good news that she would conceive Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Luke narrates the first act of prophecy by St John the Baptist as his motion in his mother Elizabeth’s womb after listening about Mary’s conception once she came to greet Elizabeth on her pregnancy.
The nativity is celebrated depending upon the customs and rituals of the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran Churches. In Western Christianity an eminent liturgical feast day is traditional to commemorate the occasion. In Eastern Christianity St John is remembered as ‘John the forerunner’ and the feast is supplemented by all night vigil. St John is known as a ‘forerunner’ because he was born just before Jesus in order to pave the way for his arrival on earth.
The Orthodox Church observes the day on June 24th while the Armenian Apostolic Church memorializes the day on January 15th each year.

Christian Festivals in April

April is an important month to all Christians, with Easter itself being the most important event in the Christian calendar apart from Christmas. Almost every Christian festival in the month of April is celebrated universally across multiple cultures and societies; some of the most famous being:

 

• the Easter Week or Holy Week,
• Palm Sunday,
• Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday,
• Good Friday,
• Easter Sunday, and
• St George’s Day

Apart from the sixth festival which is largely celebrated in England and English colonial communities only, every other event is possibly universal, with only dates varying between the Catholics and Orthodoxies. The first celebration leading to the Easter Week would be the Palm Sunday which recalls the last week of Jesus’ life. The Holy Week which comes within is a week of remembering Jesus and his entrance to Jerusalem where he was crucified, something that is celebrated on the coming Friday known as the Good Friday. In between is the Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday which recalls the last supper in which Jesus had celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples. Then comes the most important day, the Easter Sunday when every Christian celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. St George’s Day is rather culturally inclined, celebrating the holy day of the Patron Saint of England.

3 Different Ways of Celebrating Christmas Festivals around the World

3 Different Ways of Celebrating Christmas Festivals around the World
Posted in Christian Festivals, Religious Festivals on 09. Apr, 2009
Christmas is one of the largest religious festivals around the world, celebrated by billions on two different dates respectively. It is celebrated by people from across multiple cultures and social backgrounds. Christmas is also celebrated in various different ways around the world. Among the most popular ways are:
    rich gatherings and foods by the Americans
    bonfires and special dances in Europe
    beach parties and outdoor barbecues in the Australasia and Asia
People in South America, including those from the northern countries such as Brazil and the like celebrate in ways that are similar to those practiced in the US, with rich foods and pastries. Poorer peoples may opt for lesser extravagances. In most parts of Europe, particularly in the western regions, Christmas festivals are celebrated with dancing and miming as well as by going to church, which is something considered essential in some communities in northern Europe. In Asia and Australasia, apart from going to churches, people also prefer evening parties with families and friends. PIt is a time when everyone gets to spend time together in  Australia, Singapore, Japan, Philippines, and other countries.

The Top Three Festivals in the Christian Religion

The Top Three Festivals in the Christian Religion

Christianity is the largest religion in the world, spreading across almost every continent on earth. In regard to both the religion and the culture there are plenty of festivals based onChristianity. Most of these festivals are celebrated universally as well. The three most famous and important festivals in the Christian calendar would include:
    Lent
    Easter
    Christmas
Of the three, the bottom two are celebrated around the globe. Easter is the season in which Christians all over the world remember the burial and resurrection of Jesus after being crucified. In some places, Easter is a more important festival than Christmas itself. Christmas on the other hand is celebrated to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. Lent isn’t as famous everywhere. It is more widely known among the European, Asian, and American populations. It is a special occasion beginning on the day of Ash Wednesday, the day after Shrove Tuesday; when most Christians (who celebrate) would go to the church and have the cross sign marked on their foreheads in ash. It’s a festival that leads up to the Easter season when rich foods would be eaten prior to the upcoming fasting activity.

3 Important Tips in Celebrating the Christmas Festival with Your Family

3 Important Tips in Celebrating the Christmas Festival with Your Family
Christmas festival is probably the most important day after Easter. It is celebrated by millions worldwide on the 25th day of December and the 7th day of January by some others. There are many different ways of celebrating Christmas in different societies and cultures, but by and large, some of the basic elements are quite similar. Here are three elements that can make the day memorable.
The most important element of Christmas festival is the sharing of joy during the days of the month that lead up to Christmas itself. It is important to many to ensure that this season, called the Advent, is spent sharing wealth with the needy and poor, and not just your friends and relatives. Bringing  together every member in the family into this good deed is a significant part as well.
Secondly, it’s a day to cherish the birth of Christ, and going to Church for this reason is extremely important. Family gatherings are equally important, and most people prefer to go to church as a family.
Last but not least, Christmas is not just about the gifts and foods. It’s also the time for passing knowledge regarding the religion from one generation to another. It is considered a duty and privilege to enlighten your children on Christ’s birth and its significance to the religion.

Top 3 Global Festivals around the Calendar

Top 3 Global Festivals around the Calendar

Global festivals take place almost every month, but not all can attract large numbers of viewers. Such big events are not only costly to market, but also involve a very extensive amount of planning and activity behind the scenes. Three examples of the most famous world festivals in recent years are:The Olympicsthe Global Peace FestivalThe Pangea Day
Of these three, we can see that one event is sport related. The rationale for the Olympics  being listed here is its nature of universal ‘togetherness’ that goes beyond cultural boundaries. It takes place every 4 years in a different country, and beyond this fact, everything goes without saying. The Olympics have always been among the highest rated TV broadcasts.
The Global Peace Festival which takes place when possible, is another of the highest rated live gatherings,. Millions attend on the internet at the same time, watching the launch. Pangea Day is comparatively new. It was introduced last year by an individual seeking to unite the world population via a 4-hour live telecast of cultural short films across the internet. This digital-era campsite festival is anticipated to return this year and into the future, but nothing is confirmed at this point.

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