Secondary School Level

Christmas is basically a festival of the Christians, but today it is celebrated by all in India everybody observes it with gusto. Twenty fifth December is a holiday in India and the schools and colleges generally have their Christmas vacation.

On 25th December Jesus Christ was born in Bethelhem. He was the son of God. He came to this earth to free man from the original sin. By his sacrifice he took all the sins of human beings on his shoulders. The grateful people celebrate the birth of the Saviour with great joy.

People start singing of the coming of Christ, one week before. Christmas. Christmas carols, the songs about Christ, are sung with great joy. On the Christmas eve groups of young men and women go from house to house singing these carols. In churches, midnight prayer is held to welcome the 25^th December. There is the family dinner with the traditional roast-turkey, plum- pudding, cake and punch. Gifts, decorated on the Christmas tree in the hall, are given to all. There is music and mirth and merrry-making.

Children look forward to the coming of Santa Claus in his red dress and flowing snowy beard. He comes from the North Pole on his sleigh driven by reindeers and carrying presents in his sack. He visits the children while they are asleep and leaves their desired presents in their rooms. When they get up in the morning their joy is overwhelming.

From the morning of the 25^th, it is visit to the Church and friends and relatives, parties and cake-eating and gift exchanging and fun and laughter. People dress in their best clothes and move about in a holiday mood. For the children it is a wonderful time as their elders satisfy all their desires.

Big hotels celebrate the 'Christmas Eve' with great fanfare. Religious societies organize shows and plays based on the life of Christ. This blend of the religious and the secular, this spirit of hope, joy and good-feeling and the colourful celebrations make Christmas my favourite festival.