Every year people start with the preparations of Christmas in the beginning of December itself. Christmas lights gleam in the streets; Christmas carols fill the air with melody and rhythm, sweet smell of Christmas cakes and sweets is felt everywhere. Yes! It is that time of the year again…a time to sing carols! A time to dance to Christmas tunes! A time to make merry with friends and family! A time for fun and frolic! The celebration on the 25th of December starts with Christmas Eve, the evening of December 24.

Christmas traditions are not originated form a particular place or region. But we have taken custom of different places all over the world and blend to our modern celebrations. Whatever be the tradition behind this greatest festival anywhere, the feeling is same everywhere peace, love, caring and sharing. People celebrate Christmas by exchanging gifts, singing carols, family gatherings, decorating houses with crib, trees stars and lot more.

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you;Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

The history of Christmas starts with birth of a Babe in Bethlehem. Although the exact month is not known, the birthday of Jesus was determined to be on December 25th and it is celebrated from then till this every year.

Usually Christmas is abbreviated as Xmas but there is a claim that it is a modern and disrespectful abbreviation. This a usage is as old as Christianity and its origin lies in the fact that the first letter in the Greek word for Christ is pronounced as “Chi” which has a resemblance to the Roman alphabet X. Hence Xmas is indeed a legitimate abbreviation. It is not specifically created to demeaning or de meriting Christ, Christians or Christianity.

The colors most often associated with Christmas decorating are green, red, white, blue, silver and gold. These colors have been used for centuries and, as with most traditions, the reason may be traced to religious beliefs. In this instance, green represents everlasting life, red represents the bloodline of Jesus Christ, blue represents the sky from which the angels appeared, white represents the purity of the Virgin Birth, and silver and gold represent the richness of God's Blessings.