As the month of December arrives, preparation for Christmas also begins worldwide. Christmas comes with joy and happiness to every home and life.
Merry Christmas is considered to be a grand festival for the Christian Community but not only christians, people around the world also celebrate this festival with full enthusiasm.
History of Christmas Eve
The concept of Christmas eve has arrived from the Book of Genesis’s Story of Creations. The celebration derived partly from Christian Liturgy at sunset, which is inherent in Jewish tradition. Liturgy is basically the process of a group of people assembled for worship.
It is believed that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which lies 10 km south of the City of Jerusalem. Many historical concepts are the reason why Christmas Eve is celebrated in various ways by various people in the world.
It is believed that Christmas Eve marks the end of the advent season. This season is said to begin on the 4th Sunday before Christmas Eve around November 30. In some parts of the world, it begins on November 15.
In many Scandinavian countries like Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, it is believed that in the evening of Christmas, the people who are dead, revisit their former home, where they used to live when alive. People make sure that the good fire is burning before they go to sleep.
They decorate tables, light candles, and leave out plenty of food for their dead relatives. On the next day if they find any dusk on the chair it means a relative came out from his grave and sat there on the chair.
Christmas Eve: Date and Time
Christmas Eve is the evening or the entire day before Christmas Day. It is celebrated at midnight before Christmas Day on the evening of December 24, to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, the central figure in Christianity. People start sharing well wishes of Merry Christmas from a day ahead.
How do people celebrate Christmas Eve?
It is celebrated in many countries worldwide. People around the world celebrate Christmas Eve in many ways. It is observed in many countries, especially in the west. These countries are the United States of America, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.
In some countries people get holidays, some get half-days from their workplaces, for doing shopping to celebrate the festival. But people working in retail shops and catering sectors often have to work hard without having a break to fulfill customers’ demands.
Christmas Eve Celebration in India
Like western countries, people in India also celebrated Christmas Eve with happiness and enthusiasm. People exchange gifts and sweets with their loved ones and organize feasts for their relatives. People decorate their Christmas trees with garlands, bells, and lights.
Goa is one of the states of India which contains a sizable population of Roman Catholic Christians. The Portuguese had their strong presence here. In the state, Christmas is called Natali.
People gather to sing Christmas carols, party, enjoy their meals, and dance on the beach. Tourists prefer to arrive in Goa during the Christmas season to enjoy their holidays. You would love the sound of ringing bells in every church and would be amazed by the firework and decoration of the whole city.
