Christmas is here soon: Let's learn about the history and traditions of this auspicious day

Christmas is one of the biggest and most sacred Christian festivals that is celebrated all over the world with lots of excitement and enthusiasm. It is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and is celebrated all over the world on 25th December. The day before, that is, 24th December is called "Christmas Eve".

On this day Christians wear new clothes and go to church to pray. They set up a Christmas tree and put out gifts for the whole family around the tree. The importance and joy of Christmas for Christians is equal to what Diwali is for Hindus and Eid is for Muslims.

Many Christians send sweets and gifts to their friends and relatives and Christmas cakes are made in every household. People decorate their homes with bright, colorful lights, and set up the Christmas tree. Christmas is a festival of love and peace, it teaches how to make your life happy and meaningful.

The story of Christmas started a long time ago in a place called Nazareth where a woman named Mary lived. She was engaged to a man named Joseph. One day, God sent his angel Gabriel to Mary with a message. Gabriel told her that God is sending a holy spirit to earth to help people and that soul will be born as Mary's son.

Mary was anxious to hear how this could happen while she was unmarried. The angel told him that it would be a miracle from God. He also told her that her cousin Elizabeth, who had no children, would also give birth to a child named John who would pave the way for the birth of Jesus.

Hearing this, Mary agreed to God's will. She went to meet Elizabeth and returned three months later. She was pregnant by then. This worried Joseph and he started thinking of not marrying Mary. But one night while sleeping, an angel came over to Joseph's dreams and he told him that this is the will of God. Joseph woke up the next morning and decided that he would make Mary his wife.

After marriage, Joseph and Mary moved to Bethlehem. When they reached there, they didn't find any place to stay. So they decided to live in an animal barn where Mary gave birth to the son of God and named him Jesus.

God indicated Jesus' birth by a bright star in the sky. The importance of this star was understood by wise men from different parts of the world. They followed that star to reach the birthplace of Jesus. They brought gifts for the child and his parents. In Bethlehem, when shepherds were grazing their animals, an angel came to them and sang songs to celebrate the birth of the Holy Spirit.

Since then, this day has been celebrated as Christmas. People exchange gifts, sing carols, wear new clothes, go to the Church at midnight, and cheerfully celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

On Christmas morning, Church holds special prayer meetings. In many places, people perform plays on the birth of Christ. Not only is Christmas a big celebration for Christian communities, but people of other religions also pray by lighting candles in the church on this day.