Christmas is a major holiday for many Christians around the world, even if it does not have the same liturgical importance as Easter. Whether religious or secular, Christmas is celebrated in a huge variety of ways in different countries and traditions. Many of the themes are nearly universal-decorating trees, setting up nativity scenes and receiving gifts from a supernatural being-but details vary enormously.
The holiday gets its name from the Mass of Christ, or Jesus, which is celebrated at Midnight on December 25. The earliest Christians were not allowed to celebrate this service in daylight because of Jewish law, so they held it at midnight instead. This became the time that is now called Christmas.
In the early 17th century, religious reforms changed the way that many Europeans celebrated Christmas. Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans tried to eradicate decadence and, as part of this effort, they banned Christmas. The upper classes responded by using Christmas as a time to pay off their real or perceived debts to society by entertaining the poor. This resulted in raucous carnival-like celebrations, similar to today’s Mardi Gras, where beggars and students would dress up in disguises and demand food and drink from wealthy homeowners.
After the Puritans, European immigrants began bringing their Christmas traditions to America. These varied depending on where they came from, with some cultures banning Christmas entirely while others embraced the holiday with gusto. As a result, Americans re-invented Christmas by incorporating customs from several different cultures into a unique holiday that has come to dominate the nation.
One of the most popular traditions in America is putting up a Christmas tree and decorating it with lights and ornaments. This tradition dates back to Germany in the 16th century, where Protestant reformer Martin Luther first added lighted candles to a tree and used it as a symbol of eternal life. The tree is brought into the home on Christmas Eve, when the presents are placed underneath it by family members or, in some families, Santa Claus himself.
Another popular tradition is sending Christmas cards. These can either depict religious or secular messages and are sent to friends, loved ones and acquaintances in America, Europe and other places around the world. In the United States alone, over 16.6 billion cards are mailed each year.
In Ethiopia, people celebrate Christmas, which is called Ganna or Genna, on January 7, in accordance with the Ethiopian Orthodox calendar. In addition to celebrating the birth of Jesus, this festival includes a traditional procession where participants wear a thin white shawl known as a Netela and go around the church three times before the service begins. Afterwards, people feast together and play games. This celebration is also a great time for shopping, as shops and markets are packed with stalls selling all kinds of gifts. This is a very important time for Christians in Ethiopia, as it marks the day when the three Wise Men visited Baby Jesus.