Christmas Holiday

      Christmas is an annual holiday that is celebrated on December 25.  It is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus Christ.  It marks the start of the season of Christmastide, which is for twelve days.  Modern customs of this holiday include exchanging Christmas cards, Church celebrations, gift giving, and decorating, such as with Christmas lights, nativity scenes, holly, and Christmas trees.  Santa Claus is a fictional character that is said to bring gifts to children at Christmas. 

      Santa Claus originated in Western culture.  Some of the Christmas gifts have been attributed to Father Christmas, otherwise known as Santa Claus, SInterklaas, Kris Kringle, Saint Nicholas, St. Nikolaus, Pere Noel, Babbo Natale, Joulupukki, Saint Basil, Father Frost, and Weihnachtsmann.  The current image of a large and jolly man with a beard that is dressed in a red suit was created by Thomas Nast, a German-American cartoonist, who was responsible for creating a new image every year starting in 1863.  In the 1920s, this version of Santa Claus was standardized due to advertisers.

      In many countries, there are different decorations that are used for Christmas.  The tradition of using a Christmas tree was thought to have begun in Germany in the 18th century, but there are many who say that Martin Luther began this tradition beginning in the 16th century.  The custom was then introduced to Britain and later to the United States.  Typically Christmas trees are decorated using lights and ornaments.  Additionally, a flower called the poinsettia has been associated with the Christmas holiday.  This is a native plant of Mexico.  Other plants associated with Christmas include mistletoe, holly, Christmas cactus, and amaryllis.  The interior of a home can be decorated with these plants as well as evergreen foliage and garlands.  In many places, such as North and South America and Australia, it is traditional to also decorate the outside of the house with lights and sometimes people also add snowmen, sleighs, and other Christmas figures.  Christmas banners may also be hung from street lights and Christmas trees may be placed in the town square.  Many homes also have a display of Christmas villages.  Other decorations may include candy canes, candles, bells, angels, and wreaths.  Traditionally these decorations are taken down on the twelfth night of Christmas, which is on the evening of January 5.  Christmas colors are traditionally pine green, heart red, and snow white. 

    Christmas cards are another Christmas holiday tradition.  These are normally exchanged during the weeks before Christmas Day.  Some cards represent the religious references to the holiday, while others reference the commercial traditions or symbols of the season. 

     Christmas is normally the largest economic stimulus in many nations.  The sales increase in nearly all retail areas.  The Christmas shopping season usually begins on Black Friday, which is the day after Thanksgiving in the United States.  Many retailers have even begun selling Christmas items in October.  In Canada, the marketing begins before Halloween. 

     Christmas Day is the least active retail day in the entire year in most places, as nearly all institutional, commercial, and retail businesses are closed on this day. 

Christmas Planning Suggestions

1.  Plan early in the year.  Do not wait until Black Sunday.  In many cases, the best time to buy items for Christmas is immediately after Christmas.  You can find wrapping paper, Christmas cards, and all kinds of Christmas decorations at a very cheap discounted price for the following year.

2.  Make a list of all the people you want to buy for early and begin searching early in the year.  There are always some people on your list who are difficult to buy for.  Giving yourself some extra time may help.

3.  Use the internet to shop.  It is less hectic and you will not have any other shoppers to walk around, no lines, and no salespeople to deal with.  You can shop twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.  It is convenient, easy, and without pressure.

4.  Start wrapping your gifts when you get them.  Make a list of all the gifts you have purchased and for whom so you do not forget. 

5.  Have fun.  Much of the Christmas spirit involves the time prior to Christmas.  Christmas is a mood, and shopping and getting ready should be fun, or else what is the point?  Enjoy yourself.