Christmas Eve is celebrated on December 24th by many people, including Christians, all around the world. It is a night that brings joy, happiness, unity and peace to people’s lives.
Christmas Day is the day on which Christians have celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ for more than 1,500 years. According to the Jewish tradition, the day starts at sunset rather than at midnight. Thus, Christmas Eve marks the beginning of the celebration of Christmas as well as an eve for preparation, also commonly referred to as ‘Vigil’.
At midnight on December 24th, Christians celebrate the event of the Virgin Mary giving birth to Jesus Christ. According to the Biblical accounts, Joseph and his wife Mary, who was pregnant, travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem to register for the census ordered by then Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar. Upon arriving, they looked for a place to stay but could not find a room at any inn, thus forced to stay the night in a small stable, where Mary gave birth to baby Jesus.
Christmas Eve is an event of rich cultural significance, filled with seasonal rituals and various activities that bring excitement and joy to children and adults alike. On Christmas Eve, houses are decorated with various decorations, among which the Christmas tree and the Christmas crib take a special place. Santa Claus is also a very popular figure associated with the Christmas season, who was originally associated with St. Nicholas, though he has been heavily commercialised nowadays. Children believe that Santa delivers presents to well-behaved kids on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve is a special moment when families get together and have dinner, and share presents among each other, celebrating the joy of the birth of Christ. At midnight of Christmas Eve, special masses are celebrated at churches to commemorate the divine moment at which the word of God took human form in the world.
Christmas Eve is an eve of celebration which brings together religious beliefs, cultural traditions, and people and families together in a special and unique way. Christmas Eve offers preparation for the celebration of Christmas, and creates long-lasting memories through prayers, traditions and time spent with loved ones, making it one of the most cherished moments of the year.
Written By: Sahan Fernando
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