Christmas

Christmas is a Christian festival on the 25th December, and, it is a great party with our family. This festival takes place particularly in Europe.

This history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years. Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated before the Christ child was born. Special rituals and celebrations were done to welcome the sun back, when the winter Solstice approached because a lot of people feared that the sun wouldn't return.

Christmas is a Christian festival of the "Nativity". And Christmas is the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem in the night between the 24^th and the 25^th of December. But, in fact, we don't know exactly when Baby Jesus was born. The date of December 25^th was chosen because it corresponds to one of the darkest and shortest days of the year.

December 24^th is called Christmas Eve. (Eve means the day before). December 25^th is called Christmas Day. And December 26^th is holiday, because, in the past, it was the day when the masters gave presents to their servants. It is called Boxing Day.

In France, one of the most important decorations at Christmas time is the Christmas tree, which is decorated with fairy lights, tinsels, Christmas balls, and with a star at the top of the Christmas tree. Moreover, French people decorate their houses with fairy lights.

In addition to that, the tradition is to have a crib with little figures that represent Baby Jesus Christ, Joseph, Mary, the disciples, and the Wise men...

Midnight Mass is an important French tradition. After church, all the family get together to eat a large late supper. They drink champagne and they feast on fat goose liver, seafood, a turkey with potatoes, an a traditional desert "La bache de Noèl", it's the special Christmas cake which is shaped like a log.

At midnight, a kiss under mistletoe symbolizes acceptance and reconciliation.

After, the big meal eaten on return from Midnight Mass, French children leave their shoes in front of the fire place or near the Christmas tree for the Christmas Father to fill with gifts. During the night, the Christmas Father puts presents beside the shoes if the person has been nice during the whole year . And in the the morning, everyone discover the gifts...

Christmas is the most important festival in the year. Christmas aims at being happy and being with our family to exchange presents and happiness.