"There is love true love, and the heart goes round, When the Lord to Bethany came....,
It's a happy happy day and the golden timesWhen the Lord to Bethany came....."

The above lines resonant every where and everyone would be greeting each other by saying Merry Christmas, Happy Christmas, i.e. 25th of December every year, ending the year with grand celebration world wide. Every where you will find well illuminatedroads, houses, shops, etc.

The word Christmas comes from the words 'Cristes maesse' or "Christ's Mass". Christmas is thecelebration of the birth of Jesus for members of the Christian religion. Most historians peg the first celebration of Christmas to Rome in 336 A.D. According to the Christian gospels, Jesus was born to Mary in Bethlehem, where she and her husband Joseph had traveled to register in the Roman census. Christians believe that Jesus's birth, or nativity, fulfills the prophecies of Judaism that a messiah would come, from the house of David, to redeem the world from sin and bridge the separation between God and mankind.

The celebration of Christmas is different in different parts of India - a country of diversity. If in the North East it is celebrated in one way, in the South West it is done in another way. Christians decorate mango or banana trees at Christmas time. Sometimes they also decorate their houses with mango leaves. In south India, small clay oil-burning lamps are used as Christmas decorations; they are placed on the edges of flat roofs and on the tops of walls just as the Hindus do during their festival called Diwali. Churches are decorated with poinsettias and lit with candles for the Christmas Eve service. They give presents to family members and baksheesh or charity to the poor people.

The celebration of Christmas is different in different parts of India - a country of diversity. If in the North East it is celebrated in one way, in the South West it is done in another way. Christians decorate mango or banana trees at Christmas time. Sometimes they also decorate their houses with mango leaves. In south India, small clay oil-burning lamps are used as Christmas decorations; they are placed on the edges of flat roofs and on the tops of walls just as the Hindus do during their festival called Diwali. Churches are decorated with poinsettias and lit with candles for the Christmas Eve service. They give presents to family members and baksheesh or charity to the poor people.

However, for the urban regions the ingredients of the festivities are the familiar X-mas trees (mostly potted) decorated with stars and tinsels, toys, plastic fruits, and colorful streamers and illuminated well are placed in front of the Christian houses, shops and restaurants. Santa is also seen in some streets and some shops. And departmental stores deploy Santa to entertain their kid-customers. In the major cities of India caroling processions are also seen on streets and thorough fares.

.Though Hindus and Muslims comprise majority of the population, Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare in this secular country. The Day is a national holiday and people irrespective of their religion enjoy it along with Christians.

And now my heart starts singing -

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