The Rituals :

The actual celebrations of the festival begins a day in advance with "Mitwinternacht" (mid-winter night or winter solstice) when all the Christians assemble in the Holy Churches singing carols in the wake of the then awaited birth of Christ. At the mid-time of the dead winter, Christmas comes in to be a celebration of rebirth of life, which is symbolised in the birth of Jesus Christ – ‘the light of the world’.

On the Eve, Puritans attend the Churches for Communion where in they receive a sip of fresh wine and a bite of wine cake from the priest commemorating the Christmas eve, while Protestants attend the Cathedral for mass prayers and celebrations sharing the Christmas wine cake and sweets.

This is the night when all the arrangements for Christmas day are made including the delicious home made Christmas cake, decoration of the evergreen Christmas tree with all the candies, balloons, stars and gingle bells. And then comes the turn of Santa Claus…. Children hang up their old stockings near the fireplace or rather near to the chimney hoping Santa to crawl down the chimney to bring them the gifts of their choice.

And on the day of Christmas, it is a jolly get together with the kith and kin to share the fun filled moments of Christmas. This is when the children of the house get to unwrap the surprise presents awaiting them underneath the Christmas tree. Then comes the time to partake the grand Christmas feast with the specially baked Christmas wine cake along with all the candies and other special delicacies.