Christmas Eve: Planning Ideas for Christmas eve

Christmas is celebrated with great fanfare across different countries of the world. The day is preceded by Christmas Eve, which falls on December 24, and followed by eleven days of the festival, ending on January 6. Christmas Eve holds special significance in the celebrations of the festival. The day is celebrated with much enthusiasm by the Christians all over the world. On Christmas Eve, people would follow a number of rituals and customs associated with the celebration of the festival. In fact, Christmas Eve is as important as the day of the festival. It holds social as well as cultural significance, because it is the time to have get together with family and friends and to pray to God for their well being.

On Christmas Eve, houses are cleaned from top to bottom and redecorated beautifully with lights and other lovely festoons. Kids and youngsters get excited about decorating their houses and the festive season ushers in a spirit of well being and contentment. During the afternoon or early evening, the Mass of Vigil is conducted. At the stroke of midnight, a Midnight Mass is observed by Christians all over the world, thus officially marking the start of Christmas. Christmas Eve is very exciting, yet a peaceful time. Presents packed in attractive gift-wraps are placed under the Christmas tree, which is decorated beautifully with lights, ornaments and sweet treats.

Planning dinners on Christmas Eve is a tradition that followed since along time. Usually, a typical Christmas Eve is celebrated by organizing family dinner or an elaborate meal. The main dish varies from place to place, depending upon the culture, taste and preference so the people. For instance, the traditional Christmas Eve dinner may consist of roasted goose in Germany, fish soup and breaded roasted carp with potato salad in Czech Republic and Slovakia, seven types of sea food in Italy, etc. The idea is to have a hearty meal with the family and pray for the well being of all. The cozy atmosphere at home is enough to warm up the severest of winter nights.

The main attraction and highlight of Christmas Eve is the arrival of the famous and everyone’s favorite – the legendary character Santa Claus. Young kids hang stockings on fireplaces for gifts and leave eatables for Santa Claus. Kids wait enthusiastically to catch a glimpse of the legendary character, who brings along with him Christmas gifts. Santa Claus continues to enchant young and old alike, across the world. In some places, people stay awake until midnight, to open their gifts.It is a tradition in some places, while it is a trend in other places.The idea is to have fun and spread good cheer, on Christmas Eve.