1. Christmas

2. Christmas
 Christmas is primarily a Christian holiday to celebrate the
birth of Christ.
 Christmas is also a civil holiday in many of the world's
nations, is celebrated by an increasing number of non-
Christians.
 Other names for the season: Christ's Mass, Nativity, Noel,
Feast of the Nativity, and Xmas.

3. Christmas
 The exact day of Jesus’ birth is unknown.
 In the early-to-mid 4th century, the Western Christian Church
first placed Christmas on December 25 (Julian calendar).

4. Christmas Season
 The Christmas Season in America is from Thanksgiving
until January 1st.
 After Thanksgiving, families will decorate their homes with
lights, wreaths, mistletoe, Christmas stockings and other
holiday decorations.

5. Santa….

6. Origins of Santa
 A number of historical figures - Christian and non-
Christian - have been associated with Christmas and gift
giving.
 Among these are Father Christmas, also known as Santa
Claus; Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas; the Christkind; Kris
Kringle; Babbo Natale; Saint Basil; and Father Frost.

7. Origins of Santa
 The name Santa Claus
can be traced back to the
Dutch Sinterklaas, which
means simply Saint
Nicholas.
 Nicholas was Bishop of
Myra, in modern day
Turkey, during the 4th
century. Nicholas was
known forgenerosity, and
the giving of gifts to
children.
 His feast day on
December 6 came to be
celebrated in many
countries with the giving
of gifts.

8. Origins of Santa
 By the 13th century, the
Saint Nicholas tradition
was well known in central
and southern Europe.
 During 16th–17th century
Europe, Protestants
“changed” Saint Nicholas
to Christ Child or
Christkindl which in
English is Kris Kringle.
 Kris Kringle is another
name for Santa Claus.
 The date of giving gifts
changed from December
6 to Christmas Eve (24-
12).

9. Coca-Cola and Santa Claus
 The modern appearance of
Santa Claus is an American
invention due to Coca-Cola.
 In the 1800’s, Santa Claus
was drawn in bishops'
robes.
 By the end of the 1930s,
Santa begins to look as he
does now - jolly, fat and
wearing a red, fur-trimmed
suit.

11. Santa Claus
 For many children, Santa Claus is the focus of Christmas.
 Santa Claus lives at the North Pole with Mrs. Santa Claus
and the Christmas elves.

12. Santa Claus
 Every year, Santa
delivers presents to
good boys and girls
on Christmas Eve
(24.12)
 On Christmas Eve,
families put out milk
and cookies for Santa
and carrots for his
reindeer

13. Santa’s Workshop
 At the top of the North Pole there is a toy workshop
where all Santa’s elves make gifts for children.
 Santa has a list of children around the world. If you have
been a good boy or girl you will get a toy but if you are
on the naughty list you will get a lump of coal.

14. Santa’s Reindeer
 On Christmas Eve Santa flies around the world in his big red
sleigh filled with presents.
 Santa has eight magic reindeer that pull his sleigh through the
night sky.
 The most famous reindeer is Rudolf. His bright red nose helps
Santa see when there is bad weather.

15. Decorating for Christmas
 Decorating for Christmas has
a long history.
 From pre-Christian times,
people in the Roman Empire
brought branches from
evergreen plants indoors in
the winter.
 In 15th century London, it
was the custom at Christmas
for buildings to be decorated
with ivy and “whatever else
is green during the winter”.

16. Decorating for Christmas
 Nativity scenes are known
from 10th-century Rome.
 The first commercially
produced decorations
appeared in Germany in the
1860s.
 The traditional colors of
Christmas are green and
red. Red symbolizes the
blood of Jesus, which was
shed in his crucifixion, while
green symbolizes eternal
life.

17. Decorating for Christmas
 Other raditional decorations include bells, candles, candy
canes, stockings, wreaths, and angels.
 Since the 19th century, the poinsettia, a native plant
from Mexico, has been associated with Christmas. Other
holiday plants include holly, mistletoe, and Christmas
cactus.

18. Christmas Stockings
 Hanging stockings
is a German
tradition.
 On Christmas eve,
people hang their
Christmas stocking
on the fireplace or
on the wall.
 On Christmas
morning the
stockings will be
filled with gifts
from Santa.

19. Christmas Trees
 Decorating Christmas trees
is German tradition.
 From Germany the custom
was introduced to Great
Britain.
 By the 1870s, people in the
United States had adopted
the custom of putting up a
Christmas tree.
 Santa Claus leaves gifts
under the Christmas tree.

20. Christmas Foods
 Christmas food includes gingerbread men, sometimes people
make gingerbread houses.
 Candy Canes, hot chocolate, and cookies are other holiday
foods.
 As one of the few fruits available to northern countries in
winter, oranges have been long associated with special
Christmas foods.

21. Christmas Dinner
 A special Christmas family meal is an
important part of the holiday's
celebration, and the food that is served
varies greatly from country to country.
 Some regions, such as Sicily, have
special meals for Christmas Eve, when
12 kinds of fish are served.
 In England, a traditional Christmas meal
includes turkey or goose, meat, gravy,
potatoes, vegetables, sometimes bread
and cider. Special desserts are also
prepared, such as Christmas pudding,
mince pies and fruit cake.

22. “Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year”