How to Celebrate Christmas

By eHow Holidays & Celebrations Editor

eHow

Share the list with Santa Claus so he can fill their requests. Expect him to arrive on Christmas Eve in a sled drawn by reindeer, carrying a red sack filled with gifts.

Play Christmas music in your house to get in the holiday spirit; some popular choices include "Silent Night" and "Deck the Halls."

Prepare a huge Christmas feast with foods such as turkey, ham, stuffing and vegetables; serve mince pie for dessert. Include other favorite recipes from your childhood holiday meals.

Attend church on Christmas Eve.

Why is Christmas celebrated?

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas means Christ's Mass. Other traditions like the Christmas trees, lights, are from old Norwegian traditions as an antidote for the darkness of winter. Sales are merely a commercial tradition and are not actually to do with Christmas, just the time of year.

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Question

What do I put in my door during the holidays?

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

Try a grapevine wreath in your door and some blue/cool white color changing LED lights and smaller LED pure white lights. Go around the wreath with a decorative lace and glitter trim.

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Question

Isn't Christmas just about getting gifts and "commercialism?"

Lore

Community Answer

No. Christmas is celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Its also about gift-giving and being with family.

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Choose large ships for small children and lots of activities. Large ships will hold between 2,000 and 3,000+ passengers. While these ships are crowded, they’re the best choice if you’ve got small children and want to take advantage of lots of family-oriented programs.[2]

Carnival, Princess Cruises, and Norwegian have several popular large ships.[3]

All of the Disney Cruise Line ships hold 2,000+ passengers.[4]

You can also enjoy a wide variety of other amenities on large ships, including several pools, lots of dining options, and luxury spas and gyms.[5]

Question

How can I celebrate a Catholic Christmas?

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

Catholic Christmas traditions include a Jesse Tree, Jesse Candle and Mary Candle. The Jesse systems tell the Bible story with picture symbols. There's also a St. Nicholas Day, but note that St. Nicholas is not to be confused with Santa Claus. You can do an internet search for "Catholic Christmas traditions" using your favorite search engine for more ideas or ask for advice from a priest at your local Catholic church.

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Question

How long does the celebration last?

Chris

Top Answerer

Traditional Christmas celebrations generally last two or three days, depending on when your Christmas partying will be done. However, most of the Christmas spirit will be spent from December 1 until a few days following January 1.

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Question

How do I control myself with presents on Christmas Eve?

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

Say to yourself that if you take your time, the joy of presents will last longer. If that doesn't work, consider getting an advent calendar. You'll get a present every day, and it may calm everything down a bit.

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Question

What is Christmas about?

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God who is worshiped in the Christian religion. His birthday was not December 25, but this is when we celebrate it.

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Question

Where is the best place to celebrate Christmas?

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

There is no single place that is the best place to celebrate. You should find a place that you enjoy and that is fun, and celebrate there for a guaranteed good time.

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Book about nine months to a year in advance. Going on a cruise requires lots of advance planning! Finalize your choice of ship and cruise line about a year ahead of time, as this will give you some wiggle room while you’re booking. Book no later than nine months before the scheduled departure date of the cruise.[14]

The earlier you book, the more likely it is you’ll get the cabin you want. If you can afford it, go for a cabin with a balcony. Families may also want to book family suites with adjoining rooms.

Question

Who created Christmas?

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

Pope Julius I is the person who declared that the birth of Jesus would be officially celebrated on December 25th, but many elements of Christmas come from previously existing Pagan holidays.

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Question

What if I'm an atheist?

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

Celebrate a non-religious Christmas then. Refer to the first tutorial, for a secular Christmas.

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Tips

Be aware that some people can find Christmas a hard time, especially if a loved one is ill, there are family problems, or a loved one has died. Do your best to comfort them and to include them in your good wishes.

Remember your Christmas may not have white snow-topped trees, or a huge pile of presents, or a wonderful choir singing Christmas carols, but your Christmas celebration and thankfulness is all that is required to properly celebrate. Anything more is a bonus.

Some families, particularly those in Germany or with German heritage, like to put a glass pickle on the Christmas tree. The first one to find it either gets a special gift for being the most eager or gets to open presents first. Traditionally, this ornament goes on last.

The white dove to many cultures is a symbol of peace and harmony. It's always a good decoration for the holidays.

Always enjoy Christmas with your friends by calling them to your home and do fun with them by creating some Christmas cookies and if you in some of different part of the world use your computer devices or tablets to get connected with your friends and celebrate by sharing pics and sometimes on a group video call.

If you ever encounter people who say you cannot celebrate the holiday if you are not Christian, avoid them or advise them that they are free to do what they want in the privacy of their own home.

To stay organized with stocking stuffers, try getting as many large plastic bags as there are stockings/people, label each one with a persons name. You can use cardboard boxes, or even plastic grocery bags. A reader of this article suggests plastic bins. They have three children plus them and their husband fill each other's stockings, so they have five plastic bins, plus one for their dog, who also receives presents in his stocking. Put the bins high up, preferably in the tree area. After stockings are open, presents can go in bins so they won't get lost in the piles of wrapping paper.

Gifts don’t have to be wrapped, as long as it is special and heartfelt. You can also use gift bags or put small gifts together in a basket.

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Check your cruise line’s alcohol policy. You might want to bring your own bottle of champagne or wine to celebrate the holiday. Some cruise lines will allow you to bring your own alcohol aboard and others will not. Call the line directly to double check before you leave your house.

Don’t try to sneak it on. It probably won’t work, and it may even prevent you from being allowed to board. At a minimum, your nice champagne is going to be confiscated and wasted.

Warnings

Avoid proselytism. Although your beliefs are respected, you should also appreciate the beliefs of others. In the spirit of spreading goodwill to all beings, look forward to the fundamentally jolly spirit of the season.