Christmas celebrates the Nativity of Christ, founder of Christianity on 25th of December every year. It is the happiest of Christian festivals. The word Christmas comes from the words "Cristes Maesse", or "Christ`s Mass." Historians claim that the first celebration of Christmas took place in Rome in 336 A.D. It was an important festival during British period all over India. After India achieved Independence from the British rule, this festival lost much of its official importance. The tradition of celebrating it that was left behind by the British continues even to this day, specially, in metropolitan cities of Calcutta, Delhi, Bombay and Madras where Christians as well as non-Christians celebrate it on quite a grand scale.

Among Catholics who follow European customs, dances, carols, Christmas trees, arrival of Santa Claus, midnight mass form the main celebrations of Christmas. Night is enlivened by carols, dances and the midnight mass, and preparation of dishes for the Christmas feast. The day is spent in visiting friends and relatives, and in feasting. Sending Christmas cards has become almost a religious duty for Indian Christians too.

These are generally the customs introduced by Europeans and followed by Christians, practically all over India. But, there are certain interesting Christmas observances among Syrian Christians, which are survivals of the pre-Portuguese period. Among the lower middle classes and the poor who cannot afford European styles, Christmas is celebrated with cakes made of rice flour, plantains and a feast. Christmas cards are not sent. The only important item of good wishes is the sending of homemade cakes to houses in morning. Some sections of Syrians forbid meat eating during Advent (from 1st December till Christmas eve). Further, all Syrian Christians do not at present celebrate Christmas on the 25th day of December. Some of the Nestorians, who are quite numerous in central Kerala, celebrate Christmas on the 7th of January and this takes us to the origin of the Christmas festival and the date of Jesus` Nativity.

People decorate their houses; erect Christmas trees; make cribs with figures of baby Jesus, Mother Mary, Joseph, the three kings who come to visit the baby and shepherd boys and their herds grazing around depicting the scenes of Jesus` Birth in the Bible. They decorate the Christmas tree, hang stars, gifts and illuminate them. Even the markets, homes and churches take on a festive air. There is lot of activity all around. Balls, elaborately decorated Christmas trees, delicious cakes and Santa Claus moving in the streets distributing goodies to the children are the main attractions of the festival. Christmas cards expressing greetings of "Merry X`mas", are exchanged during Christmas. The custom of sending cards was established in 1870 in England.

Goa, a former colony of Portugal, incorporates a culture, which is perfect blend of Portuguese and Indian style. People here observe all the festivals of all religions equally. Christmas is one such festival, which the people of Goa celebrate with equal vigour. The Christians and non-Christians in Goa observe this day with great honor towards Christ. The celebrations last for 3 days and tourists also participate.

In Northwest India, the tribal Christians of the Bhil folk, an aboriginal people, go out night after night for a week at Christmas to sing their equivalent of carols the whole night through. Even in South India, Christians fill little clay lamps with oil and put a piece of twisted cotton in them for wicks. Towards the evening, they light these lamps and place them along the edge of the low flat- roofed houses and also along the walls outside so that the houses twinkle with light.