Christmas is an old holiday that is celebrated on December 25 and is associated with the winter solstice and the return of the sun. This holiday has its origins in ancient beliefs, but over time it has developed as a Christian holiday. Christmas is considered to be the celebration of the birth of Christ, but it is also associated with the worship of the Goddess Mithras of ancient Roman solar mythology.

Christmas holiday marked by various symbols such as the Christmas tree, Santa Claus , gift giving and family gathering. During this period and during the holidays, there are certain traditions and rituals that express joy, unity and peace. Christmas is especially important in Lithuania, where the holiday season begins on Christmas Eve and ends on Three Kings Day.

Key points:

• Christmas is an old holiday that is celebrated on December 25 and is associated with the winter solstice and the return of the sun.
• Christmas has a Christian meaning, but it is also related to ancient Roman mythology.
• Christmas is marked by many symbols, such as the Christmas tree and Santa Claus .
• During Christmas there are certain traditions and rituals that express joy, unity and peace.
• In Lithuania, Christmas is a very important holiday, the holiday period of which begins on Christmas Eve and ends on Three Kings Day.

The History and Origin of Christmas

Christmas was formed by connecting old traditions with Christian beliefs and Roman mythology. This holiday has a deep historical origin and importance for us today.

According to the Christian tradition, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. This event, which is considered one of the most important moments of the Christian faith, has been turned into a holiday, which many celebrate with great warmth and joy.

However, the holiday can also be linked to the worship of Mithras, the goddess of solar mythology in ancient Rome. The Romans celebrated the month of December, considering it an important new year of the fiercest year, one of light and renewal. Elements of this holiday, such as gifts and family gatherings, are still prominent in today's Christmas.

The History and Origin of Christmas

Ancient traditions and Christian beliefs intertwine to form Christmas, which is celebrated with joy and unity in today's society. St. Christmas is characterized by rich symbolism, consisting of the Christmas tree, Santa Claus , gift giving and family gathering.

This celebration is also accompanied by various traditions and rituals that help to express joy and peace. It is a period when people prepare dinner, share gifts, and remember family or community traditions.

Christmas is particularly important in Lithuania. The festive season begins on Christmas Eve, when all family members gather around a large table and share greetings and meals. The culmination of the holiday is on December 25, when relatives near and far from the family gather together to celebrate, share gifts and express love and gratitude to each other.

Christmas symbols	Christmas traditions and rituals
Christmas tree	Christmas Eve
Santa Claus	Christmas dinner
Gifts	Family reunion

Christmas symbols

Christmas is marked by many symbols, such as the Christmas tree and Santa Claus. These symbols play an important role in this holiday, which is associated with the birth of Christ and family unity.

The Christmas tree is one of the most popular symbols of Christmas. It symbolizes life, hope and remains as a decoration in every home during this period. The Christmas tree is decorated with colorful lanterns, beads and various ornaments that recreate the mood of the holiday. It is also a simple tradition to put gifts under the tree to pleasantly surprise your loved ones.

Santa Claus is another significant symbol. It represents generosity, giving and joy. According to legend, Santa Claus brings gifts to good children. Images of this symbol, which delights children all over the world, decorate homes, shops and various Christmas events.

The meaning of Christmas symbols

Symbol	Meaning
Christmas tree	Life, hope, festive mood
Santa Claus	Generosity, giving, joy

Christmas is a holiday where these symbols create a special atmosphere where families come together, share gifts and enjoy time together. They remind us of the importance of family love and togetherness and invite us to think about the well-being and happiness of other people.

Christmas traditions and rituals

Christmas is celebrated with certain traditions and rituals that help to express joy, family unity and peace. These various traditions and rituals are an important and integral element of the Christmas celebration.

One of the most popular Christmas traditions is Christmas dinner . The family gathers around the table and enjoys delicious food and dishes that are unique to Christmas. Such a dinner brings the family together, allows you to thank each other for the past year's work and celebrate this special day together.

The Christmas dinner is also characterized by the traditional serving of food - the Christmas doll. A decorated baby doll with butter and honey is a very popular Christmas tradition in Lithuania. Other traditional dishes are also prepared in the family, thus expressing love, care and gratitude to family members and friends.

Christmas ritual	Meaning
Kucios	Family gathering and communication, giving thanks for the past year's harvest and asking for good luck for the coming year
Delivery	It has been a long-standing tradition to invite the future bather home together with those celebrating
Family party	Shared family fun, games, dancing and singing
The meaning of colors	The traditional colors used are red, white and green, symbolizing love, peace and fertility

The purpose of these traditions and rituals is to create a special atmosphere that allows people to feel in a festive mood and express love, gratitude and unity with their loved ones. Celebrations and rituals organized for Christmas differ in different countries and cultures, but their main meaning remains the same - joy, family communication and thanks for the past year's work.

Celebrating Christmas in the world

Christmas is an important holiday not only in Lithuania, but also in the world, where holiday traditions differ depending on the country or culture. Every country has its own unique way of celebrating this special holiday. In North America, people often gather family and friends, discuss the end of the year, and celebrate the birth of Christ. There, it is typical for Christmas to decorate the house with lights, Christmas trees and traditional symbols such as Christmas tree toys and Santa Clauses.

In European countries, such as Great Britain and France, Christmas is also celebrated in a special way. There, Christmas is often associated with religious ceremonies, such as the lighting of the Christmas tree in churches and the Mass. In addition, it is popular to organize family dinners or gift exchanges with loved ones. In one of the countries, Christmas begins in the Advent period, when one section of the advent calendar is opened every day, where small gifts or sweets are hidden.

The most holy holiday in which many people feel the joy of Christmas is, of course, Christmas in Germany. It is famous for its traditional Christmas markets, where you can buy a variety of handmade gifts and Christmas decorations. Also, in the evenings, the streets are decorated with lights and Christmas trees, which people visit and greet Santa Claus, who is called "Lord Christmas" (Christkind) in Germany.

Christmas in other countries

Other countries also have their own unique Christmas traditions. For example, in Mexico, people celebrate Posadas, a tradition in which people play the story of Jesus' birth and wrap themselves in blankets to symbolize Jesus and His parents' search for refuge. It is also traditional to serve "Ponche", a warm fruit drink, and eat "Rosca de Reyes", a special Christmas bread, which hides a small plastic toy symbolizing the birth of Jesus.

In Sweden, there is a tradition called "julbock", which means "Christmas goat". This is a tall Christmas figure of a straw goat that people decorate and place by the door or by the Christmas tree. It is also popular to hold a festive Lucia Day procession, where girls in white clothes and a Luciferian crown carry lights, and boys with candles.

Country	Traditions
United Kingdom	The use of the Advent calendar, the Christian Mass, Christmas gifts , decorating the tree
France	Gereti tradition, watching Christmas decorations, family dinners, gift exchange
Mexico	Posadas, Ponche, Rosca de Reyes, Acting out the story of the birth of Jesus
Sweden	Julbock tradition, Lucia Day procession

Christmas gifts and their meaning

Gift giving is an important part of Christmas and helps to express love and appreciation to loved ones. This tradition is old and is associated with the essence of the Christmas holiday - to bring joy and warmth to family and friends. At Christmas time, people express their love and care for others through the sharing of gifts.

Mostly Christmas gifts are packed and eagerly awaited. They can be small or big, expensive or simple, but they all have their own meaning. Gifts can be very diverse - from things and clothes to books, chocolate or toys. The most important thing is that gifts are given with love and gratitude.

Christmas gifts can also have a symbolic meaning. They can symbolize trust, care, support or simply the desire to make another person happy. Gifts can also be fabulous - mysterious, like Santa Claus, who brings gifts and leaves them under the tree. It creates a magical atmosphere and will delight both children and adults.

Type	Examples of gifts
Personal gifts	Perfumery, clothes, books, chocolate, toys
Symbolic gifts	Amulet, oriental eternal embroidery, perfume with special meaning
Creative gifts	Handicrafts, paintings, photo albums

Christmas presents are very important because they give you an opportunity to show your love and appreciation. They contribute to the joy and sense of unity of this special holiday. By being friendly and giving generously, we contribute to the magic of Christmas and decorate the festive atmosphere.

Christmas traditions in Lithuania

In Lithuania, Christmas is celebrated from Christmas Eve to Three Kings Day. It is a special part of the period with unique traditions and rituals. Lithuanians understand this holiday as a family gathering, joy and expression of gratitude.

One of the most important traditions of celebrating Christmas in Lithuania is Christmas Eve. It is a special dinner that family, guests and friends gather on December 24. The Christmas Eve table is decorated with many dishes, among which fish and buckwheat are unimaginable. Straw products are also placed on the table, symbolizing prosperity and success for the coming year.

Another important Christmas tradition in Lithuania is the visit of Santa Claus (Grandfather or Old Man). Children believe that this well-endowed old man visits their house and leaves presents under the tree. This magical moment causes joy and festive anticipation. In addition, Bernel is also a frequent visitor on Christmas Eve, bringing lots of merry songs and tales.

The entire period of Christmas holidays in Lithuania is considered a special and bright time. People go to the festive church, participate in city and village celebrations and events. The expression of solidarity and love is especially important in this holiday. Christmas in Lithuania is a traditional and special holiday that Lithuanians celebrate with joy and family unity.

Traditions of celebrating Christmas in Lithuania:

Traditional dishes	Symbol
Christmas Eve Fish and Buckwheat Porridge	Prosperity and success for the coming year
Christmas trees	A symbol of life and hope
Santa Claus and gifts	A source of magic and happy moments

Christmas Eve and Christmas in Lithuania can be defined as a period when people gather, communicate, share gifts, enjoy each other and express gratitude. It is a unique holiday that contributes to the unity of families and communities and the feeling that warmth and love between people is the most valuable thing.

Conclusions

Christmas is a special holiday with unique traditions and symbols that we love so much. It is an old celebration that is celebrated on December 25. The beginning of this holiday is associated with the celebrations of the winter solstice and the return of the sun. Historically, St. Christmas was formed by connecting old traditions with Christian beliefs. Christmas is considered the celebration of the birth of Christ, but it was also associated with the worship of Mithras, the goddess of ancient Roman solar mythology.

St. Christmas is characterized by many symbols, such as the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, gift-giving and family gathering. These symbols help create a festive mood and reveal the spirit of the holiday. In addition, Christmas is characterized by certain traditions and rituals that people carry out with love and care. The holiday is celebrated differently in different countries and cultures, but everywhere it unites people and spreads joy and unity.

Christmas is a very important holiday in Lithuania. Our traditions begin on Christmas Eve, when all family members gather around the table, indulge in delicious food and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Christmas dinner is all about family friendship and love, and gift giving is one way to express warm feelings. During the festive period, people visit Christmas towns, attend Christmas events and enjoy festive decorations. Christmas ends on Epiphany, when all festivities and merry traditions come to an end.