Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon for Christians.
Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive.
How is Christmas celebrated in Pakistan?
Procession:
At Christian festivals, like Christmas and Easter, a big procession takes place, in Lahore, from St. Anthony’s Church to the Cathedral. It takes hours to reach the Cathedral for the services. These are then celebrated with lots of enthusiasm! Before and during Advent, spiritual seminars take place to help people to prepare for Christmas which is also referred to as Bara din by the Christian community in Pakistan.
Charity and Carols:
Carols are performed door to door in Christian areas and in return, the family offers something to the choir. Mostly the money collected from such carols is used for charity works or is given to the church.
Christmas Decorations:
Recently, Pakistan has seen more inclusivity, and Christmas decorations are being done on a larger scale.
In the big Christian areas, each house is decorated and has a star on the roof. The crib and Christmas tree are also important decorations. Sometimes there are crib competitions. Christians also sometimes exchange Christmas cakes.
Christmas Eve:
On Christmas Eve, Churches are packed for the midnight or vigil-mass services. The choirs sing very special hymns. After the vigil mass, in some places, some fireworks help celebrate the start of Bara Din.
Christmas Day:
Christians go to Church again for the celebrations. People wear their best, colorful clothes. They stay in the Church courtyard for hours, enjoying various food from the different stalls. The evening is usually celebrated with immediate family or relatives where special food is enjoyed.
