Christmas

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Christmas

I think I would be right in saying Christmas is celebrated by Christians throughout the world. The meaning of Christmas for Christians is to celebrate the link of Jesus. This is a very important and exciting time. There are special services leading up to and on Christmas Eve.

Last year on Sunday 18th December 2005, a candle lit service was held in our village (Uddingston) in St. Andrews Church. The service was open to both the local congregation and the clergy and Congregations of all the other churches. The service consisted of Christmas candles. The collections (money offerings) went to Glasgow City Mission along with Toiletries and Warm clothing such as gloves, socks and scarves.

After the service there was mince pies and mulled wine in the hall.

On 24th December, (Christmas Eve), most churches hold a mid-night service this usually starts at 11.30pm for about an hour. By that time it is Christmas day and everyone wishes one another a Merry Christmas. The churches are decorated with a Christmas Tree and flowers. The music is very nice with lovely traditional rhymes and festive decorations.

In Uddingston there is the annual ceremony of the Christmas lights being officially switched on. Last year there were bands playing and the shops were open late. It was a very good day and the weather was very good for that time of year.

As all of us know the city and villages are decorated with Christmas Trees and sparkling festive decorations. I think this is very joyful and makes people happy. The shops and garden centres ‘go for it’. They work really hard to make everything look very festive. They have a Santa’s grotto stacked full of gifts with Santa sitting the children on his knee asking them their wish for Christmas. This is a great time for everyone. It is traditional for families to meet for Christmas dinner. This usually falls on the parents.

Preparation begins early, - making the Christmas cake, which has to be made several weeks in advance. Then there is the Traditional Christmas Dinner .  This is usually turkey with stuffing, roast potatoes and lots of vegetables followed by plum pudding which has nothing to do with plums. They consist mostly of lots of dried fruit. Then there’s the mince pies followed by indigestion for most of us!

There are party games, everyone has to join in. Oh I must mention the Crackers -  pulled by all, with their exciting gifts and jokes !! Those are usually read out at the dinner table.

It is a public holiday.  Everyone has some time off work and also the school break for the Christmas holidays. Everyone needs a holiday after all the work that has been done over the year.

The origins of Christmas began when Jesus was born over 2000 years ago. The Roman emperor Augustus had ordered a census and Joseph returned to Bethlehem with Mary to register. An angel appeared to a group of Shepherd’s gnarling their hooks. They were terrified, and the angel told them where to find the new baby Jesus. They took gifts to him. This is the reason there are gifts given and received at Christmas time.

Christmas Cards are written and posted. Our homes are usually decorated with our Christmas tree, wreaths and other Christmas decorations.

by Uddingston ESOL Group

Webmaster replies

You paint a nice warm feeling of Christmas in Uddingston.

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