Christmas
The celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, marked with joy, goodwill, and the spirit of giving across India.
When
December 25
Duration
1-3 Days
Celebrated In
All of India
Significance
Birth of Jesus
Traditions
The Christmas Season
Christmas Eve
December 24Families gather for dinner, attend midnight mass, and children await Santa Claus.
Christmas Day
December 25The main celebration with gift opening, festive meals, and family gatherings.
Boxing Day
December 26A day for visiting extended family, relaxation, and enjoying leftover feasts.
Christmas Across India
Goa
Elaborate midnight masses, traditional Goan sweets like bebinca, and decorated streets and homes with nativity scenes.
Kerala
Churches adorned with lights, special masses, and the traditional Kerala Christmas cake and appam feast.
North East India
Vibrant community celebrations, traditional songs and dances, and community feasts bringing villages together.
Mumbai & Kolkata
Illuminated churches, Park Street celebrations in Kolkata, and Bandra festivities in Mumbai.
Christmas in India
Christmas arrived in India with the Portuguese in the 16th century, and later spread with British colonial influence. Today, it is celebrated with great enthusiasm not just by Christians but by people of all faiths across the country.
Indian Christmas has its own unique flavor - churches are decorated with marigolds and mango leaves, Christmas trees are sometimes replaced with banana or mango trees, and traditional Indian sweets join Western cakes and cookies on the festive table.
In India, Santa Claus is sometimes called "Christmas Baba" and may arrive on a camel or an elephant instead of a reindeer-drawn sleigh. This beautiful blend of Western and Indian traditions makes Christmas in India a truly special experience.
Preparing for Christmas
- Decorate the Christmas tree
- Set up the nativity scene
- Bake Christmas cake and cookies
- Wrap gifts for loved ones
- Attend Christmas carol services
- Plan the Christmas dinner menu
- Buy new clothes for the family
- Send Christmas cards and greetings