In countries like India, Christmas is celebrated alongside Diwali, Eid, Baisakhi and many other religious festivals, symbolising interfaith coexistence. For me, these festivals are more than moments of shared joy—it’s about experiencing the diverse and rich heritage of communities, defining their uniqueness while also highlighting shared culture as well.
This year, Christmas is becoming a flashpoint in the US political discourse. President-elect Donald Trump in his characteristic style said in his speech that he will restore, ‘Merry Christmas’ as a symbol of cultural tradition. There is a baseless theory fuelled by Trump supporters that Democrats are trying to do away with Christmas by replacing “Merry Christmas” with a more inclusive “Happy Holidays”.
While the ‘Merry Christmas’ vs ‘Happy Holidays’ debate dominates headlines and social media space, I find Christmas’ journey fascinating in itself. How it has evolved over centuries, from its origin, the birth of Christ in Bethlehem centuries ago to its roots intertwining with ancient non-Christian traditions and early church adaptations.
What makes Christmas universally appealing? Is it its evolution into a celebration of inclusivity and its humanistic character, or it could be the influence of capitalism? Maybe it’s the festival’s ability to transcend religious boundaries in order to adapt to local context, worldwide? Or perhaps it is the blending of ancients’ traditions with modern perspective?
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Evolution of Christmas
Many Christmas traditions blend Christian customs, secular themes, and pre-Christian practices rooted in ancient festivals. For instance, the use of evergreen trees draws from winter solstice celebrations, where greenery symbolized life and resilience during the year’s darkest days. As Christianity spread, midwinter festivals were integrated into Christmas:
Saturnalia (Rome): A December festival honouring Saturn with feasting, gift-giving, and merrymaking.
Yule (Norse traditions): Winter solstice celebrations featuring fires and evergreen branches symbolising life amid the cold.
Solstice Festivals (Celtic and Germanic): Festivals of light and fire marking the rebirth of the sun.
Industrialisation also reshaped Christmas. The festival was popularised as a family-oriented holiday where Children, warmth and charity was at the centre during the Victorian period. With the rise of consumer culture in the 20th century, companies started promoting Christmas as a time for shopping further creating a secular, commercialised version of it. Its everlasting evolution across the world with the help of local traditions and the influence of capitalism, has made it more than a single-day holiday—it’s a global celebration with countless interpretations.
My first memories of Christmas come from India, home to 27.8 million Christians, about 2.3 per cent of the population. Receiving Christmas cakes was one of my most cherished moments. In schools, especially convent schools, Christmas celebrations often involve sharing and making gifts. Midnight Mass, a central part of Christmas worldwide, is equally significant in India, but local flavours have been woven into the festivities. For instance, in Delhi, gujiya—a traditional Holi dish—is adapted for Christmas in two variations: keema gujiya and sweet gujiya. Additionally, traditions like rangoli are increasingly becoming part of the celebration in some regions.
celebrating Christmas in London was also quite an experience. I heard Jingle Bells during a Christmas carol service in Church and learned that it is actually a secular song. London currently looks like a beautiful bride with Christmas decorations that feel so pleasant during winter, in comparison to decorations in Indian malls, which is on another level for sure. As Christmas approaches, I am discovering new and fascinating aspects of the festival, such as the fact that even within Europe, not every country celebrates Christmas the same way.
As a minority both back home and in London, I find the evolution of Christmas into a truly inclusive celebration both heartening and thought-provoking. In a world where religion can be used for further division, Christmas emerges as an answer. There is a reason behind a single festival becoming a global cultural event, which is its secularised version, making it easy for people of any background to celebrate. Even a country like Japan, where Christians make up just 1 per cent of the population, celebrates Christmas as a romantic holiday. Unfortunately, the US is stuck debating over the appropriate Christmas greeting. It detracts from the festival’s universal message of joy, inclusivity, and connection.
Amana Begam Ansari is a columnist. She runs a weekly YouTube show called ‘India This Week by Amana and Khalid’. She tweets @Amana_Ansari. Views are personal.
(Edited by Ratan Priya)
An Indian can be a minority in the UK but how can an Indian be a minority in India. Very strange