भक्तपुरमा वसन्तपुर दरबारको भग्नावशेष भेटियो.

भक्तपुर, पुस १५ - विश्वसम्पदा सूचीमा सूचीकृत भक्तपुर दरबार क्षेत्रको ऐतिहासिक प्राचीन वसन्तपुर दरबारको भग्नावशेष भेटिएको छ । मल्लकालीन राजा जगतप्रकाश मल्लका पालामा निर्मित दरबार १९९० सालको भूकम्पले पूर्णरूपमा भग्नावशेषमा परिणत गरेको थियो ।

सम्बन्धित निकायले सक्रियता देखाउने हो भने उक्त भग्नावशेषलाई दरबारको स्वरूप दिन सकिने विज्ञहरूले बताएका छन् । 'दरबार भएको जग्गामा अहिले पनि कुनै भौतिक संरचना निर्माण भएको छैन, दरबारको जग अहिले पनि सुरक्षित छ, पुराना इँटा, ढुङ्गा अहिले पनि यथावत् छन्,' संस्कृतिकर्मी ओम धौभडेलले भने, 'दरबारको वास्तविकता झल्काउने फोटो सुरक्षित छन्, वसन्तपुर दरबारसँगै भण्डारखाल दरबार, बद्री, केदारनाथ र गोपीकृष्णको मन्दिर अहिले पनि सुरक्षित छन् ।' यिनै प्रमाणका आधारमा पुरातत्व विभागले चाहने हो भने दरबार बन्न सक्ने उनले बताए ।

दरबार परिसरमा बगैंचा, नाट्यशाला, पोखरी यथावत् छन् । दरबार निर्माण गर्ने हो भने ती बगैंचा र पोखरीको महत्त्व झन् बढ्ने धौभडेलले बताए । ऐतिहासिक सम्पदा तथा मठमन्दिर संरक्षण गर्ने निकाय पुरातत्व विभागको ध्यान यसतर्फ केन्दि्रत हुनुपर्ने उनले औंल्याए । 'तत्कालीन राजा पृथ्वीनारायण शाहले भक्तपुर जितेपछि भक्तपुरमै रहेको वसन्तपुर दरबारको झझल्को दिने गरी काठमाडौंस्थित वसन्तपुरमा रहेको वसन्तपुर दरबार निर्माण गर्न लगाएका हुन्,' उनले भने । उक्त क्षेत्रमा दरबारसँगै बनाइएका दुई सिंह र उग्रचण्डी भैरव र भगवतीको मूर्ति अहिले जस्ताको तस्तै रहेको जानकारी धौभडेलले दिए । भक्तपुर नगरपालिका र पुरातत्व विभागले पहल गरे दरबारलाई पुनः ब्युँताउन सकिने उनको भनाइ छ । यो दरबार पुनर्निर्माण गर्नसके विश्वमै पुरात्वको क्षेत्रमा नमुना हुने उनले बताए ।

इतिहासविद् प्राध्यापक डा. पुरुषोत्तमलोचन श्रेष्ठले सरोकारवाला सबै निकायले अहिले पनि प्रयास गर्ने हो भने नेपालको गौरव र प्रतिष्ठाको धरोहर भक्तपुरको वसन्तपुर दरबार निर्माण गर्न सकिनेमा कुनै शंका नभएको बताए । दरबार भएको ऐतिहासिक सबै प्रमाण भइसकेपछि ऐतिहासिक झझल्को दिने गरी पुरातत्व विभागले पुनःदरबार निर्माणको प्रक्रिया अगाडि थाल्नुपर्ने आवश्यकता औंल्याउँदै श्रेष्ठले, भने, 'दरबार निर्माणका लागि पुरातत्व विभाग एक कदम अगाडि बढे हामी दुई कदम अगाडि बढ्न तयार छौं ।' दरबारको जग खन्दा अहिले पनि थुप्रै प्रमाण फेला पर्छन् । दरबार पुनर्निर्माण गर्नु केवल केही व्यक्तिका लागि मात्र नभई विश्वका लागि नै नमुना बन्ने हुँदा आजै पुरातत्व विभागको ध्यान यसतर्फ जानुको विकल्प नभएको श्रेष्ठले बताए । वसन्तपुर दरबारका बारेमा लिखित अभिलेख राख्ने काम सबैभन्दा पहिले आफूले नै गरेको दाबी उनले गरे ।

बद्री-केदारनाथ, राष्ट्रिय कला संग्रहालय, पचपन्न झ्याले दरबार लगायतका सम्पदाहरू अहिले पुनर्निर्माण गरेर भक्तपुरमा सांस्कृतिक पुनर्जागरणको लहर आएको श्रेष्ठले बताए । 'यही सांस्कृतिक पुनर्जागरणको लहरमा वसन्तपुर दरबार पनि पुनर्निर्माण हुन सक्छ,' उनले भने । पुरातत्व विभाग विश्वसम्पदा शाखाका प्रमुख सौभाग्य प्रधानाङ्ग विश्वसम्पदा सूचीमा सूचीकृत कुनै पनि सम्पदा पुनर्निर्माण गर्ने प्रशस्त आधार भए पहल गर्ने बताए ।

तत्काल दरबार अवलोकन गरी आवश्यक प्रक्रिया पूरा गरी दरबारलाई पुनर्निर्माणका लागि पहल र प्रयास गर्ने उनले उल्लेख गरे । 'पुराना सम्पदा र धरोहरहरूको संरक्षण र संवर्द्धन गर्ने आफूहरूको जिम्मेवारी नै भएकाले यसतर्फ विभागको ध्यानाकर्षण हुन्छ,' उनले भने ।

LOSAR - TA-LHO (Horse) 2598(2014) .

For other traditions of celebrating the lunar new year, see Lunar New Year (disambiguation).

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v t e

Losar (Tibetan: ལོ་གསར་, Wylie: lo-gsar) is the Tibetan word for "new year". lo^[1] holds the semantic field "year, age"; sar^[2] holds the semantic field "new, fresh". Losar is the most important holiday in Tibet, Nepal and Kingdom of Bhutan.^[3]

Losar is celebrated for 15 days, with the main celebrations on the first three days. On the first day of Losar, a beverage called changkol is made fromchhaang (a Tibetan cousin of beer). The second day of Losar is known as King's Losar (gyalpo losar). Losar is traditionally preceded by the five day practice of Vajrakilaya. Because the Uyghurs adopted the Chinese calendar, and the Mongols and Tibetans adopted the Uyghur calendar,^[4] Losar occurs near or on the same day as the Chinese New Year and the Mongolian New Year, but the traditions of Losar are unique to Tibet, and predates both Indian and Chinese influences. Originally, ancient celebrations of Losar occurred solely on the winter solstice, and was only moved to coincide with the Chinese and Mongolian New Year by a leader of the Gelug school of Buddhism.^[5]

Losar is also celebrated by Yolmo, Sherpa, Tamang, Gurung, and Bhutia, although different regions in the country have their own respective new year. Losar is also celebrated by Tibetan Buddhists Worldwide.

Contents

  [hide] 

• 1 History
• 2 Practice
• 3 Dates
• 4 See also
• 5 References
• 6 External links

History[edit]

Losar, 1938

The celebration of Losar predates Buddhism in Tibet and can be traced back to the pre-Buddhist Bön period. In this early Bön tradition, every winter a spiritual ceremony was held, in which people offered large quantities of incense to appease the local spirits, deities and 'protectors' (Tibetan: chos skyong; Sanskrit: dharmapalas). This religious festival later evolved into an annual Buddhist festival which is believed to have originated during the reign of Pude Gungyal, the ninth King of Tibet. The festival is said to have begun when an old woman named Belma introduced the measurement of time based on the phases of the moon. This festival took place during the flowering of the apricot trees of the Lhokha Yarla Shampo region in autumn, and it may have been the first celebration of what has become the traditional farmers' festival. It was during this period that the arts of cultivation, irrigation, refining iron from ore and building bridges were first introduced in Tibet. The ceremonies which were instituted to celebrate these new capabilities can be recognized as precursors of the Losar festival. Later when the rudiments of astrology, based on the five elements, were introduced in Tibet, this farmer's festival became what we now call the Losar or New Year's festival.

Losar is also known as Bal Gyal Lo. Bal is Tibet, Gyal is King, Lo is year. The Tibetan new year has been celebrated since the first King's enthronement celebration. It was started with the first King. That was why it has been known as Bal Gyal Lo.

Tenzin Gyatso (1998: p. 233) frames the importance of consulting the Nechung Oracle for Losar:

For hundreds of years now, it has been traditional for the Dalai Lama, and the Government, to consult Nechung during the New Year festivals.^[6]

Tenzin Wangyal (2002: p.xvii) frames his experience of Tibetan cultural practice of Losar in relation to elemental celebrations and offerings to Nāga (Tibetan: Klu):^[7]

During Losar, the Tibetan celebration of the new year, we did not drink champagne to celebrate. Instead, we went to the local spring to perform a ritual of gratitude. We made offerings to the nagas, the water spirits who activated the water element in the area. We made smoke offerings to the local spirits associated with the natural world around us. Beliefs and behaviors like ours evolved long ago and are often seen as primitive in the West. But they are not only projections of human fears onto the natural world, as some anthropologists and historians suggest. Our way of relating to the elements originated in the direct experiences by our sages and common people of the sacred nature of the external and internal elements. We call these elements earth, water, fire, air, and space.^[8]

Practice[edit]

The Gumpa dance being performed in Lachung during theBuddhist festival of Losar

The Tibetan calendar is made up of twelve lunar months and Losar begins on the first day of the first month. In the monasteries, the celebrations for the Losar begin on the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth month. That is the day before the Tibetan New Year's Eve. On that day the monasteries do a protector deities' puja (a special kind of ritual) and begin preparations for the Losar celebrations. The custom that day is to make special noodle called guthuk. It is made of nine different ingredients including dried cheese and various grains. Also, dough balls are given out with various ingredients hidden in them such as chilies, salt, wool, rice and coal. The ingredients one finds hidden in one's dough ball are supposed to be a lighthearted comment on one's character. If a person finds chilies in their dough, it means they are talkative. If white-colored ingredients like salt, wool or rice are inside the dough it is considered a good sign. If a person finds coal in the dough it has much the same meaning as finding coal in one's Christmas stocking; it means you have a "black heart".

The last day of the year is a time to clean and prepare for the approaching New Year.^[9] In the monasteries it is a day of preparations. The finest decorations are put up and elaborate offerings are made called "Lama Losar". In the early dawn of this day, the monks of Namgyal Monastery offer a 'sacrificial cake' (Tibetan: tor ma)^[10] on top of the main temple (Potala in Tibet) to the supreme hierarchy of Dharma protectors, the glorious goddess Palden Lhamo. Led by the Dalai Lama, the abbots of three great monasteries, lamas, reincarnated monks or tulku, government officials and dignitaries join the ceremony and offer their contemplative prayers, while the monks of Namgyal Monastery recite the invocation of Palden Lhamo. After the completion of this ceremony, all assemble in the hall called Excellence of Samsara and Nirvana for a formal greeting ceremony. Seated on his or her respective cushions, everyone exchanges the traditional greeting, "Tashi Delek".

In order to wish the Dalai Lama good luck for the coming year, consecrated 'sacred pills' (Tibetan: ril bu) made out of roasted barley dough are offered to him by the representatives of the three great monasteries, the two Tantric Colleges, etc. Then entertainers (garma) perform a dance of good wishes. And two senior monks stage a debate on Buddhist philosophy, and conclude their debate with an auspicious recitation composed especially for the event, in which the whole spectrum of Buddhist teaching is first briefly reviewed. A request is made to the Dalai Lama and to all holders of the doctrine to remain for a long time amongst beings in Samsara (Sanskrit) in order to serve them through their enlightened activities. The official ceremony of the day then concludes with a ceremonial farewell to the His Holiness, who then retires to his palace.

The second day of Losar is known as King's Losar (gyal-po lo-sar) because officially the day is reserved for a secular gathering in the hall of Excellence of Samsara and Nirvana. His Holiness and his government exchange greetings with both monastic and lay dignitaries, such as representatives of China, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Mongolia and other foreign visitors.

Then from the third day onwards, the people and monks begin to celebrate and enjoy the festive season. In many parts of Tibet, Losar is celebrated for fifteen days or more. In India it is celebrated for three days. In other countries celebrations may be as little as one day.

The Losar is also celebrated in Nepal and India as well, where there is a strong concentration of the Buddhist population in the states like Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal and Ladakh inKashmir.^[11] The Monpa tribe of Tawang and the Memba of the Mechukha valley of Arunachal celebrate Losar. Yet the Memba of Mechukha celebrate Losar one month earlier than the other Losar-celebrating peoples.

Phurbu Thinley states that:

It is time again for Tibetans around the world to celebrate their Losar; this time- the Year of the Earth Mouse 2135.

Tibetans and a section of Buddhists around the world will celebrate Losar on Thursday, February 7, 2008. The celebration normally lasts for three days, and it all means time for greetings, togetherness and abundant festivities, and time for prayers as well.^[

एन्टिबायोटिक्सको सट्टा खाए हुन्छ लसुन

बिरामी परेपछि के गर्ने होला भनेर मानिसहरू रनभुल्लमा पर्छन् । डाक्टर कहाँ झोलाका झोला औषधी भिडाएर पठाउनाले वाक्क दिक्क भएका छन् आजकाल । तैपनि बिरामी भएको बेला कहाँ जाने, के गर्ने अन्यौलमा पर्छन् । रोगले च्यापेको बेला अझ दुखाई पनि बढि छ भने त जसरिपनि डाक्टरकहाँ दगुर्नै पर्‍यो मन नलागि नलागिपनि । गयो औषधी भक्कु लेखिदिन्छन् अनि कतिपय औषधी राम्रो भन्दा झन असर पुर्‍याउँछ । तर अमेरिकी वैज्ञानिकहरूले दुखाई कम गर्नको लागि चाहिँ उपाय सुझाएका छन्- लसुन खाने ।

उनीहरूको भनाईमा लसुन एकदम शक्तिशाली प्रक्रितिक एन्टिबायोटिक हो । डाक्टरी औषधीले झैं लसुनले शरीरका लाभदायक ब्याक्टरीयाहरु मार्दैन । लसुन एन्टिभाइरल र एन्टि फङ्गलपनि हुन्छ । त्यति मात्रै हो र ? दिनदिनै केही पोटी लसुन खाने हो भने इन्फेक्सन (घाउ पाक्ने) क्रम रोकिन्छ, छिटो सुक्छ ।

कसरी थाह पाए त यो ? अमेरिकीहरुले परीक्षण गरे । लसुन तिन महिनासम्म नियमित तरिकाले खाँदा सात जना एड्सका रोगीहरूको टी सेल (टी भनिने कोष) सामान्य देखियो । उनीहरूले प्रति दिन दुई देखि चार वटा पोटी लसुन मात्रै खान्थे । टी सेल एड्स पाक्ने मुख्य कोष हो । एड्सका रोगीहरुमा मात्रै होइन कि अरू रोगमापनि यो प्रभावकारी देखियो । झाडा पखाला, यौनांगमा साना साना बिबिरा उठेर दुख्ने, छाला पाक्ने, अनुहार र अन्तपनि राता राता मसिना दाद जस्ता धब्बा देखिने लगायतका समस्यामापनि फलदायी देखियो । डायबिटिज, एलर्जी, दाँतको दुखाई, क्यान्सर, ठण्डी, मुटुको रोग र उच्च कोलेस्टेरोल नियन्त्रण गर्नपनि लसुन उपयुक्त भएको दाबी उनीहरूले गरेका छन् ।

तर उपचारको लागि खाने लसुन पकाउनु नहुने उनीहरूले बताएका छन् । लसुनका पोटी पिँध्ने र खानु पहिले करिब १० मिनेट खुल्ला राख्नुपर्ने सुझाव दिएका छन् । काँचो लसुन खाँदा नमीठो हुन्छ भने यसो गर्न सकिन्छ- चार पोटी लसुन पिँध्ने । दुई वटा गोलभेँडा काट्ने । ए उटा कागती निचर्ने । त्यसको जुस बनाएर खाने । स्वाद को लागि अलिकति नुन राख्न सकिन्छ। मेशिन छैन भने हातै मिहिनसित पिँधेर पनि जुस खान सकिन्छ । तपाइको शरीरमा इन्फेक्सन छ भने दिनमा केहि पटक यस्तो जुस लिन सकिन्छ ।

christmas

History

The Chronography of 354 AD contains early evidence of the celebration on December 25 of a Christian liturgical feast of the birth of Jesus. This was in Rome, while in Eastern Christianity the birth of Jesus was already celebrated in connection with the Epiphany on January 6.^[39][40] The December 25 celebration was imported into the East later: in Antioch by John Chrysostom towards the end of the 4th century,^[40] probably in 388, and in Alexandria only in the following century.^[41] Even in the West, the January 6 celebration of the nativity of Jesus seems to have continued until after 380.^[42] In 245, Origen of Alexandria, writing about Leviticus 12:1–8, commented that Scripture mentions only sinners as celebrating their birthdays, namely Pharaoh, who then had his chief baker hanged (Genesis 40:20–22), and Herod, who then had John the Baptist beheaded (Mark 6:21–27), and mentions saints as cursing the day of their birth, namely Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:14–15) and Job (Job 3:1–16).^[43] In 303, Arnobius ridiculed the idea of celebrating the birthdays of gods, a passage cited as evidence that Arnobius was unaware of any nativity celebration.^[44] Since Christmas does not celebrate Christ's birth "as God" but "as man", this is not evidence against Christmas being a feast at this time.^[7] The fact the Donatists of North Africa celebrated Christmas may indicate that the feast was established by the time that church was created in 311.

Many popular customs associated with Christmas developed independently of the commemoration of Jesus' birth, with certain elements having origins in pre-Christian festivals that were celebrated around the winter solstice by pagan populations who were later converted to Christianity. These elements, including the Yule log from Yule and gift giving from Saturnalia,^[45] became syncretizedinto Christmas over the centuries. The prevailing atmosphere of Christmas has also continually evolved since the holiday's inception, ranging from a sometimes raucous, drunken, carnival-like state in the Middle Ages,^[46] to a tamer family-oriented and children-centered theme introduced in a 19th-century reformation.^[47][48] Additionally, the celebration of Christmas was banned on more than one occasion within certain Protestant groups, such as the Puritans, due to concerns that it was too pagan or unbiblical

Celebration

Further information: Christmas worldwide

Map of countries where Christmas is not a formal public holiday either on December 24/25 or January 6/7.

Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in countries around the world, including many whose populations are mostly non-Christian. In some non-Christian countries, periods of former colonial rule introduced the celebration (e.g. Hong Kong); in others, Christian minorities or foreign cultural influences have led populations to observe the holiday. Countries such as Japan, where Christmas is popular despite there being only a small number of Christians, have adopted many of the secular aspects of Christmas, such as gift-giving, decorations, and Christmas trees.

Countries in which Christmas is not a formal public holiday include Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Cambodia, China(excepting Hong Kong and Macao), Comoros, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey,Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Yemen. Christmas celebrations around the world can vary markedly in form, reflecting differing cultural and national traditions.

Among countries with a strong Christian tradition, a variety of Christmas celebrations have developed that incorporate regional and local cultures. For Christians, participating in a religious service plays an important part in the recognition of the season. Christmas, along with Easter, is the period of highest annual church attendance. In Catholic countries, people hold religious processions orparades in the days preceding Christmas. In other countries, secular processions or parades featuring Santa Claus and other seasonal figures are often held. Family reunions and the exchange of gifts are a widespread feature of the season. Gift giving takes place on Christmas Day in most countries. Others practice gift giving on December 6, Saint Nicholas Day, and January 6, Epiphany.

Commemorating Jesus' birth

Main articles: Annunciation, Nativity of Jesus, and Child Jesus

Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard van Honthorst depicts the nativity of Jesus

Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary as a fulfillment of the Old Testament's Messianic prophecy.^[94] The Bible contains two accounts which describe the events surrounding Jesus' birth. Depending on one's perspective, these accounts either differ from each other or tell two versions of the same story.^{[95][96][97][98]} These biblical accounts are found in the Gospel of Matthew, namely Matthew 1:18, and the Gospel of Luke, specifically Luke 1:26 and 2:40. According to these accounts, Jesus was born to Mary, assisted by her husband Joseph, in the city of Bethlehem.

Eastern Orthodox icon of the birth of Christ by St. Andrei Rublev, 15th century

According to popular tradition, the birth took place in a stable, surrounded by farm animals. A manger (that is, a feeding trough) is mentioned in Luke 2:7, where it states Mary "wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn" (KJV); and "She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them" (NIV). Shepherds from the fieldssurrounding Bethlehem were told of the birth by an angel, and were the first to see the child.^[99] Popular tradition also holds that three kings or wise men (named Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar) visited the infant Jesus in the manger, though this does not strictly follow the biblical account. The Gospel of Matthew instead describes a visit by an unspecified number of magi, or astrologers, sometime after Jesus was born while the family was living in a house (Matthew 2:11), who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the young child Jesus. The visitors were said to be following a mysterious star, commonly known as the Star of Bethlehem, believing it to announce the birth of a king of the Jews.^[100]The commemoration of this visit, the Feast of Epiphany celebrated on January 6, is the formal end of the Christmas season in some churches.

Christians celebrate Christmas in various ways. In addition to this day being one of the most important and popular for the attendance of church services, there are other devotions and popular traditions. In some Christian denominations, children re-enact the events of the Nativity with animals to portray the event with more realism or sing carols that reference the event. A long artistic tradition has grown of producing painted depictions of the nativity in art. Nativity scenes are traditionally set in a stable with livestock and include Mary, Joseph, the infant Jesus in the manger, the three wise men, the shepherds and their sheep, the angels, and the Star of Bethlehem.^[101] Some Christians also display a small re-creation of the Nativity, known as a Nativity scene or crèche, in their homes, using figurines to portray the key characters of the event. Prior to Christmas Day, the Eastern Orthodox Church practices the 40-day Nativity Fast in anticipation of the birth of Jesus, while much of Western Christianity celebrates four weeks of Advent. The final preparations for Christmas are made on Christmas Eve, and many families' major observation of Christmas actually falls in the evening of this day.

Decorations

Main article: Christmas decoration

See also: Christmas tree, Nativity scene, Christmas lights, Christmas stocking, and Christmas ornament

Clifton Mill in Clifton, Ohio is the site of this Christmas display with over 3.5 million lights.

The practice of putting up special decorations at Christmas has a long history. In the 15th century, it was recorded that in London it was the custom at Christmas for every house and all the parish churches to be "decked with holm, ivy, bays, and whatsoever the season of the year afforded to be green".^[102] The heart-shaped leaves of ivy were said to symbolize the coming to earth of Jesus, while holly was seen as protection against pagans and witches, its thorns and red berries held to represent the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus at the crucifixion and the blood he shed.^[103][104]

Nativity scenes are known from 10th-century Rome. They were popularised by Saint Francis of Asissi from 1223, quickly spreading across Europe.^[105]Different types of decorations developed across the Christian world, dependent on local tradition and available resources. The first commercially produced decorations appeared in Germany in the 1860s, inspired by paper chains made by children.^[106] In countries where a representation of theNativity Scene is very popular, people are encouraged to compete and create the most original or realistic ones. Within some families, the pieces used to make the representation are considered a valuable family heirloom.

The famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in New York City

The traditional colors of Christmas decorations are red, green, and gold. Red symbolizes the blood of Jesus, which was shed in his crucifixion, while green symbolizes eternal life, and in particular the evergreen tree, which does not lose its leaves in the winter, and gold is the first color associated with Christmas, as one of the three gifts of the Magi, symbolizing royalty.^[104]

The Christmas tree is considered by some as Christianisation of pagan tradition and ritual surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of evergreenboughs, and an adaptation of pagan tree worship;^[107] according to eighth-century biographer Æddi Stephanus, Saint Boniface (634–709), who was a missionary in Germany, took an axe to an oak tree dedicated to Thor and pointed out a fir tree, which he stated was a more fitting object of reverence because it pointed toheaven and it had a triangular shape, which he said was symbolic of the Trinity.^[108] The English language phrase "Christmas tree" is first recorded in 1835^[109]and represents an importation from the German language. The modern Christmas tree tradition is believed to have begun in Germany in the 18th century^[107]though many argue that Martin Luther began the tradition in the 16th century.^[110][111]

On Christmas Day, the Christ Candle in the center of the Advent wreath is traditionally lit in manychurch services.

From Germany the custom was introduced to Britain, first via Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, and then more successfully by Prince Albert during the reign of Queen Victoria. By 1841 the Christmas tree had become even more widespread throughout Britain.^[84] By the 1870s, people in the United States had adopted the custom of putting up a Christmas tree.^[85]Christmas trees may be decorated with lights and ornaments.

Since the 19th century, the poinsettia, a native plant from Mexico, has been associated with Christmas. Other popular holiday plants include holly, mistletoe, red amaryllis, and Christmas cactus. Along with a Christmas tree, the interior of a home may be decorated with these plants, along with garlands and evergreen foliage. The display of Christmas villages has also become a tradition in many homes during this season. The outside of houses may be decorated with lights and sometimes with illuminated sleighs, snowmen, and other Christmas figures.

Other traditional decorations include bells, candles, candy canes, stockings, wreaths, and angels. Both the displaying of wreaths and candles in each window are a more traditional Christmas display. The concentric assortment of leaves, usually from an evergreen, make up Christmas wreaths and are designed to prepare Christians for the Advent season. Candles in each window are meant to demonstrate the fact that Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the ultimate light of the world.^[112]

Christmas lights and banners may be hung along streets, music played from speakers, and Christmas trees placed in prominent places.^[113] It is common in many parts of the world for town squares and consumer shopping areas to sponsor and display decorations. Rolls of brightly colored paper with secular or religious Christmas motifs are manufactured for the purpose of wrapping gifts. In some countries, Christmas decorations are traditionally taken down on Twelfth Night, the evening of January 5.