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In some areas the feast is known as Julgransskakning ("Shaking the Christmas tree"). [6] Party activities involve singing and dancing around the Christmas tree, "looting" the tree of ornamental candy and apples, smashing the gingerbread house into pieces and eating it, opening Christmas crackers that have been used as decorations in the tree ...
Locals and tourists love to watch the 30-meter Swarovski Christmas tree in the Central as well as the Christmas light displays on buildings on Victoria Harbour. [60] A huge party in Hong Kong called Winterfest is celebrated every year which involves malls, shops, theme parks and other attractions.
Xmas (also X-mas) is a common abbreviation of the word Christmas. It is sometimes pronounced / ˈ ɛ k s m ə s / , but Xmas , and variants such as Xtemass , originated as handwriting abbreviations for the typical pronunciation / ˈ k r ɪ s m ə s / .
There were also events on Christmas Eve called "Paradise Plays" that celebrated the feast day of Adam and Eve, and a fir tree with apples on its branches was used to represent the Tree of Knowledge.
In 2004, Pope John Paul called the Christmas tree a symbol of Christ. This very ancient custom, he said, exalts the value of life, as in winter what is evergreen becomes a sign of undying life, and it reminds Christians of the "tree of life", [155] an image of Christ, the supreme gift of God to humanity. [156]
One common date is the thirteenth day of Christmas, Epiphany, of the Mass of St. Knut, on January 7. Another is the old gisladag or tjuendedag, the twentieth day, on January 13, also called Epiphany Day. By Candlemas on February 2, the Christmas tree and all decorations have usually been removed.
The Brussels Christmas tree in the Belgian capital sparked controversy in December 2012, as it was part of renaming the Christmas Market as "Winter Pleasures". [137] Local opposition saw it as appeasement of the Muslim minority in the city. [138] Efforts have also been made to rename official public holiday trees as "Christmas trees".
Until 1770, the Christmas holidays included 2nd day of Christmas and Epiphany on 6 January (celebrated on the eve of 5 January). Afterwards, only 1st and 2nd Christmas Day are holidays, and 6 January is now a celebration day. The first Christmas tree in Copenhagen was lit in Ny Kongensgade in 1811. Christmas trees became popular among the ...