KARACHI:,,, Like other parts of the world, Pakistan’s Christian community will celebrate Christmas tomorrow (Monday) across country with tradition zeal and enthusiasm.

Special programmes will be held in the churches across the country including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar to celebrate the festival. Residential colonies have been decorated with twinkling lights and stars. Wreaths were hung outside stores buzzing with last-minute shopping on Christmas eve.

The government in all parts of the country has provided advance salaries and leaves to the Christians to join their religious festivity with happy and peace while security arrangements has also been made for the holy places of the Christian community. IGP Sindh office has also provided gift cheques to the Christian employees of Central Police Office.

Almost all churches have been decorated with colorful lights and illuminated with Christmas trees. The government has made elaborative security arrangements to avert any untoward incident on this occasion.

Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of Christians around the world. Christmas Day is a public holiday in many countries.

Popular holiday traditions include gift giving; completing an Advent calendar or Advent wreath; Christmas music and caroling; watching Christmas movies; viewing a Nativity play; an exchange of Christmas cards; attending church services; a special meal; and displaying various Christmas decorations including Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly.

Additionally, several related and often interchangeable figures, known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, and the Christkind, are associated with bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season and have their own body of traditions and lore.