Christmas is not just a festival, it is way more than that. From children to adults, everyone desperately waits for Christmas for the whole year. The holiday season is here and it is all about being decked up in beautiful and glamorous attires, singing carols, dancing to favourite songs, baking cookies, and opening presents. And wait! how can we forget about the Christmas stories that are a must on this day.

So parents buck up yourself and read these Christmas stories to your kids!

1. Christmas Carol Summary

This is a story of a miser, Mr. Scrooge who was a very cunning and money-minded man. It was Christmas Eve and everybody was wishing each other, ‘Merry Christmas!’ but Scrooge just sat inside his home all alone. Suddenly, the ghost of the Past appeared and showed him how lonely he was when he was a child. His parents left him all alone. He was always alone in every Christmas. Then, he disappeared.

The ghost of Present appeared and made him realize how happy a poor family was when it was time for Christmas. They didn’t have enough food to eat but they were still very happy. Next, the ghost of the Future appeared. The ghost of the Future took him to Scrooge’s funeral where everyone was criticizing him. The ghost of the Future made him realize that he didn’t care about anyone except for himself and then disappeared.

Finally, Scrooge decided to change his future. He invited everyone to a Christmas party at his house. Each of them was in shock. That night, everyone went to a Christmas party ever. Since then, Scrooge became the most loved man in town.

2. The Little Christmas Tree

Once there was a little fir tree who wanted to grow up to become a Christmas Tree, so that he could go and live amongst the humans. The other trees that were older knew more about life with humans and told him that it was not really a good idea to be around humans. But the little fir tree did not want to listen to them, and soon he would go to live amongst the humans himself.

One day, a few children came along with their parents to search for a fir tree for Christmas that they could use to decorate their home. When the children saw the little fir tree they immediately loved it. So they took him home and placed him in their living room along with lots of Christmas decoration.

Once the decorations were complete, the tree lit up with thousands of lights. As Christmas was approaching, everyone enjoyed looking at the beautiful fir tree. The little fir tree got very happy and was sure the other trees had been wrong. To let others think he was beautiful, he started spreading his branches higher and higher.

Till January, the little fir tree was the main attraction in the living room and in the whole house. But then, the tree’s needles started to fall off. No one wanted to look at him anymore or pick up the needles that fell. After all the celebrations were complete, the family decided to pack him up and store him in the cellar.

The little tree was very sad. After a long wait, the little fir tree was one day taken out of the cellar and planted back in the soil. The fir tree was so happy to be back in the soil. He realized that the reason the family had kept him in the cellar to keep him healthy.

The next Christmas, he was dug up again and used in the Christmas decorations, and each year the trend continued. The little fir tree realized that the older trees had been wrong, and that humans too can be good.

3. The Elves and the Shoemaker

‘The Elves and the Shoemaker’ is a classic Christmas fairy tale, your kids will love to hear. This tale by the ‘Brothers Grimm is about two elves that sneakily help a poor shoemaker. This story is about a shoemaker who lives with his wife in a small house. He is very poor and doesn’t have any money left with him. He only has some leather left to make one pair of shoes.

One evening, he cut the leather for a pair of shoes that he thought he would make in the morning, and prayed to God for a good day and goes to sleep. The next morning, the shoemaker finds a beautiful pair of shoes on the table in his shop and sells it for a hefty price.

For many days, this continues and the shoemaker turns rich by selling the shoes made by the elves. The shoemaker and his wife are pleased; they decide to find out who their helpers are and express their gratitude towards them. They make clothes for the elves in order to thank them for their service. The two little elves come at midnight and are happy to see the clothes.

Read Also: Merry Christmas 2021: Wishes, messages, quotes, images for Whatsapp and Facebook

They wear it and go only to never return again. The shoemaker lives a happy and prosperous life thereafter and little elves are pleased, too. This is a remarkable story to teach your children about the importance of hard work. Hard work always reaps its rewards. It is because the shoemaker worked hard that the elves came to help him. In return, he also gave the elves wonderful new clothes made with love.

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Christmas is one of the very rare festivals that is celebrated by everyone. People wait for this festive season for the whole year, it’s that time of the year when people exchange beautiful gifts with their close ones. The festival comes as an end-of-the-year reward for all the hard work we do the entire year. And what is a better reward than gifts? Showering your loved ones with gifts is a beautiful concept. However, choosing ideal gifts can be a puzzling and tiresome task.

Safe to say, it is a good thing that we are here to help you out. As your not-so-secret Santa, we bring you some convenient, pocket-friendly, as well as, trendy gift ideas.

Sugary sweets and candies

Sweets are known to not only set the mood for holidays but a jolly mood, in general. Sweets are known to boost serotonin levels in the brain, and what good has sadness ever brought to mankind?

Fill your loved ones’ lives with candies and yours with content in return.

Homemade Gifts

Just like the pen is mightier than the sword, there’s nothing better than heartfelt handmade gifts as a reward. If you’re an artist, make this holiday season and your love for your people a muse.

Pen down a poem, create an artwork or enchant them with your cooking. This Christmas, give your family and friends a part of you.

Books and Personalised Diaries

A picture says a thousand words. Wonder how many a thousand words can? If your person breathes to read and write, gift them books, novels and journals. Trust us, nobody will be able to top that.

Make-up and self-care products

For those who do not think of make-up and skincare products as just something to beautify but as therapy, this gift of yours will make them happier than you can even imagine.

Add to their Wardrobe

There is nothing like too many clothes! The Christmas season accounts for people getting out of their lazy zones and getting all decked up. Gift your family and friends something that you think them feel nice, comfortable and festive, and watch as their smiles grow wider.

Read Also: Christmas 2021: Here are 5 cake ideas to make the holidays even better!

Gift-cards and Coupons

Last but definitely not the least, gift cards and coupons for the indecisive. Gone is the time when gifting coupons was seen as a lack of dedication. Let your loved ones buy whatever they need and like because of you.

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It is December 25 and the festive season across the world is already started. People around the globe spend their quality time doing what they like most. And when holidays are around the corner, there is no better time to sit down and watch a brilliant film. Keeping in the mind that Covid pandemic is still out there and at the time when OTT is ruling over cinema halls, it’s better to enjoy the films at your place.

Christmas is the time when we spend our precious time with our loved ones, have some wonderful delicious foods and lots of wholesome gifts. But, for moviegoers, it is even more fun, because they have enough time to watch their selected best movies.

There are numbers of films available on multiple OTT platforms, by which you can make your holidays even more enjoyable. Here, we have prepared a list of some of the best movies that will give you a festive vibe.

We are blessed with the variety of films being released, like this year we got the films such as, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ by Marvel, ‘Free Guy’ of Ryan Ronalds, Venom: Let There be Carnage, Sang-Chi, The Suicide Squad, and many more. And it is difficult to choose which films to watch and which to not, so we are here to save from this disaster.

From Home Alone to Frozen, here’s the list of 7 movies for binge-watch during this festive season.

1. Home Alone (1990), available on Disney Plus Hotstar

2. Spider-Man series (2002), available on Disney Plus Hotstar

3. Frozen (2013), available on Disney Plus Hotstar

4. Beauty and the Beast (2017), available on Disney Plus Hotstar

5. Coco (2017), available on Disney Plus Hotstar

6. Crazy Rich Asians (2018), available on Amazon Prime Video

7. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), available on Youtube Movies

Read Also: CNG, PNG prices hike for 2nd time in 3 weeks, check rates in Mumbai, Raigad and Thane

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Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress is leading the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections with 119 seats out of 144 for which voting were took place on Sunday. The state’s rulling TMC has a vast lead over its nearest rivals, the BJP and the Left, which are leading in three wards each. The Congress is leading in just two wards.

Omicron crosses 200-mark in India, Maharashtra, Delhi report highest number of cases

Omicron has crossed the 200-mark in India while 77 patients have recovered and discharged from the hospitals, the Health Minister said on Tuesday. Maharashtra and Delhi have reported the highest number of cases of the new variant 54 followed by Telangana (20), Karnataka (19), Rajasthan (18), Kerala (15) and Gujarat (14).

Banks in India to remain closed for another 6 days before 2021 ends

Private and public sector banks in India will remain closed another six days before the beginning of 2022. A total of 12 bank holidays this month including Christmas and New Year.

TMC wins 7, leads on 108 in Kolkata Municipal Corporation Polls

Trinamool Congress (TMC) is currently leading in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Elections. TMC has won 7 seats and is leading on 108. BJP is leading on 4, followed by CPI(M) on 2, Congress on 2, Independent 3, as per official trends by West Bengal State Election Commission. The party members have already started the celebrations across the city.

Read Also: LIVE Top News Today: Banks in India to remain closed another 6 days before 2021 ends

India reports 5,326 fresh Covid-19 cases, 453 deaths in last 24 hours

India has reported 5,326 new Covid-19 cases, 8,043 recoveries and 453 deaths in the last 24 hours. Today’s daily spike in the cases is 19 per cent lower than yesterday’s spike of cases. The active cases in the country now stand at 79,097 which is the lowest in 572 days.

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The holiday season is not too far, but the air is already filled with euphoria. Christmas is not just a day, it’s a spirit filled with love, joy and delicious delicacies. And what makes everything even better? The universal answer is desserts!

We are filling in for Santa with gift tips for you. Here are five different cake ideas for you to drool into the cake pool:

1. Brownie cake, because there’s a brownie for every season!

Chocolates and cakes are like the Chandler and Monica of sweets, good while apart, best when together. Who doesn’t love a chocolate brownie every now and then?

Here is an easy recipe with five simple ingredients- Butter, curd, vanilla essence, sugar and of course, chocolate.

2. Gingerbread Coconut Christmas cake

Coconut, the all-rounder fruit, Gingerbread, the mood booster and Christmas, the all-favourite festival. Bring these three together, and you are set. Watch this easy recipe to surprise your family and friends.

3. White Chocolate and Cranberry Cheesecake

The fact that merely reading the name gratifying the soul is proof enough to go for a cheesecake this Christmas. Follow this recipe and see how it cheeses away all your worries!

4. Pine Tree Forest Cake

We decorate everything in Christmas colours and effects, so why not your cake. With holt imagination, correct execution and your favourite flavours, coordinate your home décor with your cake décor using flour, sugar, cream, milk and butter, guided by this video.

5. Cinnamon Mocha Cake

With Coffee, anything is possible. For those people who are absolutely addicted to Caffeine, we have something that you will absolutely. For this recipe, you will need coffee powder, yogurt, sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla extract. Add a kiss of Cinnamon, and fall in love with Christmas treats all over again!

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Our merry little Christmas 2021 is very near and all the Christmas magic is in the air. Tis the season for rum cake and Santa Claus. Christmas day feels incomplete without these mouthwatering rum fruit cakes.

Rum cake is among the most licious and famous traditional cakes all around the world. However, you can make this cake recipe for a variety of different events and festivals, and believe us when we say it’s genuinely toothsome. Here’s how to make this classic cake at home, with simple instructions.

But before moving ahead to the recipe, we want to tell those who don’t know, that you need to soak the fruits properly for one month or a year, in your preferred alcohol like rum, brandy, or sherry for that succulent cake. Also, you have to use the same rum while preparing the cake which you have used before to soak fruits till Christmas.

Ingredients for Christmas rum fruit cake

1 cup fine chopped dates.
½ cup fine chopped apricot.
½ cup fine chopped Prunes.
½ cup fine chopped cherries.
½ cup kishmish (raisin / Sultanas).
1 cup raisins or black currants.
1 cup fine chopped Nuts like cashew, walnuts, almonds, and pista.
1 cup dark rum or any alcohol which you prefer.
2 tablespoon all-purpose flour or maida for tossing dry fruits.

Before moving ahead to the recipe, we have to prepare caramel for rum fruit cake. Here are the instructions.

Steps for making caramel

Ingredients

½ cup white sugar
½ cup normal water

Heat the sugar in a saucepan under low heat. It will now begin to crystallise. Continue to stir until it begins to dissolve. Continue to cook on low heat until it reaches a lovely dark colour. Remove from the stove and add the water, heat until the sugar dissolves again. Set aside to cool.

How to add rum in fruit cake

• In this cake, you can also include any nuts of your preference, but you may not add any nuts too if you don’t like them.
• Simply mix the rum or any other alcohol of your preference with the dried fruits and soak them together.
• Add 1 cup black rum, you can increase or reduce as desired.

Rum fruit cake recipe

1. At first, preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius.
2. Take two pans for baking then line it with vegetable parchment paper.
3. Butter all the sides and bottom of the baking pan and put it aside.
4. Place the sugar in a saucepan over low heat. It’ll begin to crystallise then. Continue to stir and it will begin to melt gradually. Continue to cook on low heat until it gives a nice colour and becomes dark. Remove from the heat and add the water, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves. Allow cooling before serving.
5. Take 2 tablespoons of flour and toss the dry fruits in that.
6. Take baking powder, flour, baking soda, salt, spice powders and sieve them.
7. Beat the sugar, butter, vanilla with an electric beater and make a smooth paste.
8. Beat three eggs till it becomes creamy.
9. Then, add half of the flour mix and half of the caramel, fold gently into the batter.
10. Repeat the step for the other half.
11. Put the mixture in the baking pan and let it bake for 40- 45 minutes.
12. Let it cool after baking, invert it and remove the parchment paper.
13. Slice it and serve.

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The holiday season brings in the celebrations and merry hopes for a wonderful view, good food, and a pleasant attitude. Christmas is about to arrive and with great festivals come great makeovers.

From attires to home decor, everything must be planned to the detail. From innovative home decor to decking-up pine trees to preparing scrumptious dishes, the Christmas celebration is such a task and prepping for it might get overwhelming.

Can any festival be complete without decorating our homes? With so many options out there, we often struggle to find the best way to make our place look exquisite and aesthetic. Well, we are not here to throw you into a panic but rather to help you out. We have collated 5 simple and chic ways to decorate your homes this holiday season.

The traditional Christmas decor

This year, if you’re not interested in any of the newest, trendiest, or most frantic decorations, traditional red, white, and green decorations, beautifully decorated Christmas trees, socks, and delectable delicacies are always a choice.

Create your own theme

Do you want to do something more personal this Christmas? Choose your own theme and build a one-of-a-kind blend of the pleasure and happiness festival and everything that goes with it. You may always mix a theme from your favourite movies and TV shows and enjoy the festival as if you are a character yourself.

Minimalistic decorations

Are you a minimalist in your daily life and want your Christmas decorations to reflect your personality? Then garlands, DIY, and candles might come in handy this holiday season.

Heavy decorations

Bring out your festive spirit because there’s no reason for you to not share it with the world. Combine hefty decors with lights and ornaments to create a unique look for your doorway.

Light it up!

Festivals add extra joy and light to our lives. So, why not use lights to create a festive atmosphere? Use LEDs and bulbs to light up your space. With the colours you keep closest to your hearts, create an air of pure mindfulness. Take in the energy and turn it into your own!

Make this Christmas artsy!

If you’re an artist who is always looking for inspiration to produce something beautiful, now is the time. The joy and beauty that this festival brings have resulted in some incredible artwork. Make this Christmas one-of-a-kind and extra special by including a piece of yourself in the holiday decorations this year!

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The merriest time of the year, Christmas, is just around the corner. Every year countries across the globe get all decked up with pine trees and lights on December 25. The day is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, the second Holy Trinity of Christianity.

Celebrations of Christmas involves hogging on rum cakes, decorating pine trees, exchange of gifts, and singing carols. The yuletide is incomplete without carols which originated in Europe thousands of years ago.

Best carols lyrics for you to sing this yuletide

As the world is inching towards Christmas 2021, here are the best carols lyrics for you to sing this yuletide.

A Spotless Rose

A spotless Rose is blowing 
Sprung from a tender root, 
Of ancient seers’ foreshowing, 
Of Jesse promised fruit;
Its fairest bud unfolds to light 
Amid the cold, cold winter 
And in the dark midnight.

The Rose which I am singing, 
Whereof Isaiah said, 
Is from its sweet root springing 
In Mary, purest Maid;  
For through our God’s great love and might 
The blessed babe she bare us 
In a cold, cold winter’s night.

Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strainsAngels we have heard on high

Sweetly, sweetly through the night
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their brief delightGloria, in Excelsis Deo
Gloria, in Excelsis DeoShepherds, why this jubilee?
Why do your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in Excelsis DeoCome to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing,
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.Gloria, in excelsis Deo

Gloria, in Excelsis DeoYeah
Gloria, in Excelsis DeoAngels we have heard
Angels we have heard on high
Angels we have heard, oh
Angels we have heard on high
Angels we have heard on high
Angels we have heard on high Excelsis Deo

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind, but now I see

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood, His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

My chains are gone
I’ve been set free (been set free)
My God, my Savior has ransomed me (ransomed me)
And like a flood (like a flood) His mercy rains (mercy rains)
Unending love, oh, Amazing grace

The Earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine

My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood, His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace (grace)

I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind (was blind), but now (but now) I see

Carol of the Bells

Hark how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say
Throw cares away

Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold

Ding-dong, ding-dong
That is the song
With joyful ring
All carolling (Oh, oh, ah)

One seems to hear
Words of good cheer
From everywhere (From everywhere)
Filling the air

Oh, how they pound (Oh, how they pound)
Raising their sound
O’er hill and dale
Telling their tale

Gaily they ring
While people sing Songs of good cheer
Christmas is here

Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas

Joy to the World

Joy to the world!
Joy to the world! Oh, woah

Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world!
Joy to the world! Oh

Joy to the world! The Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy

Joy to the world then we sing
Let the earth receive her King!
Joy to the world then we sing
Let the angel voices ring

Joy to the world then we sing
Let the men their songs employ
Joy to the world then we sing
And repeat the sounding joy

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove (And makes the nations prove)
And glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders of His love

Joy to the world then we sing
Let the earth receive her King!
Joy to the world then we sing
Let the angel voices ring

Caroling, Caroling

Caroling, caroling, now we go
Christmas bells are ringing
Caroling, caroling thru the snow
Christmas bells are ringing

Joyous voices sweet and clear
Sing the sad of heart to cheer
Ding dong, ding dong
Christmas bells are ringing

Caroling, caroling thru the town
Christmas bells are ringing
Caroling, caroling up and down
Christmas bells are ringing
Mark ye well the song we sing
Gladsome tidings now we bring
Ding dong, ding dong
Christmas bells are ringing!

Caroling, caroling, near and far
Christmas bells are ringing
Following, following yonder star
Christmas bells are ringing
Sing we all this happy morn
“Lo, the King of heav’n is born!”
Ding dong, ding dong
Christmas bells are ringing

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December is here and so is the craze for Christmas. And what better place to start the Christmas spirit than to visit Delhi’s majestic churches, which are decked up in stunning decorations and lighted up like stars? You may also relax with some deep meditation and enjoy the beautiful ambience, or you can sing along to Christmas melodies!

So, here’s a list of churches in Delhi that you must visit during Christmas 2021!

1. Sacred Heart Cathedral Church

The Sacred Heart Cathedral is one of the city’s most prominent churches, with exquisite architecture and a strong sacred value! It is regarded as one of the largest and oldest churches in Delhi based on Italian architecture, and it attracts a huge number of tourists during the Christmas season. Christmas is celebrated here like nowhere else in the city, with prayers and plenty of other customs that you must experience!

Where: 1, Ashok Place, Sector 4, Gole Market, New Delhi- 110001

2. Centenary Methodist Church

This church, located on the posh Lodhi Road, has immense and breathtaking architecture and is one of the city’s most phenomenal churches. This Christmas season, you should all go to this beautiful church and make it a memorable one!

Where | Centenary Methodist Church – 24, Lodhi Road, CGO Complex, Pragati Vihar

3. St. Mary’s Catholic Church

St Mary’s Church, which is extremely close to the Chandni Chowk Metro station, is also one of the oldest in Delhi. This magnificent church, built-in 1867, exudes a surreal vibe. Despite its location in the bustling alleyways of Chandni Chowk, it is truly in a universe of its own, with unsurpassed peace and solitude. The large church structure is really magnificent, and it also features exquisite graphic depictions of Jesus Christ’s life.

Where | St. Mary’s Catholic Church – 2417, Shyama Prasad Mukherji Marg, Katra Gehl, Khari Baoli

4. St. Stephen’s Church

St Stephen’s Church, established in 1862 and located in the bustling and crowded neighbourhood near the Old Railway Station in Chandni Chowk, is one of Delhi’s oldest churches. The church’s primitive, crimson, and beautiful structure is heavily influenced by Romanesque architecture and is constructed in the traditional gothic style. Unlike all other churches in Delhi, the church boasts unusual stained glass rose windows in addition to its beautiful walls and ceilings. This church is especially attractive during the Christmas season as it’s so nicely decked up with lights!

Where | St. Stephen’s Church – Fatehpuri, Church Mission Road, Katra Gehl, Khari Baoli, Chandni Chowk

5. St Thomas Church

Located in RK Puram, St Thomas Church looks beautiful from inside and outside both. The brick-walled structure features a distinctive architectural style, with arched windows and sloping walls, as well as a unique geometry of planes, shadows, and recesses. The inside has colourful and brilliantly painted windows, a remarkable wooden prayer space, and ample seats.

Read Also: Christmas 2021: From Home Alone to Frozen, 7 movies to binge-watch during this festive season

Where | St Thomas’ Church – 1, Church Rd, Sector 2 R K Puram, Sector 2, Rama Krishna Puram

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