Today is Christmas!

Today is Christmas! New Year follows just a week later. And as the world lights up with festive cheer, this twin celebration forms a luminous bridge between the past and the future. These festivities are more than just dates on a calendar; they are a reminder of hope, renewal, and the enduring spirit of humanity.
Christmas, celebrated on December 25th, transcends its religious origins to become a global festival of love, sharing, and togetherness. Rooted in the story of the nativity, it commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and serves as a symbol of divine love and grace. Over centuries, Christmas has evolved, merging traditions and cultures. In Mexico, children reenact Mary and Joseph's search for shelter during Las Posadas, while in the Philippines, vibrant parols illuminate the streets, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem. In Iceland, the "Yule Lads" bring a playful touch to the season, delivering treats—or tricks—depending on behaviour. Today, Christmas unites families and communities worldwide with its universal message of goodwill and generosity.
Amidst the sparkling lights, the exchanging of gifts, and the hearty meals, Christmas also offers a moment of introspection. It invites us to rediscover the virtues of kindness and compassion, to reach out to those in need, and to nurture the bonds that sustain us. This holiday’s power lies in its ability to remind us of the good that exists in the world and our role in perpetuating it.
Barely a week after Christmas, we turn the page to the New Year, a celebration that has its roots in history and mythology. While January 1st is now globally recognized as the start of the year, this was not always the case. Ancient civilizations celebrated their new year at different times, often tied to the cycles of nature. The Babylonians welcomed the new year with the spring equinox, while the Egyptians marked it with the annual flooding of the Nile. In China, the Lunar New Year—steeped in vibrant traditions and myth—heralded the arrival of spring and renewal.
It was the Romans who, under Julius Caesar, fixed January 1st as the start of the new year in 46 BC. The month of January was aptly named after Janus, the two-faced deity who looks simultaneously to the past and the future. For the Romans, this day symbolized a clean slate, a chance to reflect on the past and prepare for the year ahead. Offerings were made to Janus, and neighbours exchanged tokens of good fortune, emphasizing the importance of starting the year on a positive note.
The essence of New Year’s celebrations has remained remarkably consistent across centuries and cultures: it is a time of renewal, hope, and aspiration. As fireworks light up the midnight sky, they signal the closing of one chapter and the opening of another. The New Year is a canvas, blank and brimming with potential, inviting us to dream anew and chart fresh courses.
In India, the diversity of its cultural tapestry offers myriad ways of marking the new year. From Ugadi in the south to Bihu in the northeast, from Baishakhi in Punjab to Poila Baishakh in Bengal, these celebrations are intricately tied to the rhythms of nature and the agricultural calendar. They are moments of thanksgiving for bountiful harvests and expressions of gratitude to the forces that sustain life. Each regional festivity carries its own unique customs and significance, yet they all converge on a shared ethos of hope and renewal.
The universality of Christmas and New Year lies in their capacity to bring people together. In an increasingly divided world, these celebrations remind us of our shared humanity. They are a call to transcend differences, to embrace the spirit of unity, and to build bridges of understanding and empathy. In their lights and laughter, we find the resilience to face challenges and the courage to hope for brighter tomorrows.
Yet, these festivities are not just about outward expressions of joy. They beckon us inward, urging us to reflect on the year gone by and to recalibrate for the year ahead. What have we learned from our triumphs and trials? How can we grow—as individuals, as families, as communities? The true gift of the season lies in this opportunity for introspection and growth.
As we stand on the threshold of 2025, let us carry forward the lessons of the past year. Let Christmas’s spirit of giving and New Year’s promise of renewal guide us. Let us resolve to be more compassionate, more inclusive, and more mindful of the world we inhabit. In the words of the Roman poet Ovid, “Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.” Let us find in these celebrations the rest and rejuvenation needed to sow seeds of a brighter future.
To my friends and family, near and far, I extend my heartfelt greetings. May your Christmas be filled with warmth and joy, and may the New Year bring health, happiness, and success. Let us step into 2025 with hope in our hearts and determination in our minds, ready to create a world that reflects the best of humanity, both for us and others.
Happy Christmas and a joyous New Year to all!

(Uday Kumar Varma is an IAS officer. Retired as Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting)