Christmas
Christmas is celebrated across India on 25 December by its 28-million-strong Christian community and enjoyed far beyond it. Celebrations are most vibrant in Goa, Kerala and the North-East, with midnight mass, star lanterns, carol singing, plum cake and regional feasts blending Indian flavours with Christian tradition.
Quick facts: Christmas
| When | 25 December (national holiday in India) |
|---|---|
| Community | ~28 million Indian Christians; celebrated widely |
| Strongholds | Goa, Kerala, and the North-East |
| Signature foods | Plum cake, kuswar (Goa), appam & stew (Kerala) |
| Heritage | Saint Thomas tradition dating to 52 CE |
Significance of Christmas
Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ. In India it also showcases centuries of cultural blending: Portuguese-influenced Catholic traditions in Goa, the ancient Saint Thomas Christian heritage of Kerala (tracing to the 1st century CE), and majority-Christian celebrations in states like Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya.
History & origins
Christianity in India is among the world’s oldest, traditionally dating to the apostle Thomas’s arrival on the Kerala coast in 52 CE. Portuguese, British and missionary eras added European Christmas customs, which merged with local food, music and decoration into distinctly Indian celebrations.
How Christmas is celebrated
Families attend midnight mass, decorate homes and churches with paper star lanterns and cribs (nativity scenes), sing carols and exchange plum cake. Goan homes prepare kuswar — a platter of sweets like bebinca, neureos and kulkuls; Kerala serves festive appams and stews; hill stations and North-Eastern towns hold community feasts and concerts.
Regional variations
- Goa: Portuguese-Catholic heritage — midnight mass, bebinca and beachside festivities.
- Kerala: Saint Thomas Christian traditions, star lanterns on every street and plum cake.
- North-East (Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya): majority-Christian states with week-long community celebrations and choirs.
- Metro cities: markets, lights and celebrations enjoyed across communities.
Frequently asked questions about Christmas
How is Christmas celebrated in India?
With midnight mass, star lanterns, nativity cribs, carols and festive foods — most vibrantly in Goa, Kerala and the North-East, though the holiday is enjoyed across all communities.
Is Christmas a holiday in India?
Yes — 25 December is a gazetted national holiday across India.
What is kuswar?
Kuswar is the traditional Goan Christmas platter of sweets — bebinca, neureos, kulkuls, dodol and more — shared with neighbours and guests during the season.
How old is Christianity in India?
Indian Christianity traditionally dates to 52 CE, when the apostle Thomas is believed to have landed on the Kerala coast — making it one of the world’s oldest Christian communities.