Christmas is here – and also Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s birthday, now 149 years ago – marked on 25 December. Christmas is usually marked over two days, Christmas Day and Second Christmas Day, called Boxing Day in the UK. Many begin the Christmas celebrations with common activities already on Christmas Eve on 24 December, especially in the Protestant Northern Europe and also in many places in the USA. Many, certainly children, find the afternoon and evening of Christmas Eve, or for some, the morning of Christmas Day, the time for opening of the Christmas gifts, most important and interesting. Christmas Day is the day for formal dinner celebrations for close family members, after the mid-morning main religious service.

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Even those who are not regular church-goers may go to church once or twice at Christmas, and in Europe, that is the only time the churches are full. Statistics from Norway last year, show that about three-quarter million of the total population of five and half million went to church at least once. Especially Catholics are attending midnight mass on Christmas Eve, and also on New Year’s Eve. Instead of actually going to church, many would have the TV or radio on for a religious service, or follow one on Internet. Many media channels have boys’ and girls’ choirs singing the traditional Christmas carols, and modern songs with seasonal content, some with folkloristic or popular flavour, too. Many also listen to more classical music and choir concerts on Internet, or on the radio and TV.

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In Pakistan, especially in the large cities, there is some Christmas atmosphere,........

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