In the Christian faith, it is common to place a nativity at the base of the tree. A nativity typically features figurines of Mary and Joseph and the shepherds and three wise men who, according to the religion's teachings, were present at the birth of Jesus. A figurine of the infant Jesus is added on Christmas Day.

Hanging a Christmas wreath on your front door is also an effortless way to let passersby know that you are celebrating the season. Handmade decorations add a personal touch, so consider making Christmas tree ornaments from felt, paper-mache or other materials available at craft shops. You can also purchase some poinsettias and Christmas cacti to bring in a touch of the natural world.

Many families gather on Christmas for an elaborate home-cooked meal centered around a meat course, like a roasted chicken or ham, with mashed potatoes as a traditional side dish. However, the menu should be adapted based on dietary needs and preferences. For dessert, a traditional choice is a Yule log, also known as a Buche de Noel, which is a rolled cake covered in chocolate. Any kind of pie or cake will do, however. Don't forget to serve your guests eggnog or hot cocoa.

For many people, baking cookies is a cherished holiday tradition. A cookie exchange with neighbors is a great way to share the joy of Christmas with your community. If you want to get kids involved, bake gingerbread men or plain sugar cookies in festive shapes, like Christmas trees and snowmen, and give the kids colorful frosting, sprinkles and other edible materials to decorate the cookies. Making a gingerbread house from scratch or from a kit is another great way to celebrate Christmas.

Not everyone can afford the cost of a holiday meal or has enough money to buy gifts for their children at Christmas, which is why December is a great time to give to charity. Look for local organizations running toy drives or donate gifts or money to a national effort, like Toys for Tots. Volunteering at a food pantry is another way to honor the Christmas tradition of giving.

Many families celebrate Christmas at home. Family movie nights or karaoke are easy ways to get into the spirit without leaving the couch. Members of the Christian faith may also attend Mass on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Because many cities go all-out for Christmas, it's also a popular time to travel, whether to visit family and friends or to see famous holiday displays, like those for which New York City is famous.

How to stay healthy on Christmas Day

The holiday period is, naturally, a time of overindulgence. With almost infinite food at our fingertips, it can be difficult not to go overboard on the cheeseboard.

Some study shows that during the holiday season, people usually put on a little extra weight.

This is no surprise at all, but research has also shown that people typically don’t shift that weight before the next holiday season rolls around.

In fact, some scientists believe that this seasonal weight gain might be one of the reasons why people tend to get heavier as they age.

Of course, eating poorly is not the only seasonal hazard that we encounter. Below are a few simple tips to help you cruise through Christmas Day without affecting your health (too much).

1. Christmas spirit

During the period of Christmas, there is often more, more alcohol at home than usual, which can increase the temptation to indulge. At this time of year, people also tend to socialize more, providing a spike in the number of opportunities to drink alcohol.

Although taking it easy can be really challenging, moderation will make Christmas Day much more pleasant. Here are some quick alcohol-related tips:

• at parties, alternate alcoholic drinks with soft drinks
• eat before you drink and avoid salty snacks because they make you more thirsty
• do not drink too early in the day
• remember that you are not under any obligation to accept every single party invitation
• bear in mind that you do not need to stay until the bitter end of every event
• remember that it is not necessary to accept every free drinks offer
• assign yourself as the designated driver and stick to soft drinks
• stay hydrated
• add more mixer to your glass so that your drink lasts longer
• try nonalcoholic beers
• choose drinks with lower levels of alcohol
• drink slowly  avoid rounds and drink at your own pace

 

    

2. Do not remain seated

On Christmas Day, it can be enticing to stay sitting on the couch most of your time, other than the hour or two that you spend sitting at the dining table. Many families gather around to watch seasonal movie marathons.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with indulging yourself in sitting on the sofa for a longer time, but it will benefit your general sense of well-being if you also get up and move around every now and then.

A quick walk in the park, a game of frisbee, or even some star jumps in the middle of the lounge will suffice.

If nothing else, a brief surge of activity will reduce the time available for consuming candy and roast potatoes.

3. Obligatory overeating

Christmas Day is, for a lot of us, and the most gluttonous day of the year. Dinner is vast, and there is an accompanying array of biscuits, cheeses, chocolates, and snacks to choose from throughout the day. Of all the topics on this list, reducing food intake is perhaps is the hardest time of the year.

If you are tempted to go in for a second helping of dinner, compel yourself to wait for at least 20 minutes and then assess whether you truly need to eat more turkey or nut roast.

Once your meal has had time to reach your stomach, you might realize that you are not actually hungry and that the additional calories are not in your best interest.

 

4. Eat something healthful

As we have established, Christmas Day is bursting at the seams with sinful cuisine, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t decide on a little light relief.

Perhaps try to replace some of the calorific snacks with a piece of fruit or two. Alongside the obvious benefits of taking in more vitamins and minerals, you might find that you will be fuller and, therefore, more unlikely to tuck into the less healthful options around you.

When you are shopping for the holiday season, make sure to add some healthful food items to your shopping list.

Some people want to start their Christmas Day with a large, healthful breakfast as it is a helpful and healthy option for them. It means that you are less inclined to begin snacking early and that you have had a good dose of nutrients before the onslaught begins.

5. Mind your mental well-being

There are numerous ways to look after your mental health during the holidays.

Try not to stress out yourself. Christmas can make people anxious as we have lots of families get together. Keeping things in perspective and trying to add some sense of humor to proceedings that may become a little tense. Like, you burned the roast potatoes. Christmas is after all is just one day out of 365- so don’t let it overwhelm you.

Christmas is basically about giving and spending time with your love once. Being kind brings rewards to both the giver and the receiver. Some research has shown that altruism might boost self-esteem. Another study concluded that carrying out acts of kindness increased self-reported life satisfaction.

Although there are many ways to guard your mental well-being over the holiday season, being kind guards someone else’s mental well-being, too.

6. Be careful!

Accidents do happen, and they often happen around the holidays. Remember that, alcohol and a hot stove do not mix. Then, there are  batteries for children to swallow, Christmas trees that the cat can pull down, and sharp knives cutting through lumps of meat.

First and foremost, although candles are nice to look at, they are still an open flame. Avoid placing candles near your Christmas tree, even if it is plastic. In fact, limit your candle use wherever possible.

Make sure that toys are age-appropriate and that children remain under supervision. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2013, U.S. hospital emergency departments provided treatment for about 256,700 toy-related injuries.

Turn off all of your lights before you turn in for the night. Santa always carries a torch, so he won’t need your tree lights.

And, finally, although leftovers are a delicious treat, make sure that you refrigerate them as soon as possible and reheat them thoroughly before eating them.

People often view the holiday season as an open invitation to do whatever they please. Instead, this year, consider it an invitation to be good to your body and your mental health. Happy Christmas!

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