People around the world have different ideas of what a perfect Christmas is. In Norway, thoughts are very much on snow and snuggling up in the warm, eating salted lamb or fatty pork. At the other end of the world, Australians think of sun, seafood, cold drinks and maybe even a beach trip.

Things change as we grow older too. In our childhood days we thought of presents, but maybe now we just yearn to be together with family and would gladly stop the buying frenzy if anyone would let us!

Many Christmas traditions are not ancient at all. It was not until the 19th Century that Prince Albert made Christmas trees and greetings cards popular when he introduced his native German traditions. Presents came much later.

There are even differing views on when Christmas falls. The Russian Orthodox Church still celebrates Christmas on 7th January in line with the Julian calendar. It seems likely that the adoption of 25th December is one of convenience to fall in line with traditional feast days which were held in the midwinter or at the Winter solstice.

However we celebrate the Season, there is a central pillar in CHRISTmas that all Christians celebrate - Jesus was born as man and would ultimately die so that each one of us might be at peace with God.