the belief systems

Anthropology is described as the study of various cultures of various societies all over the world, as well as the actions of people belonging to specific religious groups. Observing any of the rituals observed in in-person ceremonies may be used to research religious communities. Certain ceremonies are held around the world to celebrate numerous events in the respective faith. Each holiday and associated tradition has its own specific arrangement and meaning. The holidays are considered strictly religious, but people from all over the world observe them differently. For instance, Christians do celebrate different holidays including Christmas. On Christmas Eve, different Christians around the United States do have a Christmas dinner that has its attached rituals to be performed. The rituals performed have different meanings to the Christians around the world (Stein, 2014).
In the United States, the Christmas dinner is considered as an extremely special event as the world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. For instance, the table arrangement during the Christmas dinner is arranged differently from other days. Also, the meals eaten during the dinner are special and unique so as to make it fascinating for the purpose of enjoying. Moreover, the dinner is accompanied by some special carols that solemnly talk about the birth of Jesus Christ. Along the carols, the Christmas tree is located in a special place and gifts are a crucial part of the Christmas dinner. Through Anthropology, the analysis of the Christmas dinner is done well with the significance of each ritual provided. Therefore, the main aim of this assignment is to discuss the various rituals performed during Christmas dinner as well as their significance to the culture of Christians around the world.

Rituals Performed during Christmas dinner
Why Turkey is Served
Across the United States, turkey is mostly preferred for the Christmas dinner. The first turkey was eaten by a British man on a fabulous Christmas dinner. Turkey up to today is a special meal among the Americans, especially on Christmas dinner. There are various reasons why the turkey is used as a meal on the Christmas dinner. For instance, the turkey is regarded as special for serving during the Christmas dinner. Since Christmas is known as special by Christians around the world, the turkey is used to make it look fantastic. When people feed on turkey during the dinner, the feeling of celebrating the birth of someone special in their lives is generated automatically (Krech, 1991).
The cultural significance of eating the turkey as a special meal is creating the feeling of something special happening to the world of Christians. Therefore, the Christians treat the day as a special one thus the need of replicating it on the meal served. The other reason for serving the turkey is because it is considered big enough for the whole family and even friends. Since Christmas is regarded as a happy time, Christians around the globe feel good when they eat the meal together with family members and friends. Therefore, the ritual of sharing the turkey means a creation of unity among Christians during the happy Christmas day.
Why Gifts are Presented during Christmas Dinner
During the Christmas dinner, another ritual that is performed is the presentation of Christmas gifts before the dinner. When the family members and friends come for dinner, they present their Christmas gifts to the family members hosting the precious dinner. By presenting the gifts, it means that happiness is being shared among people present in the dinner. The sharing of joy during Christmas dinner is paramount since the day is about happiness in Jesus Christ. The fact that people present gifts means that they are happy to see each other on a special day and most importantly during the special Christmas dinner. The cultural significance meant by the sharing of the gifts is the emphasis of reminding Christians how they should stay with each other through giving the little they have in their possession. The ritual teaches Christians of instilling a culture of caring for each other during all times of life (Krech, 1991).
Also, during the Christmas dinner, the gifts are presented for the purpose of showing care and love to one another. By the fact that Christmas is all about family and friends, there should be an exhibition of care and love for each other. Most Christians do present the gifts with the intention of showing love to each other. Therefore, the tips presentation helps in instilling the culture of respect among people especially family members and friends.
Why the Christmas Tree is Present during the Christmas Dinner
During the Christmas dinner, another important ritual performed is the bringing of a Christmas tree. The Christmas tree has a meaning to those present at the dinner. The Christmas tree first represents the new light in the world. The Christmas tree is always decorated with lights around it. The lights around are used to show how the birth of Jesus Christ means a new dawn for the Christians. When people use the Christmas tree during the dinner through locating it on a place near the table, the cultural significance postulated by the act is the acknowledgment of the new light brought into the world. Therefore, the Christians do develop a culture of viewing Jesus as the new light on earth brought for the purpose of saving His people (Stein, 2014).
Also, the ritual of Christmas tree is used to set the celebration mood right on track. The Christmas tree is used to signify that the day is a happy one and therefore people should rejoice together. The cultural significance caused by the presence of the tree is making people happy as well as setting them in a celebratory mood. For instance, Christians create an understanding of how they should behave during the dinner. In case there were two people in the family who had disagreements during the year, they should forgive each other as the Christmas tree lightens up their lives.
Why the Fork Sit on the Left-Hand Side of the Plate
The ritual indicates a sense of politeness that the Christian families show during the dinner. The ritual has had a long tradition back from Britain where the Folk should always be held on the left hand during eating as a folk etiquette. According to the Briton, putting the folk on the left side of the plate enables a swifter carrying using the left hand that that is supposed to hold it (Petrelli & Light, 2014). The same practice applies as a ritual during the Christmas dinner but with a more elaborate religious meaning behind it. The assumption made here is that all Christians have to use their dominant and non-dominant right hand in eating any meal. Christmas is thus a special day that the Savior of the entire world was given birth to. Jesus Christ was born on 25th to rescue all the sinners and act as a bridge that linked God to his servants on earth.
This is, therefore, a day that peace has to be symbolically shown to prevail. In a Christian family, a folk is seen as a tool that can be used to harm another person. Carrying the folk on the right hand actually show a sign of aggression on the dinner table, and an intention to harm someone using it (Petrelli & Light, 2014). Putting the folk on the left side of the plate shows that all the tools against which man uses to labor have been down and they are peacefully celebrating the birth of their savior Jesus Christ. Putting down the tool and weapons also means that during that day a Christian should not have any quarrels with anyone but have a free heart to share the celebration of the day the Saviour was born (Petrelli & Light, 2014).
The ritual also shows that there is actually no intention of using the folk. Folk being a representation of a weapon, it should not be used at all cost because the right hand will be used for eating (Petrelli & Light, 2014). It symbolizes the greatness of the celebration that all the Christians in the labor force have to have their tools down so that they can witness the day that Jesus Christ was given birth to. They free themselves from the burden of carrying the tools and find this day as the only special day that they can drop them down for the savior has come to unburden the Christians from their sins. Having the folk on the left side of the plate, therefore, symbolizes the onset of freedom from burden earthly sins.

Why Use a Fork?
Folk represents the labor tools that the Christians had toiled with all the entire time before Christ was born. It is a sign of the troubles and the mistreatments that the Christians were subjected to before Jesus Christ arrived at their aid. It is a symbol of forced labor that the Christians underwent during the time when they were not yet saved. It, therefore, shows that the savior arrived at the time when the Christians were suffering. Folk was first used be the Romans in 1900BC. It is the Romans who actually crucified Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race (Krech, 1991). The Christians use the folk to refer to the Romans who were then against Christianity. When Christians put a folk on the left side of the plate when celebrating Christmas, it indicates a purpose. The plate with food shows the Christians happiness and celebration for the birth of their savior.

The spoon on the left side of the plate, however, indicates that Romans killed the Saviour who actually came bring joy and happiness to the face of the earth. The folk which has a historic origin from the Roman Empire was widely used by the Romans to eat (Krech, 1991). The context illustrates and acts as a reminder that despite the fact that they are celebrating the birth of their savior. They must never forget the fact that their savior died for them on the cross, in the hands of the Romans so that they could have an everlasting life through believing in Him. Christians have to celebrate the birth of Christ, but they must celebrate more on the death of Christ for having died for them on the cross so that their sins could be forgiven and they could have a fresh relationship with God (Petrelli & Light, 2014).
Sitting Arrangement during Christmas Dinner
Christians also have a ritual of sitting arrangement during the Christmas dinner. They could gather around and all sit surrounding the table. One sit is usually left at the head of the table. This sitting arrangement indicated that Jesus Christ is actually the father and head of that family (Petrelli & Light, 2014). It shows that the celebration is in his favor. He is thus left for the special seat so that the party shall be symbolizing his presence in the dinner. Gathering around the table also is symbolic on how Jesus Christ used to gather around the dinner table with his servants even during the last supper before he was betrayed by Peter.

Sitting around the table and setting aside a vacant seat indicate that the Christians have welcomed Jesus Christ into their family to come and share with them His birth which saved so many lives from perishing from the flames of hell (Petrelli & Light, 2014). When Christians in a family gather around the dinner table, it shows that they are the replica of the disciples of Jesus. When Jesus ascended to heaven, He commissioned the 12 disciples to move out and spread the Gospel to the entire world. He told them to turn Christians into his disciples. Gathering around the table with an empty seat also shows that the family is holding to the commissions that Jesus wanted them to be His disciples and that they were ready to celebrate the day with Him on the Dinner table.
The arrangement of the dinner table seating is done by the head of the family who in this case has to strongly uphold the principles of the Christian culture. At times when the religious leaders are invited to the celebration, they are given the responsibility of choosing the seating arrangement and designing the best place where he feels that Jesus Christ should best seat (Petrelli & Light, 2014). In this case, it is believed that he directly acts as the messenger of Christ. The arrangement is usually similar to that of the last supper where the head table, which is the middle seat, is left to symbolize the presence of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Christians around the world have set different rituals that are performed during the Christmas dinner. Each ceremony comes with its function and significance. The performance of each routine means cultural significant to the lifestyle of Christians around the globe. For instance, serving Turkey is a ritual that is used to instill the culture of sharing among Christians. The sharing character instilled is not for Christmas days but all days of the year. The primary purpose that the rituals perform is to show how Christians should live their lives as they stay in this world. Also, the routines are used to remind Christians of the powers and love of God towards his people. Therefore, Christmas dinners come with a lot of impacts especially in the development of a given culture among Christians.









References
Petrelli, D., & Light, A. (2014). Family Rituals and the Potential for Interaction Design. ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, 21(3), 1-29. doi:10.1145/2617571
Krech, S. (1991). The State Of Ethnohistory. Annual Review of Anthropology, 20(1), 345-375. doi:10.1146/annurev.anthro.20.1.345
Stein, R. (2014). Anthropology of religion, magic, and witchcraft. Place of publication not identified: Pearson.