Top 10 best Christmas essays that explore the theme of Christmas.

Life would be dull and dark without the bright, hopeful wishes that we carry within us. The hope for a better future, a brighter tomorrow filled with wonderful new things, helps us stand stronger and more confidently on the path of life. Despite this year’s heavy shadow of the pandemic, which haunts like a dark ghost, spreading death and fear across the world, even reaching places once considered the peak of human civilization, I still pray that God blesses us all with peace and warmth, especially my dear friends. May this Christmas bring peace and a quick end to the pandemic. I long for the day when harmony returns.

The cold outside bites through the wind, making our hands and faces feel frozen. The scent of roasted corn fills the air on a warm fire, adding to the chilly yet beautiful Northern winter vibe. Though Vietnam has managed the pandemic well, Christmas and the New Year are still celebrated joyously with decorated Christmas trees shining with lights, colorful gifts under the trees, and the festive energy in large shopping centers and hotels. The holiday season is felt not just in churches but across communities, where Christmas is no longer just for Christians, but for everyone.

Whether or not we adhere to political or religious rules, all major religions aim to guide people towards truth, kindness, and beauty, focusing on mercy and redemption. Perhaps it is this pull towards goodness that draws people to their beliefs. The concept of right and wrong, gain and loss, is relative. Embracing culture selectively is the wisest choice, as one cannot calculate human emotions like simple math. When two people are in love, their hearts unite, creating something even greater—family, love, and life.

Acts of kindness, even if they involve personal sacrifice, bring peace to the mind and joy to others. In the end, living with a compassionate heart brings not only joy to others but also peace to ourselves.

Tuan Pham

The cold winter has passed, and December has arrived. The chilly Christmas Eve night drifts by in silence. In this town, there are no Catholics, so Christmas feels lonely. By nine o'clock, every house has closed its doors, and everyone is asleep. The cold makes it hard to forget the bitter chill outside. For ten years, she has never felt happiness on Christmas night. She tosses and turns, unable to sleep. Tonight, how many others are awake, just like her? For years, she has felt as though she were living alone, despite having a husband and children by her side. The night deepens, and her dream drifts. In her sleep, wildflowers grow in the heavenly garden, surrounding her. She dreams, losing track of time. In her dream, a delicate rose blooms by her bedside. She doesn’t know whose rose it is, but she’s sure it’s not from her husband. Someone, somehow, wishes to bring love to her.

She continues to dream. The dream of roses reminds her of the old days in her homeland. The phone rings urgently, breaking the dream. She wakes and answers in a rush, but silence follows on the other end. She listens closely to a long sigh. – Sorry, who is this? – A warm, familiar voice replies cautiously: Merry Christmas and may luck be with you. Do you still remember me?

She trembles as she hears the voice from the past. The talented artist who would come to her village every Christmas, spreading joy and light. The artist would gaze at the young women praying before the statue of the Virgin. She recalls those nights, filled with the sounds of the organ, the air thick with hymns. The young women, in their prayers, would ask for God’s blessing, praying for love to bloom. But her beloved artist could never remain. He followed the winds, wandering far away, never to return. The carol was left unfinished, the painting of her in the Garden of Eden remained incomplete. How could she forget when he had joined her in listening to the priest's sermons about the sacrament of love? Oh, love, a fleeting cycle in a human life. In those old days, amidst the desolate, empty world, only Adam was alone. Unable to bear it, he cried out the loneliness of his heart. God, in His mercy, took a rib from Adam and created Eve, making them husband and wife. Streams turned to rivers, rivers to seas. Love flourishes when two hearts meet. But fate cruelly led her to follow her husband instead.

The men of her hometown mourned the one who had moved on. Who could have known that one day the soldier carrying his backpack would return and find his lost love – the very same artist. Long ago, beside the chrysanthemums, he had waited for her. Long ago, during the Christmas Eve services, the music blending with the scent of citrus and jasmine. The Christmas carol echoed through the waves of the sea, louder than the light itself. He had carried her image in his heart, waiting to return. But his journey was not to find her love; it was a duty to his country. He could not bring the magical shoes or the pumpkin carriage. He had let her dream of fairy tales slip away. Yet, the paintings he made of the war-torn forest, the comrades who died for a peaceful Christmas by the sea, spoke of a different kind of sacrifice.

Perhaps, in His mercy, God heard her prayer and allowed her to hear that familiar voice again. Though late, her heart warmed on this Christmas night. By now, Santa Claus must be guiding his sleigh through the snow, spreading joy. She silently prays, asking for love to be shared with all. And the rose in her dream continues to perfume the air with its sweet fragrance.

Lê Hà Ngân

Christmas brings a gentle feeling of imbalance to the heart...

The sea is so blue today, the wind constantly blowing, stirring memories. I walk under the leaning coconut trees of Bai Truoc, hearing the waves crash against the rocks, idly watching the boats resting quietly in the sun after days of sailing far, while I think about life as winter sets in.

Winter isn’t just about the cold winds and bleak skies, nor the bare trees and empty benches on the lakeside streets shrouded in damp, chilly mist... These images have always lingered in my mind, even though I left Hanoi decades ago. Winter also brings the gentle beauty of white daisies walking through the streets with people, the bright yellow of mustard flowers by the river, and the warmth of evenings spent with friends around a fire, with the sound of a guitar playing in the background. Christmas is also a special gift of every winter.

Memories always take me back to the Christmases of my childhood in the Catholic neighborhood of Vinh, during the wartime evacuation. I’d go with my Catholic friends to church from dusk, kneeling beside other worshippers, hearing the rhythmic prayers in my ears. I couldn’t see God’s brilliant form as my friends promised, but only felt numb legs and overwhelming sleepiness. We’d leave the church at midnight, the cold wind cutting through, and I would stagger home, collapsing into my warm bed. The next morning, my younger brothers would tease me, their “silly” older sister, who always wanted to believe in the magical wonders of life (and would later learn the hard way the cost of such naive faith).

In Christmas 1976, as a freshman full of excitement for my first year of university, I went with a Catholic friend to St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi. Returning to the dorm on a cold Christmas night, I thought deeply about the image of the Christ child in the manger, and I felt a deep sympathy for Mary, the mother, who had to give birth in such a poor, cold, and lonely place... Christmas lost its mystical sparkle for me, even though there was still the anticipation of the holiday, the joyful reunions, and the love shared during the cold winter.

During one Christmas in Da Lat, I was surrounded by the chimes of the church, mixing with the rustling pine trees. The winding roads and the dim golden lights of the town every evening anchored me to this place. I felt a deep fondness for the quiet Da Lat of the 80s, and I longed for its flower-filled streets, the stillness of the lake in the heart of the city, and the church’s bell tower rising into the gray sky of winter. That’s why I always want to return to Da Lat whenever I can, to remember the warmth of the embrace and the gaze of the boy from the Catholic town who saw me off one misty morning. To me, Christmas became Da Lat; Christmas was the bittersweet longing for a highland city where I didn’t choose to spend my life.

I chose to live in a coastal city, with endless skies, strong winds, vast seas, and roads filled with the fragrance of frangipani flowers. Every Christmas, the streets are bustling with flowers, music, and bright lights, but the enchanting mystery that once filled my heart remains far away. On Christmas Eve, if I’m not meeting with friends, I often sit quietly in my home, listening to Christmas carols, letting my soul drift into memories. And strangely enough, I still feel a pang of sympathy for Mary, the sorrowful mother who gave birth to a great man.

Christmas comes, bringing joy to all. People wait for happiness, embrace it, and share love. When I see young couples holding hands, their eyes sparkling with love, I know that Christmas is a time to bring sweetness and beauty to life. I always tell my children and the younger generation: Enjoy these joyful days and hold onto each other tightly, even when the storms come! Because, more than anyone, I know that winter isn’t just about the joyful Christmas days...

Still, every year, the warm Christmas season returns, bringing faith and hope for a peaceful, happy life for all!

Nguyen Minh Nguyet

Like nature’s promise, every Christmas season arrives with a chill in the air. It’s a cold that awakens memories, gently seeping into us, slowing our pace and encouraging us to listen to the unspoken sounds, allowing us to better understand the value of a fresh and warm life. The chill of Christmas is an essential ingredient in the night when Christ was born…

Preparing for Christmas also means getting ready for the New Year and eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring. Suddenly, we feel the perfect chill that calls for a cozy coat—an outfit that adds elegance while protecting us from the dampness that makes our skin pale. The cold makes us yearn to gather closer, sharing warmth to lessen the distance between us. This cold often comes with drizzle, light as flour sifting, just enough to dampen our clothes and remind us that cold is not merely a state, but a presence, especially when the winds begin shifting toward spring.

The first cool breeze signals the approach of Christmas, closing one year filled with burdens and struggles, successes and failures, and opening the door to a new spring, full of hope and promise. Let us join the sweet melodies of Christmas and send our best wishes to those we love. How much sweeter and more memorable a Christmas night becomes when it’s cold, with the sound of bells echoing through the streets, lights sparkling in windows, and the warm aroma of coffee blending with soft music.

I remember fondly the Christmases of my youth, when I was a schoolgirl, carefree and full of joy. We celebrated until nearly midnight. The girls, still dressed in pristine white ao dai, gazed at the world with clear and innocent eyes. On every street, stores decorated with dazzling lights created a magical atmosphere. At the church, the nativity scene portraying the birth of Christ was bathed in sparkling lights, waiting for the sacred moment. I realized that on Christmas night, even in the cold, a warm desire to love and be loved ignites. Couples, hand in hand, wandered the streets, their embrace a symbol of passion and joy. I thought, a radiant smile makes everyone more beautiful, and in such a cold Christmas, we should make it warmer together. I know that with each passing Christmas and spring, my life shortens, but my memories stretch endlessly...

Winter, with its chilly winds, is the season for young hands to join together and move forward. So what if it's cold? Our hands clasp tightly, warming each other, comforting cold hearts and lonely souls. What if the wind blows? It sweeps the scarves and the long hair of girls, but loving hands adjust them with care. The breeze whispers that winter is ending, spring is near, and the season swiftly passes, bringing families together during the New Year holiday. What could be more delightful than passing warmth from one person to another, easing the chill, and spreading kindness amidst the biting wind?

When the sun begins to break through the chill and drizzle, my soul feels at peace. Goodbye to winter’s cold and dampness, welcoming the spring sunshine that warms the heart. Yet, I still love the cold and the light drizzle as the seasons change. It’s a season of welcoming Christ’s birth with warmth and hope, a time for the New Year filled with dreams. These seasons, with their fickle nature, won’t easily fade from my heart, but they will always lead me back to the warmth of a beautiful spring.

Ngô Văn Cư

Touching Christ to celebrate Christmas

Touching you to illuminate the Church

May divine grace be revealed

Noel opens the door to sweet love!

Every year, on December 24th, both the Catholic and Protestant communities hold Christmas celebrations, also known as Noel. During the chilly Christmas night, many years have seen drizzle on the sacred night of winter. On the night when Christ was born, the sound of church bells echoes, according to the beliefs of the faithful.

Christmas is a time for the faithful to express their love and reverence for their faith, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus Christ. It is also a time for repentance, seeking to do good and fulfill the Ten Commandments. It encourages people to follow the path of goodness, charity, and love as taught by Christ.

In recent years, Christmas has expanded beyond the religious community and become part of the wider society as a cultural tradition. It has become a time for people to express affection, gratitude, and appreciation for those who have contributed to businesses or companies. As such, many companies use Christmas as an opportunity to send gifts of thanks to customers. Santa Claus may even appear on vehicles, delivering gifts directly to homes or gathering at a central location to distribute practical and meaningful gifts to the children of employees.

This is also a way to motivate workers to stay committed and responsible towards their companies, creating more products and value. Such gestures are truly meaningful and humane.

Christmas is also the time to decorate churches, with the Christmas tree, also called the tree of resurrection, being an essential feature of the celebration. The tree is adorned with twinkling lights in many colors and Christmas cards hanging from its branches, creating a beautiful and meaningful display. The Christmas tree is a symbol of faith, the desire to rise above obstacles, chase away evil spirits, and bring prosperity and warmth to the faithful.

Having worked and settled in Tam Ky for 20 years, I feel like a devoted believer. Every Christmas, I attend church to join in the sacred and captivating carols. Although I’ve never been baptized, it doesn’t stop me from participating. The power of the carols is undeniable, and the choir, composed of devoted believers, sings beautifully and harmoniously. The song “Sad Christmas Carol” by composer Nguyễn Vũ, when sung, creates an almost mystical atmosphere:

“Do you still remember that Christmas carol?/ The Christmas we spent together/ The sky sparkled as your eyes and lips did/ Your white dress fluttered like an angel’s wings/ A kiss beneath the ringing bell tower…”

People often say that Christmas is a time for couples to express their love, using the occasion to make vows under the watchful eyes of God and the Virgin Mary, hoping to strengthen their bonds.

For me, Christmas, or Noel, is a season of longing for love, devotion, and blossoming relationships!

I always hope that, in the cold of winter, as Jesus is born in the warm manger, God’s grace will not only bring blessings to the faithful but to all people on Earth. May Christmas overflow with love, filling our hearts with warmth and renewing our faith in life!

Võ Văn Thọ

It’s clear that, “even if we stand still, the flow of life continues, and whether we want it or not, the days pass by.” Believe it, for winter has arrived. In this earthly world, when all creatures are basking under the scorching sun, the winter god arrives with its cold breath to erase the golden sunrays and replace them with the welcoming chill of winter. For days now, the weather has turned colder, and in the eyes of people, mist from the cold season lingers as they joyfully anticipate the peaceful arrival of Christmas. Children eagerly wait for the sound of sleigh bells and the image of an elderly man dressed in red, with arms full of gifts. Meanwhile, in the religious neighborhoods, nativity scenes are being built, with fake angels, green pine branches, and festive carols waiting for the day to come… Christmas is truly drawing near.

“Christmas arrives with peace/ A few white snowflakes sparkle on the old pine/ Sweet carols fill the air/ A warm sensation stirs within us”

(Christmas – Song Giang)

The year is drawing to a close, and in these final days, people will sense the coming of the end of the year, heralded by the return of Christmas. Peaceful and warm, Christmas comes once again, bringing joy to the people as they celebrate amidst the dazzling decorations. More importantly, Christ has returned to dwell in the hearts of those faithful to their beliefs.

In the days leading up to the Christmas Eve service, as the church bells prepare to ring, everyone—God’s children—are busy decorating, preparing the lights, the nativity scenes, and the Christmas trees in vibrant colors, rehearsing carols, all in anticipation of a peaceful and joyful Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Eve, people gather for mass, shoulder to shoulder. The Christmas tree hangs with sparkling golden bells, and in the church, the atmosphere is solemn, with candles flickering and radiating a warm glow. The priest and the choir prepare in silence for the holy service. The air on this festive day is lively and magnificent, with the churches hosting a “banquet of colors” that is both grand and splendid. The nativity scenes are beautifully set, and the bells ring out from the church, echoing through the streets, their sounds drifting into homes full of twinkling lights. The bells chime with every drop, resonating in the calm, peaceful air, while the carols hum and prayers for eternal life and peace are whispered softly in the distance.

Looking at the city from afar, it radiates a magical, ethereal glow that stretches across the vast space. The city looks beautiful at night with its Christmas lights, filling the air with warmth and happiness. Right outside the homes of the faithful, the Christmas trees shine brightly, and the shopping centers are alive with music and Christmas hymns.

In the cool winter air, the stars, the beads of snow, and the colorful lights create a strangely warm feeling, and the carols add a special warmth to the heart.

It’s no wonder people eagerly await the arrival of Christmas. It’s not just for the sparkling lights or any other reason, but perhaps when standing before the church, when the image of God shines brightly in their hearts, when the bells ring and angels raise their voices to announce the Savior’s birth, in that moment they truly understand the meaning of Christmas. And when the season passes, they eagerly await its return. “In the longing anticipation of Christmas, the season of hope, even in the saddest song, people will still believe that although Christmas is passing, it will joyfully return, if they have faith…”

“Glory to God in the highest/ And peace on Earth to those of good will”

(Glory Be)

The service ends, but the baubles, bells, and old carols will forever return every December, colorful and full of life, ringing beautifully and resplendently. “Just a few more days until the year ends, let the warmth and joy flow freely, believe, for tonight the bells are ringing, praying for all, and the love filling the air will be enough to bless everyone with the gift of this winter night…”

Quách Cẩm Lợi

In mid-December, the atmosphere preparing for Christmas is bustling throughout the streets of Hanoi. In the chilling winter breeze of the North, colorful lights and decorations illuminate every corner, sparking joy in the hearts of passersby. It’s strange how, every time the Christmas carols play, memories of past Christmases come rushing back to my mind.

My parents' house is located on Ton Duc Thang street, near the Hang Bot Church. Every Christmas, the church lights up with brilliant decorations.

When I was a child, my brother and I were often taken to the church by our parents on Christmas Eve. The church would be crowded, full of excitement and joy. My brother and I would eagerly admire the nativity scene with the infant Jesus lying in the manger, surrounded by miniature depictions of mountains, rivers, trees, and sheep, all so lifelike. Later, my parents would take us for a walk around the neighborhood and buy us some simple toys. The happiness of spending Christmas Eve with my parents and brother stayed with me throughout the years.

In Hanoi, as Christmas approaches, Christmas trees are set up outside churches, entertainment centers, and shopping malls. It’s not just the children who eagerly await Christmas, but even adults enjoy the festive atmosphere. During this time, Christmas gifts and toys fill the streets for sale.

During these days, children often write letters to Santa Claus, requesting gifts. Some ask not only for themselves but also for their siblings or friends. I was especially touched by the letter from Tuyet Mai, the daughter of a colleague. She didn’t just ask for gifts like other children but also sent her best wishes to Santa. Yes, we often ask for so much, but sometimes we forget to show gratitude and send our good wishes to Santa.

Some of my friends celebrate Christmas in a very special way. Every year, they quietly leave the bustling city to spend Christmas with children, elderly people, and the homeless in distant places. Whether it’s a warm jacket, a small meal, or a free medical check-up, these simple acts are enough to bring warmth and happiness to both the giver and receiver during the Christmas season.

If you are in Hanoi during Christmas, you shouldn’t miss visiting some of the famous churches. St. Joseph’s Cathedral is one of the oldest churches in Hanoi, and every year, people flock there before Christmas to enjoy the view. The Cua Bac Church, built between 1931 and 1932 in the Cua Bac area of Thang Long, is one of the most beautiful churches in Hanoi. Visitors can admire the church’s vibrant decorations and the beautifully recreated nativity scene of the birth of Jesus, which brings a sense of peace to all who visit. The Ham Long Church stands out for its elegant design, shining brightly in the glow of Christmas lights. The trees in front of the church are adorned with twinkling lights, attracting everyone’s gaze as they pass by in the evening.

This year, Hanoi’s Christmas celebrations take on a different hue due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. People are still excited for Christmas, but celebrations are more intimate, with safety measures in place. We hope for a peaceful and joyful Christmas season for everyone!

Vy Anh