Christmas 2018: Google celebrates festival with heart-warming doodle

Christmas is here! Google has rolled out a special doddle for the festival. Google has been posting their annual 'Happy Holidays' doodles from Sunday. The Google blog post read, "It's that festive time of year again! Sending along holiday cheer to you & your loved ones during this merry time. Happy Holidays!" Today’s doodle shows Santa taking their power nap before they are off to bring cheers and deliver the gifts. When you click on the cursor it will take you to 'Happy Holidays' page. On Monday, Christmas Eve, Google offered a day-two Santa-themed doodle with an illustration of Santa Claus dropping gifts down a chimney in a snowy suburban landscape. 

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Google has also launched a dedicated Santa Tracker application for Android and a Chrome browser extension. The application offers users 'surprises' throughout the month. It tracks Santa's scheduled travelling path worldwide and his exact location at the moment.

Earlier, the search engine launched the Santa Tracker. “The elves are back on the clock in the North Pole-and throughout the month of December, you can join the elves as they unlock a new project or game each day in preparation for Santa's annual journey around the world," announced Sandy Russell, Santa Launch Strategist in Google's blog. The website gives users information about different holiday traditions and gives them Javascript courses. It also allows users play number of games including skydiving, reindeer racing.

Christmas has become one of the biggest secular festivals to be celebrated all over the world. Not only do followers of Christianity take part in the celebrations, but non-Christians do the same. Celebrations start from Christmas Eve (December 24) and continue till Boxing Day (December 26). Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive.

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Jesus Christ was born in a stable in Bethlehem to Mother Mary and Saint Joseph. In 336 AD, Constantine the Great, a Christian Roman Emperor, declared that December 25 will be celebrated as Christmas to mark Christ’s birth. According to the Holy Bible, the virgin Mother Mary was engaged to Joseph when she miraculously conceived through the Holy Spirit. She was foretold about this by an angel of God, who further said she will name the child Jesus and he will be known as the Messiah or saviour. The shepherds were the first to see the newborn, following them, three kings from faraway lands, guided by the star of David, visited the baby and offered him precious gifts.