What is the defintion og religion

I am sitting in the Ganga hospital Coimbatore during Christamas Eve with my wife Mary in the hospital bed after a surgery. I am going back fifty years. At that time there was no Santa Clause and we called this day Piravi . We all friends including hindu friends will make pulkoode and make a big star with  china paper. At that time there was no current in my home. The candle we put in the star may some time will destroy the star. But