Christmas is the holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is considered one of the holiest of all Christian holidays. It is a time for generosity and gift giving, renewing ties with friends and family, and forgiveness. It is a legal holiday in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Because of its widespread popularity and legal holiday status, many non-Christians observe Christmas as a secular holiday.

The religious basis for Christmas comes from the Gospel of Mark, and the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament. According to the Gospels, Mary and Joseph were forced to travel to Joseph's ancestral home of Bethlehem to comply with a Roman census. While there, Mary gave birth to baby Jesus in a stable. Jesus' birth was announced to nearby shepherds by angels. A great star appeared in the sky over the stable where Jesus was born. Three wise men (sometimes referred to as Kings, or Magi) followed the star west to Bethlehem. They brought expensive gifts for the child.

The secular observation of Christmas revolves around a story told to children about Santa Claus. Santa Claus is a heavy, jolly, old fellow with a white beard, and red suit, who brings gifts to the house on Christmas Eve, after the children are asleep. Santa Claus also is known by the name Father Christmas, and Saint Nicholas. According to the tradition, each house decorates a Christmas tree, and the children hang empty stockings by the fireplace. Once they are asleep, Santa Claus will land on the roof in his magic sleigh, pulled by flying reindeer. Santa will magically climb down the chimney and leave Christmas presents under the Christmas tree. Small presents will also be placed in the stockings hung from the fireplace. On Christmas morning, the children open their presents. Needless to say, Christmas is one of the favorite holidays among children.

Preparation for Christmas starts weeks in advance. Some households decorate their houses extravagantly for the holidays. They decorate the house with strings of electric Christmas lights, Nativity scenes depicting the birth of Christ, statues of Santa Claus, and his reindeer. Windows are trimmed with decorations which can be seen from outside the house. The inside of the house is usually decorated with garland, poinsettias, and a Christmas tree. One Christmas past-time in the USA, is to visit various neighborhoods just to admire the elaborate Christmas decorations.

Christmas Day is a day for attending church services, exchanging gifts, visiting family and friends, and having a large holiday meal.

In the US and Canada, the religious Christmas season starts four weeks before Christmas with the first Sunday of Advent. The Christmas season ends with New Year's Day on January 1st. However, some observe the season until Epiphany on January 6th. Epiphany commemorates the visit of the three wise men with the Christ Child.

In the Orthodox religion, Christmas falls 13 days after the conventional December 25th date. Many Orthodox Christians will celebrate secular Christmas on December 25th, and celebrate the religious Christmas on January 7th.

In Mexico, the Christmas Season starts on December 16th with Las Posades, and Continues through Epiphany January 6th. Las Posades is the celebration of Mary and Joseph's search for lodging in Bethlehem. It is usually observed with various candlelight processions and Nativity pageants. Mexicans will typically exchange Christmas gifts on Epiphany in remembrance of the three wise men who brought gifts to the Christ Child.

The earliest record of a Christmas celebration was in Rome in 336 AD. December 25th was the day on which it was observed. Romans celebrated Christmas by decorating their houses with greenery, preparing holiday foods, singing, and gift giving. By 1100, Christmas became the most important religious holiday in Europe. Also popular, and observed close to Christmas, was the feast of Saint Nicholas, who was known for his gift giving. During the protestant Reformation in the 1500s, there was a movement to ban Christmas, since its celebration had so many pagan roots. During the 1600s, in England and its colonies in America, Christmas was outlawed, unsuccessfully. In the 1800s, Saint Nicholas became known as Santa Claus, trimming a Christmas tree became a popular custom, and the sending of Christmas cards became common.

Note: This holiday is one of Calendar Mine's over 500 built-in observances.

See Also

Holiday Catalogue

American (USA) Observances