Christmas or Christmas Day (Old English: Crīstesmæsse,
literally "Christ's mass") is an annual
commemoration of the birth of Jesus
Christ, celebrated generally on December 25 as a religious and cultural holiday by billions of people around the world.
A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it closes the Advent
season and initiates the twelve days of Christmastide. Christmas is a civil holiday in many of the world's nations,
is celebrated by an increasing number of non-Christians, and is an integral
part of the Christmas and holiday season.
The Christmas season is celebrated in different ways around the
world, varying by country and region. Elements common to many areas of the
world include the lighting of Christmas trees, the hanging of wreaths,
Christmas stockings, candy canes, and/or the creation of Nativity scenes depicting the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas carols may be sung and stories told about such
figures as the Baby Jesus, St Nicholas, Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Christianly or Grandfather Frost.
The sending of Christmas cards, the exchange of Christmastime greetings,
observance of fasting and/or special religious observances such as a
midnight Mass or Vespers on Christmas Eve, the burning of a Yule log, and the giving and receiving of presents.
Along with Easter,
Christmas time is one of the most important periods on the Christian calendar,
and is often closely connected to other holidays at this time of year, such as Advent,
the Feast of the Immaculate
Conception, St. Nicholas Day, St. Stephen's Day, New Year's, and the Feast of the Epiphany.
