From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
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For other uses see Christmas and Christmas Day .
| Christmas |
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| Also called | Christs Mass
Nativity
Incarnation
Yule Tide
Noel
Xmas
Winter Pascha |
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| Observed by | Christians
Many non-Christians 1 |
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| Type | Christian cultural |
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| Significance | Nativity of Jesus |
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| Date | December 25
January 6
January 7
|
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| Observances | Religious services gift giving family meetings decorating trees |
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| Related to | Annunciation Incarnation Advent Epiphany Baptism of the Lord Winter solstice |
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Christmas also referred to as Christmas Day or Christmastide is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 2 that marks and honors the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. 3 4 5 His birth which is the basis for the Anno Domini system of dating has been determined by modern historians as having occurred between 7 and 2 BC. The date of celebration is not thought to be Jesus actual date of birth and may have been chosen to coincide with ancient Roman solar festivals that were held on December 25. 6
Modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving church celebrations and the display of various decorationsincluding the Christmas tree lights mistletoe nativity scenes and holly. Santa Claus is a popular mythological figure often associated with bringing gifts at Christmas. Santa is generally believed to be the result of a syncretization between St. Nicholas of Myra and elements from pagan Nordic and Christian mythology and his modern appearance is believed to have originated in 19th century media.
Christmas is celebrated throughout the Christian population but is also celebrated by many non-Christians as a secular cultural festival. The holiday is widely celebrated around the world including in the United States where it is celebrated by 96% of the population. 7 Because gift-giving and several other aspects of the holiday involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians Christmas has become a major event for many retailers.
