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[[File:8452 - Milano - S. Marco - Londonio - Presepe (ca 1750) - Foto G. Dall'Orto - 14-Apr-2007.jpg|thumb|300px|''The Adoration of the Shepherds'' from a Ccrib made of painted board by Francesco Landonio, 1750, Italy]]

'''Christmas''' (which means "First day of Christ") is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. 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. December 25–Christmas Day–has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

== Origin of the name ==
The word "Christmas" comes from the [[Old English]] phrase "''Cristes maesse''," which later changed to the [[Middle English]] word "''Christemasse''." Literally, the word means "''Christ's Mass''" in today's English, but for the name of the holiday, this phrase was shortened to the present name "Christmas."⏎
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==  An ancient celebration ==
The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.

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[[Nativity scene]]s can be large with life-sized statues, or they can be tiny enough to fit in a matchbox. They are made of many different things including carved and painted wood, brightly coloured ceramics (pottery), painted paper glued to boards, and mixtures of material with clay, wood, cloth, straw and metal used for different parts.
[[File:Advent wreath.jpg|thumb|left|An Advent wreath 
onduring the Second Sunday inof Advent, as shown by the lighting of two candles.<!---Leave capitals--->]]

The [[Advent]] wreath is a circle of leaves, usually pine boughs, ivy and holly, with 4 (or sometimes 5) candles in it which is hung up in a church. The candles are lit on each Sunday in Advent, and the central candle is lit on Christmas morning. Churches are often decked with green branches and leaves, and many churches also have a Christmas tree.

==== Carols only by candlelight ====
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{{Commons|Christmas}}
* {{dmoz|Society/Holidays/Christmas/|Christmas}}
* {{en icon}} {{fr icon}} & ([[Occitan language|Occitan]]) [http://mtcn.free.fr/mtcn-traditional-music-midi-christmas-carol.php Traditional Christmas carols from County of Nice, France]
* [http://mytrendexpert.com/2016/10/07/hottest-2016-christmas-toys/ Christmas & Ideas For Your Children]{{U.S. Holidays}}


[[Category:Christmas]]