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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}⏎
[[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 crib made of painted board by Francesco Landonio, 1750, Italy]]

'''Christmas''' (which means "[[Jesus|Christ]]'s [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]]"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.celebratingholidays.com/?page_id=996|title=History of the Name “Christmas”|website=Celebrating Holidays|language=en-US|accessdate=25 November 2017017-11-25}}</ref>) is a [[holiday]] that is celebrated on 25 December 25. It is 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. [[Christianity|Christians]] celebrate Christmas Day as the birthday of [[Jesus|Jesus of Nazareth]], a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating [[Christmas tree|Christmas trees]], attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for [[Santa Claus]] to arrive. Christmas Day has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

==  History ==

=== Winter celebrations ===
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.

In [[Scandinavia]], the [[Norse]] celebrated [[Yule]] from 21 December 21, the [[winter solstice]], through January. In recognition of the return of the Sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year.

(contracted; show full)

Also around the time of the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast honoring the children of Rome. In addition, members of the upper classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on 
25 December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra’s birthday was the most sacred day of the year.

=== The start of Christmas ===
In the early years of Christianity, [[Easter]] was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date for his birth (a fact [[Puritans]] later pointed out in order to deny the legitimacy of the celebration). Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), [[Pope Julius I]] chose 25 December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to [[Egypt]] by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread all the way to Scandinavia. Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or (contracted; show full)

In the 4th century, in a Greek village that is now part of Turkey, there was a good man who would secretly given presents to the poor to help them. He became a bishop and is called Saint Nicholas. Over the centuries, he became a very popular saint and lots of churches were named after him. He was very popular in places where there were lots of sailors. One of those places was the Netherlands. In the Netherlands and many other European countries, presents are given on the feast of Saint Nicholas,
 6 December 6th. Traditionally, the presents are not big, and are sometimes hidden, or have a funny joke or poem that must be read. In many towns of Europe a man dressed in bishop's robes comes on a horse or in a boat, acting as St. Nicholas. His name was often shortened to Sante Claus, or Santa Claus in English.

[[File:Reyes Magos en centro comercial.jpg|thumb|250px|In Spain it is the Three Wise Men who bring gifts to children.]]
In English speaking countries, where presents are usually given on Christmas Day, not 6 December 6th, Santa Claus, (or Father Christmas) is usually thought of as coming on the night of Christmas Eve, when his magic sleigh is pulled across the sky by reindeer, and he comes into houses through the chimney (or the front door). While in Europe, children put out their shoes for St. Nicholas, the English tradition is to hang up stockings (or long socks) in front of the fireplace. Santa Claus would traditionally fill the socks or shoes with nuts, raisins, chocolates and an orange. Nowadays children usually get much more expensive presents, have their stockings filled with candy and/or small toys, and have the presents in a big pile under the Christmas tree.

Another Christmas tradition is the sending of Christmas cards to friends and relatives. These contain warm greetings and may also have a letter telling all the things that have happened to the person or family during the year.

== Related pages ==
* [[Christianity]] 
* [[Advent]] 
* [[Epiphany (holiday)]] 
* [[Carnival]]
* [[Easter]] 
* [[Pentecost]] 
* [[Holiday]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Other websites ==
{{wiktionary|Christmas}}
{{wikiquote}}
{{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]]