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.
Many of the popular celebratory customs associated in various countries with Christmas have pre-Christian or secular themes and origins.Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving and the hanging of Christmas stockings,Christmas music and caroling,an exchange of Christmas cards,church celebrations,a special meal and various deserts,and the display of various decorations,including Christmas trees,Christmas lights,garlands and wreaths,mistletoe,nativity scenes,Advent calendars and candles,and holly.In addition,several closely related and often interchangeable figures,known variously as Santa Claus,Father Christmas,Saint Nicholas,and Kris Kringle,among other names,are associated with bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season and have their own body of traditions and lore.Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians,the holiday has become a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses.The economic impact of Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of the world.
A special Christmas family meal is traditionally an important part of the holiday's celebration,and the food that is served varies greatly from country to country.Some regions,such as Sicily,have special meals for Christmas Eve,when 12 kinds of fish are served.In England and countries influenced by its traditions,a standard Christmas meal includes turkey or goose,meat,gravy,potatoes,vegetables,sometimes bread and cider.Special desserts are also prepared,such as Christmas pudding,mince pies and fruit cake.
Christmas cards are illustrated messages of greeting exchanged between friends and family members during the weeks preceding Christmas Day.The traditional greeting reads "wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year",much like that of the first commercial Christmas card,produced by Sir Henry Cole in London in 1843.The custom of sending them has become popular among a wide cross-section of people with the emergence of the modern trend towards exchanging E-cards.