Christmas
Also called	Christ's Mass Nativity Incarnation Yule Tide Noel Winter Pascha
Observed by	Christians around the world as well as many non-Christians
Type	Christian, cultural
Significance	Nativity of Jesus
Date	December 25 in Western Christianity and some Eastern Orthodox Churches December 24 in some countries January 6 in the Armenian Apostolic Church January 7 in most Eastern Orthodox Churches. The Incarnation is the belief in Christianity that Jesus Christ is the God of Israel in the flesh Yule is a winter festival historically celebrated primarily in northern Europe but now celebrated in many other countries in various forms Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings For depictions in painting and sculpture see Nativity of Jesus in art. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian Western Christianity is a term used to cover the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, the Churches of the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Church The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King The Armenian Apostolic Church (Հայաստանեայց Առաքելական Եկեղեցի Hayasdaneaytz Arakelagan Events 1325 - Alfonso IV becomes King of Portugal. 1558 - France takes Calais, the last continental The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world
Observances	Religious services, gift giving, family meetings, decorating trees
Related to	Annunciation, Incarnation, Advent, Epiphany, Baptism of the Lord, Winter solstice

Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. In Christianity the Annunciation ( grc Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου, Evangelismós tēs Theotókou in Greek) is the revelation The Incarnation is the belief in Christianity that Jesus Christ is the God of Israel in the flesh Advent (from the Latin word la ''adventus'' meaning "coming" is a season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of The Baptism of the Lord (or the Baptism of Christ) is the name of a Feast day commemorating the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by The winter solstice occurs at the instant when the Sun 's position in the sky is at its greatest angular distance on the other side of the equatorial plane from the Lists of holidays The words holiday or vacation have related meanings in different English-speaking countries and continents but will usually refer to one of Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) It refers both to the day celebrating the birth, as well as to the season which that day inaugurates, which concludes with the Feast of the Epiphany. Christmastide (also Christmas or the Christmas season) is one of the seasons of the Liturgical year of most Christian churches Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of The date of the celebration is traditional, and is not considered to be his actual date of birth. Birthday is the name given to the date of the anniversary of a person's birth Christmas festivities often combine the commemoration of Jesus' birth with various cultural customs, many of which have been influenced by earlier winter festivals. For depictions in painting and sculpture see Nativity of Jesus in art. This is an incomplete list of festivals and holidays that take place during the Winter in the Northern hemisphere, especially those commemorating the season. Although nominally a Christian holiday, it is also observed as a cultural holiday by many non-Christians. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings

In most places around the world, Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25. Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian Christmas Eve is the preceding day, December 24. Christmas Eve, December 24, is the day before Christmas Day, the celebrated birthday of Jesus. Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes In the United Kingdom and many countries of the Commonwealth, Boxing Day is the following day, December 26. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Boxing Day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, as well as many other members of the Commonwealth Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. In Catholic countries, Saint Stephen's Day or the Feast of St. Stephen is December 26. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. The Armenian Apostolic Church observes Christmas on January 6. The Armenian Apostolic Church (Հայաստանեայց Առաքելական Եկեղեցի Hayasdaneaytz Arakelagan Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Eastern Orthodox Churches that still use the Julian Calendar celebrate Christmas on the Julian version of 25 December, which is January 7 on the more widely used Gregorian calendar, because the two calendars are now 13 days apart. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world The Julian calendar, a reform of the Roman calendar, was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC and came into force in 45 BC (709 Ab urbe condita Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian Events 1325 - Alfonso IV becomes King of Portugal. 1558 - France takes Calais, the last continental The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used Calendar in the world today

The word Christmas originated as a contraction of "Christ's mass". Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038, compounded from Old English derivatives of the Greek christos and the Latin missa. Middle English is the name given by Historical linguistics to the diverse forms of the English language spoken between the Norman invasion of ^[1] In early Greek versions of the New Testament, the letter Χ (chi), is the first letter of Christ. The Ancient Greek language is the historical stage in the development of the Hellenic language family spanning the Archaic (c Chi ( Uppercase Χ, Lowercase χ; Χι He is the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet, pronounced as in English Since the mid-16th century Χ, or the similar Roman letter X, was used as an abbreviation for Christ. X is the twenty-fourth letter in the modern Latin alphabet. Its name in English is spelled ex or occasionally ecks (ɛks plural exes ^[2] Hence, Xmas is often used as an abbreviation for Christmas. " Xmas " and " X-mas " are common abbreviations of the word " Christmas "

After the conversion of Anglo-Saxon Britain in the very early 7th century, Christmas was referred to as geol,^[1] the name of the pre-Christian winter festival from which the current English word 'Yule' is derived. For their language see Anglo-Saxon language. Anglo-Saxon is the term usually used to describe the invading Tribes in the south Yule is a winter festival historically celebrated primarily in northern Europe but now celebrated in many other countries in various forms ^[3]

The prominence of Christmas Day increased gradually after Charlemagne was crowned on Christmas Day in 800. Charlemagne (ˈʃɑrlɨmeɪn Carolus Magnus or Karolus Magnus meaning Charles the Great) (747 – 28 January 814 was King of the Franks from 768 to his Around the 12th century, the remnants of the former Saturnalian traditions of the Romans were transferred to the Twelve Days of Christmas (25 December – 5 January). Saturnalia is the feast with which the Romans commemorated the dedication of the temple of the god Saturn Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC The Twelve Days of Christmas, and the associated evenings of those twelve days (Twelve-tide are the festive days beginning the evening of Christmas Day ( December 25 Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France. Christmas during the Middle Ages was a public festival, incorporating ivy, holly, and other evergreens, as well as gift-giving.

Modern traditions have come to include the display of Nativity scenes, Holly and Christmas trees, the exchange of gifts and cards, and the arrival of Father Christmas or Santa Claus on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. A nativity scene may be used to describe any depiction of the Nativity of Jesus in art, but in the sense covered here also called a crib or manger in the Holly ( Ilex) is a Genus of about 600 Species of Flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only A Christmas tree, Yule tree, holiday tree or Tannenbaum (fir tree is one of the most popular Traditions associated with the celebration giFT Internet File Transfer ( giFT) is a computer software daemon that allows several File sharing protocols to be used with a simple client having a A Christmas card is a Greeting card sent as part of the traditional celebration of Christmas in order to convey between people a range of sentiments related to Father Christmas is a name used in many English speaking countries for the gift-bringing figure of Christmas. Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply " Santa " is the Popular Christmas themes include the promotion of goodwill and peace.

The Nativity

German painting, 1457

The Nativity of Jesus refers to the Christian belief that the Messiah was born to the Virgin Mary. For depictions in painting and sculpture see Nativity of Jesus in art. This article is about the concept of a Messiah in religion notably in the Christian Islamic and Jewish traditions The story of Christmas is based on the biblical accounts given in the Gospel of Matthew, namely Matthew 1:18-Matthew 2:12 and the Gospel of Luke, specifically Luke 1:26-Luke 2:40. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin The Gospel of Matthew (Gk Κατά Ματθαίον Ευαγγέλιον is one of the four Canonical gospels in the New Testament and is a Synoptic gospel The Gospel of Luke (Gk Κατά Λουκάν Ευαγγέλιον) is a synoptic Gospel, and is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels of the According to these accounts, Jesus was born to Mary, assisted by her husband Joseph, in the city of Bethlehem. Joseph "of the House of David " ( Hebrew יוֹסֵף also known as Saint Joseph, Joseph the Betrothed, Joseph of Nazareth Bethlehem ( بيت لحم,, lit "House of Meat" Βηθλεέμ Bethleém בית לחם Beit Lehem, lit "House of Bread" is a According to popular tradition, the birth took place in a "stable", surrounded by farm animals, though neither the “stable” nor the animals are mentioned in the Biblical accounts. However, a "manger" is mentioned in Luke 2:7 where it states "She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. " Early iconographic representations of the nativity confirm that the stable and manger were located within a cave (which still exists under the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem) [1]. Shepherds from the fields surrounding Bethlehem were told of the birth by an angel, and were the first to see the child. An angel is a Spiritual Supernatural being found in many Religions Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition ^[4] Christians believe that the birth of Jesus fulfilled many prophecies made hundreds of years before his birth.

Remembering or re-creating the Nativity is a central way that Christians celebrate Christmas. There is a very long tradition of the Nativity of Jesus in art. The Nativity of Jesus has been a major subject of Christian art since the 4th century The Eastern Orthodox Church practices the Nativity Fast in anticipation of the birth of Jesus, while much of the Western Church celebrates Advent. The Nativity Fast, is a period abstinence and penance practiced by the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches, in preparation Western Christianity is a term used to cover the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, the Churches of the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran Church Advent (from the Latin word la ''adventus'' meaning "coming" is a season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the In some Christian denominations, children perform plays re-telling the events of the Nativity, or sing carols that reference the event. List of Christian denominations (or Denominations self-identified as Christian) ordered by historical and doctrinal relationships Some Christians also display a small re-creation of the Nativity, known as a Nativity scene, in their homes, using figurines to portray the key characters of the event. A nativity scene may be used to describe any depiction of the Nativity of Jesus in art, but in the sense covered here also called a crib or manger in the Live Nativity scenes, and tableaux vivants are also performed, using actors and live animals to portray the event with more realism. Tableau vivant (plural tableaux vivants) is French for "living picture ^[5]

Nativity scenes traditionally include the Three Wise Men, Balthazar, Melchior, and Caspar, although their names and number are not referred to in the Biblical narrative, who are said to have followed a star, known as the Star of Bethlehem, found Jesus, and presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. "Three Kings" or "Three Wise Men" redirects here See also Star of Bethlehem (plant. The Star of Bethlehem, also called the Christmas Star, is a star in Christian tradition Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 Frankincense or olibanum ( Arabic language: لبٌان, lubbān) is an aromatic Resin obtained from trees of the genus Myrrh is a reddish-brown Resinous material the dried sap of the tree Commiphora myrrha, native to Yemen, Somalia ^[6]

In the U. S. , Christmas decorations at public buildings once commonly included Nativity scenes. In Architecture, Construction, Engineering and real estate development the word building may refer to one of the following Any man-made This practice has led to many lawsuits, as groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union believe it amounts to the government endorsing a religion, which is prohibited by the United States Constitution. The American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU) consists of two separate Non-profit organizations the ACLU Foundation a 501(c(3 organization which focuses The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme Law of the United States. In 1984, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Lynch vs. The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary. Donnelly that a Christmas display (which included a Nativity scene) owned and displayed by the city of Pawtucket, Rhode Island did not violate the First Amendment. Pawtucket (pronounced Pa-TUCK-et is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. ^[7]

History

Pre-Christian origins

Main article: List of winter festivals

A winter festival was traditionally the most popular festival of the year in many cultures. This is an incomplete list of festivals and holidays that take place during the Winter in the Northern hemisphere, especially those commemorating the season. Reasons included less agricultural work needing to be done during the winter, as well as people expecting longer days and shorter nights after the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. The winter solstice occurs at the instant when the Sun 's position in the sky is at its greatest angular distance on the other side of the equatorial plane from the Northern Hemisphere is the half of a Planet that is North of the Equator —the word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' ^[8] In part, the Christmas celebration was created by the early Church in order to entice pagan Romans to convert to Christianity without losing their own winter celebrations. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings ^[9][8] Certain prominent gods and goddesses of other religions in the region had their birthdays celebrated on December 25, including Ishtar, Babylonian goddess of fertility, love, and war, Sol Invictus and Mithras. Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian Ishtar ( D IŠTAR 𒀭𒌋𒁯 is the Assyrian and Babylonian counterpart to the Sumerian Inanna and to Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun" or more fully Deus Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun God" was the late Roman state Sun god. The Mithraic Mysteries or Mysteries of Mithras (also Mithraism) was a Roman mystery religion which became popular among the military in the late Various traditions are considered to have been syncretised from winter festivals including the following:

Natalis Solis Invicti

Main article: Sol Invictus

Mosaic of Jesus Christ depicted as Sol (the Sun god) in Mausoleum M in the pre-fourth-century necropolis under St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Syncretism consists of the attempt to reconcile disparate or contradictory beliefs often while melding practices of various schools of thought Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun" or more fully Deus Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun God" was the late Roman state Sun god. The Basilica of Saint Peter (Basilica Sancti Petri officially known in Italian as the Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano and commonly known as St Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 It is named Christo Sole (Christ the Sun) and is dated to the late 3rd century by the Italian archaeologists. ^[10]

The Romans held a festival on December 25 called Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, "the birthday of the undefeated sun. Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun" or more fully Deus Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun God" was the late Roman state Sun god. " The use of the title Sol Invictus allowed several solar deities to be worshipped collectively, including Elah-Gabal, a Syrian sun god; Sol, the god of Emperor Aurelian (AD 270–274); and Mithras, a soldiers' god of Persian origin. Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun" or more fully Deus Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun God" was the late Roman state Sun god. "Sun god" redirects here For the Ramsey Lewis album see Sun Goddess (album. Eli (Hebrew אל is the Northwest Semitic word and name either translated into English as "god" or "God" or left untranslated as Eli, depending Lucius Domitius Aurelianus ( September 9, 214 or 215 &ndashSeptember or October 275 known in English as Aurelian, Roman Emperor (270&ndash275 The Mithraic Mysteries or Mysteries of Mithras (also Mithraism) was a Roman mystery religion which became popular among the military in the late By Persian Mythology is meant the myths and sacred narratives of the culturally and linguistically related group of ancient peoples who inhabited the Iranian Plateau ^[11] Emperor Elagabalus (218–222) introduced the festival, and it reached the height of its popularity under Aurelian, who promoted it as an empire-wide holiday. Elagabalus (c 203 &ndash March 11 222) also known as Heliogabalus or Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, was a Roman Emperor of the ^[12]

December 25 was also considered to be the date of the winter solstice, which the Romans called bruma. The winter solstice occurs at the instant when the Sun 's position in the sky is at its greatest angular distance on the other side of the equatorial plane from the ^[13] It was therefore the day the Sun proved itself to be "unconquered" despite the shortening of daylight hours. (When Julius Caesar introduced the Julian Calendar in 45 BC, December 25 was approximately the date of the solstice. The Julian calendar, a reform of the Roman calendar, was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC and came into force in 45 BC (709 Ab urbe condita Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian In modern times, the solstice falls on December 21 or 22. ) The Sol Invictus festival has a "strong claim on the responsibility" for the date of Christmas, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia. ^[1] Several early Christian writers connected the rebirth of the sun to the birth of Jesus^[14] "O, how wonderfully acted Providence that on that day on which that Sun was born . . . Christ should be born", Cyprian wrote. This page is about Cyprian bishop of Carthage For other Cyprians see Cyprian (disambiguation. ^[1]

Yule

Main article: Yule

Pagan Scandinavia celebrated a winter festival called Yule, held in the late December to early January period. Yule is a winter festival historically celebrated primarily in northern Europe but now celebrated in many other countries in various forms Germanic paganism refers to the religious beliefs of the Germanic peoples preceding Christianization. Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well Yule logs were lit to honor Thor, the god of thunder, with the belief that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year. A Yule log, sometimes known as the Great Ashen Faggot, is a large log which is burned in the hearth as a part of traditional Yule or Christmas Thor ( Old Norse: Þórr) is the red-haired and bearded God of Thunder in Germanic paganism and its subset Norse paganism Feasting would continue until the log burned out, which could take as many as twelve days. ^[8] In pagan Germania (not to be confused with Germany), the equivalent holiday was the mid-winter night which was followed by 12 "wild nights", filled with eating, drinking and partying. Germania was the Latin Exonym for Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The winter solstice occurs at the instant when the Sun 's position in the sky is at its greatest angular distance on the other side of the equatorial plane from the ^[15] As Northern Europe was the last part to Christianize, its pagan celebrations had a major influence on Christmas. Northern Europe is a term for the northern part of Europe. The United Nations defines Northern Europe as (Finland Scandinavians still call Christmas Jul. In English, the Germanic word Yule is synonymous with Christmas,^[16] a usage first recorded in 900.

Christian origins

Origen, a father of the Christian church, argued against the celebration of birthdays, including the birth of Christ. Origen ( Greek: Ōrigénēs, or Origen Adamantius, ca 185–ca Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed "

It is unknown exactly when or why December 25 became associated with Christ's birth. Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian The New Testament does not give a specific date. ^[17] Sextus Julius Africanus popularized the idea that Christ was born on December 25 in his Chronographiai, a reference book for Christians written in AD 221. Sextus Julius Africanus was a Christian traveller and Historian of the early 3rd century AD This article is about a kind of publication Reference work may also refer to the work that librarians perform at a Library reference desk. ^[14] This date is nine months after the traditional date of the Incarnation (March 25), now celebrated as the Feast of the Annunciation. The Incarnation is the belief in Christianity that Jesus Christ is the God of Israel in the flesh Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6. In Christianity the Annunciation ( grc Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου, Evangelismós tēs Theotókou in Greek) is the revelation March 25 was considered to be the date of the vernal equinox and early Christians believed this was also the date Christ was crucified. Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6. An equinox is the event of the Sun passing over the Earth's equator in its annual cycle Crucifixion (from Latin crucifixio, noun of process crucifixio, from perfect passive participle crucifixus, fixed to a cross from The Christian idea that Christ was conceived on the same date that he died on the cross is consistent with a Jewish belief that a prophet lived an integral number of years. ^[18]

The celebration of Christmas as a feast did not arise for some time after Chronographai was published. Tertullian does not mention it as a major feast day in the Church of Roman Africa. Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, Anglicised as Tertullian, (ca The Calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a Liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more Saints In the History of Christianity, the African Rite refers to a now defunct Catholic, Western liturgical Rite, and is considered a development or In 245, the theologian Origen denounced the idea of celebrating Christ's birthday "as if he were a king pharaoh". Origen ( Greek: Ōrigénēs, or Origen Adamantius, ca 185–ca Pharaoh is the title given in modern parlance to the ancient Egyptian kings of all periods He contended that only sinners, not saints, celebrated their birthdays. Sin is a term used mainly in a religious context to describe an act that violates a moral Rule, or the state of having committed such a violation A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity ^[19]

The earliest reference to the celebration of the nativity on December 25 is found in the Chronography of 354, an illuminated manuscript compiled in Rome in 354. The Chronography of 354, also known as the Calendar of 354, was a 4th century Illuminated manuscript, which was produced in 354 AD for a wealthy Roman Christian An illuminated manuscript is a Manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration such as decorated Initials borders and ^[1][20] In the East, early Christians celebrated the birth of Christ as part of Epiphany (January 6), although this festival focused on the baptism of Jesus. Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of In the Synoptic gospels, Jesus is baptised by John the Baptist. ^[21]

Christmas was promoted in the Christian East as part of the revival of Catholicism following the death of the pro-Arian Emperor Valens at the Battle of Adrianople in 378. As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described Arianism is the theological teaching of Arius (c AD 250-336 who was ruled a heretic by the Christian church at the Council of Nicea. This article is about the Roman Emperor For other people called Valens see Valens Flavius Julius Valens ( Latin: DOMINVS The second Battle of Adrianople ( August 9 378) sometimes known as the Battle of Hadrianopolis, was fought between a Roman army led by the The feast was introduced to Constantinople in 379, and to Antioch in about 380. Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS Antioch on the Orontes (Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Δάφνῃ Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Ὀρόντου or Ἀντιόχεια ἡ Μεγάλη Antiochia ad Orontem also The feast disappeared after Gregory of Nazianzus resigned as bishop in 381, although it was reintroduced by John Chrysostom in about 400. Gregory of Nazianzus (329 – January 25 389) (also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen) was a 4th-century Archbishop A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight This article refers to the Christian saint For other uses of the name see Chrysostomos. ^[1]

The Twelve Days of Christmas are the twelve days from the day after Christmas Day, December 26, which is St. Stephen's Day, to the Feast of Epiphany on January 6 that encompass the major feasts surrounding the birth of Christ. The Twelve Days of Christmas, and the associated evenings of those twelve days (Twelve-tide are the festive days beginning the evening of Christmas Day ( December 25 St Stephen's Day, or the Feast of St Stephen, is a Christian Saint's day celebrated on 26 December in the Western Church and Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King In the Latin Rite, one week after Christmas Day, January 1, has traditionally been the celebration the Feast of the Naming and Circumcision of Christ, but since Vatican II, this feast has been celebrated as the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC The Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord is a Christian celebration of the Circumcision of Jesus, eight days (according to the Semitic and southern European The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, was the twentieth century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church.

In some traditions the 12 days of Christmas start on Christmas Day (25 December) and the 12th day is therefore 5 January.

Middle Ages

Adoration of the Magi by Don Lorenzo Monaco (1422). "Three Kings" or "Three Wise Men" redirects here Lorenzo Monaco (born Piero di Giovanni c 1370-1425 was a Florentine painter.

In the Early Middle Ages, Christmas Day was overshadowed by Epiphany, which in the west focused on the visit of the magi. The Early Middle Ages is a period in the History of Europe following the fall of the Western Roman Empire spanning roughly five centuries from AD 500 "Three Kings" or "Three Wise Men" redirects here But the Medieval calendar was dominated by Christmas-related holidays. The forty days before Christmas became the "forty days of St. Martin" (which began on November 11, the feast of St. Martin of Tours), now known as Advent. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Saint Martin of Tours (Martinus (316/317 Savaria, Pannonia &ndash November 8, 317, Candes, Gaul; buried November Advent (from the Latin word la ''adventus'' meaning "coming" is a season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the ^[22] In Italy, former Saturnalian traditions were attached to Advent. ^[22] Around the 12th century, these traditions transferred again to the Twelve Days of Christmas (December 26 – January 6); a time that appears in the liturgical calendars as Christmastide or Twelve Holy Days. The Twelve Days of Christmas, and the associated evenings of those twelve days (Twelve-tide are the festive days beginning the evening of Christmas Day ( December 25 Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Christmastide (also Christmas or the Christmas season) is one of the seasons of the Liturgical year of most Christian churches Twelve Holy Days is the Holy period from December 26th to January 6th in the Esoteric and Astrological interpretation of the Christmas season ^[22] The prominence of Christmas Day increased gradually after Charlemagne was crowned Emperor on Christmas Day in 800, and King Edmund the Martyr was anointed on that day in 855. Charlemagne (ˈʃɑrlɨmeɪn Carolus Magnus or Karolus Magnus meaning Charles the Great) (747 – 28 January 814 was King of the Franks from 768 to his For the 13th century Archbishop see St Edmund of Abingdon. Edmund the Martyr (841&ndash 20 November 869) was a King William I of England was crowned on Christmas Day 1066. William I of England ( 1027 His reign which brought Norman culture to England had an enormous impact on the subsequent course of England in the Middle Ages Christmas during the Middle Ages remained a public festival, incorporating ivy, holly, and other evergreens, as well as gift-giving. Hedera (English name ivy, plural ivies) is a genus of 15 species of climbing or ground-creeping Evergreen woody plants in the family Holly ( Ilex) is a Genus of about 600 Species of Flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only ^[23] Christmas gift-giving during the Middle Ages was practiced more often between people with legal relationships (i. e. tenant and landlord) than between close friends and relatives. ^[23] By the High Middle Ages, the holiday had become so prominent that chroniclers routinely noted where various magnates celebrated Christmas. The High Middle Ages was the period of European history in the 11th 12th and 13th centuries (AD 1000&ndash1299 King Richard II of England hosted a Christmas feast in 1377 at which twenty-eight oxen and three hundred sheep were eaten. Richard II (6 January 1367 &ndash ca 14 February 1400 was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399 ^[22] The Yule boar was a common feature of medieval Christmas feasts. Caroling also became popular, and was originally a group of dancers who sang. A Christmas carol (also called a Noël) is a carol ( Song or Hymn) whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas, or the winter The group was composed of a lead singer and a ring of dancers that provided the chorus. Various writers of the time condemned caroling as lewd, indicating that the unruly traditions of Saturnalia and Yule may have continued in this form. ^[22] "Misrule" — drunkenness, promiscuity, gambling — was also an important aspect of the festival. In England, gifts were exchanged on New Year's Day, and there was special Christmas ale. New Year's Day is the first day of the Year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome (though ^[22]

Excerpt from Josiah King's The Examination and Trial of Father Christmas (1686), published shortly after Christmas was reinstated as a holy day in England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland

From the Reformation into the 1800s

During the Reformation, some Protestants condemned Christmas celebration as "trappings of popery" and the "rags of the Beast". The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and The Roman Catholic Church responded by promoting the festival in a more religiously oriented form. Following the Parliamentary victory over King Charles I during the English Civil War, England's Puritan rulers banned Christmas, in 1647. Charles I, (19 November 1600 &ndash 30 January 1649 was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution. The English Civil War (1642-1651 was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. A Puritan of 16th and 17th century England was an associate of any number of religious groups advocating for more "purity" of Worship and Doctrine, Pro-Christmas rioting broke out in several cities, and for several weeks Canterbury was controlled by the rioters, who decorated doorways with holly and shouted royalist slogans. Canterbury ( ˈkæntəbɹ̩i is a City in eastern Kent in the South East region of England. ^[24] The Restoration of Charles II in 1660 ended the ban, but many of the clergy still disapproved of Christmas celebrations. The English Restoration, or simply The Restoration began in 1660 when the English monarchy, Scottish monarchy and Irish monarchy were restored

In Colonial America, the Puritans of New England disapproved of Christmas; its celebration was outlawed in Boston from 1659 to 1681. The term colonial history of the United States refers to the history of the land that would become the United States from the start of European settlement to the time of independence Pilgrims, or Pilgrim Fathers (or Pilgrim Mothers) is a name commonly applied to the early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the At the same time, Christian residents of Virginia and New York observed the holiday freely. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Christmas fell out of favor in the United States after the American Revolution, when it was considered an English custom. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" ^[25] Indeed, one of the American Revolutionaries' greatest successes was perpetuated by attacking Hessian mercenary troops on Christmas in the Battle of Trenton. Background In the time before the battle American morale was low By the 1820s, sectarian tension in England had eased and British writers began to worry that Christmas was dying out, in particular the writer William Winstanley played a crucial role in popularising the festival again. Sectarianism is Bigotry, Discrimination, Prejudice or Hatred arising from attaching importance to perceived differences between subdivisions William Winstanley (died 1698 known as "The Man Who Saved Christmas" was an English Poet and compiler of biographies They imagined Tudor Christmas as a time of heartfelt celebration, and efforts were made to revive the holiday. Social and economic revolution Following the Black Death Plagues and the agricultural depression of the late 14th century population growth Charles Dickens's book A Christmas Carol, published in 1843, played a major role in reinventing Christmas as a holiday emphasizing family, goodwill, and compassion over communal celebration and hedonistic excess. A Christmas Carol in Prose Being a Ghost Story of Christmas (commonly known as A Christmas Carol) is a Novella by Charles Dickens Family denotes a group of People affiliated by consanguinity affinity or co-residence ^[26] Interest in Christmas in America was revived in the 1820s by several short stories by Washington Irving appearing in his The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon and "Old Christmas", and by Clement Clarke Moore's (or, possibly, by Henry Beekman Livingston) 1822 poem A Visit From St. Nicholas (popularly known by its first line: Twas the Night Before Christmas). The short story is a literary genre of Fictional Prose Narrative that tends to be more concise and to the point than longer works of fiction such Washington Irving (April 3 1783 – November 28 1859 was an American Author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon Gent, commonly referred to as The Sketch Book, is a collection of 34 essays and short stories written by Washington Clement Clarke Moore ( July 15, 1779 – July 10, 1863) is the credited author of A Visit from St Major Henry Beekman Livingston ( October 13, 1748 –) was born into a prominent family in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Irving's stories depicted harmonious warm-hearted holiday traditions he claimed to have observed in England. Although some argue that Irving invented the traditions he describes, they were widely imitated by his American readers. ^[27] The poem A Visit from Saint Nicholas popularized the tradition of exchanging gifts and seasonal Christmas shopping began to assume economic importance. ^[28] In her 1850 book "The First Christmas in New England", Harriet Beecher Stowe includes a character who complains that the true meaning of Christmas was lost in a shopping spree. Harriet Beecher Stowe (June 14 1811 – July 1 1896 was an American Author and Abolitionist, whose Novel Uncle Tom's Cabin ^[29] Christmas was declared a United States Federal holiday in 1870, signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant. In the United States, a federal holiday is a Holiday recognized by the United States Government. Ulysses S Grant, born Hiram Ulysses Grant (April 27 1822 &ndash July 23 1885 was an American general and the eighteenth President of the United States

Santa Claus and other bringers of gifts

Santa Claus hands out gifts during the US Civil War in Thomas Nast's first Santa Claus cartoon, Harper's Weekly, 1863. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South Thomas Nast ( September 27, 1840 – December 7, 1902) was a famous German-American Caricaturist and Editorial cartoonist The word cartoon has various meanings based on several very different forms of Visual art and Illustration. Harper's Weekly ( A Journal of Civilization) was an American political Magazine based in New York City.

Main article: Santa Claus

Originating from Western culture, where the holiday is characterized by the exchange of gifts among friends and family members, some of the gifts are attributed to a character called Santa Claus (also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas or St. Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply " Santa " is the Western culture (sometimes equated with Western Civilization) are terms which are used to refer to Cultures of European origin Lists of holidays The words holiday or vacation have related meanings in different English-speaking countries and continents but will usually refer to one of giFT Internet File Transfer ( giFT) is a computer software daemon that allows several File sharing protocols to be used with a simple client having a Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply " Santa " is the Father Christmas is a name used in many English speaking countries for the gift-bringing figure of Christmas. Saint Nicholas (Άγιος Νικόλαος, Agios Nikolaos, "victory of the people" is the common name for Nicholas of Myra, a Christian Saint Nikolaus, Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle, Père Noël, Joulupukki,Babbo Natale, Weihnachtsmann, Saint Basil and Father Frost). Sinterklaas (also called Sint-Nicolaas in Dutch Nikolaas2ogg}} and Saint Nicolas in French is a traditional holiday figure in the Netherlands, Joulupukki is the Finnish name for Santa Claus or Father Christmas. Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply " Santa " is the Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great (c 330 – January 1, 379) (Άγιος Βασίλειος ο Μέγας Latin In the culture of the Eastern Slavs the traditional character Ded Moroz (Дед Мороз plays a role similar to that of Santa Claus.

The popular image of Santa Claus was created by the German-American cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840–1902), who drew a new image annually, beginning in 1863. Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply " Santa " is the German Americans ( German: Deutschamerikaner) are citizens of the United States of Ethnic German ancestry Thomas Nast ( September 27, 1840 – December 7, 1902) was a famous German-American Caricaturist and Editorial cartoonist By the 1880s, Nast's Santa had evolved into the form we now recognize. The image was standardized by advertisers in the 1920s. ^[30]

Father Christmas, who predates the Santa Claus character, was first recorded in the 15th century, but was associated with holiday merrymaking and drunkenness. is the seventh single by Japanese band Antic Cafe. The single is featured on the Shikisai Moment album Drunkenness or inebriation is the state of being intoxicated by consumption of Alcoholic beverages to a degree that mental and physical faculties are noticeably ^[31] In Victorian Britain, his image was remade to match that of Santa. Culture The Victorian fascination with novelty resulted in a deep interest in the relationship between modernity and cultural continuities The French Père Noël evolved along similar lines, eventually adopting the Santa image. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Père Noël is the French equivalent of the British Father Christmas and the American Santa Claus. In Italy, Babbo Natale acts as Santa Claus, while La Befana is the bringer of gifts and arrives on the eve of the Epiphany. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest La Befana is a character in Italian folklore, similar to Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus. Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of It is said that La Befana set out to bring the baby Jesus gifts, but got lost along the way. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) Now, she brings gifts to all children. CHILD syndrome (or congenital hemidysplasia with ichthyosiform erythroderma and limb defects) is a genetic disorder In some cultures Santa Claus is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht, or Black Peter. The Companions of Saint Nicholas (or Father Christmas) are a group of closely related figures who accompany St In the Folklore and Legends of the Netherlands and Flanders, Zwarte Piet ( (meaning Black Pete) is a companion of Saint Nicholas In other versions, elves make the toys. An elf is a creature of Norse mythology. The elves were originally imagined as a race of minor nature and fertility gods, who are often pictured as youthful-seeming This article is about playthings For other uses of the term see Toy (disambiguation. His wife is referred to as Mrs. Claus. Mrs Claus (also called Mother Christmas is the Mythical wife of Santa Claus.

The current tradition in several Latin American countries (such as Venezuela) holds that while Santa makes the toys, he then gives them to the Baby Jesus, who is the one who actually delivers them to the children's homes. The word tradition comes from the Latin traditionem acc of traditio which means "a giving up delivering up surrendering" and is used in a number of Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the This article is about playthings For other uses of the term see Toy (disambiguation. The Child Jesus, or Divine Infant, represents the infant Jesus until to the age of twelve This story is meant to be a reconciliation between traditional religious beliefs and modern day globalization, most notably the iconography of Santa Claus imported from the United States. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Globalization (or globalisation) in its literal sense is the process of transformation of local or regional phenomena into global ones Iconography is the branch of Art history which studies the identification description and the interpretation of the content of images The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Present, by John Leech. Ebenezer Scrooge is the Main character in Charles Dickens ' 1843 Novel, A Christmas Carol. Ghost of Christmas Present' is a character in one of the best-known works of the English novelist Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol John Leech (August 29 1817&ndashOctober 29 1864 in London was an English Caricaturist. Made for Charles Dickens's novel A Christmas Carol (1843). A novel (from Italian novella, Spanish novela, French nouvelle for "new" "news" or "short story A Christmas Carol in Prose Being a Ghost Story of Christmas (commonly known as A Christmas Carol) is a Novella by Charles Dickens

In Alto Adige/Südtirol (Italy), Austria, Czechia, Southern Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Slovakia and Switzerland, the Christkind (Ježíšek in Czech, Jézuska in Hungarian and Ježiško in Slovak) brings the presents. The Province of Bolzano-Bozen (Provincia autonoma di Bolzano Autonome Provinz Bozen Ladin: Provinzia Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich The Czech Republic ( ˈt͡ʃɛskaː ˈrɛpuˌblɪka short form in Česko ˈt͡ʃɛskɔ also called Czechia, Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic The Principality of Liechtenstein (Fürstentum Liechtenstein) is a tiny doubly landlocked Alpine country in Western Europe, bordered by Switzerland Slovakia (long form Slovak Republic; Slovak:, long form, is a Landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over five million Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation The Christkind ( German "Christ Child" pronounced /kristkint/ is the traditional Christmas giftbringer in regions of Austria, the Czech Ježíšek (the Child Jesus) is a Christmas gift-giving figure used in the Czech Republic. The German St. Nikolaus is not identical with the Weihnachtsman (who is the German version of Santa Claus). St. Nikolaus wears a bishop's dress and still brings small gifts (usually candies, nuts and fruits) on December 6 and is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht. A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev The Companions of Saint Nicholas (or Father Christmas) are a group of closely related figures who accompany St Although many parents around the world routinely teach their children about Santa Claus and other gift bringers, some have come to reject this practice, considering it deceptive. A parent is a Father or Mother; one who sires or gives "The world " is a proper noun for the planet Earth envisioned from an Anthropocentric or Human Worldview, as a place CHILD syndrome (or congenital hemidysplasia with ichthyosiform erythroderma and limb defects) is a genetic disorder Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply " Santa " is the ^[32]

Christmas tree and other decorations

Main article: Christmas tree

A toy bear christmas decoration. A Christmas tree, Yule tree, holiday tree or Tannenbaum (fir tree is one of the most popular Traditions associated with the celebration

The Christmas tree is often explained as a Christianization of pagan tradition and ritual surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of evergreen boughs,^[33] and an adaptation of pagan tree worship. Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller rustic" is a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world In Botany, an Evergreen plant is a plant having leaves all year round Tree worship refers to the tendency of many societies throughout history to worship or otherwise mythologize Trees. ^[34] The English language phrase "Christmas tree" is first recorded in 1835^[31] and represents an importation from the German language. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. The modern Christmas tree tradition is believed to have begun in Germany in the 18th century^[34] though many argue that Martin Luther began the tradition in the 16th century. Martin Luther (November 10 1483 February 18 1546 was a German Monk, theologian, university professor Father of Protestantism, and church reformer ^[35][36] From Germany the custom was introduced to England, first via Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, and then more successfully by Prince Albert during the reign of Queen Victoria. Queen Charlotte, (née Duchess Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; 19 May 1744 – 17 November 1818) was the George III (George William Frederick 4 June 1738 George III's long reign was marked by a series of military conflicts involving his kingdom much of the rest of Europe and places Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Around the same time, German immigrants introduced the custom into the United States. ^[37] Christmas trees may be decorated with lights and ornaments. Christmas lights (also sometimes called fairy lights, twinkle lights or holiday lights in the United States are strands of Electric lights used Christmas ornaments are Decorations (usually made of Glass, Metal, Wood or Ceramics that are used to festoon a Christmas

Dedek Mraz; The Slovenian version of Santa, Ded Moroz or Father Frost.

Since the 19th century, the poinsettia has been associated with Christmas. "Christmas Star" redirects here For the Christian tradition see Star of Bethlehem. Other popular holiday plants include holly, mistletoe, red amaryllis, and Christmas cactus. Holly ( Ilex) is a Genus of about 600 Species of Flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only Mistletoe is the common name for a group of hemi-parasitic Plants in the order Santalales that grow attached to and within the Amaryllis is a monotypic (only one species Genus of plant also known as the Belladonna Lily or naked ladies. The common holiday cacti ( Thanksgiving Cactus, Christmas Cactus, Easter Cactus) are composed of several closely related species in the genus Along with a Christmas tree, the interior of a home may be decorated with these plants, along with garlands and evergreen foliage. A garland is a decorative Wreath or cord used at festive occasions which can be hung round a person's neck or on inanimate objects like Christmas trees Originally In Botany, an Evergreen plant is a plant having leaves all year round

In Australia, North and South America, and to a lesser extent Europe, it is traditional to decorate the outside of houses with lights and sometimes with illuminated sleighs, snowmen, and other Christmas figures. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a A sled, sledge or sleigh is a Vehicle with runners for sliding instead of wheels for rolling A snowman is an Anthropomorphic snow sculpture History In Occidental cultures and the northern hemisphere, snowmen are considered Municipalities often sponsor decorations as well. Christmas banners may be hung from street lights and Christmas trees placed in the town square. A street light, lamppost, street lamp, light standard or lamp standard, is a raised source of Light on the edge of a Road ^[38]

In the Western world, rolls of brightly-colored paper with secular or religious Christmas motifs are manufactured for the purpose of wrapping gifts. The term Western world, the West or the Occident ( Latin: occidens -sunset -west as distinct from the Orient) can have multiple meanings The display of Christmas villages has also become a tradition in many homes during this season. For the seasonal attraction near Reading Pennsylvania see Koziar's Christmas Village. Other traditional decorations include bells, candles, candy canes, stockings, wreaths, and angels. A bell is a simple Sound -making device The bell is a Percussion instrument and an Idiophone. A candle is a Light source and sometimes a Heat source consisting of a solid block of Fuel and an embedded wick. A candy cane is a hard Cane -shaped Candy stick It is traditionally white with Red stripes and flavored with Peppermint (also known A stocking, sometimes referred to as hose is a close-fitting variously elastic garment covering the Foot and lower part of the Leg. A wreath is a ring made of Flowers leaves and sometimes Fruits that can be used as an ornament hanging on a wall or door or resting An angel is a Spiritual Supernatural being found in many Religions Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition

Christmas decorations are traditionally taken down on Twelfth Night, the evening of January 5. Twelfth Night is a holiday in some branches of Christianity marking the coming of the Epiphany, concluding the Twelve Days of Christmas, and Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France.

Christmas stamps

Christmas stamp 2000 from Faroe Island, featuring quote from John 1:14, designed by Anker Eli Petersen. The Faroe Islands or Faeroe Islands or simply Faroe(s or Faeroes (Føroyar meaning " Sheep Islands" Færøerne Old Norse The Gospel of John (literally According to John; Greek, Κατὰ Ἰωάννην Kata Iōannēn) is the fourth Gospel in the canon Anker Eli Petersen (born 7 June 1959) is a Tvøroyri, Faroe Islands -born writer and artist

Main article: Christmas stamp

A number of nations have issued commemorative stamps at Christmastime. Many nations of the world issue Christmas stamps, Postage stamps with a Christmas theme and intended for use on seasonal mail such as Christmas cards A commemorative stamp is a Postage stamp issued to honor or commemorate a place event or person Postal customers will often use these stamps for the mailing of Christmas cards, and they are popular with philatelists. A Christmas card is a Greeting card sent as part of the traditional celebration of Christmas in order to convey between people a range of sentiments related to Philately is the study and collecting of revenue and postage stamps These stamps are regular postage stamps, unlike Christmas seals, and are valid for postage year-round. A postage stamp is an adhesive paper evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal services Christmas Seals are Adhesive labels placed on Mail during the Christmas season to raise funds and awareness for Tuberculosis programs They usually go on sale some time between early October and early December, and are printed in considerable quantities.

In 1898 a Canadian stamp was issued to mark the inauguration of the Imperial Penny Postage rate. Year 1898 ( MDCCCXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The stamp features a map of the globe and bears an inscription "XMAS 1898" at the bottom. In 1937, Austria issued two "Christmas greeting stamps" featuring a rose and the signs of the zodiac. Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich A rose is a perennial flowering Shrub or vine of the Genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae, that contains over 100 species Zodiac denotes an annual cycle of twelve stations along the Ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun across the heavens through the Constellations that divide the ecliptic In 1939, Brazil issued four semi-postal stamps with designs featuring the three kings and a star of Bethlehem, an angel and child, the Southern Cross and a child, and a mother and child. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld A semi-postal stamp or semipostal stamp is a Postage stamp issued to raise money for some purpose (such as a charitable cause and thus sold over and above the "Three Kings" or "Three Wise Men" redirects here See also Star of Bethlehem (plant. The Star of Bethlehem, also called the Christmas Star, is a star in Christian tradition An angel is a Spiritual Supernatural being found in many Religions Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition CRUX is a lightweight I686 -optimized Linux distribution targeted at experienced Linux users

The US Postal Service regularly issues both a religious-themed and a secular-themed stamp each year.

Economics of Christmas

Christmas display in a Brazilian shopping mall.

Main article: Christmas in the media

Christmas is typically the largest annual economic stimulus for many nations. Christmas themes have long been an inspiration to artists writers and weavers of folklore Sales increase dramatically in almost all retail areas and shops introduce new products as people purchase gifts, decorations, and supplies. In the U. S. , the "Christmas shopping season" generally begins on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, though many American stores begin selling Christmas items as early as October. Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, where it is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season In the United States, Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day is an annual one-day legal holiday to express Gratitude for the things one has ^[39]

In most areas, Christmas Day is the least active day of the year for business and commerce; almost all retail, commercial and institutional businesses are closed, and almost all industries cease activity (more than any other day of the year). In England and Wales, the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 prevents all large shops from trading on Christmas Day. History The Roman occupation of Britain was the first period in which the area of present-day England and Wales was administered as a single unit (with the exception The Christmas Day (Trading Act 2004 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that prevents shops over 280 m²/3000 sq ft from Scotland is currently planning similar legislation. Film studios release many high-budget movies in the holiday season, including Christmas films, fantasy movies or high-tone dramas with high production values. A movie studio (aka film studio) is in the established sense of the term a company that distributes films. Fantasy is a Genre that uses magic and other Supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting

An economists analysis calculates that Christmas is a deadweight loss under orthodox microeconomic theory, due to the surge in gift-giving. An economist is an expert in the Social science of Economics. In Economics, a deadweight loss (also known as excess burden or allocative inefficiency) is a loss of economic efficiency that can occur when equilibrium Microeconomics is a branch of Economics that studies how individuals households and firms and some states make decisions to allocate limited resources typically in markets This loss is calculated as the difference between what the gift giver spent on the item and what the gift receiver would have paid for the item. It is estimated that in 2001 Christmas resulted in a $4 billion deadweight loss in the U. S. alone. ^[40][41] Because of complicating factors, this analysis is sometimes used to discuss possible flaws in current microeconomic theory. Other deadweight losses include the effects of Christmas on the environment and the fact that material gifts are often perceived as white elephants, imposing cost for upkeep and storage and contributing to clutter. A white elephant is a valuable possession which its owner cannot dispose of and whose cost (particularly cost of upkeep exceeds its usefulness ^[42]

Alternative names

There are several alternative terms for Christmas. Crimbo is a slang term which first appeared in print in 1928; the variant form Crimble was first used by John Lennon in a 1963 Beatles' Fan Club Christmas single. Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 Xmas is a long established abbreviation, though it is involved in the secularization of Christmas debate. " Xmas " and " X-mas " are common abbreviations of the word " Christmas " Christmas controversy refers to controversy or disagreement surrounding the celebration or acknowledgement of the Christmas Holiday in government media advertising Yule is used in Northern Europe. Yule is a winter festival historically celebrated primarily in northern Europe but now celebrated in many other countries in various forms In the USA, the term(s) "holiday" or "season" may be used, as addressed at Christmas controversy. Holiday greetings are a selection of Greetings that are often spoken with good intentions to strangers family friends or other people during the months of December and Christmas controversy refers to controversy or disagreement surrounding the celebration or acknowledgement of the Christmas Holiday in government media advertising

U. S. Christmas controversy

Main article: Christmas controversy

Throughout the 20th century, the United States experienced what became known as the Christmas controversies, despite it being declared a federal holiday on June 26, 1870 by then-U. Christmas controversy refers to controversy or disagreement surrounding the celebration or acknowledgement of the Christmas Holiday in government media advertising Christmas controversy refers to controversy or disagreement surrounding the celebration or acknowledgement of the Christmas Holiday in government media advertising S. President Ulysses S. Grant. The importance of the economic impact of the secular Christmas holiday was reinforced in the 1930s when President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed moving the Thanksgiving holiday date to extend the Christmas shopping season and boost the economy during the Great Depression. Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American Holiday, which is a form of harvest festival. ^[43] Religious leaders protested this move, with a New York Times roundup of Christmas sermons showing the most common theme as the dangers of an increasingly commercial Christmas. ^[44]

"Now it is Christmas again" (1907) by Carl Larsson.

Some considered the U. S. government's recognition of Christmas as a federal holiday to be a violation of the separation of church and state. Separation of church and state is a Political and Legal Doctrine that Government and religious institutions are to be kept separate This was brought to trial several times, recently including in Lynch v. Donnelly (1984)^[7] and Ganulin v. United States (1999). ^[45]

On December 6, 1999, the verdict for Ganulin v. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) United States (1999) declared that "the establishment of Christmas Day as a legal public holiday does not violate the Establishment Clause because it has a valid secular purpose. " This decision was upheld by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on December 19, 2000. Events 324 - Licinius abdicates his position as Roman Emperor. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ^[46] At the same time, many devout Christians objected to what they saw as the vulgarization and co-optation of one of their sacred observances by secular commercial society and calls to a return to "the true meaning of Christmas" are common.

Debates about Christmas in America continued into the 21st century. In 2005, some Christians, along with American political commentators such as Bill O'Reilly, protested what they perceived to be the secularization of Christmas. William James O'Reilly Jr (born September 10 1949 is an American television / radio host, Author, Syndicated columnist, and Christmas controversy refers to controversy or disagreement surrounding the celebration or acknowledgement of the Christmas Holiday in government media advertising They felt that the holiday was threatened by a general secular trend, or by persons and organizations with an anti-Christian agenda. Secularization or secularisation generally refers to the process of transformation by which a Society migrates from close identification with religious institutions The perceived trend was also blamed on political correctness. Political correctness (adjectivally politically correct; both forms commonly abbreviated to PC) is a term applied to Language, ideas policies or behavior ^[47]

Books

• Christmas in America: A History, by Penne L. Restad (New York: Oxford University Press, 1995). ISBN 0-19-509300-3
• The Battle for Christmas, by Stephen Nissenbaum (1996; New York: Vintage Books, 1997). ISBN 0-679-74038-4
• The Origins of Christmas, by Joseph F. Kelly (August 2004: Liturgical Press) ISBN 978-0814629840
• Christmas Customs and Traditions, by Clement A. Miles (1976: Dover Publications) ISBN 978-0486233543
• The World Encyclopedia of Christmas, by Gerry Bowler (October 2004: McClelland & Stewart) ISBN 978-0771015359
• Santa Claus: A Biography, by Gerry Bowler (November 2007: McClelland & Stewart) ISBN 978-0771016684
• There Really Is a Santa Claus: The History of St. Nicholas & Christmas Holiday Traditions, by William J. Federer (December 2002: Amerisearch) ISBN 978-0965355742
• St. Nicholas: A Closer Look at Christmas, by Jim Rosenthal (July 2006: Nelson Reference) ISBN 1418504076
• Just say Noel: A History of Christmas from the Nativity to the Nineties, by David Comfort (November 1995: Fireside) ISBN 978-0684800578
• 4000 Years of Christmas: A Gift from the Ages, by Earl W. Count (November 1997: Ulysses Press) ISBN 978-1569750872

See also

Christmas time

• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Sunday
• Christmas worldwide
• Christmastide
• Holiday season
• Little Christmas
• Midwinter Christmas
• Midwinter
• Twelve days of Christmas
• Yuletide

Christmas topics

• Category:Christmas
• Christmas template below
• Nativity of Jesus

References

External links

• Christmas at the Open Directory Project