subject: Christmas Day [print this page] Christmas or Christmas Day is a holiday celebrated annually on December 25, commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The date of celebration of Christmas is not known how the actual birthday of Jesus and may have been initially chosen to correspond with any historic Roman festival or the winter solstice. Christmas is the center of the holiday year and the holiday season, and, in Christianity, a landmark in the cycle of Christmas lasts twelve days.
Although it is traditionally a Christian holiday, Christmas is widely celebrated by many non-Christians, and some of its popular customs and commemorative issues have origins pre-Christian or secular. Modern folk customs typical of the holiday include the exchange of gifts and cards, Christmas music, church festivals, a special meal and the view of different decorations, including Christmas trees, blinking lights and garlands, mistletoe, nativity scenes and ilex. In addition, Santa Claus (known as Father Christmas in Portugal) is a mythological figure popular in many countries, associated with gifts for children.
As the exchange of gifts and many other aspects of the Christmas party involving an increased economic activity between Christians and non Christians, the party became a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact of Christmas is one factor that has grown steadily over the past centuries in many parts of the world.
