Christmas is a sacred religious holiday and a global cultural event. Christians view it as the birth anniversary of Jesus of Nazareth, with traditions including gift exchange, tree decoration, church attendance, and waiting for Santa Claus.
How did Christmas start? The middle of winter is a time of celebration worldwide, dating back to early Europeans who celebrated light and birth during the darkest days of winter. Christmas is a Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus. It is a holiday rooted in pagan celebrations and the Christian faith.
When is Christmas celebrated? Every year, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th. It is unclear where the tradition of celebrating Jesus’ birthday on December 25 came from, but it has become widely accepted. One possibility is the Christianization of “dies solis invicti nati”, a Roman holiday celebrating the winter solstice.
What happens on Christmas? There are many Christmas traditions, such as decorating Christmas trees inside homes, getting together with friends and family, gift-giving, and leaving out milk and cookies for Santa Claus. In fact, much of the legend surrounding Santa Claus derives its roots from a real person, St. Nicholas. He was a monk from Turkey who gave away his wealth to help the poor and sick. No matter the traditions or family, Christmas is a time for everyone to celebrate with each other and make a lifetime of memories.
Sources:
https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas
