Wikipedia
Christmas
Christmas () or Christmas Day is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth., Merriam-Webster. Retrieved October 6, 2008."," MSN Encarta. Retrieved October 6, 2008. 2009-10-31."CathChrit">, The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913. The date of commemoration is not known to be Jesus actual birthday, and may have initially been chosen to correspond with either a historical Roman festival"SolInvictus">"", EncartaRoll, Susan K., Toward the Origins of Christmas, (Peeters Publishers, 1995), p.130.Tighe, William J., "". 2009-10-31. or the winter solstice."Newton">Newton, Isaac, (1733). Ch. XI.A sun connection is possible because Christians consider Jesus to be the "sun of righteousness" prophesied in Malachi 4:2. Christmas Day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days."CRI-Christmastide">
Modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, church celebrations, the exchange of cards, and the display of various decorations—including the Christmas tree, lights, mistletoe, nativity scenes, and holly. Santa Claus (also referred to as Father Christmas, although the two figures have different origins) is a popular mythological figure often associated with bringing gifts at Christmas for children. Santa is generally believed to be the result of a syncretization between Saint Nicholas and elements from pagan Nordic and Christian mythology, and his modern appearance is believed to have originated in 19th century media.
Christmas is celebrated throughout the Christian population, but has also recently come to be celebrated by many non-Christians as a secular, cultural festival. Because gift-giving and several other aspects of the holiday involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, Christmas has become a major event for many retailers.
Etymology
The word Christmas originated as a compound meaning "Christs Mass". It is derived from the Mid read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas