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.

The precise year of Jesus' birth, which some historians place between 7 and 2 BC, is unknown. By the early-to-mid 4th century, Western Christianity had placed Christmas on December 25, a date later adopted in the East. The date of Christmas may have initially been chosen to correspond with the day exactly nine months after the Annunciation, the date Christians believe Jesus to have been conceived, as well as the date of the Roman winter solstice, which Christians consider to be the "Sun of righteousness" prophesied in Malachi 4:2.

The original date of the celebration in Eastern Christianity was January 6, in connection with Epiphany, and that is still the date of the celebration for the Armenian Apostolic Church and in Armenia, where it is a public holiday. As of 2012, there is a difference of 13 days between the modern Gregorian calendar and the older Julian calendar. Those who continue to use the Julian calendar or its equivalents thus celebrate December 25 and January 6 on what for the majority of the world is January 7 and January 19. For this reason, Ethiopia, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, the Republic of Macedonia, and the Republic of Moldova celebrate Christmas on what in the Gregorian calendar is January 7; all the Greek Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on December 25.

The popular celebratory customs associated in various countries with Christmas have a mix of pre-Christian, Christian and secular themes and origins. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift giving, Christmas music and caroling, an exchange of Christmas cards, church celebrations, a special meal, and the display of various Christmas decorations, including Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly. In addition, several closely related and often interchangeable figures, known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas and Christkind, 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.

Proper noun

Christmas (plural Christmases)

1. A widely celebrated festival commemorating the nativity of Jesus Christ, incorporating various Christian, pre-Christian and secular customs.

   Do you celebrate Christmas?

2. A personification of Christmas.

Noun

Christmas (plural Christmases)

1. Christmas Day, the day it is celebrated, 25 December, an English quarter day.

   This Christmas we'll open presents then go to grandma's for dinner.

2. Christmastide, the Twelve Days of Christmas, the season (traditionally from the 24th of December to the 6th of January) around the holiday.
3. (US, retailing) The period from the Friday following Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve, busy with shopping and preparations for Christmas.

   The last three Christmases have been good for retailers.

4. (marketing, retailing) Christmas season, the end of the year period, busy with shopping and preparations for Christmas.

   The Christmas shoppers spent less this December, than last year, but our store will probably see just as many returned items during the twelve days of Christmas.

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• Christmas Cards@ (20)
• Decorations (192)
• Music@ (8)
• Santa Dolls@ (16)

• Santa Letters@ (46)
• Stockings (20)
• Trees (36)
• Wreaths (65)

See also:

• Business: Consumer Goods and Services: Holidays: Christmas (60)
• Home: Entertaining: Holidays: Christmas (6)
• Kids: People and Society: Holidays and Special Days: Christmas (82)
• Society: Holidays: Christmas (316)
• Society: Organizations: Nonprofit Resources: Fundraising: Wholesale Products: Christmas and Collectibles (9)
• Society: Religion and Spirituality: Christianity: Calendar: Christmas (44)

• Santa's Quarters
  santasquarters.com
  New Orleans shop with retail and online sales of items including artificial Christmas trees, wreaths, ornaments, nativity scenes, and yard decorations.
• Santa Claus House
  santaclaushouse.com
  A selection of Christmas themed gifts, decor, clothing and various merchandise.
• Christmas Time at Fillingham
  christmastimeuk.com
  UK based store with worldwide shipping, offering a variety of Christmas trees, lights, decorations, toys and accessories. Includes newsletter.