Christmas

Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. 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 or the winter solstice. Christmas is central to the Christmas and holiday season, and in Christianity marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days. Although nominally a Christian holiday, Christmas is widely celebrated by many non-Christians, and many of its popular celebratory customs have pre-Christian or secular themes and origins. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, an exchange of greeting cards, church celebrations, and the display of various decorations; including the Christmas tree, lights, mistletoe, nativity scenes, and holly. In addition, Father Christmas (known as Santa Claus in North America and Ireland) is a popular mythological figure often associated with bringing gifts for children on Christmas Eve, and is usually incorporated into the celebrations of families with young children.
Because gift-giving and several other aspects of Christmas involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, the holiday has become a major event for many retailers and businesses within the past few centuries.