Knowra Christmas Christmas Christmas is an annual Christian feast on December 25 commemorating the birth of Jesus. It is also widely observed as a cultural holiday, with customs that vary across societies.
Nativity of Jesus : The Christian account of Jesus’s birth, chiefly told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The event Christmas commemorates, though the Gospels give no calendar date for it.
Christmas Eve : The evening or day before Christmas, marked by services and celebrations in many traditions. Many communities begin Christmas observances on the evening of December 24.
Saint Nicholas : A fourth-century Christian bishop of Myra venerated as a saint and associated with gift-giving traditions. Stories about his generosity helped shape later Christmas gift-bringer customs.
Easter : The principal Christian feast commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. Unlike Christmas, it commemorates the resurrection and falls on a movable date.
Christmas market : A seasonal outdoor market associated with Advent and Christmas, especially in central Europe. Markets made seasonal celebration a public civic and commercial event.
Chronography of 354 : A fourth-century Roman illustrated calendar that records December 25 as the birth of Christ. It provides one of the earliest surviving records of the date in Rome.
Christmas liturgy : Christian worship services and rites appointed for the celebration of Christmas. Its readings, prayers, and services express the feast’s religious meaning.
Francis of Assisi : A thirteenth-century Italian friar who founded the Franciscan order. A Christmas celebration associated with him helped popularize the Nativity scene tradition.
Hanukkah : An eight-day Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. It sometimes occurs near Christmas but belongs to a distinct religious tradition.
Christmas in popular culture : The representation of Christmas in entertainment, advertising, literature, and public media. Popular culture circulates shared images of Christmas beyond church communities.
Show all 26