[48], Christmas does not appear on the lists of festivals given by the early Christian writers Irenaeus and Tertullian. [34] This abbreviation has precedent in Middle English Χρ̄es masse (where "Χρ̄" is an abbreviation for Χριστός). Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in countries around the world, including many whose populations are mostly non-Christian. [24] Most Christians celebrate on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar, which has been adopted almost universally in the civil calendars used in countries throughout the world. A special Christmas family meal is traditionally an important part of the holiday's celebration, and the food that is served varies greatly from country to country. The traditional greeting reads "wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year", much like that of the first commercial Christmas card, produced by Sir Henry Cole in London in 1843. [108][109] Its instant popularity played a major role in portraying Christmas as a holiday emphasizing family, goodwill, and compassion. King Richard II of England hosted a Christmas feast in 1377 at which twenty-eight oxen and three hundred sheep were eaten. Gift-giving, family and other social gatherings, symbolic decoration, feasting etc. [217] In December 2018, officials raided Christian churches just prior to Christmastide and coerced them to close; Christmas trees and Santa Clauses were also forcibly removed.[218][219]. [184] The German St. Nikolaus is not identical with the Weihnachtsmann (who is the German version of Santa Claus / Father Christmas). [71][72] This anonymous tract also states: "But Our Lord, too, is born in the month of December ... the eight before the calends of January [25 December] ..., But they call it the 'Birthday of the Unconquered'. [86] Charles Dickens and other writers helped in this revival of the holiday by "changing consciousness of Christmas and the way in which it was celebrated" as they emphasized family, religion, gift-giving, and social reconciliation as opposed to the historic revelry common in some places. [77] In the judgement of the Church of England Liturgical Commission, the History of Religions hypothesis has been challenged[78] by a view based on an old tradition, according to which the date of Christmas was fixed at nine months after March 25, the date of the vernal equinox, on which the Annunciation was celebrated. [169] It is common in many parts of the world for town squares and consumer shopping areas to sponsor and display decorations. dismissive of the festive spirit. [38] In Old English, Gēola (Yule) referred to the period corresponding to December and January, which was eventually equated with Christian Christmas. One economist's analysis calculates that, despite increased overall spending, Christmas is a deadweight loss under orthodox microeconomic theory, because of the effect of gift-giving. Christmas Day (inclusive of its vigil, Christmas Eve), is a Festival in the Lutheran Churches, a holy day of obligation in the Roman Catholic Church, and a Principal Feast of the Anglican Communion. [135], European History Professor Joseph Perry wrote that likewise, in Nazi Germany, "because Nazi ideologues saw organized religion as an enemy of the totalitarian state, propagandists sought to deemphasize—or eliminate altogether—the Christian aspects of the holiday" and that "Propagandists tirelessly promoted numerous Nazified Christmas songs, which replaced Christian themes with the regime's racial ideologies. Paul once addressed it in a letter to the Romans. 274) probably took place on the 'Birthday of the Invincible Sun' on December 25, the cult of the sun in pagan Rome ironically did not celebrate the winter solstice nor any of the other quarter-tense days, as one might expect. "The Chronography of 354 AD. Twenty-five percent of respondents said they had re-gifted their presents to someone else, 14% sold the items, 10% tried to return them to the store, and 5% returned the gift to the giver. Catholic Church thanks Government for 'lifeline' heritage fund, The Church should be wary of identifying too closely with any politician or party, Church launches £250,000 support scheme for UK nationals living in France, We can still worship God even if our church doors are locked, World's largest charity hospital ship to serve the people of Africa, The local church can protect vulnerable children by building resilience among poor communities, The healing power of listening to God's Word. Mikołaj, Gwiazdor, Aniołek, Dzieciątko czy może Dziadek Mróz? [82] Around the 12th century, these traditions transferred again to the Twelve Days of Christmas (December 25 – January 5); a time that appears in the liturgical calendars as Christmastide or Twelve Holy Days.[82]. All the major events of Christ's life, especially the passion, were celebrated on this date. [13] This leads to gifts often being returned, sold, or re-gifted. Christmas gifts are often exchanged on Christmas Day itself, December 25, or on the last day of the twelve-day Christmas season, Twelfth Night (January 5). Sales increase dramatically as people purchase gifts, decorations, and supplies to celebrate. He has been called the "father of the American Christmas card". On the topic of giving gifts on Christmas, for instance, or celebrating Christmas at all, no one has to refrain from the tradition if he or she doesn't want to as long as we celebrate it in the way Christ has regained it as a celebration. [3] Crīst (genitive Crīstes) is from Greek Khrīstos (Χριστός), a translation of Hebrew Māšîaḥ (מָשִׁיחַ), "Messiah", meaning "anointed";[30][31] and mæsse is from Latin missa, the celebration of the Eucharist. A further complication is added by the fact that the Armenian Apostolic Church continues the original ancient Eastern Christian practice of celebrating the birth of Christ not as a separate holiday, but on the same day as the celebration of his baptism (Theophany), which is on January 6.

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