Christmas, Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus. December 25 has become widely accepted as the date of Jesus’ birth.
Yes, it is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday; and a worldwide cultural; and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia; people around the world have been observing it with traditions; and practices that are both religious; and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth; a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts; decorating Christmas trees, attending church; sharing meals with family and friends; and of course; waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. December 25—Christmas Day—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.
The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year; most cattle were slaughtered; so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many; it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition; most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.
In Germany, people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Oden; as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.
Small Space Christmas Trees 2025: Creative Solutions for Cozy Homes My first Christmas in the city, I stood in my 400-square-foot studio and cried. There was no corner for a tree, no space for the traditions I loved. Then I looked at my blank wall and saw possibility, not limitation. That year, I created my … Read more
Best Places to Hang Christmas Stockings 2025: Creative & Safe Ideas I’ll never forget the Christmas Eve I woke to find our stockings scattered across the floor, their contents spilling out like early Christmas disappointment. The adhesive hooks I’d used couldn’t handle the weight of Santa’s generosity. That morning, as I carefully rehung the stockings … Read more
Choosing Christmas Designs Pillow Covers 2025: Style & Comfort Guide The first Christmas after I moved across the country, I unpacked my grandmother’s handmade Christmas pillow in my empty apartment. Its familiar stitching and faded fabric instantly made the unfamiliar space feel like home. That pillow taught me that the right Christmas designs pillow covers do more … Read more
Pine Cone Christmas Tree Ideas 2025: Natural & Sustainable Designs The first pine cone Christmas tree I ever made was born from necessity. It was my first Christmas living alone, miles from family, with a budget that couldn’t stretch to a fresh tree. I gathered pine cones from the park near my apartment, feeling both … Read more
Christmas Wreaths for Dining Chairs 2025: Elegant & Festive Christmas Designs Ideas The year my grandmother hosted twenty-three people for Christmas dinner, she secretly worried her mismatched chairs would spoil the celebration. Two days before Christmas, I watched her transform each chair with simple evergreen wreaths tied with red velvet ribbon. When guests arrived, nobody … Read more
Cozy Christmas Kitchen Decor 2025: Warm & Welcoming Holiday Ideas The first Christmas after my grandmother passed, I found myself standing in her kitchen, trying to recreate her famous sugar cookies. The room felt empty without her holiday touches—the cinnamon-scented candles, the vintage Santa cookie jar, the checkered towels hanging by the sink. As I … Read more
Best Christmas Curtains 2025: Style & Function Tips Guide The year we moved into our first house, I hung cheap red polyester Christmas curtains that turned our living room into a dark cave and faded to pink by New Year’s. My grandmother visited, felt the fabric, and gently said, “Honey, windows are the eyes of … Read more
Amazing Christmas Napkins Folding 2025: Elegant & Easy Ideas Guide The first time I saw my grandmother fold a Christmas napkin into a three-dimensional tree, I was seven years old and utterly mesmerized. With a few precise folds, she transformed a simple square of fabric into holiday magic. “The table,” she told me, “is where … Read more
Christmas Nail Designs for Long Nails 2025: Colors & Art Ideas The first Christmas I did my grandmother’s nails, she was eighty-two and her hands told stories of decades of holiday baking, gift-wrapping, and hand-holding around the Christmas tree. As I painted her long, elegant nails with deep crimson polish, she said, “Beautiful nails aren’t … Read more
Christmas Nail Designs for Short Nails 2025: Pretty & Practical Ideas The first time I did holiday nails for my mother, a nurse with nails kept short for her work, she sighed, “I guess I can’t have pretty Christmas nails.” I looked at her practical, well-kept hands and saw not limitation, but opportunity. That day, … Read more