Christmas Facts
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Christmas Date, Reason We Celebrate and More
Christmas Date (Day of Week Christmas Falls On):
Day of Week for Christmas Day in Any Year - Enter Year YYYY
Rule to Determine the Date of Christmas:
Christmas is always celebrated on December 25.
Federal Holiday Status
Christmas is a federal holiday in the United States. Learn more about federal holidays.
Reason We Celebrate Christmas:
To celebrate the birth of Christ.
More About Christmas (U.S):
- Although the official reason for the holiday is the birth of Christ, the holiday has transformed over the years into a time of gift giving and a time to rejoice in peace.
- We have taken many customs from different places around the world and mixed them together to form our modern celebration of Christmas. For example, we have taken the Christmas tree from Germany and gift giving from the Dutch tradition of leaving out wooden shoes for them to be filled with goodies from St. Nicholas.
- The legend of Santa Claus began with a Turkish man called St. Nicholas that lived in the 4th century. He was a Christian and was known for his generosity to children. (source: Jerry Wilson Wilstar.net)
- The modern version of Santa Claus came from a poem called "The Night Before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore that he wrote for his children. Moore's poem was originally published on December 23, 1823 in The Troy Sentinel when it was submitted by a friend of Moore's. The poem is still read by many families on Christmas Eve as the children prepare for Santa Claus' arrival.
Modern Observance of Christmas:
- Families decorate their homes with Christmas trees, lights and other decorations.
- People give gifts to loved ones.
- Families and friends get together over the Christmas season and exchange gifts and have meals together.
- Many families contribute to the needy as a way of showing their appreciation for everything they have.
- Attend a Christian Mass.