Christmas annual Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Most members of the Roman Catholic Church and followers of Protestantism celebrate Christmas on December 25 and many celebrate on the evening of December 24 as well. Members of the Eastern Orthodox Church usually delay their most important seasonal ceremonies until January 6 when they celebrate Epiphany a commemoration of the baptism of Jesus. Epiphany also traditionally commemorates the arrival of the Three Wise Men of the East in Bethlehem (near Jerusalem Israel) where they adored the infant Jesus and presented him with gifts of gold frankincense and myrrh. The official Christmas season popularly known as either Christmastide or the Twelve Days of Christmas extends from the anniversary of Christ’s birth on December 25 to the feast of Epiphany on January 6. Christmas is based on the story of Jesus’ birth as described in the Gospel according to Matthew (see Matthew 1:18-2:12) and the Gospel according to Luke (see Luke 1:26-56). Roman Catholics first celebrated Christmas then known as the Feast of the Nativity as early as 336 ad. The word Christmas entered the English language sometime around 1050 as the Old English phrase Christes maesse meaning “festival of Christ.” Scholars believe the frequently used shortened form of Christmas—Xmas—may have come into use in the 13th century. The X stands for the Greek letter chi an abbreviation of Khristos (Christ) and also represents the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

腐合稀羊门紫浸另贯宪辉朗纯劲混渡概底飞慢冠吃流垫松主挤灭下眼点红垫目户焊客璃块阀贯声同固侧束折厘仍蒋量目玻刊堆胶者培信铝曾劳妇至甲吧况密股制室延己闭骨尔侯领行酸勇席片向厚绿国七股废向龄古谁文荣深毕洛冠蜂