Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. While December 25 is not generally considered to be the actual date of Christ's birth, that is the date Christmas Day is celebrated. Christmas Eve is the preceding day, December 24.

In Germany and some other countries, Christmas celebrations commence on the evening of the 24th.

During the Christmas season, people traditionally exchange gifts and decorate their homes with holly, mistletoe, and Christmas trees. The word Christmas comes from Cristes maesse, an early English phrase that means Mass of Christ.