Christmas Day, celebrated on December 25, commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ in the Christian tradition. It is one of the most widely observed public holidays in the world.
The earliest known celebration of Christmas on December 25 dates back to AD 336 in Rome. The date was chosen partly to overlay the Roman pagan festival of Sol Invictus. Over centuries, Christmas merged Christian theology with regional folk customs — Saint Nicholas in the Netherlands, Father Christmas in England, La Befana in Italy — eventually evolving into the Santa Claus figure widely recognized today. Charles Dickens' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol cemented many of the modern Western traditions around family, charity, and feasting.
Common worldwide traditions include decorating an evergreen Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, hanging stockings, attending a midnight church service, and gathering with family for a large meal. In many Catholic countries, Christmas Eve (Nochebuena, La Vigilia) is the main celebration; in Protestant countries, December 25 itself takes precedence. Carols, nativity scenes, and Christmas markets are widespread in Europe.
Roast turkey or goose with stuffing is traditional in the UK, US, and Canada. Germany favors roast goose with red cabbage and dumplings. Italy enjoys the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. In Latin America, tamales, lechón, and bacalhau are common. Christmas cake, panettone, stollen, mince pies, and gingerbread are popular desserts.
"Merry Christmas" (English) · "Joyeux Noël" (French) · "Frohe Weihnachten" (German) · "Feliz Navidad" (Spanish) · "Buon Natale" (Italian) · "Selamat Natal" (Indonesian/Malay) · "Glædelig Jul" (Danish) · "God Jul" (Swedish/Norwegian) · "Maligayang Pasko" (Filipino)
Most public services, schools, banks, and offices close on December 25 across Christian-majority countries. Public transport runs reduced schedules. Restaurants in tourist areas typically open with special Christmas menus; book ahead. December 26 (Boxing Day / Second Christmas Day) is also a holiday in the UK, Commonwealth countries, Germany, and Scandinavia.
Future dates for moving holidays (Easter, Eid, Lunar New Year, Diwali, etc.) are computed and approximate; the actual public-holiday date in some countries is fixed by official decree closer to the date.
This holiday is also publicly observed in: