What is Christmas?
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} [[File:Nativity tree.jpg|thumb|244x244px|A [[Christmas tree]] and a [[Nativity scene]], two popular parts of Christmas]] '''Christmas''' (which means “The [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] of Christ”) is a [[Christian]] [[holiday]] that celebrates the birth of [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]], who Christians believe is the Son of God. Christmas is also a [[culture|cultural]] holiday for many non-Christians all over the world. It is usually celebrated in the month of [[December]], with the main day being '''Christmas Day''' on [[25 December]]. ==Meaning== Christmas Day is celebrated on 25 December. It is an important day, mainly for Christians, along with [[Easter]] (which celebrates [[Crucifixion of Jesus|the death]] and [[resurrection of Jesus]]). The season of [[Advent]] begins on a Sunday about four weeks before Christmas. During Advent, people prepare for Christmas. The Christmas season (called Christmastide) ends 6 January, also called the Twelfth Day of Christmas. On this day, Christians celebrate ‘’[[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]]‘’. Many Christians also attend [[Church (building)|Church]] on Christmas Day. ==History== ===Description in the Gospels=== {{main|Jesus}} [[File:Birthplace in the Grotto of the Nativity 2010 2.jpg|250px|thumb|Star marking the birthplace of Jesus Christ in the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem Israel.]] Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus. There are four different [[Gospel|Gospels]] in the [[Bible]] which talk about Jesus’ birth. The [[Gospel of Luke]] gives details about Jesus’ birth. The [[Gospel of Matthew]] tells another part of the story. The [[Gospel of John]] says that Jesus came from God to bring his “Word” (his message) to all people. Christians believe these Gospels are based on fact. ====Background==== The Gospels say that many years before Jesus’ birth, [[prophet]]s had told a promise to the Jewish people that God would send them a [[Messiah]], or holy teacher. Christians believe that the promised Messiah was Jesus. His mother was a young w