Christmas Definition and 140 Threads

Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration by billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it is preceded by the season of Advent or the Nativity Fast and initiates the season of Christmastide, which historically in the West lasts twelve days and culminates on Twelfth Night. Christmas Day is a public holiday in many of the world's nations, is celebrated religiously by a majority of Christians, as well as culturally by many non-Christians, and forms an integral part of the holiday season organized around it.
The traditional Christmas narrative, the Nativity of Jesus, delineated in the New Testament says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in accordance with messianic prophecies. When Joseph and Mary arrived in the city, the inn had no room and so they were offered a stable where the Christ Child was soon born, with angels proclaiming this news to shepherds who then spread the word. Although the month and date of Jesus' birth are unknown, the church in the early fourth century fixed the date as December 25. This corresponds to the date of the winter solstice on the Roman calendar. Most Christians celebrate on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar, which has been adopted almost universally in the civil calendars used in countries throughout the world. However, part of the Eastern Christian Churches celebrate Christmas on December 25 of the older Julian calendar, which currently corresponds to January 7 in the Gregorian calendar. For Christians, believing that God came into the world in the form of man to atone for the sins of humanity, rather than knowing Jesus' exact birth date, is considered to be the primary purpose in celebrating Christmas.The celebratory customs associated in various countries with Christmas have a mix of pre-Christian, Christian, and secular themes and origins. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift giving; completing an Advent calendar or Advent wreath; Christmas music and caroling; viewing a Nativity play; an exchange of Christmas cards; church services; a special meal; and the display of various Christmas decorations, including Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly. In addition, several closely related and often interchangeable figures, known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, and Christkind, are associated with bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season and have their own body of traditions and lore. Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened economic activity, the holiday has become a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact of Christmas has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of the world.

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  1. marlon

    Wishing You Peace and Joy This Christmas Season

    Hey guys, I know i am a bit early but let me take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy NewYear. I will be out to celebrate Chirstmas so i won't be on PF. In 2006 the world has proven not to be a very nice place. Especially the situation in the Middle East...
  2. Schrodinger's Dog

    Has Christmas Lost Its Spirit or Just Its Meaning?

    :smile: It's just dawned on me last night that it is in fact Christmas, so that's why all those decorations are all over the place. And the TV adverts for crappy perfumes and toys that'll break in five minutes. The endless songs about Christmas on the radio, oh and the weathers cold and foggy or...
  3. ZapperZ

    Komodo Dragon to Welcome Virgin Birth Just in Time for Christmas

    Just in time for Christmas, a lizard is expecting a virgin birth! Now THAT is what *I* would call an immaculate conception! http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/12/20/uk.komodo.reut/index.html Zz.
  4. R

    Christmas Dinner Help: Ideas & Recipes for Beginners

    I need some help please everyone! The "what you doing these holidays" thread made me remember I have to do the Christmas Dinner this year. I have never done one and I am now in a panic. :cry: I am a reasonably good chief/baker (I do this as a part time job in the holidays) but christmas dinner...
  5. ZapperZ

    VOTE Photo Contest - O' Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree

    It was a smaller number of entries than I anticipated for this time of the year (I thought there were a lot of Christmas trees around). Still, it wasn't lacking in quality and "interest", especially with that deer head that wasn't even part of the tree! :) Please vote for the picture that...
  6. Ivan Seeking

    Seattle airport removes Christmas trees to avoid lawsuit

    http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/10/airport.christmas.trees.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
  7. M

    What Are You Wishing for This Christmas?

    Alright, so what is it that YOU are asking for/buying for yourself for Christmas (or any other holiday for that matter). Maybe some of us will get some good ideas from others on this board... :smile: I'll start, woot. A few Guns N' Roses CDs A couple Pink Floyd CDs The Feynman Lectures on...
  8. ZapperZ

    Photo Contest - O' Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree (12/7-12/13)

    O' Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree It is that time of the year where evergreen trees are decorated and lit. Your photo for this contest must have, as the main subject, one or more christmas trees. The tree may or may not be decorated. Contest Rules: 1. Any digital photo or...
  9. Evo

    I want a hippopotamus for Christmas

    Just wanted to share this with everyone since it has been STUCK IN MY HEAD ALL DAY! Click here to listen http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/hippo.htm I want a hippopotamus for Christmas Only a hippopotamus will do Don't want a doll, no dinky Tinker Toy I want a hippopotamus to...
  10. marcus

    Kids must be asking for Smolin for Christmas

    I can't see any other explanation for it. Just looked at amazon physics bestseller list. You'd expect stringy books to be way up there, parents buying Brian Greene for the boys, Lisa Randall for the girls. Or am I wrong? Wouldn't you expect that? I know a high school senior* who last year...
  11. Evo

    Is a Teddy Ruxpin Convection Oven the Ultimate Christmas Gift?

    Now I'm starting to think perhaps a countertop combination convection oven/microwave might be good. Surely SOMEONE could make me a combination Teddy Ruxpin/convection oven. What would be more awesome than a singing bear that can cook a roast? :!) Things I've been told I'm NOT allowed to...
  12. X

    How Long Should I Cook Two Small Christmas Puddings Instead of One?

    Hello everyone, new member here:smile:. My sister asked me this today - real-life physics at work! She's making Christmas pud & the instructions say it takes 8 hours to cook. However, her bowls are too small, so she's made two little ones instead, and she asked how long to allow to cook...
  13. marlon

    Tom Cruise Celebrates Christmas - A Drunken Sight!

    Tom Cruise is already celebrating Christmass [PLAIN][/URL] THIS IS VERY FUNNY WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT WHILE BEIN' DRUNK ! (disclaimer : by no means i want to stimulate alcohol abuse) Enjoy marlon
  14. BobG

    What Did You Get for Christmas?

    I normally don't care what I get for Christmas, but this year's was a very unexpected surprise. I got a Pickett N4-ES Vector Hyperbolic Dual Base Slide Rule. This is listed as having 34 scales, but that's a little deceiving. It has a 30 inch cube root scale (that's 3 scales), a 20 inch...
  15. Clausius2

    Merry Christmas to PF'ers: Celebrating in Spain

    Merry Christmas PF'ers! I am currently in Spain, celebrating christmas with my family. But I will be in USA the first week of january again. Enjoy your christmas! FELIZ NAVIDAD Y PROSPERO AÑO NUEVO!
  16. marcus

    How Did Lubos Motl Turn Physics Theories into Christmas Carols?

    on his blog, he has put these songs to the tune of We Wish You a Merry Christmas-----and also Jingle Bells. http://motls.blogspot.com/2005/12/merry-christmas.html I have made small emendations, to get the songs so I can imagine singing them. To see the originals go to Lubos website, where you...
  17. 1

    Christmas from from an Engineer's Perspective

    1. There are approximately two billion children (persons under 18) in the world. However, since Santa does not visit children of Muslim, Hindu, Jewish or Buddhist religions, this reduces the workload for Christmas night to 15% of the total, or 378 million (according to the Population...
  18. Mk

    Christmas Morning: Crescent Moon and Spica Star Encounter

    Yay It's Christmas! Well, maybe not there yet, but here it is Christmas morning. Also if you wake up around "5:30 a.m. on Dec. 25th, steal a glance out the window on your way to the tree. The crescent moon will be gliding by the bright star Spica--a pretty close encounter. In some places the...
  19. W

    What Did You Get for Christmas?

    I'll start: maybe an xbox 360, 1 gig of ram, one of those cool new RC cars.
  20. K

    What is christmas like in your family?

    What do you people do at this time? Sure, there is the typical stereotype of a warm, jolly family sitting under the damn christmas tree. In my opinion, i think the truth is much less romanic. In my family, we never celebrited christmas. If there was any celebrition, it is more out of finding an...
  21. Lisa!

    What Gifts Are Santa Greg & Warren Planning for Christmas?

    So what are you going to give me for christmas? I know how much everyone around here enjoys my company and is looking for an opportunity to thank me. (I've told you that I'm abit skeptical. so I can't believe you unless you give me a valuable gift!o:) ) I especially want to know what Santa...
  22. ZapperZ

    Music Christmas Decorations Set To Music

    OK, find another house that could top this one in terms of christmas decoration creativity. :) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8290192083117426204 Zz.
  23. T

    Christmas Cookies for Brian Whipple - Send Now!

    I'm not joking here, I want some Christmas cookies. you can send them to the following address: Brian Whipple 524 W. Main St Apt 117 Mesa, AZ 85201 Thanks so much. No arsenic please
  24. Pengwuino

    Christmas lights + electrican engineer with too much time on his hands?

    http://www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/xmaslights.html freaken awesome though!
  25. Ivan Seeking

    The Christmas Truce of World War I

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5429989,00.html http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/christmastruce.htm
  26. wolram

    Unique Christmas Gift Idea: Trepanning

    You know the awkward person who says he/she doesn't want anything, but you know they do well for a novel gift i thought why not treat them to this. http://www.braceface.com/medical/Pages/Trepanning.htm http://www.trepan.com/_index.html :biggrin:
  27. P

    Exploring the Physics of Santa Claus on Christmas

    After many careful hours of painstaking research, I have compiled the most expansive physics experiment ever performed on Santa Claus. I hope you can give me the due credit when you show off your cute article. After all, it is my life, my thesis, my reason for existence on this blessed earth...
  28. Moonbear

    What Did I Find at My Office Door That Made My Day?

    So, I finally returned to my office today, and sitting in front of the door is a BIG box. As I shove it into my office while getting my jacket off, I see it has tribdog's return address on it. He got me a BIG box of Legos for Christmas! :biggrin: :approve: Now you all don't have to listen...
  29. T

    What Are Your Plans for Christmas?

    Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas Hope your day is turning out well. Merry Christmas
  30. Math Is Hard

    How Do You Care for a Gifted Physicist?

    ok, so my friends gave me the greatest Christmas gift ever - a physicist! But the darn instruction manual is all in Japanese! He's so adorable, and very interactive - more than I expected - but I have no idea how to care for him or what to feed him. Any suggestions? What do they like to eat...
  31. Clausius2

    What Are the Best Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season?

    That's all. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Feliz Navidad y Feliz Año Nuevo! Joyeux Noël et nouvelle année heureuse! to all people.
  32. R

    Why Do I Enjoy Christmas Without Being Christian?

    Not being Christian. Seriously, it saves a lot of headaches. No shopping or family functions that need to be dealt with. I was at the mall today, and it seemed most of the shoppers there were in a terrible mood, many of them were rude and cranky. I even heard one woman cursing Christ...
  33. Evo

    Find the Perfect Gift for Christmas - Philips HeartStart Home Defribrillator

    I was shopping at amazon.com and found the perfect gift for those "hard to buy for" people. It's the "Phillips HeartStart Home Defribrillator - Because every minute counts" Be prepared for sudden cardiac arrest with the first heart defibrillator available for home use without a prescription...
  34. loseyourname

    Name a Star After Someone for Christmas

    Actually, don't. Turns out it's a scam. http://www.iau.org/IAU/FAQ/starnames.html
  35. Evo

    Is Christmas Creeping Into November Too Early?

    I know that here in the US the Christmas season doesn't officially start until the day after Thanksgiving, but they were playing Christmas music at the store yesterday and had all of the Christmas stuff out and it got me in a Holiday mood. :biggrin: This has been around a few years...
  36. Saint

    Can you help me expand my stamp collection with a Christmas card exchange?

    I am a stamp collector; I would like to appeal to all of you, please send me christmas card, and i will send you back a card too. In this way, I can collect stamps from other countries. My address is: Mr. Lim Ying Pio(Saint), 8, Jalan Putra Bistari 2/5F, Putra Height, 47650, Subang...
  37. J

    Is Christmas the time for love and peace?

    God's peace, Christ is born. Marry Christmas, to all the people on this forum and the world! I wish you love and peace among the men !
  38. Zantra

    Can This True Christmas Story Leave You Tearless?

    Folks, tell me you can read this without crying http://xtremepaintballcanada.com/vancouver/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=52&t=1583& EDIT: I updated the link. The site appears to be back up now
  39. Zantra

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year All

    To those of you who celebrate it, Here's hoping you get what you want this year.
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