About Christmas
Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Gregorian-fixed at December 25 in Western Christianity; January 7 in Eastern Orthodox tradition.
Significance
Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, central to Christian belief in the incarnation of God, and is celebrated worldwide as both a religious and cultural holiday.
History & story
December 25 was formalized as the date of celebration in the early centuries of the Church; in India, Christmas arrived with early Christian communities in Kerala (tradition dates to St. Thomas the Apostle) and was later shaped by Portuguese, French, and British colonial history.
Rituals & observances
- ◆Midnight mass
- ◆Christmas tree
- ◆Gifts
- ◆Family feast
- ◆Carols
Regional variations
Worldwide. In India, Goa and Kerala have particularly vibrant celebrations.
Christmas — every year
The date shifts each year on the Gregorian calendar because it follows the Hindu lunar-solar cycle.