Christmas is celebrated every year on December 25 and is an important religious holiday. People all around the world celebrate it with both religious and non-religious traditions. Christians celebrate Christmas as the birthday of Jesus Christ. Many people exchange gifts, decorate Christmas trees, attend church, share meals with family and friends, and wait for Santa Claus to arrive. Christmas Day has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

A lot of people think Christmas is celebrated on December 25 because that was the day Jesus was born, but that’s not true. It wasn’t until about three and a half centuries after Jesus was born that December 25 was chosen to celebrate his birthday. The date wasn’t random. Historians believe the pope and the emperor liked it because it lined up with pagan festivals that celebrated the winter solstice. By celebrating Christmas on this date, the church could keep winter traditions while adding Christianity into the mix.

Christmas is celebrated by millions of people all over the world, including about 90 percent of people in the United States. For most, it’s a time to spend with family and friends. Whether or not people are religious, many enjoy Christmas more than any other holiday. People everywhere like participating in Christmas traditions, making it an important holiday for many reasons.