Christmas or Christmas Day

Is a holiday observed generally on December 25to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the
central figure of Christianity. The date is not known to be the actual birthday of Jesus,
and may have initially been chosen to correspond with either the day exactly nine months
after some early Christians believed Jesus had been conceived, the date of the winter
solstice on the ancient Roman calendar, or one of various ancient winter festivals.
Christmas is central to the Christmas and holiday season, and in Christianity marks the
beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days.

Although nominally a Christian holiday, Christmas is also widely celebrated by many

non-Christians, and many of its popular celebratory customs have pre-Christian or secular
themes and origins. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, music, an
exchange of greeting cards, church celebrations, a special meal, and the display of
various decorations; including Christmas trees, lights, garlands, mistletoe, nativity scenes,
and holly. In addition, several similar mythological figures, known as Saint Nicholas,
Father Christmas and Santa Claus among other names, are associated with bringing gifts
to children during the Christmas season.

Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened
economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, the holiday has become a
significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact
of Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many
regions of the world.

Santa Claus

Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply
"Santa", is a figure which was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, a historical,
legendary figure who in many Western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the
good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December
24 or on his Feast Day, December 6 (Saint Nicholas Day). The legend may have part of
its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint
Nicholas. A nearly identical story is attributed by Greek and Byzantine folklore to Basil
of Caesarea. Basil's feast day on January 1 is considered the time of exchanging gifts in
Greece.

While Saint Nicholas was originally portrayed wearing bishop's robes, today Santa Claus
is generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white
collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots (images of
him rarely have a beard with no moustache). This image became popular in the United
States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and
political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through
song, radio, television, and films. In the United Kingdom and Europe, he is often
depicted in a manner identical to the American Santa Claus, but he is commonly called
Father Christmas.

A well-known folk legend associated with Santa Claus says that he lives in the far north,
in a land of perpetual snow. The American version of Santa Claus says that he lives at his
house on the North Pole, while Father Christmas is often said to reside in the mountains
of Korvatunturi in Lapland Province, Finland. Santa Claus lives with his wife Mrs. Claus,
a countless number of magical elves, and eight or nine flying reindeer. Another legend,
popularized in the song Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, says that he makes a list of
children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior ("naughty"
or "nice") and that he delivers presents, including toys, candy, and other gifts to all of the
good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the
single night of Christmas Eve. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who
make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer who pull his sleigh.