Christmas - Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday that marks the traditional birthdate of Jesus of Nazareth. Christmas traditions include Nativity scenes, the exchange of gifts, Santa Claus, Christmas cards and decorations, and the display of Christmas trees. Christmas combines Christian religious ceremonies with the traditions of ancient winter festivals such as Yule and Saturnalia.Popular secular traditions include emphasis on themes such as family, goodwill, giving and compassion.Christmas is traditionally December 25. It is preceded by Christmas Eve and in some countries is followed by Boxing Day. Some Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on January 7, which corresponds to December 25 of the Julian calendar. These dates are merely traditional and neither is thought to be the actual birthdate of Jesus.Christmas is celebrated in most countries around the world, owing to the spread of Christianity and Western culture, mixed with the enduring popularity of existing winter celebrations. Various local and regional Christmas traditions are still practiced, despite the widespread influence of American and British Christmas motifs disseminated by film, popular literature, television, and other media.