What is Christmas?

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Christmas is a Christian holy day that marks the birth of Jesus, who Christians believe to be the Son of God.

When is Christmas?

Christmas is celebrated each year on 25 December (7 January for Orthodox Christians).

What is the story of Christmas?

Jesus was born to a woman called Mary who was engaged to Joseph, a carpenter in the town of Nazareth in Galilee.

Mary was visited by an angel who told her that she would give birth to a baby called Jesus. Jesus was born in Bethlehem because Joseph and Mary had travelled there to take part in a census which the Roman rulers had ordered.

When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem the local inn was full with people returning for the census. The innkeeper let them stay in the rock cave below his house which was used as a stable for animals. It was here that Mary gave birth to Jesus.

Jesus was visited by three wise men from the East who had followed a star to Bethlehem. The wise men presented Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. An angel also guided some poor shepherds to see the birth. For Christians this shows that Jesus came for all people of all backgrounds.

Key Vocabulary

Word	Definition
Inn	A place that provides food and shelter for travellers.
Census	A count of the number of people who live in a certain place.
Frankincense	A substance that comes from a tree. It is burned to produce a pleasant smell. It is used in religious ceremonies.
Myrrh	A substance that comes from a tree. It is also burned to produce a pleasant smell. It is used in religious ceremonies.

Activity: Complete the puzzle

How is Christmas celebrated?

The story of Jesus's birth (also known as the nativity) is often retold by children taking part in nativity plays.

Christian church services at Christmas include carol singing. These are happy songs which tell the Christmas story. Some Christians start Christmas Day with a midnight communion service (also called a midnight mass).

Christmas dinners are also an important part of the celebrations. Families and friends will share food together, eating traditional foods, such as turkey, mince pies and Christmas puddings.

Christmas in pictures

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Image caption,
Nativity plays
In the UK many primary schools will put on nativity plays. Children dress as Joseph and Mary, as well as shepherds, wise men, angels and animals to tell the story of Jesus's birth in Bethlehem.
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Carol singers
Christmas carols are traditional songs which celebrate the story of Christmas. Carols are sung in churches as part of religious services but many carol services take place outside in public places.
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Christmas trees
Christmas trees were introduced into the UK in 1800 by Queen Charlotte, the German wife of George III. Each year a large tree is given to the UK as a gift by the people of Oslo in Norway. It is displayed in London's Trafalgar Square.
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Church services
Christian churches often have choirs with trained singers who will sing along with worshippers in the congregation. At Christmas, special carol services are held as well as candlelit services and midnight masses on Christmas Eve.
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Christmas presents
The wise men brought Jesus gifts of gold, as well as frankincense and myrrh, which are types of perfume and oil. Christians remember this act by giving each other presents at Christmas. Often the gifts are left under a Christmas tree in the home.
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Ukraine
Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on 7 January. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine broke away from the Russian Orthodox church, and since 2023 now celebrates Christmas on December 25th. In Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, a procession is held where people dress in traditional clothes and carry replicas of the star of Bethlehem.
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Ethiopia
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church also celebrates Christmas on 7 January. People dress in white robes and attend church services. The deacons in the photograph are holding an icon of Mary and the infant Jesus.

Christingle

Over the Christmas period, many Christian churches hold special services where children light candles stuck into oranges. These special candles are called Christingles.

Click on the picture below to see what the various parts of the Christingle mean to Christians.

What is Advent?

Advent is the period which leads up to Christmas. It starts on the Sunday nearest to Saint Andrew's Day (30 November).

Many Advent customs involve counting the days until Christmas begins. Children will often be given advent calendars to mark the days that have passed.

Some churches have an advent wreath with four candles, one for each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Day. Some wreaths will have another candle in the centre to mark Christmas Day itself.

Activity: Thinking points

A black child wearing glasses and a blue t shirt is thinking. There is a thought bubble appearing from his left.

Have a look at the thinking points below. You can discuss them with somebody else if you want to. There are no right or wrong answers so remember to be respectful if somebody else has a different thought or opinion.

If you could give something to someone who is less fortunate than you this Christmas, what would you give and why?
How can we show kindness to others during the Christmas season, not just with presents but with our actions?
Why do you think Christmas is a time for giving to others? What does it mean to give without expecting anything in return?

What is Christmas?