When Christmas is Celebrated and Its Not 25th December Everywhere

Many people think Christmas is to be celebrated on December 25th, and it ends there! But many people worldwide celebrate this joyous holiday with their own special traditions.

Christmas is to be enjoyed for more than one day – and even at different times!

The (12) Twelve Days of Christmas & Epiphany

The Twelve Days of Christmas is a Christian tradition that marks the period from Christmas Day (December 25) to the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6). The Epiphany is a Christian feast day commemorating the Magi’s visit (the three wise men or kings) to the infant Jesus. The Twelve Days of Christmas are counted from December 25 to January 5, with January 6 being the Epiphany.

Here’s a brief overview of each day and its significance:

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Religion Quiz

Test your knowledge about topics related to religion

1 / 10

What is the main message of the book of Revelation in the New Testament?

The end times and the second coming of Jesus Christ

Love and forgiveness

Wisdom and practical guidance for everyday life

The power of prayer

2 / 10

Who is the main prophet of Baha'i faith?

Bab

Buddha

Jesus Christ

Muhammad

3 / 10

What is the significance of the Prophet Muhammad in Islam?

A prophet and the last messenger of God

A holy man who lived a pious life

A political leader who conquered many lands

A philosopher who taught wise lessons

4 / 10

What is the most important of all Muslim beliefs and is shared by both Sunni and Shi'a Muslims?

The belief in the Trinity

Tawhid

Risalah

Isma'il

5 / 10

What was the name of the person who first started spreading Christianity around the Roman empire?

Mary

Paul

Zeus

Jesus

6 / 10

What is the significance of the Hajj in Islam?

A pilgrimage to Mecca that all Muslims must make at least once in their lifetime

A celebration of the Prophet's birthday

A fast during the month of Ramadan

A festival to celebrate the end of Ramadan

7 / 10

What are the Three Universal Truths in Buddhism?

The Three Universal Truths are impermanence, suffering, and non-self

The Three Universal Truths are permanence, happiness, and self

The Three Universal Truths are existence, essence, and substance

The Three Universal Truths are morality, meditation, and wisdom

8 / 10

What is the main difference between Sunni and Shia Islam?

Sunni believe in a caliph while Shia believe in an imam

Sunni believe in the Quran while Shia believe in hadiths

Sunni believe in the Prophet's companions while Shia believe in his family

Sunni believe in the Prophet's family while Shia believe in his companions

9 / 10

What is the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism?

The Four Noble Truths describe the nature of suffering and the path to its elimination

The Four Noble Truths describe the nature of happiness and the path to its attainment

The Four Noble Truths describe the nature of existence and the path to its meaning

The Four Noble Truths describe the nature of reincarnation and the path to its liberation

10 / 10

What is the main text of Sikhism?

The Guru Granth Sahib

The Vedas

The Quran

The Bible

Your score is

December 25 – Christmas Day: Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
December 26: St. Stephen’s Day. Honors the first Christian martyr, St. Stephen.
December 27: St. John the Evangelist’s Day. Honors the author of the Gospel of John.
December 28: Feast of the Holy Innocents. Commemorates the infants massacred by King Herod in an attempt to kill the baby Jesus.
December 29: St. Thomas Becket’s Day. Honors the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was martyred in 1170.
December 30: Feast of the Holy Family. Celebrates the family life of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
December 31: New Year’s Eve. Often a time for reflection and celebration.
January 1 – New Year’s Day: A day of celebration for the beginning of the new year.
January 2: St. Basil’s Day (in some traditions). Honors St. Basil the Great, a fourth-century bishop.
January 3: Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. Commemorates the naming of Jesus.
January 4: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Day (in some traditions). Honors the first American-born saint.
January 5: Twelfth Night. The evening before Epiphany, often associated with the end of the Christmas season.
January 6 – Epiphany: Commemorates the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus, symbolizing the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.

Throughout these twelve days, various cultures and Christian denominations may have different customs and traditions, including special prayers, feasts, and activities. The song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is a well-known English Christmas carol that playfully enumerates gifts given on each day of the twelve-day period.

CANDLEMAS – The End of the Christmas Season

Candlemas, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ, is a Christian holiday that occurs on February 2nd, marking the end of the Christmas season. This feast commemorates the presentation of Jesus at the Temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary, as recounted in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 2:22–40).

The primary events associated with Candlemas include the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, where Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to fulfill the requirements of Jewish law, and the encounter with Simeon and Anna. Simeon, a devout man, recognized Jesus as the Messiah and uttered the famous prayer known as the Nunc Dimittis.

The name “Candlemas” is derived from blessing candles on this day. In some Christian traditions, candles are lit and blessed during church services, symbolizing the light of Christ coming into the world. This custom represents that Jesus is the “light of the world.”

Candlemas also have some cultural associations, particularly in some European countries, with predictions about the end of winter. In some regions, it is believed that if Candlemas Day is sunny and clear, there will be six more weeks of winter. This tradition resembles the more well-known Groundhog Day in North America.

The celebration of Candlemas varies among Christian denominations, but it generally includes a church service, the blessing of candles, and the procession of candles. The liturgical color for Candlemas is often white or gold, symbolizing purity and the light of Christ.

Our website readers also want to read about why Xmas is used to mean Christmas.

Learn More With the Help of Video

Conclusion

It’s important to note that the birth of Jesus Christ was not on 25th December. Some do believe it, but it is not 100% true. However, Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of Jesus.

The Churches that follow Julian calendar, observe Christmas on 7th January.

There are quite a good number of countries around the world that are Orthodox and follow the Julian calendar.

Word Cloud for Christmas on 25th December

The following collection of the most used terms in this article on Christmas on 25th December. This should help you recall related terms as used in this article at a later stage.

References

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Chara Yadav

Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page.