12月25日，是基督教徒纪念耶稣诞生的日子，称为圣诞节。从12月24日于翌年1月6日为圣诞节节期。节日期间，各国基督教徒都举行隆重的纪念仪式。圣诞节本来是基督教徒的节日，由于人们格外重视，它便成为一个全民性的节日，是西方国家一年中最盛大的节日，可以和新年相提并论，类似我国过春节。西方人以红、绿、白三色为圣诞色，圣诞节来临时家家户户都要用圣诞色来装饰。红色的有圣诞花和圣诞蜡烛。绿色的是圣诞树。它是圣诞节的主要装饰品，用砍伐来的杉、柏一类呈塔形的常青树装饰而成。上面悬挂着五颜六色的彩灯、礼物和纸花，还点燃着圣诞蜡烛。红色与白色相映成趣的是圣诞老人，他是圣诞节活动中最受欢迎的人物。西方儿童在圣诞夜临睡之前，要在壁炉前或枕头旁放上一只袜子，等候圣诞老人在他们入睡后把礼物放在袜子内。在西方，扮演圣诞老人也是一种习俗。Christmas, annual Christian holiday commmorating th birth of Jsus Christ. Most mmbrs of th Roman Catholic Church and followrs of Protstantism clbrat Christmas on Dcmbr 25, and many clbrat on th vning of Dcmbr 24 as wll. Mmbrs of th astrn Orthodox Church usually dlay thir most important sasonal crmonis until January 6, whn thy clbrat piphany, a commmoration of th baptism of Jsus. piphany also traditionally commmorats th arrival of th Thr Wis Mn of th ast in Bthlhm (nar Jrusalm, Isral), whr thy adord th infant Jsus and prsntd him with gifts of gold, frankincns, and myrrh. Th official Christmas sason, popularly known as ithr Christmastid or th Twlv Days of Christmas, xtnds from th annivrsary of Christ’s birth on Dcmbr 25 to th fast of piphany on January 6.Christmas is basd on th story of Jsus’ birth as dscribd in th Gospl according to Matthw (s Matthw 1:18-2:12) and th Gospl according to Luk (s Luk 1:26-56). Roman Catholics first clbratd Christmas, thn known as th Fast of th Nativity, as arly as 336 ad. Th word Christmas ntrd th nglish languag somtim around 1050 as th Old nglish phras Christs mass, maning fstival of Christ. Scholars bliv th frquntly usd shortnd form of ChristmasXmasmay hav com into us in th 13th cntury. Th X stands for th Grk lttr chi, an abbrviation of Khristos (Christ), and also rprsnts th cross on which Jsus was crucifid.