What day does Christmas fall on 2013 2014 2015

Batty sporting a Christmas bow.

Christmas History

Christmas Day is a Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Although the actual date of Christ's birth is unknown, it has been celebrated on December 25 since the 4th century. Christmas is also extensively celebrated by non-Christians as a seasonal holiday, on which popular traditions such as gift-giving, feasting, and caroling take place.

Planning a Christmas feast? This holiday, try some of our main dishes, appetizers, sides, and desserts! See our recipes for Christmas Dinner.

We wish you a very merry Christmas!

Christmas Dates

Year	Christmas
2012	Tuesday, December 25
2013	Wednesday, December 25
2014	Thursday, December 25
2015	Friday, December 25

More Christmas Day History

In ancient times, Celts divided the year into four sections marked by quarter days, the days of the two solstices and two equinoxes. The winter solstice, the shortest and darkest day of the year, was the fourth quarter day. It signaled a celebratory time, as the Sun began to reemerge and the land experienced a rebirth. Gradually, to conform more closely to the liturgical year of the Christian church, the fourth quarter day merged easily with the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ. As Christianity began to spread in the 4th century, the Christmas feast day was set on December 25 by Pope Julius I to align with the Roman pagan holiday Dies natalis solis invicti, "the birth of the invincible Sun."

Today's rich mosaic of Christmas customs dates back through the ages. Evergreen branches were used to symbolize life in ancient solstice festivals, as they stayed green in winter. This tradition was absorbed by Christians, who interpreted the evergreens as the Paradise tree and began decorating them with apples. The candles and lights associated with Christmas, meant to symbolize guiding beacons for the Christ child, may have evolved from the Yule log, which was lit to entice the Sun to return as part of the jol (Yule) festival in pagan Scandinavia.

Christmas Recipes and Background

Check out some of our favorite holiday dishes on our Christmas recipes page!

Make some easy kids' Christmas cookies with the family.

Then, learn how some Christmas firsts came about and have your Christmas questions answered!

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Comments

By Almanac Staff

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The symbolism of the Christmas candle varies. For example: It is taken as a symbol of Jesus, the Light of the World. It is also thought to symbolize the star over Bethlehem. In certain countries, such as Ireland and Spain, it was traditional to place candles in the window to guide the Holy Family to shelter.

In medieval Europe, a large candle, called the Christmas candle, was lit and was burned until Twelfth Night; this candle tradition is still used today in certain countries, such as France, Ireland, and Denmark.

Advent wreaths contain four candles, for the four weeks of Advent before Christmas day.

By Katmandu2

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I've always heard of candles symbolizing the comming of Jesus as the Light of the World. However, this mythology parallels many others that talk about the rebirth of the sun. I don't know where they got their info, but I guess that it could be said thata child has to be guided into tje world at birth.

By rdeesw

reply

I have never heard of Christmas candles ever serving as a beacon to guide the Christ-child but rather as a symbol for Christ's coming into the world even as a child. This is a significant theological distinction. Where did you get your information?