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[[Image:Christmas market in Nuremberg.jpg|right|thumb|The Christmas market in Nuremberg.]]
'''Christmas''' is a holiday on December 25 which celebrates the birth of [[Jesus]], since at least [[AD]] 336. <ref name="Hillerbrand 1998 p909">{{cite web | last=Hillerbrand | first=Hans J. | title=Origin, Definition, Traditions, History, & Facts | website=Encyclopedia Britannica | date=1998-07-20 | url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christmas | access-date=2023-12-24}}</ref> The word "Christmas" comes from "[[Christ]]'s [[Mass (liturgy)|mass]]." A few churches, including the Russian and Ukrainian churches, still celebrate according to the [[Julian calendar]]. December 25 on the Julian calendar corresponds to January 7 on the [[Gregorian calendar]].
The [[Bible]] does not give a date for the birth of Jesus. The holiday is exactly nine months following [[Annunciation]] on March 25. On the Roman calendar, March 25 was marked as the spring equinox while December 25 was considered the date of the winter solstice. Christmas is often connected to pagan festivals such as Saturnalia or Yule, especially by those who oppose Christian traditions. However, the symbolism of a solstice date appealed to the Church Fathers for reasons unrelated to any pagan festival.
