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'''Christmas''' is a [[holiday]] which celebrates the birth of [[Jesus Christ]]. It is celebrated on December 25th by the Roman Catholic church and most Protestant denominations, and on January 7th by the Orthodox Catholic Church.

'''Christmas''' is a [[holiday]] which celebrates the birth of [[Jesus Christ]]. It is celebrated on December 25th by the Roman Catholic church and most Protestant denominations, and on January 7th by the Orthodox Catholic Church.

 

The story of the birth of Christ is told in the opening chapters of the Gospel of Luke and the Gospel of Matthew. Each contains different elements of "the Christmas Story." The visit of the Angel to the shepherds, and the birth of Jesus in a manger because there was no room at the inn are from Luke; the story of the Star of Bethlehem and the visit from the Wise Men bringing gifts of "gold, and frankincense and myrrh" are from Matthew.  

In Western countries, during the Christmas season people generally hang up colored lights, place a pine tree (Christmas tree) in their house, sing carols, and exchange gifts. Gift-giving commemorates the gifts given to the Christ child by the Magi, and is symbolic of the fact that Jesus came as the greatest gift of all.

In Western countries, during the Christmas season people generally hang up colored lights, place a pine tree (Christmas tree) in their house, sing carols, and exchange gifts. Gift-giving commemorates the gifts given to the Christ child by the Magi, and is symbolic of the fact that Jesus came as the greatest gift of all.