The Christmas season (also known as the holiday season) is a term that covers the time when two interconnected periods of celebration are held.

In many countries, Christmas season refers to the period of the year approaching Christmas when businesses (particularly those who sell and manufacture things that could be given as gifts) prepare for the massive buying rush that the holiday generates. Although there is no official beginning to the Christmas season, in some countries it is marked by annual Christmas parades and the arrival of Santa Claus such as at the end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the U.S. The day after Thanksgiving, retailers generally have sales and special events encouraging people to start buying their gifts. A year is the time between two recurrences of an event related to the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. ... Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... A common portrayal of Santa Claus. ... The Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, originally called the Macys Christmas Parade, is an annual parade sponsored by Macys Department Store. ... ... The First Thanksgiving, after the painting by Jean Louis Gerome Ferris (1863–1930) Thanksgiving is an annual holiday observed in the United States and Canada. ... Sales, or the activity of selling, forms an integral part of commercial activity. ...

Christmas season is also known as Christmastide, one of six seasons of the year in the liturgical year of some Christian churches; namely, the period which runs from Christmas Day to January 6, the start of the octave of Epiphany. This period is also commonly known as the Twelve days of Christmas, as referred to in the Christmas carol "Twelve Days of Christmas". During the season various festivites are traditionally enjoyed and buildings decorated. In some countries, by superstition it is bad luck to leave the decorations up after Twelfth Night. The liturgical year, also known as the Christian year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in some Christian churches which determines when Feasts, Memorials, Commemorations, and Solemnities are to be observed and which portions of Scripture are to be read. ... Beliefs Though enormous diversity exists in the beliefs of those who self-identify as Christian, it is possible to venture general statements which describe the beliefs of a large majority . ... Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus, at the first Christmas Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This article is about the Christian feast. ... The Twelve Days of Christmas are (depending on differing authorities and sources) either the days from December 26 to January 6, (January 6 being the Epiphany), or the days from Christmas through the eve January 5 of Epiphany. ... Singing carols: John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together A Christmas carol is a carol (song or hymn) whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas, or the winter season in general. ... The Twelve Days of Christmas are (depending on differing authorities and sources) either the days from December 26 to January 6, (January 6 being the Epiphany), or the days from Christmas through the eve January 5 of Epiphany. ... Twelfth Night is a holiday marked by some branches of Christianity, marking the 12th and final night of the Christmas season, namely the night of twelfth day or January 5, the eve of the Epiphany celebration (January 6) to commemorate the adoration of the Magi. ...

In the Roman Catholic Church, the Christmas season begins on December 24 and ends on January 4. If, however, December 24 is a Sunday, the Mass of Sunday is said that morning, and the Christmas season does not begin until that evening. If January 4 is a Saturday, then the next day, January 5, the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, is also part of the Christmas Season. Usually January 5 is the Vigil of the Epiphany, so it is not considered a part of the Christmas Season. The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the Christian Church whose visible head is the Pope, currently Pope Benedict XVI. It teaches that it is the one holy catholic and apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ, and that the sole Church of Christ which in the... December 24 is the 358th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (359th in leap years). ... January 4 is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... December 24 is the 358th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (359th in leap years). ... Sunday is considered either the first or the seventh day of the week, between Saturday and Monday, and the second day of the weekend in some cultures. ... Sunday is considered either the first or the seventh day of the week, between Saturday and Monday, and the second day of the weekend in some cultures. ... January 4 is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is an observance found in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. ... January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

The term Winterval has been used to try to coin a culturally independent name for all mid-winter festivities regardless of origin. This has however produced accusations of it being an attempt to secularise Christmas.[1] The Winterval is a portmanteau word coined to describe all festivities taking place around the middle of winter. ...

See also

• Christmas
• Liturgical year
• Winter Holiday Season
• Giftmas
• Winterval

Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... The liturgical year, also known as the Christian year, consists of the cycle of liturgical seasons in some Christian churches which determines when Feasts, Memorials, Commemorations, and Solemnities are to be observed and which portions of Scripture are to be read. ... The word holiday has related but different meanings in English-speaking countries. ... Giftmas, or Givemas, is a term sometimes used as an alternative to the word Christmas, recognizing only the secular aspects of the holiday rather than religious celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. ... The Winterval is a portmanteau word coined to describe all festivities taking place around the middle of winter. ...

External links

• Liturgy of Hours for Christmastide