"The Christmas Eve" (1904-05), watercolor painting by the Swedish painter Carl Larsson (1853-1919)

Christmas Eve, December 24, the day before Christmas Day, is treated to a greater or a lesser extent in most Christian societies as part of the Christmas festivities. Christmas Eve is the traditional day to set up the Christmas tree, but as the holiday season has been extended several weeks back (to around Thanksgiving in the United States), many trees will have been set up for weeks. Image File history File links Titel: Julaftonen Title: The Christmas Eve Konstnär / artist: Carl Larsson (1853-1919) Akvarell / watercolor painting Ã…r / year: 1904-1905 File links The following pages link to this file: Carl Larsson Christmas Eve Watercolor painting ... Image File history File links Titel: Julaftonen Title: The Christmas Eve Konstnär / artist: Carl Larsson (1853-1919) Akvarell / watercolor painting Ã…r / year: 1904-1905 File links The following pages link to this file: Carl Larsson Christmas Eve Watercolor painting ... 1904 is a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1905 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Carl Larsson, Crayfishing, watercolor, 1897 Watercolor is a painting technique using paint made of colorants suspended or dissolved in water. ... Carl Larsson (May 28, 1853 – January 22, 1919) was a Swedish painter and interior designer. ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... December 24 is the 358th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (359th in leap years). ... 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. ... As a noun, Christian is an appellation and moniker deriving from the appellation Christ, which many people associate exclusively with Jesus of Nazareth. ... 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 Christmas tree in a German home One of the most popular traditions associated with the celebration of Christmas, the Christmas tree is normally an evergreen conifer tree that is brought in the house or used in the open, and is decorated with Christmas lights and colourful ornaments during the... The First Thanksgiving, after the painting by Jean Louis Gerome Ferris (1863-1930) Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in much of North America, generally observed as an expression of gratitude, usually to God. ...

In the Roman Catholic Church, the Christmas season liturgically begins on Christmas Eve. Unless it be a Sunday (see Advent), the Mass of the Vigil is said on the morning of December 24. It is forbidden, however, to anticipate the Mass of Christmas before midnight. The Christmas season continues through until January 4, or if that be a Saturday, until January 5, when the Vigil of the Epiphany is celebrated. The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian body, with over 1. ... Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... 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. ... See Colossal Cave Adventure for the computer game Advent (from the Latin Adventus, sc. ... December 24 is the 358th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (359th in leap years). ... 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 4 is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Saturday is considered either the sixth or the seventh day of the week, between Friday and Sunday. ... January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Epiphany (Greek: επιφάνεια, the appearance; miraculous phenomenon) is a Christian feast intended to celebrate the shining forth or revelation of God to mankind in human form, in the person of Jesus. ...

Many Christians traditionally celebrate a midnight mass at midnight on Christmas Eve, which is held in churches throughout the world, marking the beginning of Christmas Day. Other churches hold a candlelight service which is typically held earlier in the evening. These often feature dramatizations of the Nativity. Large meals are common, often with turkey or ham as the main item. A traditional dish in Germany is roast carp. Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) presiding at the 2005 Easter Vigil Mass in place of the dying Pope John Paul II. Mass is the term used of the celebration of the Eucharist in the Latin rites of the Roman Catholic Church. ... The Nativity refers to the birth of Jesus. ... Ham with cloves Technically, ham is the thigh and buttock of any animal that is slaughtered for meat, but the term is usually restricted to a cut of pork, the haunch of a pig or boar. ... Genera Abramis Aristichthys Barbodes Carassius Cirrhinus Ctenopharyngodon Cyprinus Epalzeorhynchos Henicorhynchus Hypophthalmichthys Labeo Mylopharyngodon and others Carp swarm in great numbers to eat feed thrown by tourists in Urfa, Turkey. ...

It is also seen as the night when Santa Claus or his international variants, make their rounds giving gifts to good children. In Italy presents are opened on the morning of Christmas Eve, while in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Portugal and Poland, Christmas presents are opened on that evening or on the morning of Christmas Day. In North America, there is a mixture of families opening gifts in the evening and, more commonly, on Christmas Day morning. In families where a divorce has occurred, children may spend one day with one part of the family, and the next with the other. In Spain gifts are opened on the morning of January 6th, Epiphany day ("Día de reyes"). A common portrayal of Santa Claus. ... World map showing location of North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere, bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west... Divorce or dissolution of marriage is the ending of a marriage, which can be contrasted with an annulment which is a declaration that a marriage is void, though the effects of marriage may be recognized in such unions, such as spousal support, child custody and distribution of property. ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This article is about the Christian feast. ...

External links

• Santa Club - A free club for everyone interested in Christmas