Christmas Countdown
The most wonderful time of the year is approaching. Watch the magic happen in real-time!
Holiday Traditions & The Calendar
Christmas is observed on December 25th as both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. People around the globe celebrate with various traditions, both religious and secular in nature.
- Why December 25th? While the exact date of Jesus' birth is not mentioned in the Bible, the first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336 AD, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine.
- Advent: The countdown to Christmas traditionally begins with Advent, which starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day.
- The "Twelve Days": In many cultures, the celebration doesn't end on Christmas Day. The "Twelve Days of Christmas" actually start on December 25th and end on January 5th (Twelfth Night).
- Time Zones: Because of the International Date Line, the first people to celebrate Christmas each year are in Kiritimati (Christmas Island) and Samoa!