Christmas and holiday season facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christmas and holiday season |
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Christmas tree in Japan. Christmas is celebrated by an increasing number of non-Christians around the world.
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| Also called |
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| Significance | Christian and secular festive season |
| Observances |
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| Begins | End of November |
| Ends | Early January (usually after either New Year's Day, on Epiphany (January 6)), in some traditions 2 February (Candlemas) |
| Related to | |
The Christmas season or festive season is a special time of year. It is also called the holiday season in some places. This period usually runs from late November to early January. It includes important holidays like Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Sometimes, other festivals are also part of this season.
This time is also known for lots of shopping. Stores often have their busiest sales during the "Christmas shopping season." After the holidays, there are "January sales." Many places decorate with Christmas window displays and Christmas lights. People also light up big Christmas trees.
In Western Christianity, the Christmas season is called Christmastide. It starts on December 25th (Christmas Day) and ends on January 5th (Twelfth Night). This is often known as the Twelve Days of Christmas. Before Christmas, there is a period called Advent. This is a time of waiting and preparing for Christmas.
Over time, Christmas became very important for shopping and culture, especially in America and Europe. Because of this, the term "holiday season" became more common. This term includes other holidays like Hanukkah (a Jewish holiday) and Kwanzaa (an African American cultural holiday). In the United Kingdom and Ireland, "holiday season" usually means summer vacation, not Christmas.
Contents
History of the Holiday Season
Ancient Winter Celebrations
The Winter Solstice
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Long ago, even before recorded history, the winter solstice was a very special day. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. Ancient places like Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland show this. These huge stone structures were built to line up with the sun on the winter solstice. This shows how important this day was to early people.
Roman Saturnalia
The Saturnalia was an old Roman festival. It honored the god Saturn. This festival took place from December 17th to December 23rd. People celebrated with a big feast and gave each other gifts. It was a time of fun and parties. During Saturnalia, normal rules were often flipped. For example, masters would serve their slaves. People even gambled, which was usually not allowed.
The Birth of Christmas
The idea of celebrating Jesus' birth on December 25th appeared very early. One of the first mentions was around the year 200 AD. Some early Christian churches celebrated Jesus' birth and Baptism of Jesus on January 6th. Others in the West celebrated the birth on December 25th. By the late 300s, both dates were celebrated.
In Christian traditions, the Christmas season officially begins on Christmas Day (December 25th). For some churches, it lasts until Twelfth Night (January 5th). This is the day before Epiphany. Other churches, like the Roman Catholic Church, celebrate until the Baptism of the Lord. This day is usually the Sunday after Epiphany.
Before this short Christmas season, there is Advent. Advent starts four Sundays before Christmas Day. This time often overlaps with the start of the commercial Christmas shopping season.
How Holidays Became More Commercial
Over time, Christmas became a huge part of American shopping and culture. This led to more general terms for the season. In the United States, the holiday season usually starts the day after Thanksgiving. It ends after New Year's Day. Some stores even start advertising Christmas items in late October.
Many different symbols are seen during this time. These include Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Christian symbols like the nativity scene are also displayed. Public celebrations include midnight mass, Christmas tree lighting, and singing carols. People also enjoy feasts and visiting outdoor markets.
The idea of the "holiday season" has grown to include more holidays. In the U.S., it now often includes Yule, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Thanksgiving. This expansion started around the 1920s. Big stores like Macy's began holding Thanksgiving Day parades. These parades helped promote Christmas sales. This has made the holiday season start earlier each year.
Shopping During the Holidays
Giving gifts is a big part of the Christmas and holiday season. This means it's also a huge time for shopping. This period includes the "Christmas shopping season" and the "January sales." The January sales used to be for clearing out old stock. Now, they also include people using gift cards they received as presents. Many people find this time of year very stressful. Some choose to give gifts differently to focus on the true meaning of the holidays.
Shopping in North America
In the United States, the holiday season is very important for stores. Shoppers spend hundreds of billions of dollars during this time. For example, in 2015, people spent over $630 billion. The average person spent about $805. More than half of this money went to family gifts.
The shopping season traditionally begins the day after American Thanksgiving. This day is known as Black Friday. Many people think it's the busiest shopping day of the year. However, credit card companies have found that the Saturday before Christmas is often even busier.
For online shopping, the first Monday after US Thanksgiving is called Cyber Monday. This day is a big deal for online sales. However, the busiest online shopping days can be later in December. Another important day is Free Shipping Day. This is the last day you can order something online with standard shipping and get it before Christmas Eve. This day is usually around December 16th.
Many people buy gift cards during the holidays. They have become one of the most popular gifts. In 2007, gift cards were expected to be the top gift. People planned to buy more cards and spend more money on each one. Many prefer gift cards over other presents.
Christmas Creep
"Christmas creep" is a term for when stores start the holiday shopping season earlier and earlier. This means you might see Christmas decorations in stores right after Halloween. Retailers do this to get a head start on holiday sales. In the UK and Ireland, this period is called the "golden quarter." This means October through December is when stores hope to make the most money.
Shopping in Europe
In the UK and Ireland, Christmas shopping starts in mid-November. This is usually when the high street Christmas lights are turned on. A lot of money is spent online during Christmas in the UK.
The Netherlands and Belgium have two holiday celebrations. The first is the arrival of Saint Nicholas in mid-November. Presents are given on December 5th or 6th. This is separate from Christmas. So, the Christmas shopping season often starts later, after Saint Nicholas's day.
In France and Italy, there are special rules for sales. January sales usually start on the first Wednesday or weekend of January. They last for several weeks. In Germany, there used to be official "winter sales." Now, stores can have sales all year. However, many still have voluntary "Winterschlussverkauf" sales in January.
In Sweden, the Christmas season officially starts with the first Advent Sunday. Then comes Saint Lucy's Day on December 13th. After Christmas, the "Mellandagsrea" (between days sell off) begins. This is like Black Friday, but it lasts longer. It usually starts on December 26th or 27th.
Shopping in Asia
The Philippines is said to have the longest Christmas season. It can start as early as September 1st and last until January 9th. During this time, you can hear carolers singing from door to door. People hang parols (star-shaped lanterns) and light up their homes. Special dawn masses called Simbang Gabi are held for nine days before Christmas Eve.
Hong Kong has many holiday activities. December 25th and 26th are public holidays. Most shops are open for shopping. People enjoy seeing the big Christmas tree in Central and the lights on buildings around Victoria Harbour. There's also a big party called Winterfest.
South Korea celebrates Christmas as a public holiday. About 30% of the population is Christian. People in Korea often prefer cash as Christmas gifts.
Singapore also widely celebrates Christmas as a public holiday. From mid-November to early January, Orchard Road is lit up with beautiful decorations.
Indonesia, a country with many Muslims, also celebrates Christmas as a public holiday. The Ministry of Religious Affairs holds a National Christmas Celebration every year. This tradition started in 1993. Since 2014, the celebration is held in a different city each year.
Holiday Greetings
People around the world use different greetings during the holiday season. These greetings are used for family, friends, and even strangers. The most common greetings are "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year." In some countries, "Happy Holidays" and "Season's Greetings" have also become popular.
A 2012 poll in the U.S. showed that most Americans (68%) prefer "Merry Christmas." In Canada, 72% preferred "Merry Christmas."
Merry Christmas and Happy Christmas
"Merry Christmas" and "Happy Christmas" are traditional greetings. They are used in English-speaking countries a few weeks before December 25th.
- "Merry Christmas" means "jolly, happy Christmas."
- "Happy Christmas" is a similar greeting used in Great Britain and Ireland.
- "Merry Xmas" is sometimes written, but rarely spoken. The "X" comes from the Greek letter "chi," which is the first letter of "Christ."
These greetings are popular even in countries with few Christians, like China and Japan. This is because of the cultural influence of Christian countries.
History of the Phrase
The word "merry" used to mean "pleasant." The first known Christmas greeting was in 1534. The phrase "Merry Christmas and a happy new year" was in a letter from 1699. This phrase is also in the song "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." It also appeared on the first commercial Christmas card in 1843.
In 1843, Charles Dickens' book A Christmas Carol was published. This book made "merry" mean "jovial and cheerful." The character Ebenezer Scrooge uses the phrase after he changes his ways. He exclaims, "A merry Christmas to everybody!" The book's popularity helped make "Merry Christmas" a very common greeting.
"Happy Christmas" became popular later in the 1800s. In the UK and Ireland, it's a common greeting. Queen Elizabeth II often used "Happy Christmas" in her annual messages.
Happy Holidays
In North America, "Happy Holidays" is a common greeting. It's used in stores, on cards, and in public places. Its use is mostly from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day. This phrase has been used as a Christmas greeting in the U.S. for over 100 years.
Some people prefer "Happy Holidays" because it includes many different celebrations. It is seen as a greeting for everyone, no matter their religion. Others feel it takes away from Christmas. They believe it tries to make Christmas less important. This has led to some discussions about the phrase.
Season's Greetings
"Season's Greetings" is often seen on holiday greeting cards and in advertisements. It's not usually spoken as much as "Merry Christmas." In the late 1800s, cards started saying "with the season's greetings." By the 1920s, it was shortened to "Season's Greetings." It has been a popular phrase on cards ever since. Even U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower used it on his 1955 Christmas card.
Health and the Holidays
Studies have looked at how the holiday season affects health. They found that small health changes during the holidays can add up over time. Also, the risk of some health problems can increase during this period.
Eating Habits
Research shows that people tend to gain a small amount of weight during the holidays. This weight gain often doesn't go away during the rest of the year. This can contribute to weight gain over a person's life. People who weigh themselves daily might avoid holiday weight gain. Also, keeping track of what you eat and how active you are can help.
For people with type 2 diabetes, blood sugar levels can increase during the winter holidays. These increases might not go back to normal later in the year.
Sharing food at work is common during the holidays. It's important to handle food safely. Perishable foods, like pizza or salads, should not sit out for more than two hours. This helps prevent bacteria from growing.
Other Health Concerns
A survey in 2005 found that holiday shopping caused headaches for nearly a quarter of people. It also caused sleeplessness for 11% of people.
Studies have also looked at heart problems. They found that the risk of heart-related deaths increases in December and January. This might be linked to the holidays, not just cold weather. It could be because people delay getting medical help during this busy time.
The Asthma Society of Canada says that people spend more time indoors during the holidays. This means more exposure to things that can irritate asthma. They suggest avoiding scented candles. Instead, use soy or beeswax candles, or no candles at all.
Other Holiday Effects
The Stanford Recycling Center says Americans throw away 25% more trash during the holidays. This is more than at other times of the year.
In colder places, people use more fuel for heating during the holidays. This can lead to concerns about gas supply.
The U.S. Fire Administration warns that the holidays bring a higher risk of fires. Many people decorate their homes with lights and candles. This can increase fire dangers. Most candle fires happen because of human error. Many deaths and injuries occur when people forget to put out candles before bed. Candle holders can also tip over or catch fire.
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