Christmas traditions explored
Learn more about Christmas.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Rpianoshow/Dreamstime.comOverview of the Candomblé religion, as practiced in Bahia, Brazil.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.The Kiddush is recited before the Sabbath meal.Media Editor: Lee Goldstein
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn about the life and thought of René Descartes.
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Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, MainzChristmas trees have a very long history, though the practice of bringing trees inside and decorating them is more recent.
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© American Chemical Society (A Britannica Publishing Partner)Learn how tinsel evolved from a source of lead poisoning to its present polyvinyl chloride (PVC) form.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.It all goes back to Queen Elizabeth I. And witches.
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Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, MainzLearn about the Christmas traditions of Advent calendars and wreaths.
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Transcript
Did You Know? Christmas
Christmas is a Christian religious holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
Though no one knows for sure why December 25 was chosen as the date, it might be because the 25th was also the day of pagan winter solstice celebrations.
Most recent Christmas traditions don’t have ancient religious origins.
Christmas trees, Santa Claus, Advent calendars, and gift exchanges are all recent customs that aren’t strongly connected to Christianity.
Many non-Western countries adapt or add to Western Christmas traditions.
In India the evergreen Christmas tree is replaced by the mango tree or the bamboo tree, and Japanese Buddhist and Shinto practitioners observe secular Christmas traditions without religious aspects.
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