The　simple　meaning　of　Christmas　is　to　celebrate　the　birth　of　Jesus　Christ.The　word　Christmas　originated　from　an　old　English　phrase，“Cristes　Masse”，meaning　the　mass　of　Christ.The　date，December　25，was　established　by　Bishop　Liberius　of　Rome　in　354AD.Before　then，the　birth　of　Jesus　was　observed　on　different　days　and　even　to　this　day　no　one　is　certain　the　exact　date　of　Christ's　birth.

Cultural　celebrations　of　Christmas　include　glittering　light　displays，the　ever-present　jolly　old　Santa　Claus，group　celebrations　and　singing　called　carolling，baked　holiday　cookies　and　cakes，decorations　of　mistletoe　and　pine　wreaths，lighted，ornamented　Christmas　trees　with　wrapped　presents　displayed　underneath.

In Europe，typically，family　and　friends　gather　together　on　Christmas　Eve，on　Dec　24，for　a　big　turkey　dinner，completed　with　Christmas　pudding(a　rich　cake　with　brandy　source).Everyone　shares　their　stories　of　the　year　or　brings　a　newsletter　to　read　out　for　what　has　happened　during　the　past　year.Games　are　played　after　the　dinner. On　Christmas　day，Dec　25，a　brunch　with　family　is　the　norm，followed　by　some　light　sporting　events，such　as　a　country　walk，to　digest　the　heavy　food.

Dec26 is called　Boxing　Day　in　the　UK，which　means　everyone　opens　their　box　of　presents-the most　joyful　day　for　the　children. In　the　US，having　just　celebrated　Thanksgiving　with　turkey，Christmas　Eve　dinner　is　more　likely　to　have　ham　on　the　menu　with　a　heavy　dessert.

The tradition　of　having　a　pine　tree　as　a　Christmas　Tree　is　believed　to　come　from　Germany. Since　the　medieval　time，lighting　a　candle　on　a　tree　is　common　to　welcome　guests.Such　practice　has　evolved　into　the　Christmas　celebration.

The formal　Christmas　Tree　was　introduced　to　England　about　100 years ago　when　Queen　Victoria　married　German　Albert. The　evidence　of　Victoria's　love　for　Albert　is　not　only　expressed　through　inheriting　the　German　tradition　of　having　a　Christmas　Tree　but　also　through　the　gold　Albert　Statues　that　Victoria　had　ordered　built　for　Albert，standing　in　many　places　in　London.In　America，the　Christmas　Tree　idea　was　brought　by　German　immigrants　too.

The custom　of　sending　Christmas　cards　was　initiated　in　England　around　1850.The　first　cards　were　decorated　with　elaborate　designs　of　flowers，birds　and　landscapes.

As for Saint　Nicholas，or　Santa　Claus，the　story　goes　back　to　the　third　century.
Legend　has　it，Saint　Nicholas　dedicated　all　his　life　to　helping　mankind，especially　children. He　died　on　December　6，which　marks　the　Saint　Nicholas　Day　in　many　European　countries　and　that　was　when　gifts　were　given　to　children.

He also　arrives　on　different　dates　to　deliver　presents　to　children　in　different　countries，typically　from　chimneys. Santa flew　over　house　tops　in　a　sleigh，he　dropped　coins　by　accident　and　he　landed　in　some　stockings　hanging　next　to　the　fireplace　to　dry. From　then　on，red　stockings　were　hung　by　the　chimney　in　hopes　Santa　would　fill　them　with　gifts.

Most countries　use　fabric　stocking　while　in　others，wood　shoes　are　also　placed　on　earth　for　Santa's　gift-drop-ping. In　America，the　image　of　Santa　Claus　was　conceived　by　the　famous　poem　“The　Night　Before　Christmas”，written　by　Clement　Moor.Moor　transformed　the　Santa　character　from　a　saint　in　a　long　robe　to　a　chubby，rosy-cheeked　elderly　man　in　a　red　suit，riding　on　a　sleigh　pulled　by　a　team　of　reindeer.

Information Source：
http://www.tesoon.com/english/htm/02/5899.htm

Pictures Source：
http://www.showimg.com/htm/20365.htm