Christmas Day—The official tickets promotion and useful information of Christmas Day

By Haimo

December 20, 2022

🎅Christmas Day 2022: celebrate with Santa, Rudolf and mistletoe

Christmas is a sacred religious holiday for Christians

It has been said in films, songs and literature that Christmas is ✨the most wonderful time of the year✨. It may very well be true with the aromas of gingerbreads and mould wine, Santa Clause and gifts, jiggle bells and mistletoes. Christmas Day is a sacred religious holiday for Christians, but today it is also a widely popular cultural and secular celebration embraced worldwide. Whether people attend church service, dress to the nines for a glamorous party, or simply have a delicious meal with family, Christmas is a special and unforgettable festival in the middle of winter.

So, here's a brief guide to what to expect, the symbolisms, speciality foods, and how to celebrate one of the world's most iconic holidays around the world.

⭐What is Christmas Day?

Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ
(Source: Walter Chavez/unsplash)

🎅When

December 25^th

🎅Region

Worldwide

🎅Cultural Background

Religious / Christianity

🎅Why

Celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ

Every year Christmas falls on December 25th, and Christmas Day 2022 will be a Sunday. This special day marks the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Christians believe he is the last true prophet sent by God to save humanity. Hence, it is one of Christianity's most important religious holidays. For people who celebrate this sacred date, Christmas is a series of religious events, like attending Church services on Christmas day. But today, it is also marked by non-religious activities, such as decorating trees, social get-togethers, presents, and the Christmas feast.🎉

▶Many national governments mark Christmas as an official public holiday.

▶Still, in some non-Christian areas, Christmas Day is acknowledged symbolically but not as an official national holiday.

▶In some countries, only Christmas Day is a national holiday, such as in the US.

▶While in countries like the UK or the Netherlands, December 26th is also observed as an official day off.

▶In the UK, it is known as Boxing Day, while in other countries, December 26th is simply a continuation of the Christmas holiday or a chance to spend time outdoors or with family.

▶If Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, the previous Friday will be a public holiday. And if it falls on a Sunday, like Christmas Day 2022, the public holiday falls on the following Monday.

⭐Origin and History of Christmas

The word "Christmas" comes from the old English "Cristes maesse", or the mass of Christ. In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday, and the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. It wasn't until the fourth century that church officials decided to mark the birth of Jesus as a holiday. While Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the exact birth date of Jesus is unknown as it was not mentioned in the Bible, and there is little information about his early life. There is disagreement among scholars on when Jesus was born, as December 25th was chosen as Christ's birthday by Pope Julius I.

📖It is believed that by holding Christmas Day at the same time as traditional Winter Solstice and Pagan celebrations of Saturnalia, it will be widely embraced. And indeed, by the Middle Ages, Christianity had mostly replaced pagan religion. Today, Christmas holiday customs derive from various cultures, including Celtic, Roman and Christian.

⭐What's Open on Christmas Day 2022?

As a public holiday, government offices are closed on Christmas Day

Christmas Day, December 25th, is a public holiday in many countries worldwide, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. As a result, government offices, post offices, banks, national parks and many businesses like shops are closed on this day. So, if you are travelling on Christmas Day 2022, it is advisable to check with the local transport authority on schedule changes.

▶While things are changing year to year, retail and restaurant industries are gradually loosening the rules about closing on Christmas Day.

▶In the US, retail giants like Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid will remain open on December 25th.

▶Many restaurants, attractions and museums in big cities such as New York will continue to welcome visitors on Christmas day. To make the most of your Christmas Day 2022, remember to check the opening hours of major attractions and venues beforehand.

⭐Popular Christmas Day 2022 Traditions and Practices

Decorating the Christmas Tree is a popular holiday tradition
(Source: unsplash)

📖Father Christmas riding on a sleigh, kissing under a mistletoe, or opening gifts on Christmas morning, these festive rituals come to mind when picturing a classic Christmas Day. So, if you plan to celebrate Christmas Day 2022 like a local, here is a selection of quintessential Christmas traditions and how they come about.

🎅The Christmas Tree

The tradition of decorating trees, typically fir trees, to celebrate winter festivals has been practiced for thousands of years by pagans and Romans alike. The Christmas Tree as we know it today started in the UK when Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, brought a tree over from Germany in 1841 and placed it in Windsor Castle. The picture of the Royal Family in front of a decorated tree appeared in the newspaper, making it fashionable all over the country.

🎅Christmas Cards

Another festive ritual started in Victorian England. This time by Sir Henry Cole, who commissioned the first Christmas card in the UK in 1843 as he was too busy to write individual greetings to friends. Once again, their popularity grew after the Royal family started sending Christmas cards.

🎅Mistletoe and Kissing Under the Mistletoe

This hardy plant remains green throughout winter, is associated with the goddess of love by the Scandinavians and was a symbol of peace for the Romans. Perhaps that's why a kiss underneath it will lead to a year of good luck and, for young maidens, the possibility of marriage.

🎅Advent Calendars

First created in 1851 in Germany, the countdown calendar was how Lutherans marked down the days until Christmas with chalk on their front doors. The advent calendars as we know them today begin on December 1st and count down 24 days to Christmas Eve.

🎅Leaving Santa Milk and Cookies

The practice of leaving something to eat and drink for Santa and reindeer differs worldwide. In the US, milk and cookies are left, while families leave out a mince pie and sherry in the UK and Australia. Santa gets delicious chocolate madeleine biscuits in France, a clementine in Italy and a cup of coffee in Sweden. As for the reindeer, Argentina's children leave hay instead of carrots.

🎅Christmas Jumper Day

This is a newer Christmas activity that began in 2011 in the UK. There is no set date for this holiday, but it is always celebrated on a Friday, a couple of weeks before Christmas Day. For 2022, Christmas Jumper Day falls on December 10th. This is an annual fundraising event for the non-profit organization Save the Children. So, bring out those over-the-top festive jumpers and wear them proud in public for a good cause.

🎅Christmas Day Outfit

Whether you want to be cosy or glam in your Christmas Day outfit, it all depends on the occasion. A smart-casual dress is best for a family Christmas Day lunch while matching sets and elegant dresses are great for the church service. Bring out the glitz and glam for Christmas Day dinner or party, and don't forget to be comfortable doing outdoor activities or lounging around the house.

⭐How Will Christmas Day 2022 Be Celebrated Around the World?

Christmas traditions are as varied as the countries that celebrate it

📖As Christmas is celebrated in over 160 countries in the world, how peoples and cultures mark this day takes on different twists. Here are some interesting local traditions and practices of Christmas Day festivities around the globe.

🎅Iceland

It is all about the number 13 in Iceland. In the 13 days leading up to Christmas, 13, Santa Clauses or Yule Lads will pay a visit to the children on each of the 13 nights. Each evening, children put their shoes by the window, and a different Yule Lad will place gifts for the nice kids and rotting potatoes for the naughty children.

🎅Japan

Celebrating Christmas is a relatively new tradition in Japan. And it is partly thanks to a clever market campaign. Each year, many Japanese families find themselves ordering KFC for Christmas dinner. This practice is so popular that some even place their orders with the restaurant months in advance.

🎅Ireland

Main Christmas celebrations last from Christmas Eve until January 6th (Epiphany) in Ireland. On December 26th, kids go from door to door singing and holding a stick topped with a holly bush and a wren. Afterward, they'd ask for money for the "starving wren."

🎅Germany

Across Europe, but especially in cities and towns in Germany, the Christmas period means a lively Christmas Market where locals gather, drink, shop and indulge in seasonal gourmet foods. This age-old tradition of going to a Christmas market goes back hundreds of years in Germany, with many markets originating as far back as the 15th and 16th centuries.

🎅Singapore

For many people worldwide, Christmas is celebrated as a secular holiday like in Singapore. On Christmas Day 2022, why not head to Singapore's famous Orchard Road shopping area or Gardens by the Bay, where residents will be dazzled by some of the most impressive festive decorations in the world?

⭐Orthodox Christmas Customs

Orthodox Christmas Day is marked on January 7^th (Source: Maria K/unsplash)

📖Although most people think of Christmas Day as December 25th, it is essential to know that, for about 260 million Orthodox Christians, the birth of Christ is celebrated on January 7th as they use the Julian calendar. Under Orthodox Christmas traditions and customs, the Christmas period and its festivities are much less commercialized than in the rest of the world. Orthodox Christmas is marked in countries like Egypt, Ethiopia, Russia, Serbia, and Macedonia.

▶On Orthodox Christmas Day, people typically attend church and eat a big feast of local speciality dishes.

▶In Ethiopia, for example, on Christmas Day 2022, people will be expected to participate in a Christmas Mass and a special candlelit Christmas procession where they'll wear a thin white shawl called a Netela. Gift giving is uncommon, as it's a time for church, games and food.

⭐Food, Glorious Christmas Food!

Christmas turkey tradition can be traced back to Henry VIII
(Source: NajlaCam/unsplash)

One unmissable part of the Christmas holiday celebration has got to be the scrumptious feast food. While people commonly think of roasted whole turkey and Christmas pudding, the specialty culinary delights from different regions of the world can be as varied as their customs. So if you love food, consider heading to some of these locations for their delicious festival foods this Christmas Day 2022.

▶Take roast ham or turkey, for example, though they are the holiday favorites in the UK or the US, in Spain, roast lamb is the preferred meat of choice.

▶Meanwhile, in Italy, due to religious traditions in the country, many dishes don't have meat, hence soup has become a popular festive food.

▶And what about typical Christmas desserts? In Germany, gingerbread (Lebkuchen) calls the shot instead of Christmas pudding which is a must in the UK.

▶In Mexico, the popular festive food is tamale, a corn-based dough mixture filled with various meats, beans and cheese.

▶What about some seafood on Christmas Day? In France, savour seafood dishes like oysters, prawns and lobster are served with decadent desserts such as the bûche de Noël or Yule log.

▶In the Southern Hemisphere, such as New Zealand, where Christmas falls in the summer, locals prefer to put on a barbecue of grilled seafood and exotic meats for Christmas lunch.

⭐Plan Your Christmas Day 2022 Holiday With Trip.com

Many European countries put on festive Christmas markets yearly

Fancy heading somewhere magical for Christmas Day 2022? Check out these Trip.com Christmas experiences and offers here

Private Christmas Tour with Christmas Afternoon Tea Ceremony in Old Pasadena

Illumination Bus Tour - Christmas Lights Show

Munich Christmas Markets Tour

Leipzig Christmas Market Private Day Trip from Berlin

Tokyo Christmas Tour with a Local Guide: Private & Tailored to You

FAQ

What day is Christmas Day 2022?

Christmas Day 2022 falls on Sunday, December 25th.
When is Christmas Jumper Day 2021?

For 2021, Christmas Jumper Day fell on Friday, December 10th.
What do people celebrate on Christmas Day?

Christmas is a Christian festival that celebrates the birth of Jesus.
Where are some of the best Christmas Markets in the world?

European countries like Germany, France, and Austria are famed for their festive Christmas markets. Check out this Trip.com article https://www.trip.com/hot/christmas-markets/
When are the Christmas Markets?

Visitors can find that most Christmas Markets open from late November all the way to a day or two before Christmas.

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🎅Christmas Day 2022: celebrate with Santa, Rudolf and mistletoe

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