Christmas 2025 guide: Know date, origin, history, and why it is celebrated

The most joyful time of the year is here, with Christmas set to be celebrated on Thursday, Dec 25 globally. Also, this date has been recognised as a United States federal holiday since the late 1800s

Christmas 2025 Date: Christmas, observed every year on December 25, is among the most widely celebrated festivals in the world. While it marks a sacred religious occasion for Christians, it has also evolved into a global cultural event that transcends faith, geography and tradition. 

 

On this day, Christians commemorate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the spiritual leader whose teachings influenced their faith. Customs include giving and receiving gifts, decorating Christmas trees, going to church, and dining with loved ones. 

 

Many anticipate Santa Claus's coming as well. The United States has recognised Christmas Day as a federal holiday since the late 1800s, and it falls on a Thursday, December 25, in 2025. 

 

History of Christmas

The decision to celebrate Christmas on December 25 was influenced by a number of factors. In addition to falling 9 months after March 25, which many considered to be the vernal equinox and the date associated with the conception of Jesus Christ, this day was designated as the winter solstice in the Roman calendar. 

 

Christmas was banned in Puritan England because it was seen to be associated with intoxication and bad behaviour. In 1660, the government reinstated the celebration as an official holiday in England.

 

In 1834, the UK government declared Christmas Day to be a bank holiday. English writers of the 19th century then contributed to the development and spread of contemporary Christmas customs. 

 

One of the most well-known novelists of the Victorian era, Charles Dickens, authored A Christmas Carol in 1843. The book was an immediate hit and had a big impact on how people perceived Christmas as a time for compassion, family, and goodwill. 

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Origin of the Christmas date

The United States made Christmas a federal holiday on June 26, 1870, according to a blog post by John De Gree titled A History of Christmas in America. 

 

Church Fathers encouraged the idea of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, and the Church formally designated December 25 as the date of commemoration in the early fourth century.

 

The precise date of Christ's birth has long been disputed by academics, but early Christians connected Jesus to the Sun by employing expressions like "Sun of righteousness." The first recorded Christmas celebration in Rome took place on December 25, AD 336, and the Romans commemorated the winter solstice on the same day. 

Significance of Christmas

Christmas is fundamentally a celebration of the idea that God entered the world in human form to offer salvation, forgiveness, and hope. It has also grown to represent compassion, harmony, and our common humanity over time. The spiritual message of love and kindness continues to define the core of Christmas, despite its commercial development.

 

Nowadays, a large population of the world celebrates Christmas. A wider celebration of the festival has been encouraged by Christian minorities and international cultural influences. The secular aspects of Christmas, including gift-giving, decorations, and Christmas trees, have been welcomed in nations like Japan, where Christians make up a small portion of the population.