The Story of Christmas

The story of Jesus Christ's birth, celebrated every year on Christmas Day, is based on Luke and Matthew's gospels in the Holy Bible:

According to this, Mary and Joseph travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem of Judea, to enroll in the census ordered by the Roman emperor, Augustus. Turned away by every inn, they lodged in a simple stable. There, in a manger, Mary gave birth to Jesus.

The three wise men, or Magi, reported to King Herod that they had seen a star heralding the birth of a king. Finding the manger, they presented Jesus with treasures of "gold, frankincense, and myrrh".

Some Christmas carols refer to the shepherds observing a huge star directly over Bethlehem, and following it to the birthplace.

Christmas is celebrated on December 25 in Catholic, Protestant, and most Orthodox churches. The Coptic, Jerusalem, Russian, Serbian and Georgian orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on January 7.

Countries celebrating Christmas on December 25th recognize the previous day as Christmas Eve. In Poland, the Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia, Christmas Day and the following day are called First and Second Christmas Day.

In many European countries, December 26th is Boxing Day.