December 25th is celebrated as both a religious holiday and a global cultural and commercial event. People around the world celebrate this holiday through a variety of religious and secular traditions.
Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. It is traditional to exchange gifts, decorate Christmas trees, attend church, share meals with family and friends, and, of course, wait for Santa Claus. December 25th —Christmas Day—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.