12月25日，是基督教徒紀(jì)念耶穌誕生的日子，稱為圣誕節(jié)。
從12月24日于翌年1月6日為圣誕節(jié)節(jié)期。節(jié)日期間，各國基督教徒都舉行隆重的紀(jì)念儀式。圣誕節(jié)本來是基督教徒的節(jié)日，由于人們格外重視，它便成為一個全民性的節(jié)日，是西方國家一年中最盛大的節(jié)日，可以和新年相提并論，類似我國過春節(jié)。
西方人以紅、綠、白三色為圣誕色，圣誕節(jié)來臨時家家戶戶都要用圣誕色來裝飾。紅色的有圣誕花和圣誕蠟燭。綠色的是圣誕樹。它是圣誕節(jié)的主要裝飾品，用砍伐來的杉、柏一類呈塔形的常青樹裝飾而成。上面懸掛著五顏六色的彩燈、禮物和紙花，還點燃著圣誕蠟燭。紅色與白色相映成趣的是圣誕老人，他是圣誕節(jié)活動中最受歡迎的人物。西方兒童在圣誕夜臨睡之前，要在壁爐前或枕頭旁放上一只襪子，等候圣誕老人在他們?nèi)胨蟀讯Y物放在襪子內(nèi)。在西方，扮演圣誕老人也是一種習(xí)俗。
Christmas, annual Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Most members of the Roman Catholic Church and followers of Protestantism celebrate Christmas on December 25, and many celebrate on the evening of December 24 as well. Members of the Eastern Orthodox Church usually delay their most important seasonal ceremonies until January 6, when they celebrate Epiphany, a commemoration of the baptism of Jesus. Epiphany also traditionally commemorates the arrival of the Three Wise Men of the East in Bethlehem (near Jerusalem, Israel), where they adored the infant Jesus and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The official Christmas season, popularly known as either Christmastide or the Twelve Days of Christmas, extends from the anniversary of Christ’s birth on December 25 to the feast of Epiphany on January 6.
Christmas is based on the story of Jesus’ birth as described in the Gospel according to Matthew (see Matthew 1:18-2:12) and the Gospel according to Luke (see Luke 1:26-56). Roman Catholics first celebrated Christmas, then known as the Feast of the Nativity, as early as 336 ad. The word Christmas entered the English language sometime around 1050 as the Old English phrase Christes maesse, meaning “festival of Christ.” Scholars believe the frequently used shortened form of Christmas—Xmas—may have come into use in the 13th century. The X stands for the Greek letter chi, an abbreviation of Khristos (Christ), and also represents the cross on which
圣誕節(jié)祝福語英文版外的版本——日文版
祝我最愛的人身體健康，每一年的圣誕節(jié)都能開開心心的度過。
祝你圣誕吉祥，新年如意。想念你的我在這佳節(jié)十分為你帶來最美好的祝福。
あなたのクリスマスの吉祥如意、新年。あなたの私にこの佳節(jié)非常にあなたをもたらす最もすばらしい祝福。
祝我最好的朋友圣誕快樂!希望你的煩惱隨著新年來臨，全部煙消云散。
私の良い友達にクリスマスの楽しみを祈ります!あなたの悩みの新年が近づいてきて、全部消えて。
愿你盡情享受圣誕節(jié)的狂歡，希望我們的友誼天長地久!
.我最深長的祝福，給我最愛的妻子，你永遠是我珍貴的圣誕禮物，也是我的所有。 私の最も深な祝福、私に最愛の妻、あなたは永遠に私に貴重なクリスマスプレゼントも、すべて私の。