When is Christmas 2022? Here’s what you need to know
As the clock strikes midnight on November 1st, it can feel like Christmas is already underway. Despite this, the holiday, which is often celebrated with gifts and tree decorations, falls on the same date every year: December 25th.
From the cookies, tinsel, ribbons and ubiquity of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You,” the holiday has evolved beyond its religious traditions.
So if you’ve already hung up your stockings and are excited for Santa Claus to come to town, here’s everything you need to know about Christmas 2022 and other information about the holiday.
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When is Christmas 2022?
Christmas is Sunday, December 25th, 2022. Since it falls on a Sunday, Christmas Day is Monday, December 26th, 2022. Christmas Eve falls on Saturday, December 24th, 2022.
The English term “Christmas” is fairly recent in origin from its former name”Yule,” says Britannica. In other countries, the name of the holiday is more similar to “birth,” such as “Navidad” in Spanish, “Natale” in Italian, and “Noël” in French.
While the exact birth date of Jesus Christ is unclear, Christmas celebrates Christ’s birth. Pope Julius I chose December 25 as the official date of the birth, according to History.com.
Despite its religious origins, Christmas is also celebrated as a secular festival in many countries. Christmas has been a public holiday in the United States since 1870.
How many days until Christmas?
There are still 3 days until Christmas. There are still 2 days until Christmas Eve.
Is Santa real?
Santa Claus is often depicted as a cheerful, older and taller man with a white beard who is always dressed in red. But the legend of Kris Kringle is very different from what we see today.
Santa’s origins date back to around AD 280, the year Saint Nicholas was born, says History.com. The monk was known for his piety and kindness, leading to his becoming known as the “protector of children and sailors”. His feast day is celebrated on December 6th.
So how did this saint come to be associated with Christmas?
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St. Nicholas remained a popular figure in Europe, particularly in Holland. The name Santa Claus derives from the Dutch nickname “Sinter Klaas”, which is shortened to Sint Nikolaas, Dutch for Saint Nicholas.
Current depictions of Santa Claus originated in 1804 when John Pintard, a member of the New York Historical Society, distributed woodcuts of Saint Nicholas at the Society’s annual meeting. The backgrounds of these clippings showed stockings stuffed with toys and fruit hanging over a fireplace—images we are familiar with today.
In 1809, the stories of Sinter Klaas were popularized by Washington Irving in his book The History of New York, in which Irving depicted Claus as the “patron saint of New York.”
Now Santa is known for using his reindeer to deliver toys to good kids on his sleigh: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and the most famous reindeer of all, Rudolph.
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