 Christmas. Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Observed primarily on December 25 as religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. Of feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it is preceded by the season of advent after the nativity fast and initiates the season of Christmastide, which historically in the West lasts 12 days and culminates on 12th night. In some traditions, Christmastide includes an octade. Christmas Day is a public holiday in many of the world's nations, is celebrated religiously by the majority of Christians, as well as culturally by many non-Christians, and forms an integral part of the holiday season centered around it. The traditional Christmas narrative, the nativity of Jesus, delineated in the New Testament says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in accordance with messianic prophecies. When Joseph and Mary arrived in the city, the inn had no room and so they were offered the stable where the Christ child was soon born, with angels proclaiming this news to shepherds who then further disseminated the information. Although the month and date of Jesus' birth are unknown, by the early to mid-4th century the Western Christian Church had placed Christmas on December 25, the date that was later adopted in the East. Today, most Christians celebrate on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar, which has been adopted almost universally in the civil calendars used in countries throughout the world. However, some Eastern Christian churches celebrate Christmas on December 25 of the older Julian calendar, which currently corresponds to January 7 in the Gregorian calendar, the day after the Western Christian Church celebrates the Epiphany. This is not a disagreement over the date of Christmas as such, but rather the preference of which calendar should be used to determine the date that is December 25. Moreover, for Christians, the belief that God came into the world in the form of man to atone for the sense of humanity, rather than the exact birth date, is considered to be the primary purpose in celebrating Christmas. The celebratory customs associated in various countries with Christmas have a mix of pre-Christian, Christian, and secular themes and origins. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, completing an advent calendar or advent wreath, Christmas music and caroling, lighting a cristino, viewing a nativity flame, an exchange of Christmas cards, church services, a special meal, pulling Christmas crackers and a display of various Christmas decorations, including Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly. In addition, several closely related and often interchangeable figures, known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, and Christkind, are associated with bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season and have their own body of traditions and lore. Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened economic activity, the holiday has become a significant event and key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact of Christmas has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of the world.