How many days until Santa arrives?

On By Littum

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Pine trees decorated with ornaments, gifts decorated with bows and ribbons, gingerbread … and Mariah Carey. There is one holiday that connects all of these things.

Over the years, Christmas has evolved past its religious traditions and origins. But no matter how you ring in the holiday season, Christmas always falls on the same date: December 25.

If you’ve already hung up your stockings and are eager for Santa Claus to come to town, you can see here how many people sleep until Christmas.

How many days until Christmas?

Christmas Day will be Wednesday 25 December 2024. Christmas Eve will fall on Tuesday 24 December.

Is Christmas a federal holiday?

Yes, Christmas is a federal holiday. It is one of 11 federal holidays in the United States

Christmas was designated as a federal holiday 26 June 1870reports the History Channel.

How did Christmas get its name?

The English name “Christmas” has more recent origins than earlier references to the holiday, according to Britannica. It derives from “Mass on Christ’s Day” as the holiday celebrates the birth of Christ.

However, the exact birth date of Jesus Christ is unclear, Pope Julius I chose 25 Dec to be the Church’s official Nativity, the History Channel reports. It is believed that the date was chosen in “an attempt to adopt and absorb the traditions” of the pagan festival Saturnaliawhich took place around the winter solstice.

In other countries, the name for Christmas is phonetically closer to “nativity”, such as “Navidad” in Spanish, “Natale” in Italian and “Noël” in French.

Despite its religious origins, Christmas is also celebrated as a secular holiday in many countries.

What is the true story of Santa Claus?

A cheerful, older and larger man with a white beard, dressed in red, may come to mind when you think of Santa Claus. But the legend of Kris Kringle is different from the way we have come to know him.

The origins of Santa Claus go back to approx 280 AD when St. Nicholas was born, the History Channel reports. The monk – whose feast day is December 6 – was known for his piety and kindness. He would eventually become known as “protector of children and sailors.”

So how did the saint end up becoming the figurehead of Christmas?

St. Nicholas was a popular figure in Europe, especially in the Netherlands, according to the History Channel. The name Santa comes from the Dutch nickname “Sinter Klaas.” It is a shortened form of “Sint Nikolaas,” which is Dutch for Saint Nicholas.

Current depictions of Santa began around 1804 when John Pintard, a member of the New York Historical Society, distributed woodcuts of St. Nicholas at the company’s annual meeting. The background of these cuttings showed stockings filled with toys and fruit hung over a fireplace, similar to the imagery we still have today.

In 1809, stories about Sinter Klaas were popularized by Washington Irving through his book, “The History of New York.” Irving portrayed Claus as “the patron saint of New York” according to the History Channel.

Today, Santa Claus is known for delivering toys to good children on his sleigh with the help of his reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and the most famous reindeer of all, Rudolph.

Just curious about more? We’ve got you covered

USA TODAY explores the questions you and others ask every day. From “Why Is It Called Winter?” to “Are poinsettias poisonous to dogs?” to “What is December’s birthstone?” – we strive to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Go to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer.