For Christians, Christmas is a sacred "Mass for Christ" (Christ’s Mass) that celebrates the Incarnation—the belief that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ. While the secular world focuses on Santa and shopping, the religious observance begins with Advent, a four-week season of prayerful waiting. On Christmas Eve, many attend a solemn Midnight Mass to welcome the "Light of the World" into the darkness. On Christmas Day, families celebrate the Nativity story of Jesus being born in a stable in Bethlehem, symbolizing God’s love and humility. The celebration officially continues for twelve days (Christmastide), ending on January 6th with Epiphany. In 2026, Christmas falls on Friday, December 25th.