Does Christmas start on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? When does the celebration begin?

I don't personally celebrate the holiday but many Christian family's I know have their own distinct ways of how they celebrate Christmas.

Some get together on Christmas eve with relatives to open presents and have dinner while others have the big family get together on Christmas day. Its a matter of family preference and tradition.

Actually, Christmas eve means the eve of Christmas. It's not an actual holiday. An eve is the evening before a holiday or an event. Or it can simply mean an evening, which can be used in such a sentence as "will you meet me on the eve of the fourth?" Christmas eve is not a holiday, but people tend to see it as one because it is the day before Christmas when families are getting ready for the actual holiday. Also, some families follow traditions of going to a family member's house on Christmas eve so they can celebrate with other family on Christmas day. The celebration of Christmas begins when the day begins, at 12:00 AM, but most families celebrate when they wake up, which is considered a much better time than midnight. Of course, it all depends on the family or the person celebrating Christmas as to when they should start celebrating. Some do start on Christmas eve, but that does not mean that it is a holiday.

Christmas Eve

We celebrate it Christmas Eve. When I was a little girl, I used to get so excited, and wait for Santa during the night and on the Eve of Christmas, we would open our presents, and go to my grandparents for pizza and gifts. Then Christmas Day we had the huge dinner.

Most Christians in other countries celebrate both days. Christmas eve is when Mary and Joseph were looking for shelter. When they found it, they spent the night and Jesus was born in the wee hours of Christmas Day. Some make a pilgrimage from town to town doing the same thing Mary and Joseph did. In Mexico its called a posada.

Well, people celebrate Christmas Eve like my family and relatives we celebrate it at my aunt's house, we don't do presents or anything, but we do all the big stuff with the immediate family on Christmas Day. We Celebrate Christmas Eve by having the traditional foods of our ancestors. Like it has in the bible for the Christmas Eve Vigil Masses for Jesus had many relatives, and how his birth came about. They proclaim Jesus' relaties and Family History and how he came about. So, I think of that why we could possibly celebrate it on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day, I go to my Grandma's House and My other Aunt and Uncle, and my two cousins come over. My family comes too. We have the traditional present opening which is always nice, because I have presents at my house, to spend time with my family, and at my grandma's to celebrate it with my other few relatives. Then, My family (not my aunts or uncles or cousins go), we go to my other Uncle's House for Christmas Day at Night to Spend time with my other relatives. Merry CHRISTmas.

The Majority of people start celebrating on Christmas day. But it all comes down to what the family or person wants to do. It`s a holiday that can be celebrated so many different ways, and whatever you choose is just fine.

Happy Holidays!

Christmas starts at midnight on Christmas Day. Christmas Eve is a nice way to prepare for Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

We start Christmas Eve, cookies, family meal, TV stuff. Then presents and the big family on Christmas day.

Its always nice to go to a Carols by Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve.But i say the celebrations start Christmas day cos that is the day Jesus was born Happy Christmas to You!!!