Was (wer) ist Christmas$13585$ - definition
![Japanese-style Christmas cakes in a display case at [[Nijiya Market]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/20171224 Nijiya Market in San Diego.jpg?width=200 "Japanese-style Christmas cakes in a display case at [[Nijiya Market]]")
.jpg?width=200 "Christmas dinner")
![JA Fitzgerald]] showing nocturnal visitors in 1868, before the American Santa Claus tradition took hold.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Fairy Gifts by JA Fitzgerald, Illustrated London News 19 Dec 1868.jpg?width=200 "JA Fitzgerald]] showing nocturnal visitors in 1868, before the American Santa Claus tradition took hold.")
![OED]]'s'' definition<ref name="OED"/> of Father Christmas as "a personification of Christmas, now conventionally pictured as a benevolent old man with a long white beard and red clothes trimmed with white fur, who brings presents for children on the night before Christmas Day".](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Father Christmas, Tuck Photo Oilette postcard 1919, front.jpg?width=200 "OED]]'s'' definition<ref name=\"OED\"/> of Father Christmas as \"a personification of Christmas, now conventionally pictured as a benevolent old man with a long white beard and red clothes trimmed with white fur, who brings presents for children on the night before Christmas Day\".")
![JRR Tolkien]], published in 1976](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Father Christmas Packing 1931 by JRR Tolkien.jpg?width=200 "JRR Tolkien]], published in 1976")
![''Punch'']], Dec 1919](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Father Christmas cartoon, Punch magazine, 24 December 1919.jpg?width=200 "''Punch'']], Dec 1919")
![A [[Merry England]] vision of Old Christmas 1836](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Old Christmas riding a goat, by Robert Seymour, 1836.jpg?width=200 "A [[Merry England]] vision of Old Christmas 1836")
!['[[Ghost of Christmas Present]]' in [[Charles Dickens]]'s ''[[A Christmas Carol]] 1843''.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Scrooges third visitor-John Leech,1843 edit.jpg?width=200 "'[[Ghost of Christmas Present]]' in [[Charles Dickens]]'s ''[[A Christmas Carol]] 1843''.")
![play]] with long robe, holly wreath and staff.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Mummers, by Robert Seymour, 1836.jpg?width=200 "play]] with long robe, holly wreath and staff.")
![play]]. The Old Father Christmas character is on the far left.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sandys 1852 - Modern Christmas Plays, ChapterVIII.jpg?width=200 "play]]. The Old Father Christmas character is on the far left.")
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Wikipedia
Christmas dinner is a meal traditionally eaten at Christmas. This meal can take place any time from the evening of Christmas Eve to the evening of Christmas Day itself. The meals are often particularly rich and substantial, in the tradition of the Christian feast day celebration, and form a significant part of gatherings held to celebrate the arrival of Christmastide. In many cases, there is a ritual element to the meal related to the religious celebration, such as the saying of grace.
The actual meal consumed varies in different parts of the world with regional cuisines and local traditions. In many parts of the world, particularly former British colonies, the meal shares some connection with the English Christmas dinner involving roasted meats and pudding of some description. The Christmas pudding and Christmas cake evolved from this tradition.
In countries without a lengthy Christian tradition, the Christmas meal may be more heavily influenced by popular culture. An example of this is Japan, where a KFC takeaway meal is traditionally consumed.
