Holiday Sweepstakes: You Could Win* a KitchenAid 7-Qt. Pro Line Stand Mixer and More! Enter the Giveaway

Follow us:

+
Holidays

Christmas

'Tis the season! Chat with Chowhounds about your favorite Christmas traditions: restaurants open for the holiday, family meals, go-to baking recipes, and more.

Tip
Why Do We Celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25?
There are several reasons Christmas is celebrated on Dec. 25. The date is nine months after March 25, a day recognized by Christians as Annunciation. It was the day Mary was told she would was having a baby. The nine months that follow are an approximation of Jesus’ birth. Dec. 25 also coincides with pagan Winter Solstice celebrations like Saturnalia' and Dies Natalis Solis Invicti. Since they were historically celebrated around that time of year there was precedent for holiday festivities during this time of year.
Read More
1 of 3
Next: What Does the Name 'Christmas' Mean and What Is the Meaning of Christmas?
Tip
What Does the Name 'Christmas' Mean and What Is the Meaning of Christmas?
Christmas is a shortened from the words “Christ’s mass.” It’s derived from the Middle English word "Cristemasse" which has Greek, Hebrew and Latin origins. Christmas is an annual holiday that honors the birth of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated by Christians around the world and is regarded as an important religious and cultural holiday.
Read More
2 of 3
Next: How Can We Celebrate Christmas?
Tip
How Can We Celebrate Christmas?
Christmas is traditionally celebrated in many ways and celebrations vary across cultures. In the days leading up to Christmas, people usually put up special decorations including colorful lights and evergreen trees. Gifts are often placed under the tree and exchanged on Christmas day among loved ones. Large meals are also typically served as part of the celebration as well.
Read More
3 of 3
Next: Why Do We Celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25?
How to Make Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies
While demonstrating recipes for simple sugar cookies and royal icing, Amy Wisniewski of the CHOW Test Kitchen shares a few helpful tips that'll help keep your holiday cookie-baking and -decorating fun and easy!

Next Up
How to Pimp Those Sugar Cookies for the Holidays
How to Serve Bubbly
Easiest Way to Cut a Spiral Ham

Christmas Recipes

Featured Recipe

Christmas Sugar Cookies
Christmas Dessert Cookies Holiday Cookies Baking Baking Powder Eggs Butter Vanilla Extract Make Ahead Salt Holidays Flour Sugar Gift Ideas Easy
18 Saves

Bridget Moynahan's Swedish Meatballs
Christmas Meatballs Dinner Winter Easy American Ground Beef Beef Stock Sour Cream Eggs Butter Allspice Ground Pork Onions Kosher Salt Holidays White Bread Flour Black Pepper
7 Saves

Red and Green Icebox Pinwheel Cookies
Christmas American Baking Cookies Medium Dessert Baking Powder Eggs Butter Vanilla Extract Kosher Salt Flour Sugar Holiday Cookies Food Coloring
13 Saves

Red Velvet Crackle Cookies
Christmas American Baking Holiday Cookies Easy Dessert Baking Powder Eggs Butter Vanilla Extract Brown Sugar Cocoa Powder Powdered Sugar Semisweet Chocolate Cookies Kosher Salt Flour Food Coloring
10 Saves

Pauley Perrette’s Bacon Blue Cheese Parsley Biscuits
American Blue Cheese Buttermilk Bacon Biscuits Easy Christmas Breakfast Baking Powder Baking Soda Butter Parsley Brunch Side Dish Kosher Salt Holidays Flour Sugar Winter Eat: Bon Appétit!
0 Saves

Spicy Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Cookies
Christmas Baking Dessert Chocolate Baking Powder Baking Soda Eggs Butter Ginger Vanilla Extract Hazelnut Brown Sugar Cookies Salt Holidays Holiday Cookies Easy Black Pepper Eat: Bon Appétit!
115 Saves

Candy Cane Cookies
Christmas Dessert Cookies Holiday Cookies Kid Friendly Holidays Sugar Cocktail Party Easy
0 Saves

Cornflake Macaroons with Chocolate Drizzle
Christmas Baking Dessert Cereal Chocolate Eggs Vanilla Extract Coconut Cookies Salt Sugar Macaroons Holiday Cookies Easy Eat: Bon Appétit!
663 Saves

Roasted Acorn Squash with Wild Rice Stuffing
Vegetarian Side Dish Squash Christmas Thanksgiving Roasting Dinner Party Gluten Free Healthy Pecans Acorn Squash Winter Squash Make Ahead Holidays Weeknight Dinner Fall Winter Comfort Food Main Dish Easy Eat: Bon Appétit!
See All Christmas Recipes ›

Community Discussions

Sort discussions by:

Latest commentsDate started

Display mode:

DetailedCompact

Holiday Treats 2018

by Caitlin McGrath 30 days ago

It’s not too soon to start thinking about what homemade goodies we’ll be giving to family, friends, neighbors, collea...

m

migmigmig commented 1 hour ago

Christmas Hanukkah Kwanzaa Candy Host & Hostess Gifts Holidays Gift Ideas Holiday Cookies
4

Christmas Dinner

by minncalif 9 hours ago

I'm wodering if there is a way to make a lamb roast and roasted potatoes in the oven at the same time. there roasting...

MidwesternerTT

MidwesternerTT commented 9 hours ago

Christmas Roasting Meal Planning

No oven on Christmas - What should I cook?!

by ursalita 3 days ago

It looks like I'll be hosting Christmas dinner with no oven. I will have access to all 5 burners on top of the stove....

m

mike0989 commented 12 hours ago

Christmas Vegetarian Meal Planning

Your favorite no-bake Christmas cookies?

by coll 17 days ago

I find myself without a working oven for the time being, and won't be able to get a repair done until after the end o...

coll

coll commented 1 day ago

Christmas Baking No-Cook Cookies

Aperol Spritzers

by shazzam 7 days ago

What appis can I bring to a small Xmas gathering serving Aperol Spritzers?

h

Harters commented 1 day ago

Christmas Appetizer Party Planning

Festive Traditional Christmas Dinner in Paris

by frostingfriends 2 days ago

Hi. I'm looking for a restaurant with a festive atmosphere that serves a traditional Christmas dinner in Paris. Any...

Parnassien

Parnassien commented 2 days ago

France Christmas Paris

Christmas day-off

by Foxeyblue 3 days ago

We have a Christmas day just the two of us sandwiched in between two days of family Christmas chaos with travel and l...

m

Madrid commented 2 days ago

Christmas Healthy Meal Planning

Need help completing Christmas Menu

by JBN 7 days ago

I’m hosting Christmas this year, and will be making both lunch and dinner. For lunch I’m making chicken and rice, sh...

s

small h commented 4 days ago

Christmas Meal Planning
1

Christmas Cookies 2018

by megney1 11 days ago

Hi All! I am prepping for Christmas cookie baking, and wanted to see what type of cookies you all like to make! I'...

c

ChefPattiJean commented 4 days ago

Christmas Baking Cookies Holiday Cookies
2

Christmas Breakfast

by iheartcooking 8 years ago

I'll admit I've seen posts along these lines so don't be mad that I'm asking... Traditionally I make Christmas Bre...

q

Querencia commented 5 days ago

Christmas Breakfast

Christmas gift ideas for Naples resident?

by Ratatouille 8 years ago

Hey chowhounds, My dad and his girlfriend live in Naples and I'm kinda stuck for a christmas gift to get them. I'm ...

c

Counselorkrs commented 8 days ago

Florida Christmas Gift Ideas

Finding the right Glühwein recipe, or is it the right wine? Or both?

by magnoliasouth 9 days ago

First off, I apologize for the length of this post. I just wanted to explain so you fully get what my problem is. ...

s

sr44 commented 8 days ago

Christmas German Wine Lost Recipes

Spanish turron

by lorry04 18 days ago

Hi all, I just recently moved to Cambridge MA and was wondering were in the Boston area could I find Spanish turro...

l

lorry04 commented 10 days ago

Boston Area Spain Christmas Cambridge Where to Buy...

Dim sum Christmas

by d4shop 13 days ago

Rather than hosting Christmas dinner, I’m thinking of dim sum late lunch then hosting a dessert buffet. Any recommend...

Ruth Lafler

Ruth Lafler commented 11 days ago

San Francisco Bay... Christmas Dim Sum San Mateo

Tate's Bake Shop Chocolate Peppermint Cookies - Ina Garten's Icebox Cake

by vanessa7 15 days ago

I couldn't resist picking up a box of Tate's double chocolate peppermint cookies from Whole Foods yesterday. Like the...

v

vanessa7 commented 15 days ago

Christmas Baking Cakes

Holiday Dinner for a Dozen (or so)

by partyfoodie 18 days ago

I am having a dozen or so family for a holiday get-together dinner and I don't have a large enough dining area to sea...

thegforceny

thegforceny commented 18 days ago

Christmas Party Planning

Rose's Christmas Cookies by Rose Levy Beranbaum - anybody baking from this?

by buttertart 8 years ago

Hi all, have perused this book and come up with some things I absolutely have to make (the three-nut ovals sound subl...

b

Barara1456 commented 20 days ago

Christmas Cookies Holiday Cookies
Events & Festivals Be the first to comment

Nov 25, Christkindlmarkt in Petaluma

Melanie Wong
 by Melanie Wong 21 days ago

Christkindlmarkt - Holiday Market & Craft Fair Sunday, November 25, 10am to 3pm Hermann Sons Hall 860 Western Ave ...

San Francisco Bay... Christmas German Bake Sale Petaluma

Mad hunt for vintage candy

by Phil_A_Mignon 11 years ago

My wife, for years, has raved about a holiday candy she enjoyed when she was a young girl back in the late seventies,...

m

mizrockport commented 1 month ago

Christmas Candy Mint
3

Lunch Christmas day 2018 in Los Angeles or close to LAX Airport

by tracybrettj 3 months ago

Hi, We arrive from Australia Christmas day into LA and looking for a restaurant for Christmas Lunch 5 adults. Any ...

m

MariaFeliz commented 1 month ago

Los Angeles Area Christmas Trip Planning

Photo Galleries on Christmas

Articles on Christmas

See All Articles ›
Locations Topics

Trending Locations:

San Francisco Bay Area Los Angeles Area California Florida Ontario (inc. Toronto) Mountain States Southeast Colorado North Carolina England Browse All Locations ›

Top Communities:

Trending Tags:

Christmas Hanukkah British Chinese Italian Baking Roasting Stainless Steel Frying Pans Roasters Browse All Tags ›