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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!

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Christmas Recipes

Featured Recipe

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
196 Saves

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

Christmas Brisket Fried Rice
Jewish Stir-Fry Brisket Jasmine Rice Dinner Easy Christmas Hanukkah American Asian Soy Sauce Eggs Canola Oil Lime Juice Cilantro Ginger Garlic Green Peas Peas Scallions Kosher Salt Black Pepper Sriracha
11 Saves

Savory Cheese Cookies
Christmas Scandinavian Gouda Appetizer Easy Easter New Year's Eve Academy Awards Dinner Party Parmesan Gin Baking Powder Milk Butter Cookies Snack Kosher Salt Holidays Party Planning Flour Cheese Cocktail Party Black Pepper
8 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!
5 Saves

Meatballs al Forno in Arrabbiata Sauce
Los Angeles Area Christmas Italian Dinner Party Ground Beef Milk Eggs Olive Oil Basil Chili Powder Oregano Parsley Ground Pork Meatballs Garlic Onions Tomatoes Dinner Make Ahead Kosher Salt Easy Breadcrumbs Black Pepper Eat: Bon Appétit!
657 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!
269 Saves

Christmas Coconut Cake
Easter Christmas Southern Baking Dessert Dinner Party Bridal Shower Coconut Marshmallows Cakes Cream Whipped Cream Eat: Bon Appétit!
120 Saves

The Ultimate Eggnog Punch
Christmas Punch Eggnog Dinner Party Bourbon Milk Dairy Eggs Nutmeg Cocktails Drink Holidays Sugar Cream Cocktail Party Easy
See All Christmas Recipes ›

Community Discussions

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4 nights in Nashville over Christmas

by jcoves73 1 month ago

Hey everyone! I will be visiting Nashville for the first time over the Christmas holiday and I’m really excited. We w...

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rlcole4346 commented 20 days ago

Christmas Tennessee Nashville Trip Planning

Breakfast in Bed

by ishturns50 3 months ago

SO - I am turning 50 this December and it is my plan to see the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular in NYC. I would be ha...

s

saregama commented 3 months ago

Manhattan Christmas Breakfast Trip Planning

Mexican foodie adventure, recommendations?

by Belkisw 1 year ago

I have not been to Mexico since I was a child, and have decided this coming Christmas my husband, mother, and I shoul...

b

Belkisw commented 7 months ago

Mexico Christmas Trip Planning

Serve other food at a morning cookie exchange?

by mhulgrave 8 months ago

Hosting a morning Christmas cookie exchange at 9 am. Will be serving coffee/tea etc. Do I need to have other food o...

d

damiano commented 7 months ago

Christmas Party Planning

Mariners' Christmas Challenges

by Saylors_Christmas 8 months ago

I am working on a commercial ship. We did not get our full provisions which were expected at our last port, and there...

s

SunnyAnd75 commented 7 months ago

Christmas BBQ Food Preferences

Holiday Treats 2017

by Caitlin McGrath 9 months ago

What kind of cookies, cake, confections, savory snacks, preserves, potables, and so on are you planning to put by for...

Caitlin McGrath

Caitlin McGrath commented 8 months ago

Christmas Christmas Eve Hanukkah Candy Snack Holidays Gift Ideas Holiday Cookies
4

Where to eat on Christmas Day 2017

by Regina999 9 months ago

Hi all. My daughter and I are spending Christmas in Chicago this year (we will be staying in the Loop). I've been s...

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Regina999 commented 8 months ago

Chicago Area Christmas

What's it like in Key West post-Irma?

by dcbbq 9 months ago

We're headed to Key West for Christmas, and wonder what to expect. Are all of the restaurants and hotels back up and...

f

Foodjunkiez commented 8 months ago

Florida Christmas Trip Planning Restaurant Intel Florida Keys

Veg-friendly Christmas in Honolulu

by slyc 9 months ago

My husband and I will be in Honolulu for Christmas. Does anyone have recommendations for good places to eat that are ...

m

macaraca commented 8 months ago

Hawaii Christmas Vegetarian Honolulu Trip Planning

What's your traditional Christmas dinner?

by coffeebean79 8 months ago

My parents were not foodies and I didn't grow up with any solid Christmas dinner traditions. I have two young kids (w...

Kimnamkimchi

Kimnamkimchi commented 8 months ago

Christmas Holidays Meal Planning
2

Nice Christmas dinner near Beverly Hills

by josephnl 7 years ago

We want to take an elegant older woman to dinner on Christmas day in the Beverly Hills area. She is very special and...

m

malibulady commented 8 months ago

Los Angeles Area Christmas Dinner Beverly Hills
Restaurants & Bars Be the first to comment

Holiday Buñuelos @ Valdez Hot Dogs estilo Mexicali | Salinas

Melanie Wong
 by Melanie Wong 8 months ago

On the first sign of chill in October, I stopped by Sr. Valdez's Hot Dogs estilo Mexicali cart (Market Street @ Ivy S...

California Christmas Mexican Salinas Street Food

Christmas pudding help please

by farthing 8 months ago

I made my usual Epicurious Christmas pudding recipe which I have made umpteen times before. This year when I steamed...

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farthing commented 8 months ago

Christmas Baking Pudding Recipe Fixes

Gratin with gnocchi

by michaeljc70 8 months ago

I was thinking of making a gratin with gnocchi for Christmas since it will be something a little different than a reg...

hotoynoodle

hotoynoodle commented 8 months ago

Christmas Gnocchi

Using Failed Sugar Cookies?

by cookin_mama 8 months ago

I made a new sugar cookie recipe yesterday. The flavour of the cookie is great, but the shape didn't hold, so they ar...

babette feasts

babette feasts commented 8 months ago

Christmas Baking

Does anyone know where I can find partridge in NYC?

by LiliSG 9 months ago

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone knew of any stores/markets where I could buy partridge in NYC (preferably n...

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foodwhisperer commented 8 months ago

Manhattan New York State (e... Christmas Where to Buy...

Does anyone know of a bakery in the NYC area that has yule log cookies? Or a recipe for them?

by Buttercream 8 months ago

About 8 years ago, there was a bakery in Greenwich Village on Greenwich street, that made the most amazing yule log c...

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Foxeyblue commented 8 months ago

Manhattan Outer Boroughs Christmas Bakery Cookies Queens Brooklyn Staten Island

Christmas Day in Madrid

by jeremya 8 months ago

Does anyone have recommendations for good restaurants that would be open Christmas Day in Madrid for lunch or dinner?...

t

tex.s.toast commented 8 months ago

Spain Christmas Madrid Restaurant Intel

Asheville NC-Christmas Dinner

by flobow 11 months ago

As we are heading to Asheville NC for Christmas looking for recommendations for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner.

Helind

Helind commented 8 months ago

Southeast Christmas North Carolina Asheville Trip Planning

Make ahead dishes for Christmas

by pumpkinspice 8 months ago

What are your favourite make ahead dishes for Christmas? Ideally, I can put it together a week in advance (freeze if ...

q

Querencia commented 8 months ago

Christmas Side Dish Make Ahead Meal Planning

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