Christmas is observed primarily by Christians around the world as a religious festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated on December 25 by most Christian denominations using the Gregorian calendar, including Catholics and Protestants. However, many Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on January 7, following the Julian calendar, and the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates it on January 6

. Beyond Christian religious observance, Christmas is also celebrated culturally by many non-Christians in various countries. For example, in countries with small Christian populations like Japan and Turkey, Christmas customs such as gift-giving, decorations, and Christmas trees are popular despite the majority being non-Christian

. Christmas is recognized as a public holiday in many countries worldwide, including some where Christianity is a minority religion, due to historical colonial influences or cultural adoption

. Traditions vary but often include Christmas trees, nativity scenes, gift exchanges, caroling, and special church services

. In summary, Christmas is observed:

• Religiously by the majority of Christians globally, with varying dates depending on the calendar used.
• Culturally by many non-Christian populations in various countries.
• As a public holiday in numerous nations, both Christian-majority and some non-Christian-majority countries