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Christmas is technically a religious holiday. The Advent season is the religious time that anticipates Christmas, starting 4 weeks (roughly, depending on the calendar that year) before Christmas. Advent doesn't include any celebrations or major decorations. It's a time for quiet reflection, and in years past even included fasting like in Lent. Christmas itself isn't celebrated until Christmas eve. It lasts until the feast of the Epiphany, which marks the visit by the wise men. This is on January 6th.
So just to recap. The "official" religious Christmas season is Dec. 24th through Jan. 6th.
I know that virtually nobody follows this schedule, (including me) but it's worthwhile to post the "official" schedule while comparing practices.
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