Whether you call it Christmas Day, Christmastide, Christmas season, Christmastime, Christ’s Mass, Yuletide, Noel, or Xmas—it’s a wonderful time of year filled with sparkling lights, festive decorations, joyful carols, colorful mistletoe and holly, sweet candy canes, ringing bells, evergreen wreaths, and stockings hung on the mantel—and, of course, Santa Claus.

Christmas is a time for stories too. “Twas the Night Before Christmas” is a favorite bedtime tale for Christmas Eve. And don’t forget the movie blockbusters like the family classic “A Christmas Story,” about Ralphie and his Red Rider BB gun.

Most important of all, and the real reason for Christmas, is the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Although the Bible doesn’t specify a date for this remarkable event, December 25 is the day when people in the US observe Jesus’ birth, when the angels declared, “Peace on earth and goodwill to men” and the wise men, or magi, came from the East to visit the Christ child in Bethlehem.

The images of Christmas make wonderful gifts as well as memories. Vintage art prints can be framed and matted online when you purchase a print from posters.com. And there’s something for everyone in your family and every room in your home or office.

All over the world Christmas is a time of giving, worshiping and gathering together in the Spirit of joy and peace. Wherever you are this Christmastime, enjoy the spectacle of the season and embrace the Spirit of giving. Merry Christmas!