According to popular statistics, between 70-80% of Americans consider themselves Christians, even if they don’t belong to any particular religious organization. This means that Christianity is, and has been, a major influence in shaping the culture of the USA. That would include family traditions, social customs, and even legal and political institutions.

This influence can be experienced most during the Christmas season. The Christmas season is primarily about the birth of Jesus Christ, the centerpiece of the Christian religion. However, before you can understand the importance of Christ's birth. You must first understand the importance of Christ himself.

According to Christian religion, all men are children of one God who lives in Heaven. Because all people are not perfect and sometimes have bad desires in their heart or do bad things, this means that they have broken God's laws and so they cannot go to Heaven when they die.

To remedy this problem. God, the father, sent his son, Jesus, to come down to earth to sacrifice himself for all mankind, to pay the price of everyone's sins and shortcomings.

Jesus was a teacher and missionary for three years. He taught about love, peace, kindness and forgiveness. He was finally killed by Roman authorities and other religious leaders of the day.

However, he came to life again three days later, and because of this, all people who die will come alive again. They will have a physical body that will last forever. They will also have the chance to go to Heaven.

Christmas tradition holds that a virgin woman named Mary was the mother of Jesus, which means that Jesus' birth was a miracle. When Mary was pregnant she had to ride a very long way on a donkey to the small town of Bethlehem. Because the city was crowded, there were no available rooms in the inns for Mary and her husband. Mary and Joseph had to sleep in the stables, and this is where Jesus was born.

At the time of Christ's birth, a new star appeared in the sky. There were wise men from a foreign country who followed the star to the town of Bethlehem. They found Jesus and gave him three very expensive gifts. So gift-giving at Christmas time began with the three wise men, and the appearance of the new star is why people put a star on the top of their Christmas tree.