According to the Christian calendar in the West, Christmas Day is the beginning of Christmastide. In the traditions of many Christian sects, Christmastide is the twelve days of December 25 through January 5--thus, the phrase "the twelve days of Christmas"--and is followed by the Feast of Epiphany, which celebrates the honorific visit to the child Jesus by "wise men from the East."
Many Westerners--practicing Christians or not--enjoy activities such as listening to Christmas carols during the weeks leading up to December 25, and on the day after Christmas think of "the Christmas season" as being finished for another year. Actually, on December 25, it's only just started. Christian churches mindful of liturgical tradition generally do not even significantly feature Christmas carols in their Sunday worship services until Christmas Eve, but then continue to do so right through Christmastide.
If you are in the New York City area and are interested in attending a service of Christmas Lessons and Carols, consider that of The Church of St. Mary the Virgin (Episcopal) on Sunday, December 28 at 5 PM.
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