According to Wikipedia, Christmas was celebrated both by the Confederate and Union states although it did not become an official holiday until five years after the war ended by order of President Grant who saw it as a means to reunite the two sections.
FIRST CHRISTMAS: December 25, 1861-- the Lincolns hosted an evening Christmas party after he had spend most of the day trying to legitimize the capture of Confederate agents Slidell and Mason in the Trent Affair to Great Britain and France.
SECOND CHRISTMAS: December 25, 1862-- Lincoln visited injured soldiers in various hospitals around Washington.
THIRD CHRISTMAS: December 25, 1863-- many injured soldiers received gifts "From Tad Lincoln" of clothes and books in Washington hospitals.
FORT FISHER
Of course, December 25, 1864, a huge bombardment was directed by 64 Union ships at Fort Fisher, North Carolina. Around 10,000 shells were fired at the earthern fort. Union troops were landed on a beach north of the fort, but withdrew after it was determined the fort was too strong to attack.
A Civil War Christmas. --Old Blockade-Runner
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