A Brief History of Christmas

Christmas is a time for sharing with others and giving Christmas presents, gathering with friends and loved ones, and having a wonderful time. But how did we come to celebrate this day we call Christmas? Christmas comes only once a year, like most holidays, and the majority of the world celebrates on December 25th. Christmas marks the beginning of the twelve day “Christmastide Season” and most Christians observe this day as a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

The nativity of Jesus is believed by most historians to have taken place between 7 and 2 BC and is the basis for the Anno Domini system of dating. Christmas is not known to be the actual date of birth of Jesus Christ. In all likelihood the date was probably chosen to mark either a Roman festival or the winter solstice.

Christmas is celebrated by the Christian population, but is also observed by many non-Christians as a secular, cultural festival.

Bemoaned by many because Christmas has become the major event of the year for much of the commerce that takes place around the world. Gift giving and other economic activity attached to the Christmas holidays spur a huge increase in sales of toys, and games, and goods of all kinds, on a large scale mostly among Christians, but the buying frenzy in December leaves almost no one untouched.

Modern customs of Christmas include giving Christmas gifts, going to Church, and displaying assorted decorations including the Christmas tree, lights, mistletoe, nativity scenes, and holly. Santa Claus, referred to as Father Christmas in many parts of the world, is a popular mythological character who is credited with leaving presents for children as they sleep on Christmas Eve. Santa, or Father Christmas, is thought to be an amalgamation of Saint Nicholas and other elements from pagan Nordic and Christian mythology. Santa’s modern appearance is believed to have originated from 19th century advertising media.