The history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years. Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated centuries before the Christ Child was born. The 12 days of Christmas, the bright fires, the yule log, the giving of gifts, parades with floats, carolers who sing while going from house to house, the holiday feasts, and the church processions can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians. The Persians and the Babylonians celebrated a similar festival called the Sacaea. The ancient Greeks held a festival similar to the Sacaea festival.

Early Europeans believed in evil spirits, witches, ghosts and trolls. As the Winter Solstice approached, with its long cold nights and short days, many people feared the sun would not return. Special rituals and celebrations were held to entice back the sun.

In Scandinavia during the winter months the sun would disappear for many days. After about a month, scouts would be sent to the mountain tops to look for the return of the sun. When the first light was seen the scouts would return with the good news. A great festival would be held, called the Yuletide, and a special feast would be served around a fire burning with the Yule log.

The Roman's celebrated their god Saturn. Their festival was called Saturnalia which began the middle of December and ended January 1st. This time period included the holiday 'Natalis Invicti Solis'...the birthday of the unconquerable sun. With cries of "Jo Saturnalia!" the celebration would include parades in the streets, big festive meals, visiting friends, and the exchange of gifts called Strenae. The Romans decked their halls with garlands of laurel and green trees lit with candles.

"Jo Saturnalia!" was a fun and festive time for the Romans. As Christianity spread the Christians were alarmed by the continuing celebration of pagan customs and Saturnalia among their converts. At first the Church forbid this kind of celebration. But it was to no avail. Eventually it was decided that the celebration would be tamed and made into a celebration fit for the Christian Son of God.

Some legends claim that the Christian "Christmas" celebration was invented to compete against the pagan celebrations of December. The 25th was not only sacred to the Romans but also the Persians whose religion Mithraism was one of Christianity's main rivals at that time. The Church eventually was successful in taking the merriment, lights, and gifts from the Saturanilia festival and bringing them to the celebration of Christmas.

The exact day of the Christ Child's birth has never been pinpointed. Traditions say that it has been celebrated since the year 98 CE. Around 136 CE the Bishop of Rome, Hyginus, ordered the birthday of the Christ Child celebrated as a solemn feast. In the mid-fourth century another Bishop of Rome, Julius I, choose December 25th as the observance of Christmas.

On June 28, 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a law that made Christmas a federal holiday in the United States.

History of Christmas Trees	History of Santa Claus	History of Christmas
Biblical Christmas	Our Christmas Greeting	History of New Years

Special Page...Christmas 2001