Origins of Christmas

The history of Christmas is rich and complex, with roots in many cultures and tradition.

Origins

• The word "Christmas" comes from the Old English phrase Cristes mæsse, which means "Christ's Mass". The celebration of Christmas has roots in many traditions, including the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, the festivals of the ancient Greeks, and the beliefs of the Druids. 
Roman traditions
In ancient Rome, December 25 was a celebration of the Unconquered Sun and the return of longer days. The church in Rome began celebrating Christmas on December 25 in the 4th century. 
Adoption of Saturnalia
The church adopted the traditions of Saturnalia, a Roman holiday that involved feasting, gift-giving, and decorating with wreaths. 
Adoption of pagan traditions
The church also adopted other pagan traditions, such as mistletoe from the Vikings and trees from the Saxons. 
Evolution of Christmas
Christmas has evolved over the centuries, incorporating various cultural and religious traditions. For example, in the colonial period in America, some colonists denounced Christmas as too pagan. 
Santa Claus
The image of Santa Claus as a cheerful, fat, white-bearded man in a red suit became embedded in American culture after Thomas Nast drew a depiction of Santa for a Coke-a-Cola advertisement in 1881.