The History of Christmas
Early Beginnings In the 2nd century, Christians began celebrating the birth of Jesus, though the exact date was uncertain. The first document to mention December 25 as Jesus’s birthdate was the Chronograph of 354 , which als o marked it as the birthday of Sol Invictus, the Roman sun god. By the 4th century, under Emperor Constantine, December 25 was officially adopted as the date to celebrate Christ’s birth, blending Christian and Roman traditions. Eastern Celebrations In the Eastern Church, Jesus’s birth was initially celebrated on January 6 alongside the Epiphany, focusing more on His baptism. By the late 4th century, Christmas began spreading to Constantinople, Antioch, and eventually Alexandria. Medieval Traditions During the Early Middle Ages, Christmas was overshadowed by Epiphany but gained prominence over time. By the High Middle Ages, it became a major festival featuring feasts, caroling, and gift exchanges. Festivities included ivy and holly decorations, dancing, and games, t...