Unlike Easter, Christmas was not celebrated by the earliest Christians. It began to be observed in the late 3rd century AD as an alternative to pagan winter holidays.

History of Christmas

Christians have been celebrating Jesus' birth on December 25 since at least the early fourth century. The first evidence of its observance is in Rome in 336 AD. {1} The earliest Christians do not appear to have commemorated the nativity, but only the baptism and resurrection of Christ and the deaths of the martyrs.

Despite the objections of some church fathers, attempts to determine Jesus' date of birth began early. By the close of the second century, numerous dates had been advanced, including May 20, April 18, April 19, May 28, January 2, November 17, November 20, March 21 and March 25. {4}

So when was Jesus actually born? Modern scholarship estimates the year of his birth from 7 to 4 BC. Although the Gospel narratives offer no indication as to the date, they do seem to indicate it was not in the winter. Luke describes the shepherds "keeping watch over their flocks by night" {5} and this was not done in the coldest winter months.

We hold this day holy,
not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun,
but because of him who made it. {6}

In the early Eastern church, the main winter holiday was Epiphany, which commemorated both the birth and baptism of Christ on January 6. This date may have been derived from a calculation based on an assumed date of crucifixion of April 6 coupled with the ancient belief that prophets died on the same day as their conception. {7} The baptism of Christ was initially the more important event in the East, but January 6 became connected more with the nativity of Christ by the later 4th century. {8}

The Eastern church celebrated Christ's birth and baptism on January 6 until the middle of the 5th century, when the December date for Christmas was adopted there as well and Jesus' baptism was celebrated on January 6. An exception to the December date is the Armenian Church, which continues to commemorate both the birth and baptism of Christ on January 6. {9}

Although Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on December 25, some still use the Julian calendar ("old calendar") for their religious calendar. The Julian calendar is the predecessor to the Gregorian calendar ("new calendar") that is now the civil calendar of the western world. The Julian calendar is 13 days different from the Gregorian, so December 25 on the Julian calendar occurs on January 7 on the Gregorian calendar and Epiphany on January 19. Those who use the Julian calendar include the Churches of Jerusalem, Russia and Serbia, and the monasteries on Mt. Athos. {10}

Religious observances of Christmas center around special worship services, which are characterized by the extensive use of candlelight and are often held at midnight. In Bethlehem, Midnight Mass is celebrated at the place of Jesus' birth in the ancient Church of the Nativity. Another popular semi-religious observance is singing Christmas carols, both in church and door-to-door in one's neighborhood.

Santa Claus, St. Nick, and Other Gift-Bringers

In the Western world, where Christmas is characterized by the exchange of gifts among friends and family members, some of the gifts are attributed to a character called Santa Claus. He is also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, St. Nikolaus, Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle, Joulupukki, Weihnachtsmann, Saint Basil and Father Frost.

The popular image of Santa Claus was created by the German-American cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840-1902), who drew a new image of the character annually, beginning in 1863. By the 1880s, Nast's Santa had evolved into the form we now recognize. The image was standardized by advertisers in the 1920s.

Father Christmas, who predates Santa Claus, was first recorded in the 15th century and then associated with holiday merrymaking and drunkenness. In Victorian Britain, his image was remade to match that of Santa. The French Père Noël evolved along similar lines, eventually adopting the Santa image.

In Italy, Babbo Natale acts as Santa Claus, while La Befana is the bringer of gifts and arrives on the eve of the Epiphany. It is said that La Befana set out to bring the baby Jesus gifts, but got lost along the way. Now, she brings gifts to all children. In some cultures, such as Germany, Santa Claus is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht, or Black Peter.

The current tradition in several Latin American countries is that Santa makes the toys, but gives them to the Baby Jesus to deliver to children's homes. This helps reconcile traditional religious beliefs with modern day globalization, most notably the iconography of Santa Claus imported from the United States.

In Southern Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Alto Adige/Südtirol (Italy) and Liechtenstein the Christkind (Christ Child) brings the presents as well. The German St. Nikolaus is not identical with the Weihnachtsman (Christmas Man, the German version of Santa Claus). St. Nikolaus wears a bishop's dress, brings small gifts (usually candies, nuts and fruits) on December 6, and is accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht.

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