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Christmas

Christmas (from the Old English Cristes maesse, "Christ's mass") is traditionally the Christian festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated on December 25th, although it is also a popular secular holiday. It wasn't until about 200 years after the death of Christ that people thought about celebrating his birth. No one knows the exact date of his birth, but it is believed that 25th December was chosen to coincide with the pagan Roman festival marking the "birthday of the unconquered sun" (natalis solis invicti); this festival celebrated the winter solstice when the days begin again to lengthen and the sun begins to climb higher in the sky.

Saturnalia, another Roman holiday celebrated in December, was a time of feasting, merrymaking and exchanging of gifts. Also, in northern Europe, there was a holiday known as Yule. This holiday was celebrated by making great fires which people would then dance round yelling for the winter to end.

In time, Christmas took the place of these holidays but some of the old customs remain, such as burning a Yule log, having feasts and parties and present giving.

As time went on, new customs crept in to Christmas such as the Christmas tree which originated in Germany and of course we mustn't forget Father Christmas (also known as Santa Claus) who started out life as Nicholas, a bishop who lived in what is nowadays Turkey. Not much is known about him except he often helped children in need. Many years after his death he was made a saint and in time he became the patron saint of children.

Have a look for Christmas decorations and trees.