Christmas began as a blend of Christian nativity celebrations honoring the birth of Jesus and ancient midwinter festivals like Roman Saturnalia and Germanic Yule.
Every December, billions of people around the world decorate trees, exchange gifts, and gather for meals. Yet, the holiday we recognize today looks vastly different from its ancient roots. The story of this global celebration involves Roman emperors, pagan solstice rituals, and a Victorian-era makeover that changed everything.
Understanding the history requires looking back centuries before the first Christmas was ever officially marked on a calendar. It is a mix of religious devotion and rowdy seasonal parties that the church eventually adopted.
The Biblical Story Versus Historical Dates
The foundation of Christmas lies in the New Testament of the Bible. The Gospels of Luke and Matthew describe the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem to the Virgin Mary. This religious narrative forms the spiritual core of the holiday for Christians. However, the Bible does not specify a date for this event.
Clues in the text — Many historians argue Jesus was likely born in the spring or fall, not winter. The Bible mentions shepherds “keeping watch over their flocks by night.” In Judea, winters were cold and rainy. Shepherds typically brought their animals indoors during December to protect them from the elements. This detail suggests the birth happened during a warmer season.
For the first three centuries of Christianity, the birth of Jesus was not a major festival. The church focused primarily on Epiphany and Easter. It was not until the fourth century that church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday.
How Did Christmas Get Started in Rome?
The choice of December 25th was a strategic move by the early church. In ancient Rome, December was already a time of massive celebration. The culture was dominated by pagan festivals that celebrated the winter solstice. Church leaders recognized that banning these popular traditions would be impossible.
The Influence of Saturnalia
The most famous of these festivals was Saturnalia. This week-long party honored Saturn, the god of agriculture. Starting on December 17th, Roman social order turned upside down. Slaves dined with masters, businesses closed, and no wars could be declared. It was a period of chaotic revelry, feasting, and gift-giving.
Assimilation strategy — Pope Julius I officially chose December 25th for the Feast of the Nativity in the mid-fourth century. By aligning the celebration of the “Son of God” with the existing festivals of the “Sun God” (Sol Invictus) and Saturnalia, the church made it easier for Romans to convert. They kept the timing and the feasting but changed the object of worship.
This decision explains why early Christmas celebrations were often rowdy and drank-heavy, looking more like Mardi Gras than a silent night. This historical pivot answers the question of how did Christmas get started as a winter event despite the biblical evidence pointing to spring.
Pagan Roots and Winter Solstice Traditions
While Rome gave us the date, Northern Europe contributed the atmosphere. As Christianity spread northward, it encountered Germanic and Norse peoples who had their own midwinter traditions. These cultures celebrated the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year, anticipating the return of the sun.
Yule and the Germanic Connection
The Norse celebrated Yule starting on December 21st. Fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take up to 12 days. This is the direct origin of the “12 Days of Christmas” and the Yule log cake we eat today.
The Norse god Odin was also a central figure during this time. People believed Odin flew through the night sky during Yule to observe his people and decide who would prosper. This legend of a bearded god flying through the winter sky contributed significantly to the modern mythos of Santa Claus.
The Evolution of Saint Nicholas into Santa Claus
The figure of Santa Claus has a distinct history separate from the birth of Jesus. The real Saint Nicholas was a Greek bishop born in the late third century in Myra (modern-day Turkey). He became famous for his generosity and his protection of children and sailors.
Sinterklaas arrives — After his death, the legend of St. Nicholas spread. In the Netherlands, he became known as “Sinterklaas.” Dutch settlers brought this tradition to New Amsterdam (now New York City) in the 17th century. Sinterklaas was depicted as a tall, slim religious figure who rode a white horse.
The American version of Santa Claus emerged much later. In 1822, Clement Clarke Moore wrote the poem “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas,” known today as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Moore reimagined the bishop as a “jolly old elf” with a sleigh and reindeer. Decades later, illustrator Thomas Nast added the red suit and the North Pole workshop, completing the transformation.
The Time When Christmas Was Illegal
It surprises many to learn that Christmas was once banned in America and England. In the early 17th century, a wave of religious reform swept through Europe. The Puritans believed the holiday was too rooted in paganism and detested the drunken behavior associated with it.
The ban on festivities — In 1644, English Puritans under Oliver Cromwell outlawed Christmas. They viewed it as a “popish” invention with no biblical basis. In America, the Massachusetts Bay Colony followed suit. From 1659 to 1681, showing Christmas spirit in Boston was a criminal offense punishable by a fine of five shillings.
During this era, how did Christmas get started back up again? The restoration of the monarchy in England brought the holiday back, but in America, it remained unpopular well after the Revolutionary War. Many Americans viewed it as an English custom and ignored it intentionally.
The Victorian Reinvention of Christmas
The Christmas we know today—focused on family, charity, and children—was largely invented in the 19th century. Industrialization changed how people lived, and society longed for a nostalgic sense of community.
Charles Dickens and the Christmas Spirit
In 1843, Charles Dickens published “A Christmas Carol.” The story of Scrooge and the ghosts struck a chord with the public. Dickens did not just write a story; he outlined a blueprint for how the holiday should be celebrated. He emphasized kindness, charity to the poor, and family gatherings over the raucous public drinking that defined previous centuries.
Historians often credit Dickens with single-handedly reviving the dying holiday. His work shifted the focus from the street to the home, making it a domestic event centered on children.
Origins of Popular Christmas Traditions
Many items we consider essential to the holiday have strange or specific origins. They were not present when the holiday first began but were added layer by layer over centuries.
The Christmas Tree
The tradition of decorating trees started in Germany in the 16th century. Devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some claim Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the first to add lighted candles to a tree.
Royal influence — The custom remained a German eccentricity until the 1840s. When Queen Victoria’s German husband, Prince Albert, put up a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle, the London Illustrated News published a sketch of the Royal Family standing around it. Fashion-conscious society in Britain and America immediately copied the Queen, and the Christmas tree became a global standard.
[Image of Victorian Christmas tree illustration]
Stockings by the Fire
Hanging stockings comes from a legend about Saint Nicholas. The story goes that a poor man had three daughters but no money for their dowries. St. Nick dropped three bags of gold down the chimney, and they landed in the girls’ stockings, which were drying by the fire. Children began hanging stockings hoping for similar gifts.
Christmas Cards
The first commercial Christmas card was created in England in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole. He was too busy to write personal holiday letters, so he hired an artist to design a card he could send to everyone. The idea caught on instantly, facilitated by the new “Penny Post” system that made mailing affordable for the masses.
Modern Commercialization and Globalization
By the late 19th century, businesses realized the economic power of the holiday. The shift toward buying manufactured gifts for children turned Christmas into a retail powerhouse.
Department store Santa — In the 1890s, the Salvation Army started sending people dressed as Santa into the streets to collect money. Department stores began hosting Santa to attract children and parents. This commercial layer cemented the holiday’s status as the biggest economic event of the year.
Today, Christmas is celebrated in over 160 countries. Even in nations with small Christian populations, like Japan, secular aspects of the holiday—lights, trees, and gift-giving—are widely embraced. The journey from a quiet religious observance to a pagan party, and finally to a global commercial phenomenon, answers the complex question of how did Christmas get started and why it endures.
Key Takeaways: How Did Christmas Get Started?
➤ Rome chose December 25th to align with the pagan festival Saturnalia.
➤ Biblical texts suggest Jesus was likely born in spring, not winter.
➤ Puritans actually banned Christmas in the 1600s due to its pagan roots.
➤ Charles Dickens helped reinvent the holiday to focus on family and charity.
➤ Prince Albert popularized the Christmas tree in England and America in the 1840s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Jesus really born on December 25th?
No historical evidence supports this specific date. Most scholars agree that the church selected December 25th to coincide with winter solstice festivals like Saturnalia and the birthday of the sun god, Sol Invictus, making it easier to convert pagan populations.
Why do we call it “Christmas”?
The word comes from the Old English phrase “Cristes Maesse,” which translates to “the Mass of Christ.” It was first recorded around 1038. This religious service was the primary way the church marked the feast day of the Nativity in medieval times.
Who invented Santa Claus?
Santa Claus is a cultural evolution of Saint Nicholas, a 3rd-century Greek bishop. The modern image was shaped by Dutch traditions of Sinterklaas, Washington Irving’s stories, Clement Clarke Moore’s 1822 poem, and Thomas Nast’s political cartoons which gave him the red suit.
When did Christmas become a federal holiday in the US?
Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the United States on June 26, 1870. This was part of an effort by President Ulysses S. Grant to unite the nation during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War.
Why do we kiss under the mistletoe?
This tradition comes from Celtic and Norse mythology. Druids viewed mistletoe as a sacred plant that could heal and ward off evil. In Norse myth, it was associated with the goddess of love, Frigg. Refusing a kiss under it was considered bad luck.
Wrapping It Up – How Did Christmas Get Started?
The history of Christmas is a fascinating tapestry of religion, culture, and adaptation. It did not appear suddenly as a fully formed holiday. Instead, it grew over two millennia, absorbing customs from Roman feasts, Norse rituals, and Victorian family values.
From its origins as a quiet religious observance to its brief period as an illegal celebration, and finally its rise as a global season of giving, the holiday has constantly evolved. Knowing how did Christmas get started adds depth to the traditions we enjoy today. Whether you celebrate for faith, family, or fun, you are participating in a ritual that has survived and shifted through the ages.