The Christmas Holiday

The earliest Christians believed that celebrating birthdays was heathen and unholy, but sometime during the fourth century these attitudes changed with the creation of a specific Christmas holy day.

Because the Bible didn't actually specify the date when Jesus was born, Pope Juleps I of the fourth century designated December 25th as the official date for the feast of Jesus' nativity. This celebration of Jesus' birth soon became widespread and touched the hearts of many, which was entitled a Christmas celebration or (Christ Mass). The initial Christmas carols were composed by the Christians of this period.

This lead to the establishment of the traditional Christmas holiday season, with the traditional giving of gifts to celebrate the birth of the Christ child.

The first five congressionally created federal holidays were established in 1870 by congress for federal employees in the District of Columbia, then were expanded to include the United States in 1885, although Louisiana was the first state to make Christmas a state holiday in 1830.

Although Christmas is currently symbolized by the Santa Claus figure, with decorated Christmas trees and the giving of gifts, the true meaning of the Christmas day of celebration has it's roots embedded in the actual birth of Jesus Christ.

Thank you and have a very Merry Christmas.