When was christmas invented

Not that the day has always been celebrated in its current form, mind — but just who did invent Christmas as we know it? There are a number of theories as to why 25 December should have been chosen, with one suggesting that it coincided with the Winter Solstice and the ancient Roman pagan midwinter festivals Saturnalia which honoured the Roman god Saturn and Dies Natalis Solis Invicti the festival marking the solstice.

Despite the Romans having marked the date, Christmas was a relatively minor affair, and was not celebrated with a specific liturgy until the ninth Century. Numerous archaeological sites from the Roman coastal province of Constantine, now in Algeria, demonstrate that the cult of Saturn survived there until the early third century AD.

Saturnalia grew in duration and moved to progressively later dates under the Roman period. By the time Lucian described the festivities, it was a seven-day event. Changes to the Roman calendar moved the climax of Saturnalia to December 25th, around the time of the date of the winter solstice.

From as early as BC there were public Saturnalia banquets. The Roman state cancelled executions and refrained from declaring war during the festival.

Pagan Roman authorities tried to curtail Saturnalia; Emperor Caligula AD sought to restrict it to five days, with little success. The poet Statius AD 95 , in his poem Silvae , describes the lavish banquet and entertainments Domitian presided over, including games which opened with sweets, fruit and nuts showered on the crowd and featuring flights of flamingos released over Rome.

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You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. Historian William J. Tighe offers a different view, however. When a consensus arose in the church to celebrate Christ's conception on March 25th, it was reasonable to celebrate his birth nine months later. Many of the pagan customs became associated with Christmas. Christian stories replaced the heathen tales, but the practices hung on.

Candles continued to be lit. Kissing under the mistletoe remained common in Scandinavian countries. But over the years, gift exchanges became connected with the name of St. Nicholas, a real but legendary figure of 4th century Lycia a province of Asia. A charitable man, he threw gifts into homes. Around the thirteenth century, Christians added one of the most pleasant touches of all to Christmas celebration when they began to sing Christmas carols.

No one is sure just when the Christmas tree came into the picture.