The festival of Christmas is primarily the festival of the Christians. It celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Behind the Catholic Christmas History lies the story of the birth of Jesus Christ who came to this world to spread the message of God.
The Christmas festival was not celebrated always on 25th December. Some churches celebrated the festival of Christmas during springtime whereas some other churches celebrated it on 6th January (Epiphany). However, later the Roman church declared 25th December to be the date of the festival of Christmas. The Eastern churches accepted this festival only in 375 CE. The problem regarding the date persisted until the 7th century, as it was only in the 7th century that the churches of Jerusalem accepted 25th December to be the date when Christ was born.
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The Catholic Christmas History has its links with the Roman festival of Saturnalia. The Romans celebrated this festival from 17th December to 25th December, but this festival had no traits of Christianity. To introduce some Christian customs into the Saturnalia festival, the Christian leaders declared the last day of the Christmas festival that is, 25th December to be the date of Christ's birth. From then onwards Christmas is celebrated on 25th December.
One of the customs of the Christmas festival that is associated with the Catholic Christmas History is the wreath. Though nothing is known about the actual origins of the wreath, there is the evidence of the fact that the pre-Christian Germanic people used wreaths with lit candles to symbolize hope during the month of December. Learn more about the Catholic Christmas History with Christmas Carnivals.
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