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Christmas has had a long and varied history. It has been celebrated for centuries by different people, at different times, in different places, and in many different ways. Here you will find links to information about the different ways that the holiday we know as Christmas has been celebrated, or not celebrated, over the years. Watch video about the history and origins of Christmas.

An Ancient Holiday

Some of our modern Christmas traditions have much older roots, going back to pagan European traditions.

»See how people celebrated the winter solstice

Saturnalia

Saturnalia was a Roman celebration in honor of the god Saturn.

»Discover what the Ancient Romans celebrated on December 25th

An Outlaw Christmas

The Puritans didn't believe in the jovial Christmas holiday, so they banned it.

»Find out the penalty for celebrating Christmas

Christmas Reinvented

Americans embraced Christmas in the 19th Century, even inventing some of their own Christmas traditions.

»See how Americans created their own vision of Christmas