History of Christmas by Christmas Fun

Quick Shipping

Christmas Games

Where Is Santa
Pin the Nose on the Reindeer
Dirty Santa
The Last Santa Hat
Secret Stocking
ABC Christmas
Merry Christmas
Christmas Songs
Christmas Candy
The Santa Hat
Reindeer Games
Santa Hotline
Wrapping Race
Santa Hat Swap
Reindeer Race
Three Legged Reindeer Race
Santa Pants
Draw a Reindeer
Dressing Santa
Decorate the Christmas Tree
Pass the Present
Jack Frost Freeze
Frosty the Snowman
Holiday Movie Trivia
Christmas Characters
Christmas Carol
Elf Marathon
Red Nosed Reindeer Christmas Games
Printable Christmas Party Games

Christmas Songs

A Baby Just Like You Lyrics
All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth Lyrics
Blue Christmas Lyrics
Christmas Dinner Lyrics
Christmas For Cowboys Lyrics
Christmas In Killarney Lyrics
Deck the Halls Lyrics
First Christmas Lyrics
Frosty the Snow Man Lyrics
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer Lyrics
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Lyrics
Here Comes Santa Claus Lyrics
Holly Jolly Christmas Lyrics
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Lyrics
It is the most wonderful time of the year Lyrics
I Will Be Home For Christmas Lyrics
Jingle Bell Rock Lyrics
Jingle Bells Lyrics
Jolly Old Saint Nicholas Lyrics
Let It Snow! Lyrics
Mary, Did You Know? Lyrics
Merry Christmas Darling Lyrics
Must Be Santa Lyrics
Nuttin For Christmas Lyrics
O Christmas Tree Lyrics
Pine Cones And Holly Berries Lyrics
Rocking around the Christmas Tree Lyrics
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Lyrics
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Lyrics
Silver Bells Lyrics
Sleep Well, Little Children Lyrics
Sleigh Ride Lyrics
Tennessee Christmas Lyrics
The Christmas Song Lyrics
The Little Drummer Boy Lyrics
The Night Before Christmas Lyrics
The Twelve Days of Christmas Lyrics
Up On the Housetop Lyrics
We Wish You A Merry Christmas Lyrics
White Christmas Lyrics
Winter Wonderland Lyrics Christmas Music Lyrics

History of Christmas

The History of Christmas goes way, way back in time. Christmas wasn't celebrated by the early church until the fourth century. In the fourth century, the church decided to try to redeem a Roman pagan winter solstice festival: the festival of Saturnalia. This December holiday was considered the "birthday of the unconquered sun." Romans danced in the streets with gifts under their arms and greenery atop their heads. Various peoples in northern Europe held festivals in mid-December to celebrate the end of the harvest season. As part of all these celebrations, the people prepared special foods, decorated their homes with greenery, and joined in singing and gift giving. These customs gradually became part of the Christmas celebration. Today, Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The story of Christmas comes chiefly from the Gospels of Saint Luke and Saint Matthew in the New Testament. According to Luke, an angel appeared to shepherds outside the town of Bethlehem and told them of Jesus' birth. Matthew tells how the wise men, called Magi, followed a bright star that led them to Jesus.

The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. Admired for his piety and kindness, St. Nicholas became the subject of many legends. It is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick. One of the best known stories of the St. Nicholas is that he saved three poor sisters from being sold into slavery or prostitution by their father by providing them with a dowry so that they could be married.

Kissing under the mistletoe is first found associated with the Greek festival of Saturnalia and later with primitive marriage rites. Mistletoe has power to bestow fertility and also possess "life-giving" power. Mistletoe was considered a plant of peace, under which enemies could declare a truce or warring spouses kiss and make-up. At Christmas time a young lady standing under a ball of mistletoe, brightly trimmed with evergreens, ribbons, and ornaments, cannot refuse to be kissed. Such a kiss could mean deep romance or lasting friendship and goodwill.

Many believe the origins of Christmas trees� revolves around the winter solstice. In the Northern hemisphere, the shortest day and longest night of the year falls on December 21 or December 22 and is called the winter solstice. Ancient peoples believed that the sun was a god and that winter came every year because the sun god had become sick and weak. They celebrated the solstice because it meant that at last the sun god would begin to get well. Evergreen boughs reminded them of all the green plants that would grow again when the sun god was strong and summer would return. The Egyptians were part of a long line of cultures that treasured and worshipped evergreens. When the winter solstice arrive, they brought green date palm leaves into their homes to symbolize life's triumph over death.

Starting at $0.69 cents each
DISCOUNT HOLIDAY CARDS

Printable Christmas Games

Christmas Party Supplies
Click for Full Selection

Christmas Gift Giving: Ancient History And Modern Day Celebration. Christmas gift giving is a tradition that has been passed on for many years now, and people have added modern twists to this procedure. Now it is very common for people to have gift exchanges. This exchange is great because both parties will be granted a gift. In many situations a set price is given prior to buying the gifts, all the names of the people who will be part of this exchange are pulled by each individual from a hat and the person whose name you pick that�s who you need to buy a gift to in the price range given.

The lighting at a Christmas party can be very important that is why red and green candles can make great center pieces. Have the candles lighten the entire place and see how beautiful the evening can really turn out. Also invitations can be important and necessary to make guest feel welcome and appreciated. Make your own invitations or you can buy some very neat ones at the local store or its even easier here online.
St Patricks Day Holiday Parties

Copyright 2003 - 2010 Christmas-Fun.com TM All rights reserved.

Christmas Parties Made Easy!