What does Christmas mean? Presents, right? Tables heaped with food, crackling fireplaces, hot cocoa and 1/3 of the living room rearranged for a decorated tree? Lots of traffic to and from the mall, the Salvation Army ringing their bells on every street corner, and half a year spent paying credit card bills? This, unfortunately, is what Christmas has come to mean for many of us, today.

But, Christmas has a much longer and richer history than the meaning that has developed over the past 50 years. We'd like to take you back, and remind you of the real meaning of Christmas. The word, "Christmas" is a shortening of the Christ's Mass, the celebration of Christ's Birthday. Most people already know this (even if we do tend to forget it in the holiday rush), but why is December 25 the chosen date?

Was Jesus really born on December 25? Most theologians and historians would say not. Their take is that He was born in the Spring. The early Church had many different dates for the celebration of Christmas, the latest being January 6. So, why was December 25 chosen? Nobody knows, but there are some pretty good theories.

In ancient Rome, year-end celebrations were given to Saturn and Mithras, their pagan gods of the harvest and light, respectively). These celebrations involved a lot of noise, wine, and food, and they could rival the most exciting college dorm party out there! There was also the Yule, celebrated in northern Europe at the same time, also dedicated to the harvest, also being quite the popular party.

During the rise and expansion of Christendom, the Church realized the futility of disallowing one of the most anticipated celebrations of the people they hoped to convert. There was nothing, however, to stop them from adding another celebration that might distract some of the revelers from their pagan parties. So, Telesphorus, the second Bishop of Rome (125-136 AD) declared that public Church services should be held to celebrate "The Nativity of our Lord and Saviour." In 320 AD, Pope Julius I and other religious leaders specified 25 December as the official date of the birth of Jesus Christ.

The result of this realization and distraction was that, gradually, Christian ideas seeped into the pagan celebrations, and some of the pagan ideas seeped into the Christian. From this melting pot of celebrations and ideas came the Christmas traditions we currently have, throwing the biggest party of the year in honor of the most important event, which, in Christianity, is the Christ's Mass.

Hopefully, you have learned something new from this page on why we have the traditions we do. We also hope that you don't let the traditions overshadow the real reason we celebrate this holiday (note: "holiday" is another shortening, from Holy Day). While you are enjoying your paid day off from work, spending time with friends and family, and getting frustrated on your way to the mall, please, take an extra moment and devote some time to our most bountiful God for the greatest gift of all: His only Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.