History of Christmas

It is well known that Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ

It is celebrated on December 25th by most of the world according to the Julian Calendar. Pope Julius I set this date in 354AD

The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrate it January 6th

Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate in on January 7th in line with the Gregorian Calendar

Christmas is a contraction from the original Christ's Mass

The Nativity of the birth of Jesus tells the story of how Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem to the Virgin Mary and her husband Joseph. They had traveled there in order to take part in a census.

Shepherds were told of the birth by an angel and three wise men followed a star to honour his birth

The Three wise men are believed to have been called Balthazar, Melchior and Caspar, who brought gifts are gold, frankincense and myrrh

The story is told in the gospels of Matthew and Luke in the bible