December 25: Today is the anniversary of the first documentary celebration of Christmas in Aurelian Roman Empire in 274 AD.

Christmas is an English word used by Anglo-Saxons to refer to the birth of Jesus Christ and literally means Mass of Christ. December 25–Christmas Day–has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

Christmas was first called the Feast of the Nativity. December 25 was not selected because it was the birth of Christ, or that was even close to it. It was selected because it coincided with the idolatrous pagan festival of Saturnalia - and this celebration should be examined carefully. In any case, we do not know the exact date of Christ's birth.

Though not exactly the same as Christmas per se, Saturnalia was a holiday celebrated by Roman's at around exactly the same time that involved giving gifts…

According to The Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, December 1984: "The Roman festival of Saturnalia, from 17 to 24 December, moving citizens to decorate their homes with greenery and lights, and give gifts to children and the poor. The festival of December 25, natalis invicti solis, the birth of the unconquered sun, was decreed by Emperor Aurelian in 274 AD, as a celebration of the winter solstice, and a time (after) ... was Christianized as a day to celebrate birth of the Son of Light ".

Roman holiday of Saturnalia.