did the early church celebrate christmas

The early church did indeed celebrate Christmas, although the specific date and traditions associated with the holiday have changed over time. In the fourth century, the Council of Nicaea established December 25th as the date of Jesus' birth, and the holiday became increasingly popular in the following centuries. However, it wasn't until the 17th and 18th centuries that many of the modern Christmas traditions we know today, such as gift-giving, decorations, and Santa Claus, became widely popular.