The pagan holiday for Christmas is known as Yule, which is an ancient winter solstice celebration that marked the return of the sun after the longest night of the year. Yule was celebrated in many parts of northern Europe and was often associated with feasting, gift-giving, and the decoration of evergreen trees. The Christian holiday of Christmas is believed to have been established in the 4th century by Pope Julius I, who established December 25th as the date for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Over time, the traditions of Yule and Christmas have been blended together to create the modern holiday we know today.