when did christians start celebrating christmas

Christmas has been celebrated by Christians since the 4th century AD, when the Roman Catholic Church officially recognized December 25th as the birth of Jesus Christ. However, there is some evidence to suggest that earlier pagan celebrations may have influenced the timing of this holiday. For instance, some historians believe that the date of December 25th was chosen to coincide with the winter solstice, which was already an important date for many ancient cultures due to its association with the return of the sun and the end of winter.