when did we start celebrating christmas

Christmas has been celebrated for over a thousand years, but its roots go back even further. The origins of Christmas can be traced back to the pagan festival of Yule, which was celebrated in Northern Europe around the time of the winter solstice. During this time, people would light fires and decorate trees to honor the returning of the light and the end of the long winter. As Christianity spread, the holiday began to incorporate Christian traditions, including the story of Jesus' birth and the exchanging of gifts.