Christmas has a long and rich history that dates back to ancient pagan traditions. The ancient Romans celebrated the midwinter festival of Saturnalia, which included the giving of gifts and feasting. In the 4th century AD, the Roman Catholic Church officially established December 25th as the Feast of the Nativity, marking the birth of Jesus. The tradition of gift-giving was adopted from the pagan festival of Yule and was later incorporated into Christmas celebrations. Today, Christmas is celebrated by billions of people around the world, making it one of the most popular holidays in the world.