where and when did christmas originate

Christmas has its roots in the celebration of the winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year. The ancient Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a festival called Saturnalia, during which they exchanged gifts, feasted, and decorated their homes with evergreen trees. The early Christians adapted this tradition to create their own celebrations, which eventually evolved into the Christmas we know today. The first recorded Christmas celebration in the United States was held in 1739 in Pennsylvania, and it has since become a beloved holiday around the world.