In Christian tradition, Christmas is celebrated on December 25th to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. The date was chosen by the early church because it coincided with the Roman celebration of the winter solstice, which was already a time of feasting and celebration. The first recorded Christmas celebration was held in Rome in 336 AD, and by the 4th century AD, it had become a widespread tradition across the Christian world. The date of December 25th was later adopted as the official date for Christmas by the Catholic Church.