Each year, from December 17 through January 1, “most Romans feasted, gamed, reveled, paraded, and joined in other festivities as they paid homage to their deities, ” says Christmas in America, by Penne L.
ورغم موقف المسيحيين الاوائل الحازم من اعياد الميلاد ،‏ شرَّعت الكنيسة الكاثوليكية عيد الميلاد في القرن الرابع .‏