Description: One of the most popular holidays for children, Christmas has meant more than gifts and merriment to people through the centuries. Like many holidays, Christmas has religious roots. The author tells the story of the first Christmas and why people believe that the birth of Jesus is significant. In ancient Roman times, the festival of Saturnalia was observed in honor of the agricultural god Saturn. The winter solstice was another special time observed in many ancient cultures. The author explains how Christmas borrowed from these winter festivals as more people turned to Christianity. Readers learn how customs such as gift-giving, lighting candles, decorating with wreaths and holly, and decorating trees developed. The real-life person behind the Santa Claus character, St. Nicholas, is introduced, along with other names he is known by throughout the world. There are as many ways to celebrate Christmas as there are names for the jolly old man, and this book gives examples of customs from many lands.

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