Since around 400AD Christians have celebrated the birth of Jesus. The word Christmas joins ‘Christ’, meaning ‘Messiah’ or ‘Anointed One’, and ‘Mass’ being a religious festival, but is what we know as a modern Christmas quite what it seems?

At the darkest moment of the year, when the nights seem endless and the days very short, comes that most joyful of festivals - the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ, the Light of the World. Christmas is a truly magical season, bringing families and friends together to share the much-loved customs and traditions that over the centuries have come to surround this heart-warming and deeply symbolic occasion.

Want to know a little more about Christmas?

• The History Of Christmas

• The Legend Of St. Nicholas And Santa Claus

• The Christmas Story

• The Christmas Truce Of 1914

• ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas

• An Outlaw Christmas

• Irving Reinvents Christmas

• 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens

• Sinter Klass Comes To New York

• The Ninth Reindeer

• Christmas Trees - How It All Got Started?

• Christmas Poems

• Ancient Greeks

• Scandinavia

• Germany

• A Winter Festival

• The Season Of Advent

• Decking The Halls

• Symbols Of Christmas

• The Nativity

• Santa’s Sack

• Boxing Day