Today in history - June 26th, 1870

Today in 1870, Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the United States. Christmas actually started out as the pagan holiday Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, or the day of the unconquered sun, a holiday in celebration of the solar gods Elah-Gabal, Sol, and Mithras. The idea that December 25th was the birth date of Jesus did not come until later, when it was suggested that Jesus was conceived during the spring equinox, therefore placing his date of birth near the winter solstice. The use of Christmas trees stems back to the pagan idea of introducing evergreen boughs into the home for worship of the winter solstice.