The History of Christmas

"Christmas is not only a Christian festival. The celebration has roots in the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, the festivals of the ancient Greeks, the beliefs of the Druids and the folk customs of Europe."

While we celebrate Christmas in honor of Christ's birth, the ways we celebrate it--our customs and observances--have their roots in millenia of winter celebrations. The BBC's Religion & Ethics web site has a nice "History of Christmas" which explores the roots of our Christmas festivities.