While Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the actual date of the big event is lost in history. There's no mention of December 25 in the Bible. Some historians posit that the date was chosen to coincide with the pagan festival of Saturnalia which honored the agricultural god of Saturn with celebrating and gift-giving.
The tradition of Christmas trees goes all the way back to the Egyptians and Romans who decorated with evergreens during the winter solstice to signify the spring will return. Evergreen reminded them of all the green plants that were to grow once the sun returned.
Contrary to popular belief, "Xmas" was not a trendy attempt "to take Christ out of Christmas." Christianity was spelled "Xianity" as far back as 1100. X, or Chi, is the Greek first letter of "Christ" so, "X". And back in the fourth century, Constantine, the Great often referenced the shortened version.
Some say it was as early as 1021 that the abbreviation "XPmas" was used, to reference the holiday, which was shortened to "Xmas".
Some say it was as early as 1021 that the abbreviation "XPmas" was used, to reference the holiday, which was shortened to "Xmas".