This Christmas, many children welcomed a familiar visitor – a jolly man in a red suit and a sleigh full of gifts. But the bearded figure Americans recognize today as Santa Claus is a relatively modern creation,

If you look into the history of practically anything, it's complex. The early Christians celebrated the incarnation of God, from the annunciation to his resurrection, on a variety of feast days. They also celebrated the changes in season, along with other members of their community, on days like the spring and winter solstices.

Here’s the origin of Christmas as we know it, when it’s estimated Jesus might have been born and when Christians started celebrating his birth.

Settlers in frontier Appalachia felt a sense of community building because of distances they had to travel at Christmas.

The Christmas tradition in America has evolved a lot over the last 400 years. In the 1600s, some American colonies shunned it. During the era of the American Revolution, it

The tradition of baking cookies during the holiday season is a cherished custom, especially in the United States and other parts of the Western world. Whether it’s Christmas or Hanukkah, cookies hold a special place in both the festivities and the homes of families.

Like many minority groups, Jews have always created ways of adapting to the societies in which they live, but whose culture they do not totally share. And one thing that means is a collection of Christmas traditions,

Boxing Day, observed on December 26, blends historic traditions of charity with modern customs like shopping, gatherings, and sports. Here's how the holiday began and why it's still widely celebrated around the world.

CNN’s Richard Quest opens Christmas crackers as part of his annual tradition.