Christmas 1999

December 24, 1999

Source: The Columbus Dispatch

On December 24, 1999, The Columbus Dispatch published an article on the differing practices and origins of Christmas celebration. The Peace United Methodist Church in Pickerington, Ohio performs an annual Nativity reenactment, with participants telling the story through Christmas carols and guiding live farm animals. At St. Nicholas of Myra Episcopal Church in Hilliard, OH, a traditional creche is erected without the baby Jesus. At the Christmas Eve service, the baby Jesus is placed in the manger. According to Joseph Kelly, a professor of the history of Christianity at John Carroll University in Cleveland, OH, the celebration of Christmas on December 25th dates back to the third century, when the celebration was intended to coincide with the Roman feast for the winter solstice. Before that, many Christians celebrated Christmas on January 6th to coincide with the winter solstice feast in Egypt.