Most people enjoy Christmas, but few understand the true origins of the celebrations centred around this time of year. This book looks at the archaeological and historical evidence for ceremonies at the winter solstice which date back more than 5000 years to the Stone Age and traces how these celebrations changed and evolved with the arrival of first Roman and then Christian beliefs. It also looks at the origins of the modern-day Christmas, many elements of which were unknown prior to the nineteenth century, and that most famous of Christmas figures, Santa Claus, while highlighting elements of continuity from the pagan origins of the festival that are still part of today's celebrations.