Casa del Pomba
House of the Dove
Christmas Chronology
6. B.C. Approximate date for birth of Jesus Christ
A.D. 280 Approximate birth
date of St. Nicholas
320
Pope Julius I, bishop of Rome, proclaims December 25 the official
date for birthday of Christ.
1492
Christopher Columbus’s ship Santa Maria is wrecked on island of
Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea on Christmas Eve. Colony is
name La Navidad in honor of the day.
1561
First printed reference to Christmas trees, in Germany
1643
British Parliament officially abolishes celebration of Christmas.
1818
“Silent Night” is written on Christmas Eve. In Obendorf.
Austria
1822
Dr. Clement Moore writes “AVisit from St. Nicholas,” better known by
it first line, “Twas the night before Christmas.”
1836
Alabama is the first state to declare Christmas a legal holiday.
1843
First Christmas card is printed in England.
1843
Charles Dickens writes A Christmas Carol.
1856
President Franklin Pierce decorates first White House Christmas
tree.
1857
“Jingle Bells” is written by J. Pierpont.
1890
Oklahoma, which became a state in 1907, is the last territory to
declare Christmas a legal holiday
1926
United States dedicates the Nation’s Christmas Tree, a giant
sequoia, in Kings Canyon National Park, California
1937
First postage stamp to commemorate Christmas is issues, in Austria.
1949
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is recorded by Gene Autry.
1962
First Christmas postage stamp is issued in the United States.
