Today, Christmas is the most important event of the year, and is celebrated all over the world, not only by Christians. Even though the origin of Christianity was in the Holy Land, the faith quickly spread with Peter and Paul, and Rome, the old imperial capital, ultimately became the center of the first Christians. The first documented Christmas festival was celebrated in 336 AD in Rome, on 25th December.
At this time, Emperor Constantine the Great reigned over the Roman Empire. Even though only 10% of the population were Christians, the emperor was benevolent towards them, and he was the first emperor to be baptized (on his deathbed).
The 25th December was already a religious holiday, even before the Christmas celebration. Since 274 AD, the Romans celebrated the birth of Sol Invictus, the undefeated sun god, on this day, and the Christians also celebrated on the same day, and took it on as the birthday of Jesus Christ. In the year 380 AD, Christianity became the state religion in the Roman Empire.
This historical set honors the first Christmas celebration of Christianity, with an ancient Roman Follis with the portrait of Emperor Constantine the Great.
