Christmas is ageless. It has been observed in one form or another since the beginning of recorded history -- even before the birth of Jesus Christ. With such a rich and diverse history, time has eroded,distorted, twisted and confused the fundamental elements that lay at the core of Christmas observance.

Some call this progress.

But Christmas, unlike matters of science, was never intended to change or "evolve". Here we explore these essentials of the season: what it means, where it began, and how it impacts us. Much of this information is not new. But for a world grown fond of making sacred things secular, these details surprise, delight and inspire.