Christmas was not declared a National Holiday until 1870 five year’s after Lincoln’s assassination. Lincoln was a innovator using telegraph to communicate with his General’s during the civil war! Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd and their son Tad, would visit the union soldiers in hospitals! The Lincoln’s used their own money to buy lemons and oranges for the union troops to prevent scurvy! Lincoln had something to do with the image of Santa Claus! In 1863 he commissioned his friend and former campaign poster artist Thomas Nast, to illustrate Santa Claus handing out gifts to the union troops! Before Thomas Nast, Father Christmas was shown as a tall thin man but Nast made him bearded and plump! Besides creating the image of Santa, Nast also created the donkey and elephant images of the Democratic and Republican parties. He also created the familiar image of Uncle Sam! American history is rich with the image of Christmas! Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com