The St. Thomas Christians use a Syriac Christian liturgy. Syriac Christians have Christmas traditions and rituals dating from the late 2nd century AD. During British rule St. Thomas Christians were resistant to attempts to anglicanize their traditions and liturgy. Asiatic and North African christianity pre date Rome becoming a christian empire by 300 years and they all celebrated the birth of Christ. Robert Frykenberg's Christianity in India is a readable source.