Christian churches commemorate the deaths of young children –who were deemed as the first martyrs by the early church– during the endeavors of King Herod the Great to murder the Holy Child, Baby Jesus. The Feast of the Holy Innocents is usually observed on the 28th and 29th of December, according to the Western and Eastern churches, respectively. Prior to the fifth century, the Holy Innocents was observed in concurrence with Epiphany, but then became a separate festival. Furthermore, it was considered as a day of lamentation and fasting in Rome.