Origin of Christmas

The origin of Christmas has its roots in the pagan tradition of celebrating the winter solstice. Over time, the Christian church combined many of the pagan traditions with the birth of the Christian Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. According to "Religious Tolerance," the reason the Roman Catholic Church chose December 25 as the date for Christmas was due to the number of pagan festivals celebrated around that date.Religious Tolerance: The Selection of December 25 for Christmas

Coincidentally many pagan gods were believed to have been born on and around Christmas day. The Roman god, Attis (also born to a virgin mother), was born on December 25. The birthday of the Greek god, Dionysus, was observed on December 25. Osiris, the Egyptian god, was also rumored to have been born on December 25. Mithra, a Persian god, celebrated his birthday on December 25. The ancient Babylonians also celebrated a sun god festival on December 25.Religious Tolerance: The Selection of December 25 for Christmas

Many Christmas traditions practiced today have pagan origins. The custom of Christmas trees is believed to have originated in the ancient European cultures that once revered trees as sacred, spiritual objects. Many associate the origin of Santa Claus with Saint Nicholas, but Father Winter watched over the peoples of Europe during the frigid months of the year long before the birth of St. Nick. The ancient Druids once harvested mistletoe as part of the winter solstice ritual, catching the plants before they hit the earth and then distributing them to the villagers to ward off bad luck.Pole Spirits North and South: Santa Claus and the Origin of the Christmas Tree Candlegrove: Oh! Mistletoe!