Enjoy the holidays, but don't presume to own the ideal...

No one actually knows when Jesus was born. Biblically speaking, historians think he was born in September, six months after Passover. One thing all historians agree on is that it's highly unlikely he was born in December.

The Bible recounts shepherds ‘tending their sheep in the fields’ the night he was born. Considering shepherds don't tend sheep during the cold Judean winter it's improbable J.C. was born in December. So why is it that we associate his birth with December 25th?

Let's consider some ‘pagan’ traditions.

In Rome, the winter solstice was celebrated years before the birth of Jesus. Romans celebrated Saturnalia - Saturn, God of Agriculture.

The Kalends of January, represented the triumph of life over death. The whole season was called “Dies Natalis Invicti Solis” or “Birthday of the Unconquered Sun”. The season was defined by partying and gluttonous eating and drinking.

Also in ancient Rome, the ‘Mummers’ were born. The ‘Mummers’ were costumed actors who traveled from house to house performing songs and dances for their neighbors. We know them as ‘Carolers’.

“Yule” celebrated during the solstice in northern Europe, long before the ‘birth of Christ’, exonerated the pagan God, “Mithras”. As Mithras grew and matured, the days became longer and warmer. It was customary during this time to light a candle to encourage Mithras - the sun - to reappear next year. ‘Yule logs’ were henceforth burned in honor of the sun.

The word Yule itself means wheel - the wheel is a pagan symbol for the sun. Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant, and the custom of kissing under the mistletoe began as a fertility ritual. Holly berries were bestowed the ‘food of the gods’.

The iconic evergreen tree unites all northern European winter solstice traditions. Live evergreens were displayed in the home during the severe winter months as a reminder that the crops would soon sprout anew. The branches were carried as good luck charms and were used during weddings to represent fertility.

The Druids used the tree as a religious symbol, holding their sacred ceremonies while surrounding and worshipping enormous trees.

In 350 A.D., Pope Julius I declared that Christ's birth shall be celebrated on December 25th. There is little doubt that this was an effort to facilitate and assuage the conversion of Roman pagans - who, at the time, were the majority.

Christmas (Christ-Mass), as we know it today, began in Germany, though Catholics and Lutherans still disagree about which church celebrated it first. The earliest record of an evergreen being decorated in a Christian celebration was in 1521 in the Alsace region of Germany. A prominent Lutheran minister of the day cried blasphemy: "Better that they should look to the true tree of life, Christ."

I present this not as a condemnation of the religious sects who’ve embraced the holiday as their own, but to remind everyone of the ideals upon which those traditions are founded.  Not the least of which being partying and gluttonous eating and drinking.  Enjoy the holidays, but never presume to own the ideal.