Saturnalia, associated with the Winter Solstice was a pagan Roman celebration, complete with dancing, merriment, eating heartily, and decorations of laurel and green trees. The giving and receiving of gifts was as much as it is in our modern day Christmas. The spirit of giving engulfed many towards the poor and unfortunate souls. However, the Romans were given over to Idolatry. They had many Gods. Also around the time of the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast honoring the children of Rome.

    December 25th was a day of worship by a sun loving religion from Persia or Mesopotamia called Mithraism. The origin of this belief was in Astrology and Greek philosophy and an offshoot of Zorastrianism. Members of the upper classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on that day. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra's birthday was the most sacred day of the year.

    Brumalia, celebrated as the birthday of Natalis Sol Invictus was another celebration of the Romans. Brumalia and Saturnalia went hand in hand to help create the early Christ-mass celebrations. Brumalia was also celebrated by the Britons, the Germans and in Gaul. When the Germans were Christianized they brought with them their Gods of old pagan beliefs, namely Thor, Odin, Njord, and Frey (where we get the name Friday). About all these pagans did was give up the names of their Gods, not their customs. Fun, gaiety, drinking, carousing, merriment, dancing, singing, and going so far as orgies were part and parcel to some of these pagan worship rites.

    "Christianity" was declared the official religion of Rome. This was what we know as the Roman Catholic Church of today. As people of different pagan religions were drawn in to the NEW official religion, the church fathers had a dilemma. The papal leaders couldn't abolish the celebrations so they just renamed them to something more palatable. However, the Catholic Church still has a lot in common with Mithraism. Catholic Priests becoming 'Father' despite Jesus' specific command to the contrary.

Matt23:9 And do not call anyone on earth `father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven"

    The Holy Father in Mithriasm wore a miter(a tall richly adorned cap) as well as the same garments and ring, just as a Bishop or Abbot does.

    In trying to lure the pagan worshipers into the church, they allowed them to keep their winter solstice celebration and rites, but put the name of Christ on it. They called it the Mass of Christ, or Christmas. They tried to "Christianize" the pagans by their mixture. As is with two colors of water when mixed together, maybe the Christians became "Paganized."

    At about 320 AD, Pope Julius I decided that Christ was born on December 25th. Imagine that! The (infallable?) pope decided when Jesus the Christ was born, above and beyond any teaching of the Bible. Constantine the Great set in stone that Christmas celebrations were to take place on the 25th day of December. The church knew that it would be popular and accepted by many. (He also set Sunday as the official holy day of a seven-day week). I believe many early Christians were nauseated by this perversion of the gospel of Christ but the followers of the pope fell right in line and accepted without testing the scriptures as John the Elder writes.

1JN 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.

    Many years later the pagan religion was all but forgotten but their behavior was far from gone. Their drunkenness and debauchery was the same, but they called it by Christ's name. The poor made demands upon the rich to repay their supposed debt to the less fortunate. That was Christmas in the Middle Ages. Sort of like what it is in many cities today.

    If you are a practicing Roman Catholic today I must tell you that you are misled and misinformed. I was raised Catholic, I know. You have the right to educate yourself by reading the Bible as I have. When you study your catechism ask yourself whether the Pope is infallable, the doctrine of Indulgences is correct, Where did Purgatory come from? And how can the sacrament of the Eucharist be the REAL flesh and blood of Christ? (transubstantiation). How about the worship of idols and praying to Mary or to saints. Don't depend upon the priest to be an intercessor between you and God. Your salvation is between YOU and God, with Christ as Redeemer!

Romans 8:26 but the Spirit himself intercedes for us

Romans 8:34 Christ . . .who intercedes for us.

    Early Christians, for several hundred years, never had any ideas of celebrating the birth of Jesus. The early teachers of Christianity PROHIBITED THESE FESTIVALS as unsuited to the character of Christ. No one knew exactly when he was born. The Bible does not give a date, nor does it even give a month. It says the shepherds were in the fields. That is hardly likely in December, since it is cold in Judea then. Caesar Augustus was taking a census, which was for the purpose of taxation that was very unlikely during the winter. Some scholars suggest that Jesus Christ might have been born in the year 5 or 6 B.C., possibly even 8 B.C. Again no specific time is given. Many Bible and secular scholars disagree as to even the year of birth, let alone consider the birth month or DAY. I doubt it was December 25th.

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