Christmas is thought of as a Christian holiday. Conversely, though the two modes of celebrating are becoming fused, Christmas is seen as a feast of consumerism. However, Christmas was originally a pagan celebration, directly connected to the seasons and the shift from darkness to light. Even the date of Christmas, December 25th, was adopted as the birthday of Christ to prevent pagans from celebrating the holiday of Mithras, or the sun, on that same day.
In understanding where the symbols of Christmas come from, people who are atheists or pagans can also celebrate this holiday by being true to its origins.
The Christmas Tree
Over 4000 years prior to the emergence of Christianity, pagans in many countries saw the tree as a symbol during the coldest time of year. To celebrate the festival of Saturn, Romans garlanded trees and placed candles in their boughs. In Scandinavian countries, apples were hung from evergreens to honour Baldur, the god of sun and to anticipate the eventual coming of spring and summer. The pine tree was also used to celebrate the birthday of Osiris, the pagan god.
Even as late as 1800, some Christian sects forbade the seasonal decorating of a tree due to its origins in paganism, even though Christianity had usurped the winter solstice celebration from about 300 years after Christ's supposed death.
For a pagan to still evoke the origins of the winter solstice time of year without recourse to Christian and consumerist usages of the tree symbol, they can decorate an outside tree. Conversely, they can purchase a live tree, of pine or rosemary, the latter of which can be dried and used in cooking or as potpourris afterwards. Decorations can be organic, edible like popcorn strings, and natural in form.
Gifts and FeastsThe practice of gift giving originally stemmed from the Roman feast of Saturn, their Saturnalia. However the gifts they gave were small, for luck and were known as stenae or lucky fruits. Charity towards others was also practiced at this time of year.
As pagans, one should keep gifts humble, simple and natural. Give gifts of time or support for causes. Give homemade blankets, jams or cookies. Give art that one has created.
Feasting is also derived from Roman times as well as the Mithraic practice of slaughtering a bull at this time of year. Saturn was the god of agriculture, so a feast was an appropriate way to celebrate the largesse of the crops and herds.
Pagans often have potluck feasts where everyone brings a dish or two that they have cooked or baked. In such a way, one can celebrate the fruits of one's labours, the natural products of the land and a sense of community.
Other Traditions
Kissing under the mistletoe is entirely pagan and Druid. The plant symbolizes love and harmony. The burning of the Yule log is what commenced the tradition of the twelve days of Christmas. The log, drawn from the core of an immense tree, was supposed to burn for twelve days prior to the celebration of Mithras.
Santa Claus was the creation of a 19th-entury cartoonist, a figure cemented by consumerism, though elements of the character were drawn from Nordic and other pre-Christian myths. Caroling originated in Rome when costumed figures, known as Mummers, went door to door, singing and merry-making. Coloured lights warded off evil spirits and symbolized the coming of the new year.
Pagans can thus incorporate versions of all these aspects of the holiday in their own re-creation of the origins of Christmas, returning the festivity to its essential roots.
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