The Pagan Heart of Christmas: What we truly celebrate — and why it is not Jesus

Christmas is one of those holidays where many act as if the history is clear — when in reality, it’s anything but. Beneath the fairy lights, the scent of pine, and the kitschy commercials lies a much older narrative, one that was celebrated long before anyone in Europe had even heard of Bethlehem. And the deeper you dive into history, the more obvious it becomes: this holiday was already sacred long before it became Christian.

I don’t say this to take anyone’s tradition away — every tradition has its place. Quite the opposite. For me, it’s rather a small miracle that the roots of this holiday have survived centuries of religious overlay — quietly, stubbornly, and beautifully.

And yes, I love that we still celebrate a festival today that, at its core, is a pagan love letter to light.

To hope. To the moment when the longest night breaks and the world begins to breathe again, symbolically. And that’s exactly what I want to talk about today: not that Christmas is celebrated — but what we’re actually celebrating, often without even realizing it.

An Ancient Festival of Light

Around the winter solstice, nearly all ancient cultures celebrated the return of light. For the Germanic peoples, Yule was a festival of gods and ancestors, where fires and candles lit the longest night and drove away unwelcome spirits while welcoming the benevolent ones. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia — a raucous time of gift-giving, social role reversals, and abundance, meant to survive the winter and welcome the sun.

The Celts honored the return of light as Alban Arthan, the “Light of the Bear”: a symbol of strength, renewal, and the power of nature returning after the darkest night. In the northern regions of Europe, people considered the Twelve Nights of the Rauhnächte — the twelve nights around the winter solstice — particularly magical. They were used for ancestor veneration, protective rituals, and preparation for the new year. Each night was like a veil between the world of the living and the world of spirits, a moment when wishes, oracles, and rituals were especially potent.

The common thread in all these celebrations: enduring the darkest night to welcome the reborn light (the sun). Fire, candles, gifts, and community — all symbols of hope, renewal, and joy. Even back then, it was about surviving the harsh winter, honoring the forces of nature, and celebrating the return of light. This ancient ritual continues today — often hidden beneath pine branches, candlelight, and the festive magic we call Christmas.

All these festivals revolve around the same theme: celebrating light when the nights are longest. No wonder, then, that early Christians chose this exact time for the birth of their own “bringer of light” — even if the historical birth of Jesus likely took place at another time of the year.

Why Jesus Was Most Likely Not Born in December

Historians and biblical scholars agree that Jesus’ birth probably did not occur in winter. Multiple clues from the scriptures and historical context suggest that spring or autumn are far more likely.

• According to the Bible, the shepherds were in the fields at night — in winter, they would not have left their flocks outside.

• Tax records mentioned in history were more likely conducted in spring or autumn, not in the dead of winter.

• The date December 25th does not appear in the scriptures; it was set later.

  
  

How the Church Deliberately Overlaid an Existing Festival

So why December 25th? The answer lies less in historical fact and more in strategic decisions of the early Church — and in a long process that intertwined pagan festivals with the new faith.

It’s important to understand that the Christianization of the Romans, and eventually Europe, was a long, multi-layered process. Initially, apostles and early church leaders spread the faith in the cities, often secretly and despite persecution. Only under Emperor Constantine (4th century) was Christianity officially permitted and promoted — a decisive turning point. Later, under Theodosius I, it even became the state religion.

To more easily bring the people of the Roman Empire, who still followed their polytheistic traditions, into the new faith, church leaders deliberately placed Jesus’ birth on December 25th — right in the middle of the long-celebrated solstice festivals.

This process is called syncretism: old rituals are woven into new religious forms. In this way, people could keep familiar practices while also receiving the Christian message.

Why Not Let Everyone Freely Choose Their Religion?

I’m glad you asked! The truth is: back then, religion was not just personal belief, but a central part of power, order, and identity. Those who did not practice the “correct” faith were often seen as disloyal — not just spiritually, but politically as well.

Christianity as the state religion therefore served not only mission purposes but also social control. Old customs were cleverly integrated — not brutally banned — so that the light of ancient traditions could survive, albeit in a new Christian packaging.

The Pagan Roots of Christmas Symbols

Even today, many Christmas symbols and traditions have pagan origins:

• Christmas tree → symbol of eternal life, fertility, and protection among Germanic and Nordic peoples

• Mistletoe → ritual plant of the Druids

• Candles → symbolic solstice fires

• Advent wreath → symbol of light, life, and the cycle of becoming and passing away

• Gifts → echo of Roman Saturnalia

• Rauhnächte → magical winter rituals of the northern peoples

• St. Nicholas and Santa Claus → symbol of benevolent spirits bringing blessings into homes and families

Christmas is therefore not a “purely” Christian holiday, but a cultural hybrid: an ancient festival of light that has been layered, adapted, and carried into the modern world over centuries.

💡 Urban-Mystic Note: One could say the Church put a new mask on the festival — and yet the ancient magic of light, community, and renewal survives. That essence is exactly what makes Christmas so special today.

Thank You for Celebrating the Return of Light With Us

And that’s exactly why I love Christmas: it’s a festival of the return of light that has accompanied us across centuries — no matter what mask it wears. Beneath the candles, pine scent, and gifts lies an ancient magic: hope, renewal, and joy.

For me, it’s a small miracle that these traditions have survived. They remind us that light always returns, that community makes us strong, and that we can always begin anew. Christmas is more than a religion. It’s an ancient ritual that connects us — with nature, with history, and with each other. And that is exactly what makes it so special for me and thousands of others today.

So, dear Christians, you are warmly welcome in our pagan festival. Let’s celebrate the return of light together — and maybe feel just a little of the magic that delighted our ancestors.