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Show j j turies there was little interest in celebrating Christ's birth. Far one thing, no one knew the exact date. Others felt that it was somehow degrading. The great church father, Origen, in 245 declared that it was a sin even to think of keeping the birthday of Christ., as though he Were a King Pharoah. But the impulse toward a birth day feast persisted; it was celebrated at various dates as late as April in some places. January 6 was especially favored by the Christians erf the East. To this day it is still Christmas in the Armenian church. At the same time, the Christians were having their problems trying to reshape the pagan world. Among their biggest worries was the year-en- d to page o Bringing in the Yule Log teas a colorful tradition in medieval Europe. It came from the winter festival of pagan Norsemen who believed that smoke and fire, along with horns, yells and other loud noises would frighten away witches and evil spirits. In the fourth century, Church fathers arbitrarily set a winter date, December 25, as Christs birthday, to transform celebrations like Ytde and the Roman Saturnalia. But some of the ancient pagan customs survive today $ THIS WEEK Mefozin OecMbr 20, 19M |