Show HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS christmas originally aristes masse the mass or church festival of 0 christ Is the english name tor for the season in which the birth of 0 christ Is commemorated it la Is apparent however that thai a festival was celebrated at this season long before it was held sacred as the birthday of jesus of nazareth the saturnalia of 0 tho the romans and the winter festival of the heathen britons were both celebrated about december 25 and later the roman festival in honor of 0 the sun god mithra instituted A D from aba latter tho day became to be known as the birthday of tho the unconquered sun and after its adoption by the christian church in the fourth century as toe the anniversary of christs birth this name was given a symbolic interpretation A study of the customs associated with this period also reveals a heathen it if not invariably a bolar origin the lighting of the yule log la ia buche de noel on christmas eye eve once a wide spread european custom Is or was a function of such predominant importance among the ll li thu anians antans and letts that their words tor for christmas eve literally signify log evening the sports of the lords of misrule in england are thought to be ba an inheritance from the SAtur saturnalia rialla the decoration of 0 churches with the once ance sacred mistletoe and holly Is a pagan Bury liAl |