Christmas has Pagan Roots

[Monica]

It's interesting how most people who celebrate Christmas aren't aware that the traditions were Pagan in origin. Gift-giving, decorating a tree, Santa, etc. all came from Pagan traditions.

Christmas was once banned in the UK and US!

It was in 601 that Pope Gregory I wrote to Melitus (his missionary in England) telling him "not to stop such ancient Pagan festivities" but to "adapt them to the rites of the Church, only changing the reason of them from a heathen to a Christian impulse". So all those who have been claiming for years that Christmas was, in fact, actually a pagan holiday - you were right and Pope Gregory I handily put it in writing for you...

...So while you may have known that Christmas was originally pagan festival, you might not have known that in the UK it was made illegal for 12 years and in the US it was illegal for 260 years.

History of Christmas holiday (timeline)

And, the background of the Santa myth is particularly fascinating!

The psychedelic secrets of Santa Claus

[Shin'Ar]

The vast majority of humanity follows such a blind path.

Few are those who understand the nuances and the 'dynamics' involved.

[Brittany]

I thought that was pretty common knowledge in these parts.

[Monica]

I thought that was pretty common knowledge in these parts.

Yeah me too...but apparently not.