There are strong voices we hear more often during each Christmas season calling for repaganizing or secularizing it.

Neopagans argue that it is a pagan feast which has been Christianized by force when Christianity became officially religion of the Roman Empire and I must admit that it is true.

Most of the traditions celebrated during this season by Christians and non-Christians alike have pure pagan origin including its date.

Biblical account of Christ’s birth doesn’t give details which could point to exact date but the fact that shepherds were outside watching their flocks in the night suggests it wasn’t winter therefore it could not have happened on December twenty fifth.

This date on the contrary was typical to pagan celebrations of winter solictice in most countries of the world. They celebrated it by decorating evergreen trees which were considered holy, exchanging gifts, holding generous feast with family and friends.

Santa Claus was a part of this long before Christianity as one of deities worshiped during this festival under many different names, of course depending on the culture.

Worship of “The Great Mother” with a “God child” was also typical as pagan winter solictice is a rebirth of “Invincible Sun” for pagans to this very day.

It is easy to see then how Christian truths were carefully crafted into these pagan rites, most likely by pagan priests who were very quickly “converting” to Christianity for strictly selfish and political reasons who also changed its name to Christmas.

How in the light of all this a geniuanine followers of Jesus should celebrate it?

Well, I would like to challenge all of us to simply make it yet one more occasion to celebrate Jesus Christ alone. Let us leave to neopagans their pagan rituals that they want to reclaim by abandoning them completely.

That is what I did together with my husband and children. There is no room in our home for Santa Claus and Christmas tree but all room for glorifying Jesus, receiving and giving to others His unconditional love because that is the true spirit of Christmas.