4 Christmas Traditions that are Actually Pagan
Christmas is an iconic holiday, designated by decorous evergreens, a golly old white man in a red suit and cap, reindeer pulling sleds, and the Christian nativity scene. Those of us who celebrate it go through the motions of upholding the aesthetic: twinkling lights, nutcrackers, angels, and stockings hung on the mantle.
But where do these traditions come from? And why are they so closely associated with Christianity?
Many Christian and Catholic traditions reflect a blend of the various cultures that existed as the religion developed into an institution. Pagans, or polytheistic communities, worshipped multiple gods and goddesses and honored them throughout the year with celebrations, feasts, and rituals. As Christian influence spread throughout Europe, the Church sought to incorporate elements of paganism for the sake of converting them.
Christmas is no exception. The widely-celebrated holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ is more closely aligned with pagan festivals for the Winter Solstice. Some historians believe that Jesus Christ wasn’t born on Christmas, but was incorporated into pagan traditions to encourage polytheistic people to convert.
Throughout cultures and religions, Winter Solstice celebrations honored the Sun and its return, bringing some light to the darkest day of the year. It’s a time of hope, rejuvenation, and new beginnings.
Roman pagans honored Saturn, God of Time, to honor the New Year. Pre-Christian Scandinavians celebrated Jol, a festival that involved eating boar, burning large logs, and celebrating goats. Celtic mythology recounts the battle of the Oak King, who represents light, and the Holly King, who symbolizes night.
The holiday traditions we celebrate today take on a new meaning when considering the pagan context they were created in. Here are four Christmas traditions that were inspired by pre-Christian pagan communities.
Christmas Tree
Referred to as a Yule tree by Germanic pagans, evergreens were cut down and brought inside the home to symbolize eternal life. Since their vibrant green color never faded, these trees were believed to discourage the onset of death, destruction, and evil spirits. Their resilience in the coldest months of the year reflected the belief that they encouraged the return of the Sun. Along with the tree, evergreen branches were often hung throughout the house or crafted into wreaths to harness their protective powers and symbolize everlasting life.
Our modern tradition of decorating Christmas trees with lights, holly, tinsel, and ornaments mirrors the pagan custom of ceremoniously honoring evergreens. Roman pagans believed that keeping trees in the homes would provide a place for wood spirits to be warm. They’d hang delicious food and sweets on the branches for their mystic guests to eat.
Father Christmas
The symbol of Santa Claus in modern times is a combination of pagan traditions and early Christian figures. His name and good-nature are most closely linked with St. Nicholas, a Greek bishop who lived in Turkey during the 3rd and 4th centuries. He was an early Christian who defended his community from religious persecution and was imprisoned until Constantine declared Christianity the Roman Empire’s primary religion.
Germanic pagans believed that the god Odin embarked on a hunt during Yule. He led the party through the sky with a horse named Sleipnir who had eight legs. This mythic creature is speculated to pre-date reindeer because of it’s ability to jump long distances. It was customary for children to put out food for the horse in their boots, which Odin would thank them for by giving them small gifts.
Christmas Caroling
During Saturnalia, the week-long Roman celebration for Saturn, boisterous groups of people would meander throughout town carousing, but naked. That last part didn’t seem to carry over into modern times, but the tradition of merry-making through singing did.
In other cultures, however, this tradition was specifically performed by children who would go door to door and sing for their neighbors and fellow villagers. They were gifted with gifts, food, or small tokens of appreciation for their effort.
Hanging Mistletoe and Holly
Druids used both mistletoe and holly in ceremonies performed during the Winter Solstice. Holly was believed to embody “masculine” energy and was most often used to ward off evil spirits from entering the home. It was placed over doors, windows, and the fireplace, acting as a guard to dispel negative energy from sacred spaces.
Mistletoe was believed to symbolize divine fertility and was harvested for the purpose of wearing as an amulet or hanging above someone’s bed to encourage conception. Like holly, the plant was also posted over doorways to secure it from threatening forces like bad weather or malevolent spirits.
Cassidy Scanlon is a Capricorn poet and witch who uses her artistic gifts as a channel for healing herself and others. She writes poetry and CNF about mental health, astrology, queer love, pop culture representation, and how social structures shape our perceptions of history and mythology. When she’s not writing, she can be found petting the local stray cats, exploring the swamps of Florida, reading 5 books at a time, and unwinding with her Leo girlfriend.
You can visit her astrology blog Mercurial Musings and explore more of her publications on her website.