The Christian story, and the concomitant rise of reason, European civilization and the modern world, is the greatest story in human history. Even teeth-gnashing, hair-pulling Marxists, Obama Worshippers and pop-culture devotees who loathe Christians [but love Muslims]; owe their very existence to Christians and the medieval Europeans, who created all of the foundations for our modern world political-economy.

For many people who are chained and in bondage to various politically-correct totalitarianism's and multi-cult worship, this signal fact is lost and debauched. For these personalities nothing much good has ever come out of White culture, Europe, Christianity or the ridiculously named 'Dark Ages'. Apparently it wasn't until Voltaire and his friends, including their progeny Hegel, Marx and Lenin appeared that 'reason' rescued us from darkness. Or perhaps it was the Arabs and Muslims. Or maybe the Hindus. Or the Confucians. Or was it the Hittites and the Sky God Baal, named Hu'Baal the ilah of Mecca ?

In any event, even Christian haters can partake of Christmas and the celebration of the modern world, built by Christian and Judaic culture. But what is Christmas historically?

Western Christmas:

The modern Christmas story is premised on the birth of Christ as described in Matthew (see Matthew 1:18-2:12). Roman Catholics first celebrated Christmas, or what was known as the Feast of the Nativity, in the first century AD, well within living memory of the Christ. Writings from the Apostles and early Church Fathers confirm these rituals.

The word Christmas:

Christmas comes from the old English verbiage for the Mass of Christ or "Cristes maesse". Xmas as a short form came into use during the 4th century. The letter X is the Greek letter chi, an abbreviation of Khristos (Christ), and also represents the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

Paganism merged with Christmas:

It is a myth that pagan practices were the foundation blocks of Christian rites and rituals. No serious objective investigation into the early Church supports this. An example is the oft-quoted and rather inane assertion that the Roman pagan festival of Sol Invictus, or the invincible Sun, was the date 'chosen' by early Christians for Christ's birth. Besides ignoring overwhelming evidence to the contrary, this lie attempts to darken the image of Christianity – which was precisely the point the Romans set up this festival, long after the Christian dating for the birth of Christ, on December 25^th was acknowledged.

The writings of Hippolytus, Theophilius and other Church Patriarchs in the 2^nd century AD, circa 170, make it clear that December 25^th was already understood by Christians to be the birth of Christ. Masses were not then utilized to formally celebrate this birth, because the Gospels – the first one written and completed by Matthew in 42 AD or just 12 years after the Crucifixon [contrary to another myth, that Mark in 60 AD was the first, it was not and Mark's gospel was completed long before then] – did not mention the birth of Christ as a celebratory date. For about 150 years the Church debated about whether to celebrate the 25^th of December and Christ's birth, formally or informally. About 336 AD there is mention – though it must have occurred long before this – of a nativity celebration and Mass on December 25^th. After this it became standard practice.

One reason for the 'late' incorporation of Christmas into the Catholic liturgy was the rather obvious problem of death. From Nero 64 AD, until Constantine's conversion in 313 AD, Christianity was outlawed in the Roman empire. Any formal mass, or gathering of Christians could and often times did, lead to murder and mass killings. Entire congregations were slaughtered including various Popes and Bishops. This rather obvious fact is left out by Secular- Multi- culti pagan loving 'historians'. In fact the entire and formal weekly Catholic mass was only organized once Christianity under Constantine became accepted and escaped the punishment of the secular state.

In any event, the date of December 25^th was known and though not accepted by all Church Fathers, it was recognized far in advance of the pagan Roman Sun festival. The Christian practice of giving gifts, stems from St. Nicholas of Turkey, who in the early 4^th century [circa 310 AD], initiated the practice of giving gifts to help the poor, on the day which celebrated the Christ's birth. It had nothing to do with pagan practices, debauched as they most certainly were.

This Saturnalian or Sol Invictus feast was dedicated to the 'birthday' of the unconquered Sun, a pagan 'God' of Syria. This occurred however, some 50-100 years AFTER, Christians had been writing and discussing Christ's birth on December 25th. In modern parlance 'saturnalian' means a riotous celebration.

Encyclopedia Britannica:

“The height of Syrian influence was in the 3rd century ad when Sol, the Syrian sun god, was on the verge of becoming the chief god of the Roman Empire. He was introduced into Rome by the emperor Elagabalus (Heliogabalus) in about ad 220, and by about ad 240 Pythian Games (i.e., festivals of the sun god Apollo Helios) were instituted in many cities of the empire. The emperor Aurelian...”

Aurelian persecuted Christians in the mid 3^rd century. Christians were forced, on pain of death, to worship state-pagan Gods. Sol Invictus festivals thus commenced some 50 years after Christians had accepted the date and birth of Jesus.  It was not even celebrated on December 25th contrary to Atheist-Secular lies !

“From that time there is no mention of the celebration of Sol Invictus in Roman history until the rule of Aurelian (A.D. 270-275). Aurelian did try to re-introduce the worship of Sol Invictus by decree in the year 274. But there is no record of this festival being held on December 25th. “The traditional feast days of Sol, as recorded in the early imperial fasti, were August 8th and/or August 9th, possibly August 28th, and December 11th.”(Hijmans, p. 588 )

Aurelian did declare games to Sol every four years [these were the Pythian games]. But there is no record from the period or early historiographers that these games were associated with December 25th in any way. The best evidence suggest that the games were held October 19-22 of their calendar. Anyway, on another coincidence, a year after Aurelian declared these games in honor of Sol Invictus, he was assassinated by his own pagan Roman officers out of fear he would execute them based on false charges.”

The birth of Christ has nothing to do with Sol Invictus silly Atheist.

Real meaning of Christmas:

The paganization and commercialization of Christmas has overshadowed its cultural and theological purpose. Christmas should be not only about feasts, drinking, gift-giving and the joy of children, but also a sober reflection on what the Book of Matthew– the progenitor of the entire Christmas enterprise – has to say about ethics, rationality, faith, good works and character. Reading passages from the Book of Matthew would undoubtedly reinforce the Christmas and Western spirit and generate a cultural shift in reason, optimism, hope and morality.

Merry Christmas.