The Origin of Christmas

In pre-Christian times, Yule was celebrated in northern Europe. It now is considered one of three festivals, along with the Roman holidays Saturnalia and Sol Invictus, that morphed into modern Christmas, according to many religious scholars. The giving of gifts over a seven-day period, starting around the modern calendar's Dec. 17, was emphasized on Saturnalia and ended with Sol Invictus, or "the birthday of the unconquered sun," on Dec. 25.