In adopting this date, which was universally distinguished by sacred festivities, the ecclesiastical authority purified in some measure the profane usages which it could not suppress. It appears certain that the commemoration of the Nativity was set for the 25th of December, because it was at the winter solstice that the rebirth of the invincible god,* the Natalis invicti, was celebrated. Mithra, identified with the invincible Sun…they also held Sunday sacred, and celebrated the birth of the Sun on the 25th of December, the same day on which Christmas has been celebrated, since the fourth century at least … +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York ) Mithraism was emphatically a soldier religion… Its foremost apostles were the legionaries hence it spread first to the frontier stations of the Roman army. Helios Mithras is one god … Sunday was kept holy in honour of Mithra … The 25 December was observed as his birthday, the natalis invicti, the rebirth of the winter-sun, unconquered by the rigours of the season… In any case Mithra is a light or solar deity of some sort It is conjectured (Oldenberg, “Die “Religion des Veda,” Berlin, 1894) that Mithra was the rising sun, Varuna the setting sun or, Mithra, the sky at daytime, Varuna, the sky at night or, the one the sun, the other the moon. In Vedic hymns he is frequently mentioned and is nearly always coupled with Varuna, but beyond the bare occurrence of his name, little is known of him (Rigveda, III, 59). It entered Europe from Asia Minor after Alexander’s conquest, spread rapidly over the whole Roman Empire at the beginning of our era…The origin of the cult of Mithra dates from the time that the Hindus and Persians still formed one people, for the god Mithra occurs in the religion and the sacred books of both races, i.e. Mithraism A pagan religion consisting mainly of the cult of the ancient Indo-Iranian Sun-god Mithra. The real reason for the season was to worship the sun god and celebrate his rebirth. Two that come to mind are the Saturnalia and Yuletide. This holiday was celebrated before Jesus was born.Īnd, depending on where it was observed, this season had some different names.
On December 25, people in many parts of the world celebrate a holiday. Representation of Cave Grotto, Vatican City, January 2010