Changes

In an essay published in 1889, German scholar Hermann Usener argued that Christmas is an "appropriation" of an earlier pagan festival.<ref>Usener's views are foreshadowed in two essays by P.E. Jablonski (1693-1757). (Hijmans, p. 584.)</ref> According to Usener, the Church placed Christmas on December 25 as a kind of marketing strategy to absorb the pagan solstice festival ''Dies Natalis Sol Invicti'' into Christianity.

In an essay published in 1889, German scholar Hermann Usener argued that Christmas is an "appropriation" of an earlier pagan festival.<ref>Usener's views are foreshadowed in two essays by P.E. Jablonski (1693-1757). (Hijmans, p. 584.)</ref> According to Usener, the Church placed Christmas on December 25 as a kind of marketing strategy to absorb the pagan solstice festival ''Dies Natalis Sol Invicti'' into Christianity.

Although Usener's theory has become quite widespread, Hijmans counters that fourth century homilies concerning the birth of Christ routinely refer to the solstices and equinoxes, but rarely mention pagan feasts. One homily that Usener quoted to support his pagan origin theory actually argues for the solstice theory.<ref>This homily was written in the early fourth century and is entitled ''De solstitia et aequinoctia conceptionis et

Although Usener's theory has become quite widespread, Hijmans counters that fourth century homilies concerning the birth of Jesus routinely refer to the solstices and equinoxes, but rarely to pagan feasts.

nativitatis domini nostri iesu christi et iohannis baptistae.</ref> Not only did this essay connect the birth of Jesus to the winter solstice, it also placed the birthday of John the Baptist on the summer solstice. The dating of both holidays is thus connected to the solar cycle. The anonymous author mentioned that December 25 is the birthday of Sol Invictus, but only to argue that this does not matter.<ref>Hijmans, p. 594.</ref>

 

Hijmans examined a homily that Usener quoted to support his pagan origin theory and found that it actually fits better with a solstice origin.<ref>This homily was written in the early fourth century and is entitled ''De solstitia et aequinoctia conceptionis et

nativitatis domini nostri iesu christi et iohannis baptistae.</ref> The homily not only connects the birth of Jesus to the winter solstice, it also placed the birthday of John the Baptist on the summer solstice. Usener cites this essay for an aside that mentioned that December 25 is the birthday of Sol Invictus. But this is done only to argue that the pagan festival is of no significance.<ref>Hijmans, p. 594.</ref>

The end of the year was a season of varied celebration in pagan Rome. Saturnalia began on December 17 and lasted for three to five days. It was followed by ''Dies Natalis Solis Invicti'' on December 25 and Kalends on January 1 to January 4. Saturnalia was exclusive to Italy while Sol was a sun god associated with emperors [[Aurelian]] and [[Constantine]].

The end of the year was a season of varied celebration in pagan Rome. Saturnalia began on December 17 and lasted for three to five days. It was followed by ''Dies Natalis Solis Invicti'' on December 25 and Kalends on January 1 to January 4. Saturnalia was exclusive to Italy while Sol was a sun god associated with emperors [[Aurelian]] and [[Constantine]].