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Line 56: − − The cycle of solstice and equinox is a natural phenomena significant to religions of widely varying character. As Hijmans writes: − {{cquote|It is cosmic symbolism ... which inspired the Church leadership in Rome to elect the winter solstice, December 25, as the birthday of Christ, and the summer solstice [June 24] as that of John the Baptist, supplemented by the equinoxes as their respective dates of conception. While they were aware that pagans called this day the “birthday” of Sol Invictus, this did not concern them and it did not play any role in their choice of date for Christmas.<ref name="Hijmans">Hijmans, p. 595.</ref>}}
→Relationship to pagan festivals
==Relationship to pagan festivals==
==Relationship to pagan festivals==
That pagans and Christians both held solstice holidays should not be understand to mean that Christmas is derived for a pagan holiday. The cycle of solstice and equinox is a natural phenomena significant to religions of widely varying character. As Hijmans writes:
{{cquote|It is cosmic symbolism ... which inspired the Church leadership in Rome to elect the winter solstice, December 25, as the birthday of Christ, and the summer solstice [June 24] as that of John the Baptist, supplemented by the equinoxes as their respective dates of conception. While they were aware that pagans called this day the “birthday” of Sol Invictus, this did not concern them and it did not play any role in their choice of date for Christmas.<ref name="Hijmans">Hijmans, p. 595.</ref>}}
===Sol Invictus===
===Sol Invictus===
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.
===Saturnalia and Kalends===
===Saturnalia and Kalends===
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]].
Both Saturnalia and Sol Invictus were overshadowed by Kalends, a new year celebration. While there is no trace of either Saturalia or Sol Invictus persisting into Christian times, various churchmen noted how difficult it was to suppress Kalends.<ref>"In 578 CE a church Council at Auxerre, Burgundy, forbade disguisings, and another Council, in the year 614, stated it was “unlawful to make any indecent plays upon the Kalends of January, according to the profane practices of the pagans.” (Pennick, Nigel, ''[https://books.google.ca/books?isbn=1620553902 Pagan Magic of the Northern Tradition: Customs, Rites, and Ceremonies]'', 2015.)</ref> The Roman end-of-year celebrations transferred to [[Epiphany]] in the Early Middle Ages and later to the Twelve Days of Christmas.
Both Saturnalia and Sol Invictus were overshadowed by Kalends, a new year celebration. While there is no trace of either Saturalia or Sol Invictus persisting into Christian times, various churchmen noted how difficult it was to suppress Kalends.<ref>"In 578 CE a church Council at Auxerre, Burgundy, forbade disguisings, and another Council, in the year 614, stated it was “unlawful to make any indecent plays upon the Kalends of January, according to the profane practices of the pagans.” (Pennick, Nigel, ''[https://books.google.ca/books?isbn=1620553902 Pagan Magic of the Northern Tradition: Customs, Rites, and Ceremonies]'', 2015.)</ref> The Roman end-of-year celebrations transferred to [[Epiphany]] in the Early Middle Ages and later to the Twelve Days of Christmas.