Part of the celebration of Christmas is the celebration of beautiful branches grafted onto the sometimes-older vine. Things such as evergreen Christmas trees, St. Nicholas, even the December dating, are all "add-ins" to the original story, each bringing/brought by believers who were then new to the faith. Some of the things are older, some younger, but all are gifts to you and me in our time. And every one has brought new believers along.
If you were to count the religions that interpret winter solstice as a significant promise of new life, first harbinger of spring, it would be the whole list. If the most insightful psychology says that we are hard-wired for faith in God, then surely this is one of those points built into us.
As the days stop their shortening and slightly begin to lengthen, astronomers ancient and modern have pointed to the event. From the astronomical observatories at Chaco Canyon to the Central American religions, to the Egyptians and Greeks, ancient astronomy was hardly primitive on this point. And it has fascinated the children of God in every age. "The LIGHT is coming back!!!"
On what day was Jesus actually born? I don't know. On what day did the early Christians decide to celebrate His birth? Within the solstice festival, when "the light is coming back"; that's when we celebrate the birth of the Light of the World.
Over and over, festival days, heroes, and theology come to be grafted into the story. Thank God for that. Christmas is always expanding!
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