🎄Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

[Christmas2018]( December 25 is symbolically revered by Christians around the world as the day that Jesus was born, bringing light and hope into the world. But rewind 2,600 years to Persia, and on this very same date, it wasn’t the Son of God being honored, but the Sun God. Before that, festivities across the Northern hemisphere also celebrated the emergence of light as they marked the Winter solstice – a time to honor the sun’s rebirth, the retreat of darkness, and the promise of new beginnings. The parallels are not a coincidence but reflect the merging of beliefs and customs over time. Christmas preserves our roots as we live out the traditions our forebears started so long ago – gift-giving and feasts from the Romans; wreaths and evergreen trees from the pagans; cooked turkey from Native Americans; Santa Claus from an ancient Greek saint; and the Yule log from Old Norse traditions. From the Celts to the Christians and the Vikings to the Victorians, they have all added traditions to the rich tapestry of the holiday we call Christmas. In whichever ways you may observe or relive these ancient traditions, we hope you will enjoy the season of new beginnings in peace, happiness and good health. Merry Christmas! Joanna Gillan - Co-founder of Ancient Origins Take advantage of our 30% discount for both our Premium subscriptions and our Online Store! [220x320_chri...]( Click [here](to get your Premium subscription [300x320_store_1]( Click [here](to shop individual products [Unsubscribe]( | [Report spam]( You have received this email because you have subscribed to [Ancient-Origins.net](. Copyright © 2021 [Stella Novus Limited]( - [Ancient Origins]( Sent with [ActiveTrail]( software