Geol, Saturnalia, Sol Invictus, Yule and Epiphany.

In Anglo-Saxon times, Christmas was referred to as geol, from which the current English word 'Yule' is derived. The word "Christmas" is a contraction meaning "Christ's mass." It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038 A.D. The words for the holiday in Spanish (navidad) and French (noël) refer more explicitly to the Nativity. In contrast, the German name Weihnachten means simply "hallowed night."

Christmas is sometimes shortened to X-mas. This is not an attempt to "take Christ out of Christmas" as some christians may suggest. In early Greek versions of the New Testament, the letter Χ (chi), is the first letter of Christ (Χριστός). Since the mid-sixteenth century Χ, was used as an abbreviation for Christ.

Christmas is a very important time in the Christian calendar. It commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. There are however many Pagan influences which have filtered into various Christmas traditions.

Christmas is usually celebrated on December 25. However, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Christmas on January 6, while some Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on January 7. December 25 as a birthdate for Jesus is merely traditional, and is not widely considered to be his actual date of birth.

A winter festival was traditionally the most popular festival of the year in many cultures, in part because there was less agricultural work to be done during the winter. From a Christian perspective, Easter was the most significant feast in the church calendar celebrating the eternal atonement and forgivenes of Sin through the blood and suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross and His victory through His ressurection.

In Roman times, the best-known winter festival was Saturnalia, which was popular throughout Italy. Saturnalia was a time of general relaxation, feasting, merry-making, and a cessation of formal rules. Saturnalia honored the god Saturn and began on December 17. The festival gradually lengthened until the late Republican period, when it was seven days (December 17-23). In imperial times, Saturnalia was shortened to five days.

The Romans held a festival on December 25 called Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, "the birthday of the unconquered sun." The use of the title Sol Invictus allowed several solar deities to be worshipped collectively, including Elah-Gabal, a Syrian sun god; Sol, the god of Emperor Aurelian (AD 270-274); and Mithra, a soldiers' god of Persian origin.

Pagan Scandinavia and England celebrated a winter festival called Yule in the late December to early January period on a date determined by a lunar calendar. With the coming of Christianity and the adoption of the Julian calendar, Yule was placed on December 25 in order to correspond with Christmas. Christmas, a minor Christian festival in the Early Middle Ages, owes much of its popularity and character to Yule. The twelve-day celebration characteristic of Medieval Christmas may have originated with the twelve-day Yule celebration. Pagan Yule traditions survive in the form of the Yule log. In England, Yule was the common name for Christmas in Medieval times. Jul is still the common name for the holiday in Scandinavia.

In the Early Middle Ages, Christmas Day was overshadowed by Epiphany, which in the west focused on the visit of the Magi. Christmas did not even have its own official liturgy until the ninth century.