Wow you're still up on this or have a better memory. You may have read the same books I did unless you just still remember it. Nah, you're not _that_ old. <s> I think they worshipped the s-u-n god and the solstice or 25th was supposed to be the birth of the sun or was picked cause the sun is at its highest point or something along the lines how we mark it as the shortest day (22nd)?
Along the same lines the saints are strangely similar in names to the pagan gods worshipped or prayed to as the 'saints'. I'm trying to keep my beliefs out of it but I believe what you are saying are facts. Hmmm, if you want to dig deeper you know most all religions besides the monolithic Judean religion include a trinity? Babylone history includes Isus and Orisis I think it was who had a child. One was a male god. The other a woman and you got it the child became god too. Don't remember but I think he was his father incarnate. Yep, the mother was called 'the mother of god'.

'god of materialism'? If you have anything on Santa Claus I don't want to hear it cause I know he's real. 'Mmmmmmmmmmm' *ears covered*

>The 25 December date actually dates to the ancient Babylonian religion of the worship of Astarte, goddess of fertility, Mother of Heaven (Hmm.. heard that phrase anywhere ?? <g>) and so forth.
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>Anyway, it essentially marked the Winter Solstice and was celebrated by the ..er.. cutting down and decorating of a fir tree, burning a part of said fir tree in a fire (Yule Log) and so forth.
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>The other interesting thing about Astarte was that her name became Ashtarte and then, in English, Easter. Celibrated by ..er.. colored eggs and rabbits, both symbols of fertility.
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>The December 25th date of the celebration of Christ's birth happened as a direct result of the Church of Rome attempting to co-opt pagan holidays as Christian holidays. Didn't work. <g> Now, rather than celibrating the goddess of fertility we celibrate the god of materialism. <g>
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>Best,
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>DD