I believe the winter solstice has been celebrated for about as long as man has been around. Ancient man would see the days grow shorter, less food, more cold, they naturally were scared and worried. They thought it was the death of the year. They celebrated so that the spring would come, the rebirth. I think it’s the same with the story of Jesus, except taken to the limit. Death of a man and His rebirth. That idea would appeal to many people, and no other religion can trump having a man come back to life.
Do you believe that Jesus was God incarnate, and died to pay for our sins and rose to grant us eternal life?
A simple "Yes" or "No" is sufficient.