Unfortunately, there is not a shred of truth in this rewrite of history to accommodate an unbiblical tradition grafted into the Christian faith.
I, myself learned where Christmas had it’s origins from the parochial school I belonged, from Catholic encyclopedias no less.
This author tries to cite the feast of Sol Invictus as the prime error in associating Christmas with paganism. The fact is - the traditions that became Christmas were borrowed from the Roman pagan festival of The Saturnalia, which was kept as far back as 497 B.C. when the temple to the god Saturn was dedicated in December.
The Saturnalia and the later festival of Sol Invictus (158 A.D.) were state holidays and both feasts combined in practice near the 300s A.D. Constantine in 321 simply changed the festivals from worship of the sun god, to the worship of the Son OF God when he converted to Christianity and became the first Holy Roman Emperor. That is plain historical fact.
The idea that Christians chose to celebrate the birth of Jesus on 25 December because this was the date of the Saturnalia and Sol Invictus, was expressed in by 12th-century Syrian bishop Jacob Bar-Salibi. He wrote: “It was a custom of the Pagans to celebrate on the same 25 December the birthday of the Sun, at which they kindled lights in token of festivity. In these solemnities and revelries the Christians also took part. Accordingly when the doctors of the Church perceived that the Christians had a leaning to this festival, they took counsel and resolved that the true Nativity should be solemnised on that day.”
Jesus did not give us any instructions to celebrate His birthday - nor is there any record of the 1st Century Church ever keeping such a day. Rather - Jesus was very specific that we should commemorate His DEATH, something the Apostle Paul also reiterated that Christians should proclaim ‘until He come again’.
It is not Jesus’ birth that redeems us from the penalty of sin, which the bible says is eternal death. It is the DEATH of our Savior, wherein He sprinkled His own blood on the mercy seat as an atoning sacrifice for all mankind - that saves us from oblivion, and breaches the divide between man and the Adonai with the promise of life everlasting.
I concur and would add that Jesus was not born in December, but during The Feast of Booths in the spring.
I frankly don't care if people want to celebrate Christmas, but they should know what and why they celebrate.
You forgot Easter.
Which we do, every year, at Easter. I see no reason NOT to celebrate His Birth, because he had to be born, in order to die, so while his Death Redeemed us, His birth made that possible.