ChatGPT: “The solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year, was celebrated in many pre-Christian cultures. Festivals like Yule in Scandinavian regions and Saturnalia in Rome marked this time with feasts, gift-giving, and decorations—elements that later found their way into Christmas traditions. When Christianity spread, many pagan practices were adapted to ease the transition and make the new religion more familiar. December 25th, chosen to celebrate Christ’s birth, aligns closely with solstice festivals, though the exact date of Jesus’ birth isn’t known.”

Thanks to James Nelson