You were probably raised learning that Christians had coopted Roman holidays for their own purposes. But the truth is actually more complicated and the earliest records show the early Christians had arrived at December 25th as the date of Jesus's birth before Aurelian had instituted Sol Invictus as an official cult holiday.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ewerickson.substack.com/subscribe