Christmas Pagan Style

The Pagan holiday, Yule, falls on the 21st of December, and is recognised (in some circles) as the day the God is symbolically born into the world to Goddess. This is a cause for much merriment, feasting and music. In modern times (yes, there are still witches/ druids/ misc. pagans about!) feasts are held, candles are lit, songs are sung. It's a time to enjoy the hibernating fertility, just as the God is, in nature. Gaea's sleeping, but you can still see her beauty. Thus the reason to decorate pine trees. To worship nature's beauty. But somehow, an non nature-worshipping religion got into the act. Think about it- why would christians cut down a tree, bring it into the house, and decorate it? A friend of mine once wondered aloud if it had ever occurred to christianity that they were worshipping dead trees. The reason is simple- in order to proselitie, and gain members, the church has to incorporate some mild aspects of pagan-ness, or else nobody would be interested.

As far as the Christmas tree goes, it's not worshipped by most Christian families (if yours is different, I imagine that's ok too). A fir tree was used as a metaphor by a leading English or German preacher in the Middle Ages in a sermon regarding the birth of Christ, and after this, the people in the area brought trees (small at first, then larger every year) into their homes to remind them of it. People decorate pretty much everything, so the rich tradition of ornaments was developed.

In other myth, I had thought that the day of Christ's birth would have been in April or May, since this is when the shepherds stay and watch their flocks by night, etc etc. This is only done near lambing time, which is in the spring.

These aren't "pagan" traditions, but developments of minor innovations over a long period of time...just like everything else.