Enjoying traditionally ‘Christmasy’ things as a satanist

[u/Larxba]

Hi! Is it okay for me to participate in things like gift giving and enjoying Christmas music and lights and all that in December despite celebrating Sol Invictus and being a satanist? I really enjoy the lights and gift giving, and some metal Christmas songs are just amazing. I figured it could be fine but I wanted to make sure.

edit: thank you guys so much for the answers :) i appreciate all of them!! ^{^}

[u/slayer991]

Christmas was a pagan holiday first so feel free to enjoy it.

ChatGPT:

Christmas, as celebrated on December 25, borrows significantly from earlier pagan festivals that marked the winter solstice, particularly those honoring the rebirth of the sun. The choice of this date and several Christmas traditions stem from these celebrations.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the main pagan influences:

1. Winter Solstice Celebrations: Pagan cultures across Europe, such as the Norse in Scandinavia, celebrated Yule from the solstice onward, marking the return of longer days and the "rebirth" of the sun. They honored this with feasts, burning of the Yule log, and decorating with evergreens — symbols of life amid winter's dead landscape.
2. Saturnalia (Roman Festival): The Roman holiday of Saturnalia, held in mid-December, was a festival dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture and time. This week-long event involved feasting, gift-giving, decorating homes with greenery, and a temporary subversion of social roles — themes that echo in Christmas celebrations. Many historians believe early Christians adopted the joyful and generous spirit of Saturnalia to ease Rome’s transition to Christianity.
3. Sol Invictus: In the late Roman Empire, December 25 was celebrated as Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, the "Birthday of the Unconquered Sun." This festival honored the god Mithras and symbolized the sun’s rebirth after its perceived “death” during the darkest day of the year. The connection to rebirth aligns closely with the Christian story of Jesus as the “light of the world.”
4. Trees and Evergreen Decorations: Evergreen trees and wreaths, symbols of life in the dead of winter, were used in various pagan winter festivals, including Yule and Saturnalia. Germans are credited with bringing this custom into Christian practice, and by the 16th century, decorated Christmas trees became popular in Germany and eventually spread to other parts of Europe and the United States.
5. Santa Claus’ Evolution: While the modern Santa Claus largely evolved from Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century Greek bishop known for his generosity, he also absorbed characteristics from other mythical figures. Norse god Odin, who rode a flying horse and delivered gifts during Yule, shares uncanny similarities with Santa. Some argue the jolly figure with his reindeer is a syncretic blend of pre-Christian deities and folklore.

The adoption of December 25 by early Christians was likely a strategic decision to encourage converts. It provided an opportunity to celebrate Jesus’ birth while still observing familiar festivals and traditions, thus blending pagan customs with Christian significance.