Pagan Traditions and Christian Holidays

When Christianity emerged as a world religion and began to spread throughout Europe and the Middle East, church officials incorporated some of the long practiced pagan traditions into Christian religious traditions. Such examples of this include setting the date of Christmas near the winter solstice, and setting the date of Easter near the spring equinox. Celebrating the changing of the seasons is common in many religious traditions, especially the autumnal equinox, the spring equinox, the summer solstice, and the winter solstice. Certain patterns of symbolism follow these traditions; for example, during the winter season celebrations that include light and fire are common, and during the spring season celebrations including flowers and eggs as symbols of new life are common. Also integrated into Christianity is the pagan tradition and superstitions related to the celebrating and protecting oneself from ghosts and spirits, which became All Hallows' Eve and All Saints Day. The assimilation of pagan traditions into Christianity more easily facilitated the transition from paganism to Christianity. As Christianity became a dominant world religion, especially in Europe, many pre-Christian traditions from different parts of Europe were amalgamated along with new Christian traditions to create the religious traditions of Christianity; which continues to evolve today.