did pagans start christmas

Yes, in fact, the early origins of Christmas can be traced back to pagan festivals that celebrated the winter solstice. These festivals were held in honor of various gods, such as the Roman god Saturn, and often involved feasting, gift-giving, and other festive activities. Over time, the celebration of Christmas became more influenced by Christianity, but some of the traditions and customs from these pagan festivals have persisted to this day. So in a sense, pagans did start Christmas.