is christmas a pagan holiday

Yes, Christmas was originally a pagan holiday called Saturnalia that was celebrated by the ancient Romans. It was a week-long festival that celebrated the return of the sun and was associated with feasting, gift-giving, and merrymaking. The early Christians adopted many of the pagan customs and traditions of Saturnalia and transformed them into the Christmas holiday that we know today. So, in a way, Christmas has its roots in paganism, but it has evolved into a unique celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.