what was christmas before christianity

Christmas is a holiday with a rich and fascinating history that predates Christianity. It's believed to have originated as a pagan festival celebrating the winter solstice, which is the day of the year with the shortest amount of daylight. In ancient times, people would celebrate this day as a way of welcoming the return of longer days and the coming of spring. Over time, the holiday evolved and incorporated elements from other cultures, such as the Roman celebration of Saturnalia.