In modern times, Christmas has become the biggest midwinter festival of the northern hemisphere by far. But midwinter has always been a time for celebration. For many centuries,... moreIn modern times, Christmas has become the biggest midwinter festival of the northern hemisphere by far. But midwinter has always been a time for celebration. For many centuries, well before the Christian era, the time around the winter solstice was marked by feasting, often for a number of days. It is believed that this was to mark the lengthening of the days and the return of the sun, vitally important for communities which were tied to the rhythms of the earth and dependent on the land. This was also the one time of the year when there was less to do in agricultural terms and so more time to celebrate.The traditions of modern Christmas celebrations largely developed out of the pre-existing pagan practices. Ancient traditions were adopted and adapted by Christian missionaries, who believed that this would help the pagan peoples they were preaching to accept the new religion more easily through familiarity. This included the way that people decorated their homes.Colosseum - The best known symbol of... less