It's often claimed that many of today's Christmas traditions derive from the pre-Christian observances of pagan cults suppressed by Roman authorities. The story goes that, after Christianity ...

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Joe Perry, Georgia State University (THE CONVERSATION) In 1921, in a Munich beer ...

Easter eggs and Easter baskets are German traditions that made their way to the U.S. in the 1700s, ... Easter and Christmas are Not Pagan Holidays, Even If They Incorporate Pagan Traditions.

The Yule Lads are 13 mischievous boys, each with a distinct name and description, who cause mayhem in the 13 days leading up to Christmas. They dwell in a mountainous cave with their parents and cat.

As the holidays rapidly approach, there are plenty of strange German Christmas traditions that exist in local regions harking back to pagan days. From Santa's henchman to festive prune-sculptures ...

As German people migrated to the soon-to-be United States in the 18th century, they brought their Christmas traditions with them, and Christmas trees gained popularity accordingly.

Since the 1860s, German historians, theologians and popular writers had argued that German holiday observances were holdovers from pre-Christian pagan rituals and popular folk superstitions.

But it seems that the pagan influence on some Christmas traditions may have been overstated. Here is a look at seven Christmas traditions and their origins. 12 Days of Christmas ...