Some Christmas traditions mirror pre-Christian festivities, but some pagan influences may have been overstated.

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.

Pagan Easter traditions actually date back before Christianity existed. And some of these traditions are the reason why eggs and bunnies are such a big part of this holiday.

Silent night can also be a spooky night: Across Europe, Christmas monsters have been scaring children for centuries. Here are seven of those stories.

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 ...

Pagan solstice celebrations, German influences, and Queen Victoria’s reputation are the primary reasons the custom became mainstream.

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.

Some Christmas traditions mirror pre-Christian festivities, but some pagan influences may have been overstated.

So because these ideas and traditions had a lengthy history, Nazi propagandists were able to easily cast Christmas as a celebration of pagan German nationalism.