Most Christians who are willing to accept the evidence for the Earth revolving around a stationary sun are also willing to acknowledge that a savior born on December 25 is a made-up story. Christmas has its origins in the winter solstice festivals that most ancient civilizations observed. Mithras, a Persian savior-god, had a sizable following in the Roman world and his birth was celebrated on December 25. By appropriating this day for the alleged birth of Jesus, Christians could more easily convert pagans. Because of this pagan origin, some early American colonies prohibited the celebration of Christmas. That might have been the original war on Christmas.
MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/post/finding-reason-in-the-season/2011/12/21/gIQAv5lg9O_blog.html
See also...
A Very Atheist Christmas
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/a-very-atheist-christmas/2011/12/21/gIQAjU2I9O_blog.html
