What is the origin of Christmas?

Yes, Christmas is a religious holiday. It is the day in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Historians have actually timed his birth sometime in the Spring, but Dec 25 is the day that was picked. I think that if one believes in and loves Jesus, then it would not be right for them not to observe this day. If the person is of another religion, then they should hold true to their beliefs. I, myself, look forward to Christmas every year.

The origin of Christmas is to be found in northern hemisphere midwinter festivals celebrating (or perhaps exhorting) the return of light after the shortest day of the year. Its symbolism therefore comes originally from sun worship. It is, perhaps, a happy accident that the word 'sun' and 'Son' are similar in English and other Germanic languages and that the 'birth of the Son (of God)' was made by the early church to coincide with a festival to celebrate the re-birth of the Sun.

In fact, there is no historical or biblical precedent for celebrating the birth of Jesus at or just after the Winter Solstice. According to evidence given in the Gospels, He was most likely born in March (and several years before 1 A.D., too).

Yes, I do think it's right to observe it, whether it's the real birthday of Jesus or not. It's the symbolism (and the overlaying of new symbolism on old) which is important. God and the history of humanity's path towards understanding Him is far older than Judaism, Christianity or the Bible. Everything that went before is not wiped out by our new knowledge nor should it be thought of as wrong or evil simply because it came before Christianity. It is perfectly proper to celebrate the return of the Sun from darkness at the same time that we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus came not to abolish the old but to sanctify and rationalise it.

Christmas is not a Biblical tradition in any way. It cannot be proven as a Biblical tradition. The origins of Christmas have to do with the Emperor Constantine, who was a Roman Emperor from 304 - 337. He believed in some form of Christianity and wanted his entire empire to be "Christian". In order to make Christianity appeal to the pagan individuals of his empire (ie: druid types, solstice worshippers, etc) he created a Christian tradition around the winter solstice (hence December) involving trees (hence the Christmas tree) that focused on Jesus (Christ's Mass). This allowed the pagans of his empire to continue with their pagan practices without being heretics. The same occurred involving Easter (this time around the spring solstice). Neither "Christian holiday" has any scriptural basis, therefore it is not "right" to observe it. However each individual must come to that on their own.

You can get a very good description of where Christmas came from on the internet just by typing in the word Christmas. There are so many things which we have adopted from the pagans such as the steeples on our churches, wedding bands, Easter, Sunday worship, and even the cross. The cross was used by the pagans before Christianity did. It represented the T in Thumuz, a pagan god. The statue of Peter used to be Jupiter if I remember right. The Catholic church is full of symbols that were used by the pagans including the fish like hat the Pope wears.
I celebrate Christmas some but try to keep it based on Christ rather than the pagan celebrations. It is a time for our family to spend time together. Easter we celebrate everyday as Sanctification is a daily process to continue for our whole life time. We really should not mix Christ and the pagan celebration together. IT should be one or the other.

Christmas is an ancient pagan festival called Saturnalia for the Roman God Saturn. When Rome converted to Christianity by way of Emperor Constantine they kept the festival but changed it to Christmas in honor of their new God. Cheers!!!

Christmas isn't Biblical. Bible researchers conclude that Jesus could not have been born during December. The shepherds would not have been living out-of-doors with their flocks in such inclement weather as in December while it was snowing. The real date of Jesus’ birth, from the historical viewpoint, lies concealed beneath a veil of uncertainty as regards Roman history, the imperial census of that time and research in the subsequent centuries. Jesus said to remember his death not his birth.