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

With the arrival of Christianity, some traditions between Yule and Christmas became blended. “Wreaths represent the never-ending wheel of time in many Pagan traditions. Evergreens are ...

Pagans have many different beliefs. Rider believes in Norse traditions with an emphasis on gods like Odin and Thor. Others ...

But other Christmas traditions go back further ... As in other parts of the world, the pagan Vikings celebrated the midwinter period with feasting which they called “Yuletide.” ...

Even pagan symbols, such as the Yule log, were adapted into Christmas traditions, symbolizing warmth and light during the winter solstice. The Industrial Revolution further reshaped Christmas ...

Credit: Anna Efetova via Getty Images It's often claimed that many of today's Christmas traditions derive from the pre-Christian observances of pagan cults suppressed by Roman authorities.