<P> Prior to and through the early Christian centuries , winter festivals -- especially those centered on the winter solstice -- were the most popular of the year in many European pagan cultures . Reasons included the fact that less agricultural work needed to be done during the winter , as well as an expectation of better weather as spring approached . Many modern Christmas customs have been directly influenced by such festivals , including : </P>
christmas though a christian holiday began as a celebration of
the winter solstice