Mithras that many of the so-called Christians gathered their first
ideas concerning the immortality of the soul and of future rewards and
punishments.

The analogy existing between the festivals, seasons, mythoses, etc., of
the various incarnations of the sun which were worshipped by the early
historic nations and those belonging to Christianity is too striking to
be the result of chance.

Buddha originally represented the sun in Taurus. Crishna was the sun
in Aries. The laborings and sufferings of Hercules, a god who was an
incarnation of the latter, portrays the history of the passage of the
sun through the signs of the Zodiac.

All the principal events of Christ's life correspond to certain solar
phases; or, in other words, all ecclesiastical calendars are arranged
with reference to the festivals which commemorate the important events
of his life from his conception and birth to his ascension and reception
in heaven. Each and every one of the solar deities has been born at
midnight, on the 25th of December, at the time when the sun has reached
its lowest position and begins to ascend. Macrobius, a learned Roman
writer, observes that the early historic nations "believed that the sun
comes forth as a babe from its cradle at the winter solstice." Neith is
made to say, "The sun is the fruit of my womb."

The 15th of August, assumption day, the time when Mary, the mother of
Jesus, ascends to heaven is the day when the Zodiacal constellation
Virgo, "the Greek Astrea, leaves the European horizon," and the "8th of
September, when Virgo emerges from the sun's rays, is held sacred as the
Nativity of the Queen of Heaven."

Of the mid-winter festival, Bede says: "The Pagans of these isles began
their year on the eighth of the Kalends of January, which is now our
Christmas Day. The night before that (24th Dec. eve) was called by them
the Medre-Nak, or Night of Mothers, because of the ceremonies which were
performed on that night."(132)

132) Rivers of Life, vol. i., p. 430.

Among Christians as among Pagans the Christmas season was in honor of
"returning light," the vernal equinox of "growing light" and St. John's
day of "perfected light."

In England, among pagan Saxons, the midwinter festival lasted twelve
days, during which time light, fire, the sun, huge stones and other
similar manifestations of the Deity were adored. Christian and pagan
alike worshipped these objects. They called Christmas "the birthday