Christians and the birth of Christ is associated with the Winter Solstice. This was not because of pagan influence, astronomical events are commonly observed by all kinds of groups. As Jesus was killed near the vernal equinox, it is natural to see that is birth would be associated with the winter solstice, but this doesn't mean that the Winter Solstice was the origin of Christmas or it's traditions.
>There is a well-known logical fallacy referred to as cum hoc ergo propter hoc (Latin: "With this, therefore because of this") which states that correlation implies causation. B correlates with A, therefore A caused B. This is also false. Two or more events might correlate by coincidence—accidents do happen after all, or they both might be separate
consequences of something else. Events cannot be causally connected until these possibilities have been ruled out. In this case, they haven’t. The fortuitous alignment of Christian and pagan sacramental holidays is a natural consequence of the fact that the earth has seasons because its rotational axis isn’t perpendicular to its orbital ecliptic plane… in other words, astrophysics. No sinister, politically incorrect, anti-pagan conspiracies or cover-ups are involved.
In fact, some early Christian writing used the Winter Solstice in their arguments ([[Anonymous2021-cw]]), one such writer is that of Saint Augustine of Hippo
>“Therefore, it is that He was born on the day that is the shortest in our earthly reckoning and from which subsequent days begin to increase in length. He who humbled himself and raised us up therefore chose the shortest day, yet the one from which light begins to increase.”
The Winter Solstice dates will vary based on the calendar that is used as well as the phases of the sun and moon. The association of Christmas with the Winter Solstice is not rooted in direct pagan influence but rather in the natural observation of astronomical events, a common practice among various cultures, including early Christians. The decision to align Christ's birth with the time when days start to lengthen after the Winter Solstice serves as a symbolic reflection of Christian belief in Jesus as the light of the world, rather than an appropriation of specific pagan traditions. This perspective is supported by early Christian writings, such as those by Saint Augustine, who used the solstice to illustrate theological points. Consequently, the correlation between Christmas and the Winter Solstice should be understood within the context of symbolic significance and natural cycles rather than as evidence of pagan origins.