In 601 A.D. Pope Gregory sent his mission- aries northward in Europe to strengthen and extend the Christian faith. His policy called for the destruction of idols, but not of shrines, thus replacing false gods with the true,

It was then pagan feasts became Christian festivals, Christmas, when established in Britain as a Christian festival, was at first only religious: later becoming secular, reverent and gay. With the passing) of the centuries it has become less secular, less reverent, and more gay, so gay that in 1644 the Puritans abolished Christmas by Act of Parliament, holding that tho observ- ance had become licentious and had lost it's true meaning.

The feast of the winter solstice has always been flexible to the needs of varying peoples and climates. The pagan bonfires to the sun (fire was always uscd to frighten away evil spirits) became the yule log and the candle. Christmas trees (developed from the evergreens used as brooms or switches to rid the placo of witches! spells) took their place in the 19th Century.

Today, when at mid-winter the sun is farth- est from the equator and secms to pause before returning, Christian peoples celebrate the coming of Jcosus the Claliciobelre: the herald of 'Peace on Earth to Men of Goodwill! by family reunion with joy and good fellowship.

-- h.l. hunt