That Guy on 11 November 2008
yes they were. Christmas used to be Saturnalia, an old Roman holiday about the rebirth of the SUN, hence the date falling on or near the winter solstice. A couple things got changed around and BAM, the Roman Empire assimilates Christianity.
Ditto goes to Easter. I forget the roots but it has something to do with the coming of Spring and some sort of Fertility Goddess; Eggs and Rabbits being symbols of being fertile (and making babies). I forget how they changed it, but I imagine it not being too hard, since it was originally about the earth "coming to life again."
