Syria was not Quirinius, but Quintus Sentius
Saturninus."[362:2]

The institution of the festival of the Nativity of Christ Jesus being
held on the 25th of December, among the Christians, is attributed to
Telesphorus, who flourished during the reign of Antonius Pius (A. D.
138-161), but the first _certain_ traces of it are found about the time
of the Emperor Commodus (A. D. 180-192).[362:3]

For a long time the Christians had been trying to discover upon what
particular day Jesus had possibly or probably come into the world; and
conjectures and traditions that rested upon absolutely no foundation,
led one to the 20th of May, another to the 19th or 20th of April, and a
third to the 5th of January. At last the opinion of the _community at
Rome_ gained the upper hand, and the 25th of December was fixed
upon.[362:4] It was not until the _fifth_ century, however, that this
day had been _generally_ agreed upon.[362:5] _How it happened_ that this
day finally became fixed as the birthday of Christ Jesus, may be
inferred from what we shall now see.

On the first moment after midnight of the 24th of December (_i. e._, on
the morning of the 25th), nearly all the nations of the earth, as if by
common consent, celebrated the accouchement of the "_Queen of Heaven_,"
of the "_Celestial Virgin_" of the sphere, and the birth of the god
_Sol_.

In _India_ this is a period of rejoicing everywhere.[363:1] It is a
great religious festival, and the people _decorate their houses with
garlands_, and _make presents to friends and relatives_. This custom is
of very great antiquity.[363:2]

In _China_, religious solemnities are celebrated at the time of the
_winter solstice_, the last week in _December_, when all shops are shut
up, and the courts are closed.[363:3]

_Buddha_, the son of the Virgin Maya, on whom, according to Chinese
tradition, "the Holy Ghost" had descended, was said to have been born on
Christmas day, December 25th.[363:4]

Among the ancient _Persians_ their most splendid ceremonials were in
honor of their Lord and Saviour _Mithras_; they kept his birthday, with
many rejoicings, on the 25th of December.

The author of the "_Celtic Druids_" says:

"It was the custom of the heathen, long before the birth of
Christ, to celebrate the birth-day of their gods," and that,
"the 25th of December was a great festival with the
_Persians_, who, in very early times, celebrated the birth of
their g