Madam, – Daniel Howard is factually incorrect in claiming that “early Christianity adopted many pagan festivals” (October 31st).
The Christian feasts, such as Christmas and Easter, had their own source, the teachings of Christ. They used elements of the pagan feasts. It was not the pagan feasts, however, that were responsible for the Christian feasts.
Christmas does not occur on Saturnalia, for example.
To the extent the phenomenon of coinciding feasts occurs at all, Christian holidays were introduced to provide a wholesome, non-pagan alternative celebration, which thus critiques and rejects the pagan holiday. – Yours, etc,