Midwinter solstice was the one with the week long party to encourage the light to come back and its where the tradition of evergreen trees in our house comes from too.

In fact a lot of the ‘christmas’ stuff which is considered traditional [trees, decorations, big meals] comes from the pagan tradition.

The romans had wild parties [eating, boozing, dancing] to celebrate the days getting longer and the sun’s birthday was 25 december. Long before the Christian church decreed it to be the official date for the celebration of Jesus’s birthday in 440AD [up until then it had alos been celebrated in January and March depending on which sect you were part of]

The word christmas first appears in writing in 1038AD as Cristes Maesse in a saxon book.

In 1519AD the turkey arrived in Europe and was added to the tradition.

In 1541AD Henry VIII banned all games and sports on christmas.

1647AD Cromwell abolished christmas and shops had to open by law. He also banned christmas puddings [the traditional xmas pudding dates back to about 1700s before which a pudding was a special kind of fruity porridge]. It was 1660AD before christmas was allowed again and the parties began again.

Interest in christmas wanes gradually till Charles Dickens writes the Christmas Carol and the victorians get all excited about it again.

That what you were looking for ? 😉