The lights are up, Noddy Holder's voice is ringing in your ears and you've already eaten all your advent chocolate in a gluttonous frenzy.
Yes it's Christmas; that time of year reserved for frantic last-minute shopping, burnt turkeys and half-drunk carols in the front room. It's also the Christian celebration of Jesus' birth, of course: and even that bears more than a passing similarity to the ancient god Mithra. So where did some of the Christmas traditions we take for granted actually come from? The truth stretches back a lot longer than you might think. Here are ten yuletide customs born in the ancient world.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments