Mithras was a Persian god who was being worshiped 4000+ years ago throughout the Persian empire. Mithras was the son of Ahura-Mazda, the god of the heavens.

Early Babylonians were strongly influenced by Ahura-Mazda/Mithras and by the 6th century BC they had evolved their belief system into Zoroastrianism With Zoroastrianism, Ahura-Mazda became the supreme god of 'Goodness' and a god called Ahriam was the god of 'Evil'. Not long after, in 580 BC, the Babylonians were holding the Henotheist Jews in captivity and during this time the Jews were influenced by many of the Zoroastrians concepts.

In 350 BC Mithras, the Son of the God of the Heavens was sent down to earth and here we will start the list of similarities:

• Mithras was born of a virgin (Anahita) by immaculate conception.
• Mithras was born in a stable.
• His birthday was celebrated by his followers on Dec 25th
• Mithras was visited by wise men bearing gifts
• Mithras had 12 disciples, was a traveler and teacher and performed miracles.
• He was called the Messiah, Redeemer, Savior, “Good Sheppard”
• Mithras made a Contract (or Covenant) with Man confirming an older contract with God
• The Persian word Mithras literally means 'Contract'
• Mithras celebrated a last supper with his disciples before his death
• Mithras died to atone for the sins of man
• Mithras was resurrected on a Sunday
• Mithras ascended into Heaven to rejoin his Father after 3 days
• Mithras will return to pass judgment on mankind
• He was known as the judger of souls
• On judgment day, the dead will arise and be judged by Mithras
• Mithras will send sinners to Hell
• Mithras will send the faithful to Heaven
• On judgment day there will be a final conflict between evil and good.
• The forces of evil will be destroyed and the saved will live in paradise forever.
• Mithras is depicted as having a halo
• Mithras followers drink wine and eat bread which represents his blood and flesh.
• Mithras followers are baptized

OK, so how did we get to where we are today? The Holy book of Zoroastrian was called Avesta of Zarathustra, a book the Jews were aware of. Mithras worship declined with the arrival of the Roman Empire and the concept of “one true god” but was revived later in the Roman Empire. Guess when? The first century AD, the same time Judeo Christianity was being started by a small Jewish following. Remember the Jews, unlike the Romans, had absorbed many of the Mithras and Zoroastrian ideas into their beliefs during their stint with the Babylonians. During this revival period of Mithras where was their central place of worship? On Vatican Hill in Rome and to this day in the catacombs there remain a Mithraic relic of worship. A depiction of the infant Mithra seated in the lap of his virgin mother, while on their knees surrounding them are Persian wise men offering him gifts.

In 325AD, the Roman Emperor Constantine convened the Great Christian Council of Nicea which truly marked the beginning of organized Christianity. The funny part is that previously Constantine was a worshiper of Mithras, before his council of Nicaea began applying those concepts to the newly formed Christianity. They decided to place the center for the entire new religion on Vatican Hill in Rome.

Now the list of similarities goes on, though at this point I think it’s pretty clear that much of the dogma and basis of the Christmas holiday come in fact from Mithras. And thus it is indeed Merry Mithras.

Have a good one.