The yule time fests were held in the old time due to the winter equinox, when
the days were the shortest. After the equinox, the days got longer and the
days started to get longer again.
So its just another agricultural festival.
The name of the festivals (before the commercialation and christianity) was
was the germanic yule, which originates from proto-germany and old norse word
Hjól, which means a wheel - like the wheel of the year. Pretty damn clever
those people.
After christianity arrived, they decided to make it easier on the common
folks, by converting the old 'pagan' rituals into 'modern' christian rituals.
Still atleast the old word was left into some languages, escpecially the
nordic languages. For.ex. finns have the word joulu.
It wasnt before the coca-cola company who with a humongous advertising
campaign turned the father christmas into a red dressed fatso and eventually
we have what we have today. Over commercialised spendingspree.
But, the true spirit of christmas is still with us. Spending the darkest days
of the year with those who we love.

Merry christmas, mudders.

--Jutom