Christmas and its Zoroastrian Origins

A Lecture by Scholar and Ethnologist, Farima Berenji

We have always known of Christmas on December 25th, with a traditional decorated tree, candles, and gifts. Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ yet its rituals and traditions far precede that time. Unquestionably, our ancestors adopted the rituals from an ancient Iranian pagan religion known as Mithraism, a form of nature worship based on the Sun God/Goddess Mithra.

On the darkest night of the year (December 20 or 21) legend has it Mithra gives birth to “Light” causing each day thereafter to grow longer until the Summer solstice. In this lecture learn of the remarkable parallels between ancient Mithraism beliefs and rituals to those of Christmas today.

Farima’s previous holiday lectures at the Center for Creative Living included: The Star of Bethlehem, The Persian Magi, and the Birth of Light.

Hosted by the Center for Creative Living, the program starts at 10am with a song, prayer, meditation, and announcements. About 10:30am, Farima will be introduced and speak 30 to 40 minutes.

Farima Berenji

Certified and Scholar of International Dance Council-UNESCO
Magi (Ancient Iranic Shamanic Master), Dervish, and Sufi Dance Master.

Farima is an award winning, internationally acclaimed performing artist, instructor, dance ethnologist, and archeologist. Recognized as one of few world experts and scholars of Persian dance history, Farima infuses spirituality into her dance and teachings to impassion, empower, and inspire. A Dervish and travels worldwide to research, perform, teach, and inspire dynamic creativity and rejuvenation through dance. Farima is founder and artistic director of the Simorgh Dance Collective, a member of the International Dance Council (CID-UNESCO), and a 2018 TEDx lecturer. Read more…