Cannabis has a history with Christmas

Before Santa Claus there was cannabis… the story of cannabis and Christmas.

Today's Christmas is a spectacular affair with music, presents, lights and weeks of construction. The history of the holiday is thanks to Coco-Cola, the Catholic Church and retailers. But in the beginning, cannabis has a history with Christmas. It was the time before Christmas and across the country marijuana was accepted and part of the plan.

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Long before Christianity, various cultures celebrated winter festivals around the winter solstice. In ancient Rome, Saturnalia was a popular holiday honoring the god Saturn, initially celebrated on December 17th, but later extending to up to a week and ending on December 23rd. This festival included a role reversal between masters and slaves, feasting and general merriment. Another important Roman festival was Sol Invictus, dedicated to the “unconquered sun.” In 274 AD, Emperor Aurelian designated December 25 as the feast of Sol Invictus, which coincided with the winter solstice in the Roman calendar.

Cannabis played a significant role in ancient pagan winter festivals, particularly during the winter solstice and Christmas celebrations. These traditions, which existed before Christmas, incorporated cannabis in various ways. It was part of a mixture of nine herbs for smudging houses and stables. This custom was believed to ward off evil spirits and appease the gods during the “12 Raw Nights” (December 25 to January 6 – today, the 12 Days of Christmas), when the Wild Hunt supposedly took place. It was also considered one of the sacred plants that symbolized the return of green life after winter. Evergreens and other plants were brought into homes to represent rebirth and the beginning of spring.

And some ancient pagans used cannabis to enhance their spiritual experiences during winter solstice celebrations. The plant's psychoactive properties helped deepen the connection to nature and the changing seasons.

Some scholars believe that early Christians adopted the date of December 25 to make their faith more attractive to pagans. However, this theory is controversial. The first recorded Christmas celebration on December 25th appears in the Philocal calendar from 354 AD. Interestingly, the Donatists, a group of Christians who rejected any pagan compromise, appear to have been among the first to celebrate the birth of Christ on this day around 312 AD.

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Cannabis helped create a green, happy and festive atmosphere on the darkest days of the year. Its use in rituals and celebrations helped mark the transition from darkness to light as the days began to lengthen after the solstice. Today, for over 50% of the population, marijuana is once again helping to bring a little relaxation and joy to the season.