All cultures are influenced by each other! .. Celebrated by Christians as the birth of Christ, the Christmas festival is the rebirth of ancient Turks. According to the beliefs of the Turks before they entered monotheistic religions, there is a maple tree in the middle of the earth. They call it the tree of life. We can see this tree as a motif in all our carpets, rugs and embroidery. Sun is very important for Turks. According to his beliefs, he fights day and night on December 22, when the nights are getting shorter and the days are getting longer. After a long battle, the day is victorious by beating the night. This is the triumph of the sun, its rebirth, and the Turks celebrate with great festivals under the maple tree. The rebirth of the sun is perceived as a new birth. Name of the holiday: NARDUGAN (pomegranate = sun, tugan, dugan = rising) Rising sun. They pray to God Ulgen that he gave the sun back. They put gifts under the tree so that their prayers go to God, they tie bands to its branches and wish them wishes for that year. For this holiday, the houses are cleaned. Nice clothes are worn. They sing songs and play games around the tree. The elderly, grandparents and grandmothers are visited, families come together to eat and drink together. They eat; fresh and dried fruits, special food and confectionery. If the holiday is celebrated by family and friends together, life will increase and good luck will come. Maple tree grows only in Central Asia. They did not know this tree in Palestine. Therefore, it is said that this event passed from Turks to Christians and they got it from the Huns after they came to Europe. It has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. “Birth, the rebirth of the sun” Muazzez İlmiye Avalanche Turkish Sumerologist