This interesting article from Biblical Archeology Review disputes the oft-cited hypothesis (see this pair of letters from readers in todays Washington Post, for instance) that the early Christians selected Dec. 25 as the date for Christmas as a way of appropriating and eclipsing mid-winter pagan celebrations like Saturnalia.Alas, I cannot claim to read Biblical Archeology Review regularly; the always invaluable website Arts & Letters Daily linked to this piece.