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A festival of the birth of the Unconquered Sun (or Dies Natalis Solis Invicti) was celebrated in the Roman Empire around the time of the winter solstice, when the duration of daylight begins to increase—a "rebirth" of the sun. It is conjectured by some to have originated with the Sol Invictus cult of the "unconquered sun", and to have been promoted by Emperor Aurelian (270-275 CE) as a means of linking this rebirth with the perpetual renewal of the Roman Empire, even though sun-worship was not Rome's official religion. Others conjecture that it was instituted and promoted by Aurelius as a pagan rival to the Christian celebration of Christmas.
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