On Wednesday night, CNN contributor Martin Roland informed Wisconsin state Sen. Glenn Grothman that many Christian holidays could be traced back to pagan celebrations.

The Republican lawmaker recently gained national attention after issuing an anti-Kwanzaa press release (PDF). On CNN, Grothman explained that Americans shouldn’t celebrate the African American holiday because its founder, Ron Karenga, was “a black separatist who felt the Black Panthers didn’t dislike white people enough.” Grothman denied the holiday could be separated from its origins.

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“I would ask the senator you look at Easter that was derived from a pagan holiday and so do you defend that?” Roland asked Grothman. “You talk about a made up holiday. Please tell me which of the holidays we celebrate in America that have descended from on high and granted to us when we were born. Aren’t all holidays actually created made up by someone?”

The CNN contributor noted that Easter and other Christian holidays were derived from pagan festivals and celebrations.

“I’m a Christian author,” Martin explained. “My wife is an ordained minister. What I’m saying is if you look at the origin of Easter, it actually was a combination of Christianity and also the pagan holiday where people walked around and painted themselves. Why do you think we get the painted eggs?”

“What I’m saying is you’re denouncing the holiday because you don’t like the individual,” he continued. “All I’m asking if you don’t like it fine, but if there are people out there across America who celebrate unity, who celebrate purpose, who celebrate faith what’s the big deal? If your attack is on him, OK, knock yourself out. But if there are people who appreciate the principles, what’s the problem with that? You’re saying no unity in America? Is that wrong, is that bad?”

Watch video, via MoxNews.com, below: