Since the days of Constantine, Roman Catholicism [1] has always and everywhere accommodated itself to the pagan religions of those peoples which it Christianized. In his monumental study of paganism, Evans-Wentz makes this interesting comment:
“Perhaps most of us will think first of all about the ancient cults [worship] rendered to fountains, rivers, lakes, trees, and … stones. There can be no reasonable doubt that these cults were flourishing when Christianity [Roman Catholicism [1]] came to Europe. … It was too much to expect the eradication of the old cults after their age-long existence, and so one by one they were absorbed by the new religion. In a sacred tree or grove, over a holy well or fountain, on the shore of a lake or river, there was placed an image of the Virgin or some [Catholic [1]] saint, and unconsciously the transformation was made as the simplehearted country-folk beheld in the brilliant images new and more glorious dwelling-places for the spirits they and their fathers had so long venerated.”
Links:
[1] https://www.thebereancall.org/taxonomy/term/5/catholicism