Symbols and motifs associated with the modern Christmas are derived from traditional pagan Yule celebrations. Burning the Yule log, decorating Christmas trees, eating of ham, hanging of boughs, holly, mistletoe, etc. are all historically practices associated with Yule. When the Christianization of the pagans began, missionaries found it convenient to provide a Christian reinterpretation of popular pagan holidays such as Yule and allow the celebrations themselves to go on largely unchanged, versus trying to confront and suppress them.
Pope Gregory suggested that converting "heathens" would go easier if they were allowed to retain the outward forms of their traditional pagan practices and traditions, while recasting those traditions spiritually towards the Christian God instead of to their pagan "devils".
Why do Christians persist in denying the historical facts that this is in fact a pagan holiday?
2007-12-06
06:20:13
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16 answers
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slushpile reader
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Religion & Spirituality