Didn't christians steal pagan holidays ?

Answer 1

Yes. It's common knowledge though the Christians either deny it or find a "rational" reason for it. We took Christmas which was the pagean celebration for the sun, and Easter which was the spring fertility rites. There may even be more, but those are the biggest two.

Answer 2

Shouldn't your questions be "WHY did Christians steal Pagan holidays?"

There are different answers for different holidays.
It is widely accepted that Jesus was not actually born on Dec 25th. This of course coincides with the pagan ritual of celebrating the "return of the sun"...the days stop getting shorter and start getting longer.
The implications are pretty easy to understand. They associate Jesus with the promise of the coming of spring (life). Of course Christians have amalgamated many traditions from various cultures into a generally accepted list of customs, including some holidays, but none of them violate the "commandments" or "Christian law". If they still celebrated by worshiping the pagan "gods", then they would indeed be pagan holidays, and it would not be part of Christianity as we know it. I hope this helps you feel less grumpy about us annoying Christians ;)

Peace for ALL!

Answer 3

Yes, as surely as the Irish stole Thanksgiving in America! And we're not giving them back either! We know we don't deserve Easter, but followers of Ishtar will just have to find another day to make human sacrifices. As for Halloween, what would you do if you had a thousand saints, and only three hundred and sixty five days? We'll keep that day too, just to remember all of the innocent martyrs that died at the hands of pagans. When we're done with the calendar, there won't be a single day left for a pagan to celebrate! Except for April Fools day, pagans can have that.

Answer 4

Christian's didn't steal Christmas. What they did do was place their celebration of Christ's birth around the same time as a popular pagan holiday. Similarly Kwanza is not stealing Christmas.

Christians also did not steal the Immaculate Conception of the Son of God.

Answer 5

YES a form of xmas and easter have been around for 1000s of years before Christ and we have incorperated the idol worship pagan holidays into a false christian holiday.
Jer 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
Jer 10:3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.
Jer 10:4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
Jer 10:5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
Easter sunrise service:
Eze 8:16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
Eze 8:17 Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here?

Answer 6

Yes. But even PAGANS borrowed Pagan holidays at times in antiquity. As Pagan empires like Rome conquered others, they would adopt deities and holidays from time to time.

Specifically, Christian and/or Modern holidays based on Pagan ones include:
Halloween (from Samhain)
Christmas (from Yule)
Saint Bridget's Day/Candlemass/Groundhog Day (from Imbolc)
Easter (from Oestara)
Mayday (from Beltaine)

In each case, many modern practices for each holiday are based upon ancient practices. Samhain had apple symbolism, close association with the spirits of the dead, etc. Yule had trees, gifts, etc. Imbolc had symbolism of an animal seeing it's shadow, the beginning of light, etc. Oestara had bunnies. Beltaine had a maypole.

Answer 7

Yes the common Pagan Sabats (Holidays) are: (THese dates apply to the Northern Hemisphere.

Yule (Saturnalia)- Dec 21st-rebirth of the Sun God. Pagans celebrate by Decorating trees, giving presents, singing carols, mistletoe, etc.

Imbolc( Candlemas, Feast of Brighid,start of the festival of Lupercalia)- Feb 2nd. The warming period and the growth of the sun. This signifies the Sun is getting stronger and Winter is ending. It also is the holiday associated with the Goddess Brighid who was the Goddess of Poetry, Metalwork and Working Women. Catholics still celebrate Candlemas and the secular American public celebrates Groundhog's Day.

Ostara(Easter, The Vernal Equanox) March 20th- celebrated by decorating eggs, the Goddess Ostara (The Goddess of Springtime) had a White Rabbit as a companion.

Beltane (MayDay) May 1st- The Marriage of the Goddess and God. Celbrated by making MaY Day baskets and cirling the May Day Pole which represents the joining of the Goddess and God also celebrated by the Great Marriage which is a widely used sex ritual.

Litha (Summer Solstice)- June 21st- The changing of the power from Male to Female as the longest day of the year, the God's power is now getting weaker and the Goddess getting stronger. A time to honor Fathers.

Lughsandoth July 31st- Not honored by most Christians, but still a relevant holiday. It was to honor Lugh, the God of Light as the harvesting season begins.

Mabon (Autumnal Equinox) Sept 22nd- The second of the Harvest festivals. This signifies the start of preserving foods for the winter season.

Samhain (All Hallow's Eve)-OCt 31st The Death Holiday. The God sacrifices himself to fertilize the land once more. This is the time of year when the veil between worlds is thinnest. Making Spirit Communications easiest. Celebrated by carving Ghords and Turnips with faces to protect the household from unwanted spectral visitors. Children and adults used to dress like loved ones and travel from house to house for remembrance and accepting gifts for their travels.

Answer 8

The pagan roots of Christmas is only a relic of a previous beside the point faith. in the present day Christmas has no value to the pagan custom. For us atheists, "St. Nick" and different "Christian" factors of Christmas is likewise seen old custom. i comprehend the position the origins or Christmas got here from, even if it has little touching on how Christmas is well known in the present day.

Answer 9

They also stole the Immaculate Conception of the son of God from the Pagans.

Answer 10

Some holidays were sort of absorbed to make it easier for a culture to assimilate Christianity. SOme people chose not to give up their holidays themselves so they remade them.