why did christians take over pagan holidays?

Answer 1

marketing.

Answer 2

According to the stories, Constantine (The Great) was preparing to launch an attack on his rival, Maxentius, in 312 when he had a vision or a dream which informed him that he would be victorious if he fought under the Christian symbol. The first important thing he did after this was issue the Edict of Milan in 313, which instituted religious toleration as the law of the land and ended the persecution of Christians. In 324, Christianity became an officially recognized religion and equal to the others.
But because of Constantine's desire for unity, he ruthlessly enforced his particular brand of orthodoxy among the various Christian groups - there was just no way he would allow them to be weakened as a political force through internal strife or disagreement. Constantine appropriated this authority for himself by declaring that he was a "bishop, ordained by God."
First, Constantine moved to eliminate the external challenges posed by paganism, destroying their temples and books. After that, he ordered that those Christian groups which had been deemed "unorthodox" also be eliminated, thus removing internal challenges. Very quickly, theological disagreements which had been a part of the Christian experience became "unchristian." For Constantine, religious differences were impediments to the power that had replaced Maxentius and Licinius. In this way, choice ("heresy") to be religiously different became defined as treason, a political crime.
Why are major Christian holidays layered on older Pagan festivals? The central reason is that as Christianity was struggling for acceptance in Europe, the country-folk would not give up their age-old traditions. By blending the old with the new, it was easier for the Church to convert the locals.

Answer 3

I think the Christians realized it would be easier to convert pagans if they incorporated the pagan holidays, which were already deeply ingrained in the pagan tradition, into Christian Holidays. This would keep believers and non-believers in the same family or tribe together for celebrations thereby keeping communities whole thereby increasing the chances of more converts. My opinion only.

Answer 4

Because the Christians felt that if they compromised, they can win pagan souls over to christianity. It's lame. You should never compromise when it comes to Faith. Didn't the Christians believe that God's power is above all men, including the pagans? Now, Christians today are still following a lot of pagan tradition, like worshipping on Sunday - Sun God. Worshipping idols like so-called dead saints.... etc.

Answer 5

It was the only way to win. To many holidays are pagan holidays. Its the whole if we cant beat them join them attitude. Cover them up and no one will ever know. Just as some of you out there didnt even know that christmas, easter, halloween, and thanksgiving are all pagan holiday changed but christains. do some research and you will learn

Answer 6

Well, during December the Romans would celebrate Saturnalia (the harvest or something) for one week, so the Christians rescheduled Christmas to the same time so that they'd have an excuse to celebrate without being persecuted. They could say to the Romans, "oh... ummmm, we're celebrating Saturnalia." I'm not sure about Easter or any other Christian holidays.

Answer 7

The early church decided that it would be easer to remember "holy days" by the pagans if the feasts and pagents were held at the same time.(Example:December 25, which is now known as "Christmas" was also the pagan holiday"Bon Natale Solis" or"birth of the new sun")

Answer 8

Christians attempted to convert entire peoples at once many years ago and found that it was much too hard to try to completely turn them from their pre-Christian, Pagan traditions. They found that by assimilating popular Pagan beliefs into their religion, and assigning new meaning, it was much easier to convert them. In doing so, they also demonified pre-Christian deities. In many cases, this was officially sanctioned by the church and in essence, it was intended that the traditions and practices still existed, but that the reasoning behind them was forgotten.

Answer 9

Oh, I thought it was the other way around. If you've been alive as long as I have, you'd SWEAR the pagans have taken over Christian holidays. God Bless you.

Answer 10

To make the change to christianity a smaller step for non christians. It is all about numbers

To helpme & ssoulful, how about easter & christmas. This incudes many of the activities associated with the celebration

Answer 11

Yes, overtaking of a created product is easier than development of a new one. Lesser investment is needed.

Many Catholic churches were built on former pagan sanctuaries too.