Origins of christian holidays.?

Question

Who here is not actually aware that the dates of all major christian holidays to include christmas and easter are based on the dates of pagan sabats? Do any christians find it odd that they include a man known as the king of the elves into their christmas celebration?

Answer 1

The(PAGAN) Origin of Christmas

taken from:http://www.holiday-central.net

The origins of Christmas date back to the ancient world, and pagan festivals. Before the birth of Jesus ancient people celebrated the passing of darkest days of winter, with a winter solstice festival.

The Origins of Christmas in Scandinavia involve the Yule festival celebration that started on December 21st and lasted into January. Fathers and sons from the village would go into the forest, chop down a large tree and bring it back to the village. It is from this tree that the Yule logs came. These Yule Logs were set ablaze and the festival lasted as long as the fire continued to burn. Norse traditions said that each spark from the fire represented livestock that was going to be born in the upcoming year.

In other parts of Europe to save resources cattle and other livestock were slaughtered so they wouldn't have to be fed through the winter. This led to an abundance of fresh meat, and all of the beer and wine that had fermented all year was consumed.

The origins of Christmas in Germany involved the pagan god Oden. Oden was not a benevolent god, and it was believed he made nighttime visits flying through the sky, watching over his followers. On his visits he selected those who were going to have good fortune, and those who were going to pass on in the upcoming year.

The Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a holiday to pay homage to Saturn the god of agriculture, as their winters were not as severe as those in more northern latitudes. Shortly before the winter solstice the Saturnalia festival began, and the celebration lasted for a full month. These celebrations were filled with food, and merriment. The normal class order was temporarily reversed and masters and slaves exchanged roles, and the peasants ran the city. Commerce and teaching were suspended for this period to allow everyone to participate in the festival.

Another holiday observed by the Romans was that of Juvenalia, a celebration of children. During this time the birth of Mithra, the unconquerable sun god, was also celebrated. Mithra was born out of the rock on December 25th, and in some areas this was the most sacred holiday of the year.

The origins of Christmas in Christianity have evolved over time. Originally only the death of Christ was celebrated at Easter, not his birth. Sometime in the 4th century the church leadership began to celebrate the birth of Christ. The time of year for Christ's birth is not mentioned in the Bible, and it is unlikely that Shepard's were tending to their flocks in the middle of winter. The official date of Christmas was chosen to be December 25th by Pope Julius I. Modern day scholars believe this date was chosen to incorporate the pagan rituals associated with Saturnalia.

By associating Christmas with Saturnalia and other winter solstice festivals the theological leaders hoped to increase the likelihood that it would be celebrated. The First Feast of the Nativity was celebrated in Egypt in 432 was being celebrated in most of Europe in the 6th century, and in Scandinavian countries in the 8th century. This version of Christmas is different than The Modern History of Christmas. The atmosphere was much like a carnival with drunken revelers in the streets, resembling modern day Mardi Gras celebrations.

The Modern History of Christmas

The history of Christmas can be divided into two major sections, modern and ancient. The origins of Christmas involve many different pagan holidays, festivals and events. The modern history of Christmas didn't start until the 19th Century, with the help of Washington Irving's book The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon and Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol.

Once the English had been defeated in the revolutionary war, many of the old English customs including Christmas were no longer observed and practiced. In fact December 25, 1789 was not a holiday and the newely formed congress was in session

Life in America in the 1800's was filled with class conflicts and turmoil. The masses of this time were dissatisfied with high unemployment and gang violence in their daily lives. In 1828 the New York City Police force was called in by the City Council to quell a Christmastime riot. This event caused the upper class members of society to look for a way to put and end to the violence and stabilize society.

The stories in Washington Irving's book were about an English Manor House celebrating the Christmas Holiday. Sketches in the book show a squire inviting peasants into his home to celebrate the holiday. Both the peasants and squire were able to intermingle without any of the class struggles present in America at the time. Many historians debate that Irving invented the history of Christmas, by implying the traditions in the book were currently in use in Europe.

In 1843 Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol. The books message of redemption, charity and goodwill towards others, resonated with the people of both England and the United States. A period of enlightenment in child development was underway and Christmas afforded them a perfect opportunity to spoil children with both attention and gifts.

As Christmas started to become a major family holiday in the United States, the people looked to the ancient rituals of Celtic and Norse traditions, and borrowed many customs involving the Christmas Tree, the Yule log, Christmas cards, and gift giving, and invented a uniquely American holiday. On June 26, 1870, Congress declared Christmas a national Holiday.

The Origins of Santa Claus

The origins of Santa Claus can be traced back to a monk who lived hundreds of years ago. This monk named Nicholas is believed to have been born in the small town in an area that is now inside Turkey around 280 AD. Nicholas is said to have inherited a large sum, which he gave away. There are many legends or stories about the kindness of Nicholas the most famous, involved him providing a dowry for three sisters to prevent them from being sold into slavery or prostitution. The exact date of Nicholas death is uncertain, current belief is that it is December 6th in 345 or 352 AD, when he became known as Saint Nicholas.

After the Protestant reformation Saint Nicholas was one of the few saints to remain in good standing with the people. Saint Nicholas started to become popular in America at the end of the 18th century, when Dutch immigrants celebrated the anniversary of his death. The name Santa Claus evolved from the Dutch version of Saint Nicholas, sint Nikolaas, and eventually became shortened to Sinter Klaas. In the early 1800's New York Historical Society member John Pintard distributed woodcarvings with the images of Santa Claus, followed by Washington Irving's book The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon. At this time the images used to represent Santa Claus varied widely.

The current image we have is partly due to Episcopalian minister Clement Clarke Moore. In 1822 he wrote a poem for his children "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas". This poem fleshed out many of the traits still present today as a full figured jolly bearded man, who entered houses thru the chimney. He even gave names to the Santa's eight reindeer (Rudolf comes much later) that pulled his magical red sleigh thru the air on Christmas Eve. Political cartoonist Thomas Nast filled in the remaining details of Santa's appearance in his comic strip in Harpers weekly. He gave Santa his bright red suit and hat, full white beard. He also set Santa's workshop at the North Pole, where he lived with Mrs. Claus and his toy making elves.

In the 1930's the Coca-Cola Company was looking for ways to boost it's sales in the winter months. Illustrator Haddon Sundblom created a series of advertising illustrations with Santa Claus giving, receiving and drinking Coca Cola. The marketing campaign was a success, and brought this version of Santa into pop-culture of the time. While Coca-Cola is often credited with inventing Santa or this particular version of Santa this is nothing more than an urban legend.

In the 1840's stores began to advertise for Christmas and holiday merchandise. One industrious department store in Philadelphia went as far as to make a life size statue of Santa that was visited by thousands of children. Shortly after this department stores began to have their own live Santa for children to visit.

The Origins of the Christmas Stocking

by Yuwanda Black

Nothing signifies Christmas like the hanging of fluffy red stockings with white trim above the fireplace mantle. In the United States, families have been practicing this tradition for years in preparation for that special day of spiritual celebration and giving.

Though in modern times the Christmas stocking is often used as a holder of small gifts for children and loved ones, there are many legends associated with the actual history of the Christmas stocking.

The Dutch Theory

Some say the Dutch introduced the Christmas stocking to America. It was told that during the 16th Century, children in Holland would leave their clogs by the hearth filled with straw for the reindeer (or "donkey").

A treat for Santa was left in the house near the fire. In return "Sinterclass" would leave the children treats. Later the clogs would become stockings, and the Saint known to all would become "Santa Claus."

The Poor, Kind Nobleman Theory

Many believe there was once a kind nobleman whose wife had died of an illness leaving the man and his three daughters in despair. After losing all his money in useless and bad inventions, the nobleman and his daughters had to move into a peasant's cottage. When it came time for the daughters to marry, the father became even more depressed as his daughters could not marry without dowries.

One night after the daughters had washed out their clothing, they hung their stockings over the fireplace to dry. That night Saint Nicholas, knowing the despair of the father, stopped by the nobleman's house after the family had gone to bed. He peeked in the window and saw the daughters' stockings hanging by the fire.

Inspiration struck Saint Nicholas, and he took three small bags of gold from his pouch and threw them carefully, one by one, down the chimney into the stockings. The next morning when the daughters awoke, they found their stockings contained enough gold for them to get married. The nobleman was able to see his three daughters marry, and he lived a long and happy life.

The North American Theory

Still others say in North America the traditional Christmas stocking actually dates back to the end of the XIXth Century. Some believe the first mention of Christmas stockings being hung from a chimney were by Thomas Nast, an illustrator, through his pictures and by the writer, George Webster, in a story about a visit from Santa Claus.

Cultural Variations in the Celebration of the Christmas Stocking

No matter the origin of the custom, families the world over continue to practice some act associated with the tradition of the Christmas stocking. In Puerto Rico, children put flowers and greens in small boxes and place them under their beds for the camels of the Three Kings; Italian children leave their shoes out the night before Epiphany, January 5, for La Befana the good witch; and in France, the children place their shoes by the fireplace, a tradition dating back to when children wore wooden peasant shoes.

An Ethnic Take

Today, Christmas stockings are available in a variety of colors, styles, shapes and sizes. Ethnic Home D飯r, an online retailer and wholesaler of home accessories with ethnic themes, has created Christmas stockings made of mudcloth, an authentic African fabric. No matter how much the styles (or tales!) differ, the Christmas stocking seems to have one common theme enjoyed by all: the element of fanciful surprise during the Christmas season.

The Christmas Tree
http://www.novareinna.com/festive/tree.html
Article Date:November 2003

There are numerous quaint and charming tales regarding the origin of the Christmas tree tradition but in actuality, this custom has nothing at all to do with the birth or life of Jesus Christ. Since ancient times, evergreen trees have been revered as a representation of fertility, sexual potency and reproduction. For centuries, evergreens have played an important role in Winter celebrations. Carried into homes and adorned with apples and other fruits, they were set up as symbolic idols. Such decorations were intended as food offerings to the tree and may be where the modern custom of placing gifts beneath the Christmas tree originated. According to some sources, the Christmas tree is actually a throwback to "Yggdrasil," the Great Tree of Life mentioned in Norse mythology.

Many pagan festivals used trees to honor their gods and spirits. In Northern Europe the Vikings considered the evergreen as symbol and a reminder that the darkness and cold of Winter would end and the green of Spring would return. The Druids of ancient England and France decorated oak trees with fruit and candles in honor of their gods at harvest time. For the Saturnalia ceremonies, Romans would decorate their trees with trinkets, candles and small pieces of metal.

The modern custom of an indoor Christmas tree is thought to have originated in Germany. German Christians would bring trees into their homes to decorate. In some areas where evergreen trees were scarce, the families would build a Christmas pyramid...a simple wooden structure which would then be adorned with branches and candles.

It is difficult to pinpoint the date that Christmas trees were first decorated in America. Some believe the tradition may have begun with the Moravians of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, who decorated trees in the very early 1800s. Another theory is that the first American Christmas tree was set up by Hessian soldiers at Trenton, New Jersey, in 1776. Certainly by the early 1800s, there were many decorated trees to be found throughout the United States but the term "Christmas tree" did come into common use until 1830.

The tradition of a Christmas tree spread across America during the 1800s with the arrival of German immigrants. One of the first public displays of a Christmas tree was set up by German settlers in Pennsylvania at a time when many people still considered the tree to be a symbol of pagans. The Germans would bake fancy ornaments for their trees and then consume the decorations when the trees were taken down. After Christmas, these frugal people wouls strip the needles and then wrap the branches in cotton to extend the life of the tree for several Christmases to come. Fruits, nuts, flowers and lighted candles also adorned the first American Christmas trees, but only the strongest could support such a weight without drooping. Thus, German glassblowers began producing lightweight glass balls to replace heavier, natural decorations. These lights and decorations were representations of the joy and light of Christmas, with the star atop the tree symbolic of the "Star in the East."

In England, royalty helped to popularize the notion of a Christmas tree by decorating the first at Windsor Castle in 1841. Prince Albert, husband and Consort of Queen Victoria, adorned this first English Christmas tree with candles, candies, fruits and gingerbread. Already a popular tradition in Germany...the country of Albert's birth...the Prince Consort suggested the idea as a reminder of his homeland. Ever ready to comply with her beloved husband's desires, Queen Victoria readily agreed. Although generally adverse to anything German in origin, the public held their Queen in such high regard that they had soon adopted the custom for themselves.
The first written record of a Christmas tree is that of an anonymous Frenchman who was a visitor to Strasbourg, Germany, in 1601. He describes a Fir tree he had seen in a home upon which had been hung: "wafers and golden sugar-twists (Barley sugar), roses cut out of many-colored paper, apples, gold foil and sweets."

In 722 A.D., Saint Boniface, an English missionary and Benedictine monk who was known as the "Apostle of Germany," came upon some men about to cut down a huge oak tree to be used as a stake for a human sacrifice to Thor, one of the Norse Gods. With a mighty blow from an axe, Saint Boniface felled the massive oak and, as the tree split apart, a beautiful young fir tree sprang from its center. Saint Boniface informed the people that this beautiful evergreen, whose branches pointed toward heaven, was a holy tree...the tree of the Christ Child, symbolizing the purty of the New Faith and the promise of eternal life. Saint Boniface then instructed them to henceforth carry the evergreen from the wilderness, place it into their homes and surround it with
gifts symbolic of love and kindess. Saint Boniface, whose feast day is celebrated on June 5th, received the name Winfrid at his baptism but adopted Boniface before he was ordained to the priesthood. He was martyred in Holland at the age of 75, along with 52 members of his flock, when they were set upon by a troop of pagans. Saint Boniface is the Patron Saint of Germany, as well as being the Patron Saint of Tailors and Brewers. A very old and delightful European custom centers around decorating a Fir tree with apples and small white wafers which represents the Holy Eucharist. These wafers were later replaced by small pieces of pastry cut into the shapes of stars, angels, hearts, flowers and bells. Eventually, additional pastries were introduced bearing the shapes of men, birds, roosters and other animals. During the Middle Ages, around the Eleventh Century, religious theater was born. One of the most popular plays...the German mystery play...concerned Adam and Eve and their fall and expulsion from the Garden of Eden, represented by a Fir tree hung with apples. This tree was symbolic of both the Tree of Life and the Tree of Discernment of Good and Evil, which stood in the center of Paradise. The play ended with the prophecy
of a coming Savior. For this reason, it was often enacted during Advent. The one piece of scenery...the "Paradeisbaum" or "Paradise Tree"...became a popular
object and was often set up in churches. Eventually, it also found its way into private homes and became a symbol of the Savior. Since the tree was representative not only of Paradise and the fall of man, but also the promise of salvation, it was hung not merely with apples, but with bread or wafers (Holy Eucharist) and often sweets to represent the sweetness of redemption. In some areas of Bavaria, fir branches and little trees decorated with lights, apples and tinsel are still called "Paradeis." In Christian legend, it was a Fir tree that grew as the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. When Eve plucked its fruit, the foliage and flowers shrank to nothing but needles. Only on the night of the Nativity would the Fir tree bloom again...a moment mirrored perhaps by the Christmas tree of the Christians. On the night of the Christ Child's birth, all living creatures, both flora and fauna, traveled to Bethlehem bearing gifts. The Olive tree, for example, brought its fruit and the Palm tree its dates. But the little Fir tree had no gift and was so tired that it was unable to resist when the larger trees pushed it into the background and hid it from view. But then, a nearby Angel took pity and commanded a cluster of stars to descend and rest upon its delicate boughs. When the Baby Jesus beheld this lovely lighted tree, he smiled and blessed it, declaring henceforth that Fir trees should always be filled with lights at Christmastime to please little children. When Christianity first came to Northern Europe, three personages representing virtues were dispatched from Heaven to place lights on the original Christmas tree. These personages were Faith, Hope and Charity. Their search was long, since they were required to find a tree as high as hope, as great as love and as sweet as charity. In addition, the tree had to bear the sign of the cross on every bough. Their search
finally ended in the forests of the North where they found the Fir. Lit by the
radiance of the stars, it became the first Christmas tree. The triangular design of the Fir has also been usedto describe the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Eventually, converts began to revere the Fir as God's Tree...as they had once revered the Oak. By the Twelfth Century it was being hung,
upside-down, from ceilings at Christmastime in Central Europe, as a symbol of Christianity. When the Holy family was pursued by Herod's soldiers, many plants offered to provide them with shelter. One such plant was the Pine tree. With Mary too weary to travel any longer, the family stopped at the edge of a forest to rest. A gnarled old Pine which had grown hollow with the years invited them to rest within its trunk. Then, it closed its branches down upon them, keeping the family safe until the soldiers had passed. Upon leaving, the Christ Child blessed the Pine and the imprint of his tiny hand was left forever in the tree's fruit...the Pine cone. If a cone is cut lengthwise, the hand may still be seen.
Martin Luther, founder of the Protestant religion, was taking a stroll through the
woods late one night. The sky was clear and many stars were shining through the branches of the trees, giving the impression of twinkling lights. Luther was so captivated and inspired by the beautiful brilliance of the sight that he cut down a small evergreen and brought it home. He recreated the stars by placing candles upon the tree's branches to imitate their radiance and presented it to his children.

Answer 2

What is your point, exactly? I've long known that Christmas and Easter were borrowed from the pagans. I knew that before I BECAME one of the pagans!

Edit:

Just for the record, we (the Pagans) had spring festivals long before the writers of the Bible decided to use it. Eggs and bunnies are ancient fertility symbols, and is it any coincidence that the festival of Ostara though probably not the name the ancients used) represents rebirth (celebrating the Spring Equinox, when the world is reborn anew) and that Easter celebrates the resurrection (read: rebirth) of Christ? What do bunnies and eggs have to do with Christ anyway?

Ostara is the old High German name for the Easter festival. Eostre ("Easter") is the name of a putative goddess of the Anglo-Saxons. The Venerable Bede described her worship as something which had already died out by the time he began writing the first significant history of the Anglo-Saxons. In recent years some historians have suggested that Bede may have made her up because there are no known references to her preceding his work. Others point out that Bede is known as "the Father of English history" precisely because he has long been the source for most of what little we know about pre-Christian English history, which, of course, does not make him inerrant.

Answer 3

on the different hand, Acts 10:15 - "do no longer call something impure that God has made clean." particular, all of us be attentive to that Christmas initially got here from pagan iciness solstice celebrations, and effective the fairly some different holiday journeys celebrated by the Christian international have comparable ignoble origins, yet in a manner they have been redeemed by their affiliation with Christ. If something, i think of the pagan origins of now-Christian holiday journeys is an surprising metaphor for the substitute in a Christian's life - what become as quickly as a element of wickedness now calls to suggestions the Lord and His holiness.

Answer 4

Most christians don't know because they're not educated...about them, and even if they are told, the stick their fingers in their ears and say "LA LA LA LA I can't hear you!"

They don't want to know because it whould show their religious origins for what they are. It's easier to lie and deny that to to submit and admit.

Valentine's Day? A ripoff of the Lupercalian festival of ancient Rome.

Easter? A ripoff of pagan fertilitiy worship of Oestre (pronounce "estre", as in "estrogen").

Hallowe'en and All saints? A ripoff of Samhain (pronounced "sow-uhn"), a celebration of the end of the growing season.

"Christmas"? A ripoff of the birthday and story of Mithras (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithras) as well as a ripoff of winter solstice celebrations.

The catholic cult also has a "saint" for pretty well everyday of the year. This was done to occupy the calendar and so preoccupy people's lives with their cult that it was impossible to avoid it.



Additional:

"Marvin R" made a ludicrous claim. He said, "this was done by the Christians in order that the pagan worshipers would be more receptive to their Christian Belief System".

Yeah, right. That's like saying a rapist threatens to kill a woman so she will be more receptive to being raped. Religions use violence to supercede other religions.


.

Answer 5

Sooooooooo...
we hijacked a few holidays and sanctified them to the glory of Jesus Christ.
What's your point?
Every Christian I know has knowledge that Jesus wasn't born on December 25th.
But what about Easter? It was Jesus eating a Passover Seder as the Last Supper. Passover was established in the Book of Exodus. What heathen/pagan group hijacked Passover?
The point is this: There's only 365 days per year. It would be silly to think that a new holiday must be celebrated on a day that no one else claims as their own.
Are you the only one born on your birthday? (God help us!)

Answer 6

this was done by the Christians in order that the pagan worshipers would be more receptive to their Christian Belief System when it was first starting.

Answer 7

I've got my chair and cold drink. Can't wait to see the fireworks on this one!

Answer 8

It is better to convert than to kill.

Saves on the overhead

Answer 9

They don't care

Answer 10

Ho Ho Ho!