2006-10-29 20:25:59 · 18 answers · asked by Sam H 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Because Christianity did what it always did.
It stole a pagan festival, this time the winter solstice, and claimed it for it's own.
In this instance you have the Egyptian celebrations of Isis and the European pagan ritual of Yule being taken over.
Many Christians still burn a Yule log, which has nothing to do with Christianity.
A few examples
All Souls Day = Samhain (Celtic pre Christian festival)
Harvest festival = Mabon (Celtic pre Christian festival)
Candlemas = Imbolc (Celtic pre Christian festival)
Easter = Ostara (Germanic pre Christian festival)
2006-10-29 20:54:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagan_beliefs_surrounding_Christmas
quote:
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Why do people celebrate Jesus' birth on December 25?
It is uncertain why December 25th was chosen. One theory is that it was influenced by pagan ( ancient polytheistic religions) holidays. Before the Romans converted to Christianity, they celebrated the popular holiday Saturnalia, a festival of feasting and revelry held in December in celebration of Saturn, the god of agriculture, and the winter solstice.
Kelly Wittmann wrote, "In 350, Pope Julius I declared that Christ's birth would be celebrated on December 25. There is wide acceptance of the belief that Pope Julius I was trying to make it as painless as possible for pagan Romans, who remained a majority at that time, to convert to Christianity. The new religion went down a bit easier, knowing that their feasts would not be taken away from them." Moreover, in ancient Babylon, December 25th was the feast of the Son of Isis, Goddess of Nature, was celebrated with, "Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast.
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2006-10-30 04:34:35 · answer #2 · answered by DREAMER 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, the second time you're asking this question and you're still talking about some non-existent festival to celebrat Jesus' birthday, whatever "celebrat" means.
2006-10-30 04:43:22 · answer #3 · answered by =_= 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think we should celebrate Science and Evolution on the 25th December just to mess with Christians minds for the sin of tramping over previous ancient beliefs and trying to impose their particular fantasy on everybody, I want to see Christmas expunged.
2006-10-30 04:50:46 · answer #4 · answered by CHEESUS GROYST 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason that date was chosen was because that date was significant to the many pagans of Europe for a holiday they already had. When the christians conquered Europe, they wanted to make the transition from paganism to christ as easy as possible, so they picked a date that was already significant to them. Christians were nice like that, while they conquered you and told you what you had to believe, they kept your holidays for you...just changed the meaning. No one knows what christ's birthday was, but most think it was in spring. Who knows. But yeah, the Pagans already had a holiday on Dec 25th, so the roman catholics kept that date so the masses would be less likely to see christianity as a radical change in their lifestyle.
2006-10-30 04:39:37 · answer #5 · answered by NightTrainWooWoo 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No one knows for sure the date of Jesus' b'day, however Nimrod, a greatgrandson of Noah was born on December 25th, making it a pagan holiday.
2006-11-02 19:00:07 · answer #6 · answered by greasy_pancakes 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I had to choose a date. Id choose April 15th or so... I live in the middle east and the lambing season is in late spring here... Jesus was born while there were baby animals around his manager....
2006-10-30 05:44:12 · answer #7 · answered by Mintee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus was christened on that day. He was born months before that. Somewhere along the lines, the story of Jesus and how he came to be in existence got distorted and therefore making Dec 25 his birth date. The Romans re-wrote the whole bible and completed one version to suit themselves.
Also, the version of how Jesus was born is truly incorrect. Scientists have now discovered that the wise men knew Jesus was to be CHRISTENED on that night, the "Star of Bethlehem" was Jupiter, etc. In closing, my friend, the whole damn bible should be re-written with the true facts of how our "Messiah" came to be on this glorious earth we call home.
2006-10-30 04:37:45 · answer #8 · answered by venus101 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It was chosen because it was a pagan festival, but in the Bible it doesn't say about when He was born. Like other stories. Smart.
2006-10-30 04:42:01 · answer #9 · answered by sov_flanker 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it was a pagan holiday and the church adopted it to keep some new converts happy. It was the celebration of the winter soltice. Just a few days off target
2006-10-30 04:30:29 · answer #10 · answered by icheeknows 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋