What is the origin of Christmas?

Answer 1

Read the first couple of chapters of Mathew or Luke, it will make sense then.

Answer 2

Christmas actually has Pagan roots. The Pagan holiday Yule was even mentioned in the Bible in the book of Jeremiah that the Jews were not to have anything to do with. However in the Middle Ages when the Christian Church (everyone was Catholic until the 1600s) first decided to ban Yule altogether. When that didn't work, then they decided to steal Yule and its elements from the Pagans as a way to convert them them without inciting any riots. They kept the rituals and gave everything a new name so that the Pagans would be fooled. Thus the name Christmas (Mass of Christ) came into existance.

Answer 3

Christmas just like easter, valintines day, holloween, new years are all pagan holidays that go way back before Jesus's time. For christmas Pagans would worship the god of prosparity known as shemosh by taking their infant children to an alter and burning them as a sacrifice in exchange for one year of prosparity. that god is known as our present day santa clause. Dont take my word for it look it up in history. Christmas is not the birth of Jesus. Its the birth of the sungod. Which by the way there are many different sungods it just depends on which culture your in but their all known as one comman name, Satan. Christmas is strictly forbidden in The Bible. Read Jeremiah chapter 10.To God it is an abomination. Its the same as worshipping idols. which by the way just in case you didnt know this because alot of people dont, Anything that is not a NEED, but you absolutly have to have it or do it, or you love it so much that it takes precidence over God than its an idol. This is paraphrased- "Learn not the way of the heathen...." Jeremiah 10 verse 2. If i were you i would read the whole chapter.
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Answer 4

Ok get a calendar....

100 B.C. means before the birth of Christ.

October 31, 2006 A.D. means the tenth month, 31st day, 2006 years after the death of Christ.

It's been over 2,000 years and people are still discussing his birth.......and that is called Christmas to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
if you google.com and yahoo search: Christmas, you'll find more.

Answer 5

CHRISTmas is a celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The actual date of His birth is unknown.

It was set in December to offset pagan celebrations.

The holiday was perverted with pagan customs in order to convert pagans to Christianity.

Answer 6

An Ancient Holiday
The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.


In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year.

The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.


In Germany, people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Oden, as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside

Saturnalia
In Rome, where winters were not as harsh as those in the far north, Saturnalia—a holiday in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture—was celebrated. Beginning in the week leading up to the winter solstice and continuing for a full month, Saturnalia was a hedonistic time, when food and drink were plentiful and the normal Roman social order was turned upside down. For a month, slaves would become masters. Peasants were in command of the city. Business and schools were closed so that everyone could join in the fun.


Also around the time of the winter solstice, Romans observed Juvenalia, a feast honoring the children of Rome. In addition, members of the upper classes often celebrated the birthday of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun, on December 25. It was believed that Mithra, an infant god, was born of a rock. For some Romans, Mithra's birthday was the most sacred day of the year.

In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday.Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date for his birth (a fact Puritans later pointed out in order to deny the legitimacy of the celebration). Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. First called the Feast of the Nativity, the custom spread to Egypt by 432 and to England by the end of the sixth century. By the end of the eighth century, the celebration of Christmas had spread all the way to Scandinavia. Today, in the Greek and Russian orthodox churches, Christmas is celebrated 13 days after the 25th, which is also referred to as the Epiphany or Three Kings Day. This is the day it is believed that the three wise men finally found Jesus in the manger.

By holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals, church leaders increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, but gave up the ability to dictate how it was celebrated. By the Middle Ages, Christianity had, for the most part, replaced pagan religion. On Christmas, believers attended church, then celebrated raucously in a drunken, carnival-like atmosphere similar to today's Mardi Gras. Each year, a beggar or student would be crowned the "lord of misrule" and eager celebrants played the part of his subjects. The poor would go to the houses of the rich and demand their best food and drink. If owners failed to comply, their visitors would most likely terrorize them with mischief. Christmas became the time of year when the upper classes could repay their real or imagined "debt" to society by entertaining less fortunate citizens.

An Outlaw Christmas

Oliver Cromwell
Corbis-Bettman

In the early 17th century, a wave of religious reform changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe. When Oliver Cromwell and his Puritan forces took over England in 1645, they vowed to rid England of decadence and, as part of their effort, cancelled Christmas. By popular demand, Charles II was restored to the throne and, with him, came the return of the popular holiday.

The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings. By contrast, in the Jamestown settlement, Captain John Smith reported that Christmas was enjoyed by all and passed without incident.

After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the first Christmas under America's new constitution. Christmas wasn't declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870.

Answer 7

Jesus Christ's birth, Christ + mas = Christmas

Answer 8

chris kringle had to save some kids from the burgermeister way back when.

Answer 9

Jesus is the reason for the season.

Answer 10

well what do you mean exactly??

Truly, it is jesus' birth

but people giving gifts goes back to st. nicholas