2006-11-05 11:14:36 · 10 answers · asked by candycane 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think that Easter eggs originated as a pagan ritual of fertility - not that it is a religious symbol, but we do hand out little Easter eggs at church. Both Christmas and Easter were originally celebrated to coincide with pagan ritual times, so that christians could celebrate them without attracting too much attention. (Using the philosphy that if you want to hide in a forest, act like a tree). They then became bolder and celebrated openly, but retained the same dates.
The altar has been used since prehistory as a table for sacrifice, and predates christian worship, originally used for real sacrifices of lambs etc, now just symbolically.
There must be others, but they don't come to mind.
2006-11-05 11:26:31 · answer #1 · answered by Labsci 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There are no pagan traditions used in the Catholic Church.
Any formerly pagan practices have been consecrated specifically to the service and worship of the one, true God, just as the millions and millions of former pagans who were baptized in Christ, and are now enjoying eternal salvation, courtesy of God's one and only church, the Catholic Church.
Protestants might be interested to know that venerating a holy book is also a pagan ritual.
2006-11-05 17:27:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Pagan" traditions still being used today in the Catholic church involve:
Burning of incense
Burning of candles
Chanting/prayer
When swinging the incense "censer" (I don't know what it's called, I have Catholic friends but haven't been to mass more than a few times), the priest goes deosil (clockwise) three times.
Threes are heavily used from what I've observed
Praying to the saints for help - this is a replacing of the old god pantheons
Christmas and its symbols
Easter and its symbols
Candlemas
Lent
All Saint's Day
Wedding rings
Use of the chalice and altar
Priests wear robes
Drinking of wine
To name a few.
2006-11-05 11:41:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
If by "pegan" you mean "pagan," then there are several examples. A simple one is the use of the aspergillus to sprinkle holy water; aspergillus is the Latin name for a type of mushroom which was originally used as a phallic symbol by pagans. Figures.
2006-11-05 11:17:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
None. The Catholic Church is 100% true Christianity.
2006-11-05 11:40:18 · answer #5 · answered by clusium1971 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
The dates of Christmas and Easter are definitely used. Also, St. Bridgit was not a human, but was actually the goddess Brighid of the Celts. Her being baptized by St. Patrick isn't true.
2006-11-05 11:17:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
off the top of my head, incense, rituals with food- eucharist, and money... no wait that last one is just catholic church... I know there are many other similarities..
2006-11-05 11:17:13 · answer #7 · answered by ray of sunshine 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Easter was first a celebration of Esther... the goddess of spring.
2006-11-05 11:17:53 · answer #8 · answered by Chris R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christmas and Valentines Day. That's all I can thing of
2006-11-05 11:21:52 · answer #9 · answered by maxxie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the Christmas-tree came from the Barbarians.
2006-11-05 11:20:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋