and many other supposed Christian holidays?
Now, without calling me names, or condemning me, or witnessing, or telling me it doesn't matter, tell me, what are the origins of Christmas?
Any pagans or infildels want to help them out -go right ahead.
2006-11-13 06:36:52 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's all about the Winter Solstice, not about Jesus. I'm tired of trying to explain something to someone who has their fingers in their ears while chanting lalalalalalalalala.
2006-11-13 06:39:41 · answer #1 · answered by jedi1josh 5 · 6⤊ 2⤋
Most of us have known since high school about the pagan origins of the holiday season, Hun.
For several centuries, Christians all over the world have chosen that time to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
I can remember, during the Viet Nam war, there was a "cease fire" for Christmas...I understand the same thing happened during WWII. Surely, this is a GOOD THING?? Wouldn't it be great, if we could call a cease fire in Iraq for Christmas?
I like what DougLawrence told you...
I wonder, why are you (and I've noticed a few others) so worried about it?
Does the fact that Christians celebrate the birth of Christ on Christmas truly bother you so much??
2006-11-13 12:36:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ. However, the reason it is celebrated on December 25th was started to convert the Pagans to Christianity who were celebrating Yule (a.k.a. Winter Solstice) which is the date of the birth of the Sun God. Because it was easy to convert them to celebrate the birth of the Son of God because it sounds so much alike.
In all likelihood, Jesus was born in summertime as the shepards had their flocks out in the fields at night and Mary and Joseph were on the road to be counted in the Roman Census.
With regards to other "Christian" holidays, the other one the jumps out at me is Easter, which I have yet to hear a Christian explain where that word comes from. As this day is a Pagan holiday celebrating fertility and the rebirth of Nature. This holiday comes for the Goddess Eostre who would travel forth with her rabbit who would lay colored eggs. And it celebration of fertility because it is when food becomes more plentiful as chickens begin laying eggs again.
Blessed Be )O(
2006-11-13 07:43:52 · answer #3 · answered by Stephen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every year after Thanksgiving, most people’s thoughts turn to Christmas. It is the time when professing Christians are supposed to focus on Jesus Christ. After all, it is the “Christ-mass” season!
Why do people think that Christmas is wonderful? It certainly felt wonderful to me. I trusted what my parents told me. I had no reason to doubt them. They were merely teaching me what their parents had taught them. I never questioned the true origin of Christmas!
Most never reflect on why they believe what they believe or do what they do. We live in a world filled with customs, but few ever seek to understand their origin. We generally accept them without question. Most people basically do what everyone else does—because it is easy and natural!
Let’s carefully examine the roots of Christmas. Let’s look at why people follow the customs associated with it. Why is it kept on December 25th? Did the early New Testament Church keep it? This booklet is filled with facts from history that, when placed together, paint a complete picture. Let’s avoid all assumptions and only accept what can be proven!
2006-11-13 06:40:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Christians know about pagan holidays and everything non or so-called believers try to hack up. Really, we do not try to get into meaningless arguments and non profitable debates. We celebrate Jesus' birthday on 25th December; His Resurrection at Easter... and the list goes on. Again who cares about the lighting of the tree, the burning of the log and what have you with pagan holidays. You do not celebrate it, then why the heck do you care if Christians do.... you unbelievers are so unhappy with your life, you hate to see a genuine smile on a Christian's face.
2006-11-13 08:11:43 · answer #5 · answered by charmaine f 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes,I know the origins of Christmas.The origins were in the two pagan festivals known as Yule and Saturnalia.The idea that the date of Jesus's birth was actually on the 25th December was populised by Sextus Julius Africanus,an early Christian traveller.Even though Jesus was not born in December,the idea became popular and it was enforced by Emporer Constantine that Christians in his time had to celebrate Jesus' birth on 25th December.Christmas today has basically become a mixture of things,but I know that when I celebrate Christmas I am celebrating Jesus' birth,not worshipping the ancient god Saturn.In fact,both Yule and Saturnalia are ancient winter holidays.Where do I live? The Southern Hemisphere.
2006-11-13 07:04:49 · answer #6 · answered by Serena 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Saturnalia was a celebration that ran from Dec 17 to Dec 25. In 274 AD. Dec 25th was chosen by Emporer Aurelian to celebrate Sol Invictus. Christmas, as a Christian celebration started around 350 AD.
The pre-christian origins were pagan, and Christmas (with that particular designation) is a Christian celebration of Christ's birth, distinct from pagan celebrations in substance and intent.
People can celebrate whatever they want on Dec 25th. They can celebrate their birthday, they can celebrate Mithra, they can celebrate human achievement, they can celebrate Wicca or humanism or rationalism... or whatever makes them happy! :)
They just can't do any of that and call it "Christ's mass", for which "Christmas" is a contraction.
2006-11-13 07:13:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As one of Jehovah's Witnesses I am aware of the origins of Christmas (Winter Solstice) as well as the other so called "Christian" holidays, so I know that every one of them has Pagan origins which is why Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate them. And, by definition, we are Christians, regardless of what some people ignorantly believe.
2006-11-13 06:46:10 · answer #8 · answered by passerby 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The Christian Church has "sanctified" the kalendar throughout history.
Christianity was not formed in a vacuum, and no-doubt many Winter Festivals throughout human history were sanctified (Christianized) over time. These would include the practice in ancient Babylon, where the feast of the Son of Isis (Goddess of Nature) was celebrated on December 25...
Also...in Rome, the Winter Solstice was celebrated many years before the birth of Christ. The Romans called their winter holiday Saturnalia, honoring Saturn, the God of Agriculture.
In January, they observed the Kalends of January, which represented the triumph of life over death. This whole season was called Dies Natalis Invicti Solis, the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun.
And we cannot forget that the pagans of northern Europe celebrated the their own winter solstice, known as Yule. Yule was symbolic of the pagan Sun God, Mithras, being born, and was observed on the shortest day of the year. As the Sun God grew and matured, the days became longer and warmer. It was customary to light a candle to encourage Mithras, and the sun, to reappear next year.
There can also be no doubt that many other practices have been adopted into the Christian celebration of Christ-Mass: the tree being just one of them...
The date of December 25th was not set until 350 A.D. by Pope Julius I
It's all about sanctification....(making holy)....that's what Christ, Christianity and Christ-Mass are all about
2006-11-13 06:47:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
When I think of the origins of Christmas, I think of the birth of Jesus but maybe that's not what you're asking. I feel like I'd be preaching if I told you the Christmas story so I'll spare you.
Christmas does however celebrate the birth of Jesus. Christian Christmas celebreations started as early as 336 AD in Rome. People published books and writings about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ so they decided to celebreat His birthday on December 25th after an idea posed by Sextus Julius Africanus, an author of an early reference book for Christians. The day was added as a Christian feast day in 350 AD.
Christmas truly began to flourish in Medieval Times with the spread of cultures across Europe. European travelers took Christmas and other Christian celebrations all over the world. However, during the Reformation, Protestant groups condemned the celebration of Chrismas that previous Christians enjoyed. By 1820 the issues had dispursed and people could freely celebrate Christmas around the world.
I hope this answered your question and if not I sure made you read a lot and I'm sorry. I'm sure a lot of people will preach to you but I just tried to give you the facts...
2006-11-13 06:46:19 · answer #10 · answered by snowbaby 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋
With all due appreciate, you're being extraordinarily superficial approximately this in a manner that's terrifying. Why does or not this is counted the place the outer trappings of this pageant take their concept from? in the years previously you probably did your checklist on Mithra, did you have worry utilizing Dec twenty 5th to have fun Christ? Of grew to become into there a sprint voice whispering in historical Persian into your ear at a similar time as you sung Silent nighttime? Christians did not invent the go, the two--yet that hasn't stopped the Christian international from appropriating it as an emblem of Jesus, and giving it a clean which ability. Christmas could be even though you're making of it. If hundreds of thousands of Christians international use Christmas to not to worship Mithra or have fun the wintry climate solstice, yet to have fun Jesus, then that's what it ability to them. delight in. on the turn area, hundreds of thousands of Christians and non-Christians have imbued the day with distinctive secular which ability, taking it as an hazard to decorate timber, carry out with family contributors, and open gives you--inspite of its Christian resonance. the final analysis? Use it even though you please. i will go pour myself yet another egg nog, after all.
2016-10-22 00:43:31 · answer #11 · answered by turrill 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋