Because it is, after all, a Pagan tradition.
2006-12-10 08:36:32 · 16 answers · asked by STFU Dude 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It surely is. Is Santa also a pagan tradition?
This question is identical to them asking why atheists celebrate Christmas.
My answer is, Santa is Agnostic!
2006-12-10 08:41:02 · answer #1 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's a huge Christmas tree on display at my church right now. Yes, Christmas (and other holiday) traditions may have originally been borrowed or co-opted from Pagan cultures, but these rituals now mean something entirely different within Christianity. Just because something came from another cultural perspective, we're supposed to throw it away? Nonsense. Let the Christmas tree stand. It seems to have been a good enough idea that both Pagans and Christians could agree on it.
2006-12-10 16:44:36 · answer #2 · answered by solarius 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is true, it does have pagan roots. It's actually a "Tammuz" tree, and what the balls on the Christmas tree represent would shock you. However, I don't know anyone today who uses the Christmas tree to actually worship Tammuz; all the traditions have been Christianized. It was primarily a Catholic tradition, who adopted it from the pagan cultures they conquered, and it was handed down to Protestants. In fact, in the early years of our country, in New England, it was actually illegal to celebrate Christmas, because they recognized its pagan roots, plus it seemed to be a relic of Catholicism, which they were trying to escape from. Today, our country has been completely inundated with this custom, so that if you didn't put up a tree, people would wonder what was wrong with you, or assume that you were an atheist or a Jew. Last year, I was tempted not to celebrate Christmas with a tree and Santa and the whole bit, but it broke my family's heart so much (especially my mother-in-law) because she was very much attached to tradition, that I gave in this year, and we got a tree. My husband even took our 4-year old to see "Santa", but I don't want to lie to my daughter. I will tell her that it's just a story and we just do it for fun. That will prevent her from becoming disappointed later.
2006-12-10 17:15:58 · answer #3 · answered by FUNdie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
How do you know it is a pagan tradition? Since there are very few written records of that time period (describing pagan traditions or absolutely anything else about them), I'd really like to know the answer to that.
2006-12-10 16:55:17 · answer #4 · answered by Dwight S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The search for separatism from pagan traditions can be taken to extremes, methinks. Pagans ate, drank, danced, and made love. If we rejected these things, we'd be hungry, bored and dwindling in number.
If you put up ornaments on your Christmas tree to honor some fertility goddess, that's pagan. If you put ornaments on your Christmas tree to decorate your home and put presents under it for your family, that's secular.
2006-12-10 16:43:47 · answer #5 · answered by Veritatum17 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a born of God Christian, we aren't under the law, we are under Grace. So, the Lord Jesus Christ tells me He loves me and I can have a Christmas tree.
It doesn't matter if there was a Pagan tradition. There have been many Pagan traditions. If I was so worried about what Pagans did, then I wouldn't have freedom in Christ.
2006-12-10 16:40:37 · answer #6 · answered by t_a_m_i_l 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Anyone can have a Christmas tree.
2006-12-10 16:41:57 · answer #7 · answered by Sweet Tooth 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
14:8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
2006-12-10 16:39:52 · answer #8 · answered by Royal Racer Hell=Grave © 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They should be ashamed of shoving a great big tree up a little angel's butt like they do.
2006-12-10 16:39:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
They should not because Christmas trees are flamable
2006-12-10 16:38:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋