Christmas, when did it start to move away from Christ?

Question

Pop culture. Commercialism. Multi Culturalsim. Even Santa Claus. All of these seem to change what Christmas is all about.
Its not about family.
Its not about gifts.
Its not about presents.
Its not about accepting other people's views.
Its not about jolly ole Saint Nick.

Its about the birth of the Savior, the Son of God, the Redeemer of Mankind.

I will probably get alot of 'inclusionistic' ideas from the PC crowd in here, but they're only adding to the idea that Christ has been removed from 'Christ'mas.

Answer 1

December 25 is the roman celebrationof saturnalia, worship of the Sun god, there were orgies and gift giving and sacrifices. in the 4th century the church decided to try to get the pagans to accept the church by adopting december 25 for the birth of Christ. he was born in September or October, the bible doesn't tell but we know it because the sheep were still in the fields., Good luck in your search for the truth. Jehovahs witness have it

Answer 2

I think Christmas started being 'commercialized' about 20 years or so ago. Interestingly enough, about the same time that the The Christian Coalition began. I guess when society has people trying to remind them of what is important to keep as traditions, etc. there's going to be other people who will rebut that with their right to do as they please, no matter what the traditions are, or importance to others are. Other people in society will listen to whichever side makes the most sense to them, and then voila! an unraveling of traditions has begun.

Personally, I feel that it may go back even further to around the 40's, when women had to go out and work while their men were off fighting the war. Many many many time-honored traditions in families and society slowly began to unravel. To the point that today we look around and wonder, what the heck happened to all that we used to hold and cherish so dearly? This, of course, refers to nearly all things in society, not just traditional beliefs in Christmas.

I was born back in the day... lol.. in the 50's.. and I do remember the way we celebrated Christmas back then. Sure there was 'Santa', but he was seen as a fun part of Christmas, not any part of the true meaning of Christmas. The emphasis wasn't on Santa or what was on sale in the stores... The emphasis was on Christ, His love, what He did for us. Gift-giving, for example, was more about how we could show God's love to other people, by giving something from our heart, rather than anything 'store bought'. People actually made presents for each other, or gave something that meant the world to them, as a prized gift to someone else who actually cherished the meaning behind the gift. Rarely is that done today. Rarely is that even thought of today. And I daresay if someone received such a gift today, they wouldn't even know what to think of it, let alone know what the meaning is behind it. more's the pity!

The world.... it has changed... and not for the good, in most cases.

Answer 3

I am sure the holiday and it's custom of giving gifts has always been used for purposes other than celebrating Christ's birth. People are people, and I am sure the opportunity for someone to show off by giving fancy parties and gifts has always been around. But in my opinion, the commercialism and consumerism really took off after WWII when the years of scrimping and saving, and doing without, due to war time rationing, was over. I am sure there were plenty who spluged, and vowed never to do without again.
The media, especially television, played a big part, now kids didn't have to go to a toy store to see what was out there to buy, the TV commercials told them what to want and ask for.
Retail merchandisers did their part, too. Every Christmas came the Sears, J.C. Penney, and Montomery Ward catalogues to the house, full of great stuff to buy, in full color, and attractive people wearing and using the products.
The stores had beautiful displays, and spent big bucks money on the place where Santa would listen to requests. Back then, he might have a cottage in the parking lot, or at least a special room. The department store in our city had put up temporary walls, all decorated, to make a hall for the very long line of people to wait in. You could not see Santa until it was your turn to see him. There was a sign at the begining of the line about how much the picture would cost, and Mom did not have to buy it, you could see Santa anyway! And Santa was really dressed up, he had a fancy suit, and his hair and beard were great! Now he sits in the middle of the mall for everybody to see, and I think you do have to buy the picture. And he does look a little like he needs a handout, to get a better suit and have his beard groomed..Merchandising. Need to sell those pictures of the kid with Santa!
It has only gotten worse since I was a kid. Now toy company's have exclusive contracts with retailers, to sell their product of the year, forcing the consumer to go across town to find that particular toy, and be exposed to a whole store full of such merchandising, and hopefully buy more items.
Consider my rueful attempt at a joke: People have tried to take "Christ" out of "Christmas", but they forgot to take "holy" out of "holiday"!
So, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holy-days! There is hope for us all, yet.

Answer 4

I feel I need to make a Christian statement because no one else has. Yes, it is held at the same time of the Winter Solstice and other Pagan celebrations. These days were incorporated into Christian celebrations to make conversion easier for people. So what if it wasn't the actual time of year Christ was born. It is when Christians are supposed to celebrate His birth. Also, the very name Christmas comes from Christ so if you are celebrating Christmas--you are celebrating the birth of the Savior. This by definition is plain and simple. If you are celebrating anything else it is not Christ-mas, but a lovely winter holiday. To me, celebrating the birth of a Man who taught people to be nice to each other and love thy neighbor is a very noble thing-especially this day in time.

Answer 5

When was it ever REALLY about Christ?

Christmas is, in its origins and its symbolism, perhaps the most pagan-inspired of all Christian holidays. Its dating derives from the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, which was determined by the winter solstice, that astronomical point in the year after which the periods of sunlight on Earth lengthen.
And that's not all that contemporary Christians have in common with neo-pagans. Most of the popular symbols surrounding Christmas - evergreen trees and other greenery, mistletoe and holly, the Yule log, candles and bonfires and holiday lights, mystical spirits with the ability to fly and to enter and leave a house through its chimney, tricksters who treat or taunt little children, not to mention those elves - all derive from older, pre-Christian Europe.
These pagan-derived symbols and customs are precisely the elements of Christmas that Christian activists are pressing to preserve and promote.

It began as a way for the church to convert people, as they were still following their old pagan ways.

Answer 6

The whole aspect of Santa Claus has been around for a long time, hundreds of years, That's where you get Saint Nicholas(it was a real man).

But with technology getting better and better that's what people think about.

The giving of gifts at Christmas time was suppose to represent the gifts the wisemen brought Christ at the manger.

Answer 7

I agree that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. That's all. It's a joyous birthday celebration having nothing to do with the date or season. December 25th was chosen for another reason and is of no importance except that is the day we choose to celebrate His birth.

And so, as I see it, Christmas has NEVER moved away from Christ. We have. Move back. That's all. What "they" do does not have to determine your attitude. And have no judgment for "them". Remember Whose birthday you're celebrating and how He loves us all no matter what we decide to do on December 25. Get your eyes off "them" and on Him and I just bet you might see it a little different. Don't divide "us" and "them" in your heart. He doesn't.

I hope you will have a joyous birthday celebration with Him and "them" and those you love. And I hope you bring your best gifts of love and charity to the party. If not, don't worry. There will be another party next year and for all the years the earth stands. And we're always, all invited.

A blessed and merry Christmas to you and yours, Linda

Answer 8

Technically, it wasn't an original Christian holiday.It was stolen from the Pagans. It originated with Yule, the winter solstice festival. The Christians just decided to take it over to tame those barbaric, evil pagans ( I'm being sarcastic) into celebrating a good Christian holiday. Much like Easter ( which got its beginnings from the pagan Eostara). So your question should be more like " When did Yule get stolen by the Christians, then stolen by the multicultural advocacy combined with the corporate conglomerate?"

Answer 9

Your right. When we started giving away gifts on Christmas and invented Santa Claus, people began to lose its meaning. People became to concerned with things like "am I getting that D.S. for Christmas" and "we need cookies for Santa". But Christ is are mean to celebrate Christmas. He was here to help us in life, be are path. Have you noticed that the word "Christ" is in "Christmas". Show your love to others on this day. Have a Merry Christmas (not Happy Holidays) and God bless you!

Answer 10

It's not about that! Are you really serious? It's been a Pagan celebration for several thousand years, and the christians adopted- no, stole it as their own just to gain popularity. It was used for the Winter Solstice for a long time, and now it's getting to the point where people want to freely express their belief about it over the internet and TV by saying it was originally christian.

Study holiday history. You will get the facts without depending on what's been pumped in your head.