Are there any christian holidays that were not originally pagan.?

Answer 1

Not really. The major ones (Christmas, Easter) are Pagan. Many Catholic holidays that celebrate saints are actually celebrating ancient deities that the Christians renamed as "saints" to win over the common folk.

The majority of non-religious holidays are Pagan as well.

Edited to add more info:

Christmas is a very ancient holiday. People have been celebrating the Winter Solstice for over 20,000 years. The entire Christmas story is far older than 2,000 years. See:

http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/Christmas_TheRealStory.htm


Easter is named after the Pagan goddess Ostara. See:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/easter1.htm

I'm not making these things up. I'm sorry some Christians are in denial about it, but the facts are clear - the major Christian holidays have predominantly Pagan origins. "Jesus" doesn't "own" ANYTHING.

Answer 2

Easter = Pessach (Passover) - Jewish. Easter is named after the pagan name for April, which in turn was named after a pagan spring goddess. All non-English countries call this time Passion

Ascension Thursday = 40 days after Pessach

Pentacost = Shuvuot - Jewish, 50 days after Pessach.

Christmas was a merging of the Roman Saturnalia and a pagan mid-winter festival of lights. Some scholars say that Jesus was born in late October, during the Festival of Booths (Sukkot - Jewish).

In any case, Paul says that some people view all days as holy, others viw some days as holier than others. It is between the individual and God (Romans 14) and the one is not to judge the other (Colossians 2).

Answer 3

The only ones I can think of would be St. Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day, though technically they're not holidays. So no, I guess none of the major religious holidays are exclusive to Christianity. They're just adaptations of pagan holidays to win over more converts. Clever, if a bit subversive.

Answer 4

None that I know of. Except the original Holy days as explained in the Bible. God makes it very clear in the Bible that he will not accept worship of Himself if pagan practices are used.

Jeremiah 10: 1-4 You should read all of it but a part of it is...

"Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen..." "for one cutteth a tree out of the forest.....They deck it with silver and with gold.."

A perfect example of a Christmas tree! And God was not pleased.

Answer 5

Gemma said it all. In the early days it was easier to celebrate Easter and Christmas at the same time pagans (and others, not necessarily pagan in my book) celebrated their high holy days.
Now entrenched, these traditions are as Christian as anything.
Charles "That Cheeky Lad"
None the less...Happy Christmas to everyone! Peace and prosperity to all!
P.S. I just read Fr. John's summary....AWESOME!

Answer 6

None. Just as there were no OT solemnities and festivities not taken from the sinful nations around Israel. BUT, the traditional Christian holy days and festivities should not be confused as still pagan.

Christian celebrations were once pagan in origin but now ORDERED in that Christ is the content or the object, thereby "bringing into captivity every understanding unto the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor 10.5). "For in that he hath subjected all things to him, he left nothing not subject to him. But now we see not as yet all things subject to him" (Heb 2.8). "All things shall be subdued unto him..." (1 Cor 15.28).

Christ came NOT to bring us brand new bodies, minds, and souls and ANNIHILATE the "old man". He came to PURGE the "old man" until the new man is perfected - TRANSFORMED into Christ.

Answer 7

Yes!
Boxing day....
or is that a commercialism holiday?

Answer 8

Christmas and Easter, since they belong to Jesus.