2006-12-16 23:02:41 · 7 answers · asked by serinamermaid 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
According to a special I saw last night it was 6 B.C.??? And looks like it was some time in April vs December.
2006-12-16 23:04:12 · answer #1 · answered by gabound75 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many people are under the assumption that Christmas has it's origins in Christianity. However...
Roman officials decided on December 25th as the date for Christmas because they were trying to convert their heavily Pagan nation to the religion. The Pagan's Mid-Winter festival, Saturnalia, was held at this time of the year. In order to lure them over, many holidays that are now associated with Christianity were decided by the dates of corresponding Pagan holidays and festivals.
Christmas was more like Mardi Gras than the holiday we know today up until as late as the late 19th century. Yes, that's right, Mardi Gras! In England, during the 17th century, Protestants had taken over the country. Being very religiously strict they actually outlawed Christmas for it's vulgarity. Of course the people wanted their celebration so they in turn reinstated the Monarchy.
In the United States, after the Revolutionary War, anything English as shunned. Therefore Christmas was reinvented. It was decided the holiday would be about family and togetherness rather than raucous partying.
The Christmas tree also has it's roots in Pagan culture. Evidence of "Christmas" trees date back as far as Egypt. Santa Claus in his modern form was also only recently invented. In the 1940's he was revamped as the jolly old man we all know. Actually this was done by advertising agencies and stores of the time in order to help sell merchandise. Before that, Santa was more in line with the partying ideology of the Pagan Christmas. In fact, Santa's image evolved from a Pagan gnome like creature. Very much unlike what we know today.
2006-12-17 07:13:31 · answer #2 · answered by Shuggaloaf 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess both Wolfie and Ben 0 has given good answers. To be more correct and simpler - Christmas is a Christian festival with Pagan roots. It dates back to (even beyond) stone age as Winter Solistice. Christians adopted it as their own, just like all other Christian fests (eg. Easter). Where it was started is tough question as some say India, some say Mid East, and some quote Celtic roots. I am not really sure where it started.
2006-12-16 23:52:18 · answer #3 · answered by Priekahm 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Emperor Constantine forced the Christians living in Constantinople to change their Holy Days to his in order to gain their open freedom.
That is known as the 'Edict of Milan" and occurred in 313 A.D.
Until then, there was no birthday for Christ and the Christians worshiped the Sabbath on Saturday like the Jewish faith does to this day.
Dec 25 is the B'day of Mithras, Constantines Deity.
2006-12-16 23:10:05 · answer #4 · answered by wolf560 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
look on the net for a book called "The Plain Truth About Christmas" by Herbert W Armstrong. It has all the answers!!!
2006-12-16 23:39:46 · answer #5 · answered by God is my Judge 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the winter solstice goes back to the stone age, imagery (including red and white colours, tree, chimney, string on the fireplace) all comes from siberian shamanism and their use of psychedelic mushrooms.
2006-12-16 23:25:42 · answer #6 · answered by ben 0 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
since i was a a child
2006-12-16 23:04:37 · answer #7 · answered by ubuntu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋