in religous and "commercial" sinn (with X-mas tree, etc)
2006-12-17 06:18:44 · 5 answers · asked by ttikki2001 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
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 06:35:40 · answer #1 · answered by Shuggaloaf 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
~~~I hear what your saying,,,,those who don't go to church or don't have Jesus in their heart, but they celibrate "Christmas" . I can see why you would ask your question,,,,as for the Comercial aspect of Christmas,,,,,thats all corporate business,,,,any occasion to make a buck....the sad thing is for example,,,I read the other day that some person in a little town,,made the "town hall" remove a sign that said : Happy Easter,,because it offended him,,,,,I truley dont think that was right,,,who is he,,,just because he sees a sign that he is driving past,,ohh it offends him,,,,,drive down a different road Mr.....
I would like to see more Nativity scenes in my neighbor hood,,rather than the big blow up SANTAS and Snowmen,,,but Im not going to make anyone take them down,,,,,
I would be nice to get back to the old days of Celebrating Christmas as the day of Baby Jesus birth,,,,,,
2006-12-17 14:33:36 · answer #2 · answered by ~~Penny~~ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2006 years ago when Jesus was born.
2006-12-17 14:25:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
first its christmas! i always have celebrated christmas
2006-12-17 14:22:06 · answer #4 · answered by lilangelbud2006 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
since jesus was born
2006-12-17 14:25:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋