I've been trying to look up info on the holidays' origins/practices....but I'm getting conflicting reports....Thanks for any help!
2006-12-20 03:23:53 · 17 answers · asked by *Argyle* 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
http://www.allthingschristmas.com/traditions.html#origins
As this site explains, very little of the traditions associated with Cristmas have to do with the Bible or Jesus. In point of fact the only day Jesus ordered his followers to observe is the memorial of his death.
Details of the conditions surrounding the day of his birth tell us he could only have been born in what for us would be the fall since December is the rainy season in that part of the world and shepherds would not be out away from shelter for their flocks.
But read the information at the site I referenced and find out for yourself.
2006-12-20 03:31:25 · answer #1 · answered by booksofstars 3 · 11⤊ 2⤋
Pagan Backgrounds
2016-11-07 07:36:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I actually view Christmas as becoming more corporate. The pagan symbols like the tree have been a constant for a while now, but it is the greed that makes me sad. We go from a holiday of thanks to immediately buying as much as we can for as little as we can the next day (now even the night of). I hope that this trend turns back and people look at Christmas as a time to be with family and enjoy each others company.
2016-05-23 00:06:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep.
The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year (in the northern hemisphere), and it's a time to celebrate the time when the days will get longer and spring will return. It's a solar holiday, and it can be celebrated by non-religious people as well from a secular aspect. However, it was originally celebrated by pre-Christian Pagans from various countries and traditions. Many modern day Christmas traditions stem from the earlier Pagan traditions.
It's a time to celebrate with friends and families. Yule is when trees are decorated because the evergreen is a symbol of life. (It stays green during the winter, even though the other trees have lost their leaves!) Wreaths represent rebirth, because they are circular. Gifts are given, and big meals are eaten. It's a time to cherish each other's company.
Also, many other Gods aside from the Christian Messiah share the same birthday. Check out Mithras, Dionysus (Bacchus), and Heru (Horus). Worship of these Gods predates Jesus, so perhaps that is what is upsetting. Even in modern Pagan traditions, it is a time to celebrate the birth of a Sun God.
2006-12-20 03:24:59 · answer #4 · answered by Mrs. Pears 5 · 20⤊ 2⤋
Way back in the beginning of human life people noticed that the days become shorter and shorter , then at one point they begin getting longer again. They were able to determine this by watching the sun cast shadows of stationary objects.
This period they called the Return of Light, and held celebrations. They decorated with evergreen branches because they thought that the evergreen was a favorite of the gods since it remained green while all the others lost their leaves.
The Romans celebrated their most important holiday at the same time. They called it Saturnalia in honor of the god Saturn, god of planting and harvesting. We get the word Saturday from Saturn.
Nothing was ever recorded of the birth of Christ, He was unknown until he began to annoy both the Romans and the Jews. When he was considered to be a God, the church had to find a beginning for him. They had him born on Saturnalia or the Return of Light for convenience of switch-over.
The story of the trip to Jerusalem does not agree with Roman records. There was no census taken that year.
2006-12-20 03:51:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 3⤋
From what I remember of history, there was an Ancient Roman holiday dedicated to a pagan god - Mars, I think - on December 25. Then, when the church was established, someone had the bright idea to celebrate Jesus' birth on December 25 to "cover up" the pagan holiday. So really, it's both.
2006-12-20 03:27:58 · answer #6 · answered by James 2 · 6⤊ 3⤋
There used to be a big pagan celebration on December 25, and the christians started Christmas then to lure people to Christ. What you have today is a mixture of the two. Celebrating with a tree is from the pagan side.
2006-12-20 03:26:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 3⤋
The Pagans celebrated their big holiday, "Yule," at the time of the Winter Solstice. They celebrated it by decorating trees, exchanging gifts, and having a festive meal with their friends and family. After many Pagans converted to Christianity, they still wanted to celebrate Yule even though the church didn't approve. So the leaders of the early church moved the celebration of Jesus's birthday to the time of the solstice.
2006-12-20 03:29:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 3⤋
The pagan Romans celebrated Saturnalia - in honor of their god Saturn. This became Christmas, once Pan died.
2006-12-20 03:32:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 8⤋
Yes it does!
2006-12-20 03:28:30 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋