is christmas a christian festival?

Question

evil words from Granie Annie there, intolerant selfritious *****

Answer 1

It was not until several hundred years after Jesus lived on the earth that people began to commemorate his birth on December 25. But that was not the date of Jesus’ birth, for it evidently took place in October. So why was December 25 chosen? Some who later claimed to be Christian likely “wished the date to coincide with the pagan Roman festival marking the ‘birthday of the unconquered sun.’” (The New Encyclopædia Britannica) In winter, when the sun seemed weakest, pagans held ceremonies to get this source of warmth and light to come back from its distant travels. December 25 was thought to be the day that the sun began its return. In an effort to convert pagans, religious leaders adopted this festival and tried to make it seem “Christian.”

The pagan roots of Christmas have long been recognized. Because of its unscriptural origin, Christmas was banned in England and in some of the American colonies during the 17th century. Anyone who even stayed home from work on Christmas day had to pay a penalty. Soon, though, the old customs were back, and some new ones were added. Christmas once again became a big holiday, and that is what it still is in many lands. Because of the connections that Christmas has with false religion, however, those who want to please God do not celebrate it or any other holiday that has its roots in pagan worship.
Concerning the Christmas celebration as it is generally known all over the world, The Encyclopedia Americana says: "Most of the customs now associated with Christmas were not originally Christmas customs but rather were pre-Christian and non-Christian customs taken up by the Christian church. Saturnalia, a Roman feast celebrated in mid-December, provided the model for many of the merry-making customs of Christmas. From this celebration, for example, were derived the elaborate feasting, the giving of gifts, and the burning of candles."

Answer 2

Christmas is currently both a Christian Festival and a Non-religious festival; many people celebrate Christmas who are neither Christians nor even believers in any religion.

300 years ago Christmas in the UK was just a holy day- a day to go to church. No cards, few presents, no xmas trees as today. For the previous millennium the celebrations of mid winter- Pagan festivities of Yule, John Barleycorn and celebrations of Mithras' Birthday were conflated with the day off at Christmas time.

Answer 3

That is a more complex question than one might think. The source below is quite illuminating - states the festival started out as a pagan ritual (in Greece) to cleanse society of evil. Later the Christians cleansed the festival by linking it to the birth of Jesus. Jesus' actual birth date does not coincide. So actually the meaning of Christmas and the festival itself depend on the culture it is celebrated in. In many western countries it is all about the spirit of love and giving and depending on your beliefs - Jesus or Santa or both.

Answer 4

I'm atheist and I celebrate. Who doesn't love presents and a fat guy in a costume? I cant believe how ignorant some people are on here. As if religion runs every ones lives. Christmas to me is about getting together with friends and family and celebrating the year that was, giving gifts, and just being happy. You don't need religion for any of those things. Some people have nativity scenes up but they don't believe in Jesus. Its just a tradition that has been around for hundreds of years and then commercialized by Coca-Cola. :)

Answer 5

In the UK it was originally a pagan festival called yuletide to celebrate the winter equinox (shortest day of the year - which is today btw). Christmas and all the other pagan festivals (easter - ostara) were merged into the Cristian calendar. So I guess originally pagan, then with Christian overtones and now I think it's just an excuse to party in the cold, wet, dark months of the year.

Answer 6

Parts of it are - but not much.

Most pagan religions celebrated the winter solstice. Much of what we do at Christmas (greenery in the house, overeating) comes from central European animists. It wasn't until the Roman Emperor Constantine nationalised the church in the 4th century that Christianity got in on the act.

There is no record of when Jesus was born. The current best guess (based on the chronology in Luke) is early October. Nowhere does the bible mention a stable - that was St Francis in the 13th century.

Answer 7

The timing of the festival has been adapted from Pagan roots; the ritual of getting an evergreen tree to decorate derives from Pagan rituals to symbolise life, even in winter. Pagans, Wiccans etc. celebrate Yule, which occurs on 20th December (yesterday!)

Christmas as we know it today, has come to be a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ; however his birth would have actually occured in April rather than December, as shepherds would not have been herding sheep in December! So effectively, Christianity hijacked Paganism.

Answer 8

Christ Mass or Christmas is a Christian holiday.
It is the celebration of joy that Jesus was born, the Messiah, the Promised One. The One centuries before had been foretolded from the time of Adam and passed on to Noah, Isaiah, Abraham, Moses and other Jewish prophets.

The pagans had holidays around the same time for winter soltice but they never called it Christmas.

Answer 9

Yes, the Pagan celebration of Yule occurs on the Winter Solstice, not 25th December. The Christians decided Jesus had been born on 25th December to make the religion more acceptable to the masses (who were pagans of one form or another).

Answer 10

It is a Christian festival hence the word CHRISTmas, to celebrate the birth of Christ. The time of Jesus' birth was not 25th December, He was born in the spring time. The reasons Christians celebrate it at that time of year is because when the Romans came to convert the Pagans, they celebrated a sabbat called Yule on 21st December which is when their god is born.