2006-12-21 01:52:28 · 16 answers · asked by Harvard 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
Yes he is celebrated by all who wish to.
2006-12-21 01:54:43 · answer #1 · answered by Marge Simpson 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The idea of Christmas was taken from a Pagan celebration of the Solstice. Note I just say the idea.
Christians believe that Christ should be celebrated on this day, even though he was not born during the winter time. It was more in August. They gave it this day in December.
However, the whole idea of a tree, the "angel", which should be a star on the top, giving presents, and yule logs are all the idea of Pagans.
Now, before you go on a tirade saying that the Pagan/Wicca religion is evil, look it up. It is not evil, it is not the same as Satanism, or anything bad. It is the opposite. Pagans love nature, animals, and they do good. Not bad. They would put up a tree because of their love of nature, and decorate for the Gods/Goddesses, to show their thanks. The star on the top is a symbol of the five elements. Water, Earth, Fire, Air, and the Akasha. It is a symbol of protection when the star is in the circle, and if the star is just a star it is a symbol of friendship. The giving of gifts is also Pagan, they were giving gifts to their Gods/Goddesses.
You must also remember, that Christianity was founded after Paganism. So much of what people believed thousands of years ago was Pagan, and then changed as the years went on.
2006-12-21 02:10:41 · answer #2 · answered by Tifferkins 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For Christians we consider Christmas Jesus Christ's birthday, although Jesus wasn't born in december as far as we know. Christmas isn't a pagan holiday, many people celebrate it wether they are christians or not. It is a time to be with your family and friends. The presents are a perk but giving is also part of the season so giving presents is definitly counted in. Hope you get some good answers.
2006-12-21 02:03:07 · answer #3 · answered by Kid Jt 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeshua (Jesus) was not born in December. If we examine the Biblical feasts, we can determine that He was born sometime in September during the feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles).
Jesus was conceived six months after John the Baptist, From the 15th day of the 1st month, Nisan (John the Baptist), we go to the 15th day of the 7th month, Tishri (Christ). We find on that date the festival of Tabernacles. The 15th day of Tishri begins the third and last festival of the year to which all the men of Israel were to gather in Jerusalem for Temple services. (Lev 23:34)
In 274 A.D., Roman emperor Aurelian (214-275 A.D.) made the pagan cult Sol Invictus the official religion of Rome, building temples and establishing December 25 as the birthday of the Sun Some 60 years later, the Roman Catholic church officially declared December 25 to be Christ's’ birthday. The "Church" merely adopted the same date to compete.
Colliers Encyclopedia and Encyclopaedia Britannica plainly reveal that the source of the celebration of December 25 is the birthday of Mithra, the pagan sun god.
This is not a "popular" answer to this age old question, as indicated by the low approval rates, however, truth be told, the "truth" hardly ever is.
The truth is available if you search for it. One thing for sure though, dont worry about what other people think or say, or go by others opinions... find out for yourself! :)
2006-12-21 06:40:37 · answer #4 · answered by Betty J 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
December 24 was a pagan rite since a lot of time before Jesus birthday. And I think that this feast was an evolution from a lot of different cultures, as being the longest night or something.
I think that during the 4th or 5th century, the catholic church tried to erradicate this pagan rite, but it didn't work out.
They tried to see if they could come up with the actual day of Jesus birth, but couldn't, and they had this pagan rite they wanted to get rid off, the said that Christ was born on Dec 24th, and changed some rites. Also, the halo from Christ head and several saints, was to replace the sun god... pretty weird.
2006-12-21 01:57:50 · answer #5 · answered by Roberto 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's highly doubtful that shepards would be out in the fields at the end of December watching their flocks. Many of the "beloved" symbols of modern Christmas are pagan symbols including the Christmas tree and mistletoe. The Roman Catholic church couldn't stamp out the celebration of the Winter Solstice so they put their own spin on it with Christmas.
2006-12-23 01:31:58 · answer #6 · answered by Thunderman9 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many Holidays were moved on the calender to Pagan festivals to integrate pagans into Christianity more smoothly. That is why we have adapted pagan traditions into our modern holidays. Christmas was nearly not popularised in America because of it, but the government decided the people needed holidays and they promoted that holiday here. That is the short version, I watched it on the history Channel.
2006-12-21 02:06:19 · answer #7 · answered by bumppo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it is NOT His birthdate...and read Jeremiah 10:2-6 in the Bible to see what it says about the christmas tree. It's actually nothing more than a pagan holiday.
2006-12-21 02:04:35 · answer #8 · answered by TexasRose 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christian took over this holiday from the pagans who used to celebrate the winter solstice. After Paganism was painted as a devil religion by christianity.
2006-12-21 02:01:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas is a pagan celebration..no where in the Bible does it say that Jesus or His apostles or the church after he died celebrated it ...in fact it is not really His birthday anyways.
2006-12-21 01:58:17 · answer #10 · answered by galatan2 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Something I heard but don't know for sure. Theologens believe Jesus was born on the autal equinox. and crucified onthe vernal equinox that would be October And March. My spelling is horrible this morning so please forgive me. I think Christians chose December because of the Jewish holiday the celebrations of lights and chose Easter because the Jewish holiday Passover.It's only pagan if you choose to see it that way.
2006-12-21 02:09:34 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋