Is it true that XMAS has pagan (non Christian origins)?

Question

Many point to the use of the tree, etc., as being Pagan. Also the date of XMAS conincides with the winter solstice, a think to be a Pagan celebration.

Answer 1

yes

BIRTH:
The actual birthday of Jesus was forgotten by the early Christian movement. in those days, various groups celebrated his birth on JAN-6, APR-21 and MAY-1. By the 4th century, the church selected the approximate time of the winter solstice as the date to recognize Jesus' birth. They picked up this date from Pagan sources. As luck would have it, the autumn equinox might have been a more accurate choice.

The winter solstice occurs about DEC-21 each year. It is the day of the year when the night is longest and the daytime shortest. Using the crude instruments available, ancient astronomers were able to detect by DEC-25 of each year that the daytime had become noticeably longer. This date was chosen, and remains, the traditional date for followers of many different Pagan religions to celebrate the rebirth of the sun. Following the solstice, each succeeding day has slightly more sunlight than the previous day. It was seen as a promise that warmth would return once more to the earth. Numerous pre-Christian Pagan religions honored their gods' birth or rebirth on or about that day. Their deities were typically called: Son of Man, Light of the World, Sun of Righteousness, Bridegroom, and Savior. Some examples are:

Roman Pagan Religion: Attis was a son of the virgin Nana. His birth was celebrated on DEC-25. He was sacrificed as an adult in order to bring salvation to mankind. He died about MAR-25, after being crucified on a tree, and descended for three days into the underworld. On Sunday, he arose, as the solar deity for the new season. His followers tied an image of Attis to a tree on "Black Friday," and carried him in a procession to the temple. His body was symbolically eaten by his followers in the form of bread. Worship of Attis began in Rome circa 200 BCE.
Greek Pagan Religion: Dionysus is another savior-god whose birth was observed on DEC-25. He was worshipped throughout much of the Middle East as well. He had a center of worship in Jerusalem in the 1st century BCE. Some ancient coins have been found in Gaza with Dionysus on one side and JHWH (Jehovah) on the other. In later years, his flesh and blood were symbolically eaten in the form of bread and wine. He was viewed as the son of Zeus, the Father God.
Egyptian Pagan Religion: Osiris is a savior-god who had been worshipped as far back as Neolithic times. "He was called Lord of Lords, King of Kings, God of Gods...the Resurrection and the Life, the Good shepherd...the god who 'made men and women be born again'" 5 Three wise men announced his birth. His followers ate cakes of wheat which symbolized his body. Many sayings associated with Osiris were taken over into the Bible. This included: 23rd Psalm: an appeal to Osiris as the good Shepherd to lead believers through the valley of the shadow of death and to green pastures and still waters
Lord's Prayer: "O amen, who art in heaven..."
Many parables attributed to Jesus.

Worship of Osiris, and celebration of his DEC-25 birth, were established throughout the Roman Empire by the end of the 1st century BCE.

Persian Pagan Religion: Mithra was a Persian savior. Worship of Mithra became common throughout the Roman Empire, particularly among the Roman civil service and military. Mithraism was a competitor of Christianity until the 4th century. Their god was believed to have been born on DEC-25, circa 500 BCE. His birth was witnessed by shepherds and by gift-carrying Magi. This was celebrated as the "Dies Natalis Solic Invite," The "Birthday of the Unconquered Sun." Some followers believed that he was born of a virgin. During his life, he performed many miracles, cured many illnesses, and cast out devils. He celebrated a Last Supper with his 12 disciples. He ascended to heaven at the time of the spring equinox, about March 21.

The Babylonians celebrated their "Victory of the Sun-God" Festival on DEC-25. Saturnalia (the Festival of Saturn) was celebrated from DEC-17 to 23 in the Roman Empire. The Roman Emperor Aurelian blended Saturnalia with a number of birth celebrations of savior Gods from other religions, into a single holy day: DEC-25. After much argument, the developing Christian church adopted this date as the birthday of their savior, Jesus. The people of the Roman Empire were accustomed to celebrating the birth of a God on that day. So, it was easy for the church to divert people's attention to Jesus' birth.

TREE:

Some have traced the Christmas tree back at least as far as the Prophet Jeremiah who wrote the book Jeremiah in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). Opposition to the Christmas tree was strong in past centuries. The early Christian Church in the third century strictly prohibited the decoration of their houses with evergreen boughs. The decorated Christmas tree only caught on in the mid-19th century. Modern-day opposition continues: some condemn the Christmas tree because they believe it to be a Christian symbol; others condemn it because they believe -- incorrectly -- that the custom of cutting down a tree, erecting it in the home and decorating it is a Pagan custom. 1 For many people today, it is primarily as a secular symbol of hope for the New Year and the future return of warmth to the earth. Its future is assured in spite of opposition.

Answer 2

yes, a pagan holiday wherein Constantine later added the birth of Christ. Easter was also originally a pagan holiday: rabbits are for sex, eggs are for fertility. Also there is the story of Ishtar and Tammuz, and from Ishtar comes the name Easter. Their story has many similarities to that of Jesus and Mary as well.

"Of course, later Christians were terribly perturbed by these similarities to Pagan religions- these coincidences so disturbed one early Christian church father, Justin Martyr, that he accused the devil of sending an imitator of Christ in advance. Had he paid a little more attention to the past, he might have noted that the association of Jesus with Dionysus is not so strange-philosophers had been making connections between Jehovah and Dionysus for centuries." And this is something christians will still do, to this day!

EDIT:
READ Angie's post, I know it's long, her's is the first one on here, READ it... it's worth the read.

Answer 3

Nearly every tradition incorporated into Christmas is Pagan, yes. However, I don't think you'll get any Pagans agreeing that the reason for Christmas is Pagan. I know I certainly don't celebrate the birth of Christ as anything other than a secular time to give my Christian family member gifts!

So the traditions and time of year - pagan. The holiday itself - not pagan.

Happy Solstice!
)O(

Answer 4

There is not a day on the calander that has not or is not, used by some one as a day for something.... it is true that the day we have as Christmas was chosen to intice the heathens who celibrated at that time to take interest in The Christian Stuff... But that dose not mean that the origin of Christman is pagan.... any more than Easter is Jewish because it falls on a Jewish Day... but there is more of a claim for that point because we, Jews and Christians, worship The One Ture God.

Answer 5

Absolutely. The evergreen was first used centuries before the birth of Jesus. It was the only thing plant could live through the winter, and was brought into homes to represent the idea that spring would come again and bring with it life. And, yes, it was used in accordance with the winter solstice (Yule) celebration.

Answer 6

You got it, it's absolutely true. Christmas was originally a pagan solstice festival. As Christianity grew in popularity (and power) they hijacked the holiday as their own, adding the Christian elements and keeping some of the pagan traditions.

Answer 7

Many holidays do. Pagans were around way before christianity and the evergreens (including holly and mistletoe) were all part of pagan celebrations. Christmas was placed in December simply to overshadow these celebrations and many traditions were "borrowed".

Answer 8

Yes it is an original midwinter [solstice] fest. The christian church forbid the early Europeans to celebrate it, but could not stop them from doing so. Than the church decided that jesus was born on the same day and that should be celebrated. The motto was here if you cant beat them join them

Answer 9

I dont think so my friend, even the word Christmas is derived from Christ, the real meaning of this celebration is celebrate the nativity of Jesus Christ, now those things: the tree and the ornaments are just inventions to make the celebration more colorful, and yes, maybe the ornaments came from pagan religions, but the real meaning of Christmas dont.

Answer 10

Yes, Christmas has Pagan origins. All of the traditions, the meal, the gifts, the mistletoe, the yule log, Wassailing, etc... comes from Pagan origins.

Answer 11

Yes, that is the truth. The problem was how to accommodate the hordes of people who joined the early church not because of faith but because it became the state's religion when Constantine reigned. The date coincides with the biggest Roman orgy of the year, the Saturnalia, and it was modified to become our Xmas tradition. Whoa, not much has changed! People still drink and party the night away and forget about our Lord Jesus. Challenge God to reveal Himself so that you can truly believe in Him.