I'm wondering how many people do traditions without knowing why they do them. Decorating trees was a pagan tradition, that when alot of the pagans became Christian they still keep alot of their traditions and tied it along with their new found religion. Example....Easter eggs, and bunnies...What does that have to do with Jesus's resurrection? This also is originated through the Pagan practise of worshiping the God of Fertility "Ester", which is why bunnies and eggs symbolizes this.
In the Bible Jeremiah 10:2-4: "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not." (KJV).
2006-12-23 06:24:49 · 19 answers · asked by Sakinah 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
Christmas is a pagan tradition, usurped from a winter solstice festival for Mithris and Saturn. Absolutely no evidence of any type to indicate jesus was born on December 25th.
2006-12-23 06:27:37 · answer #1 · answered by Dane 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I've never heard of this either. What couldbe happening is a combination of things... A.) Someone watched "A Nightmare Before Christmas" B.) Christians get the wrong impression of a lot of things and sometimes just make S#!^ up. C.) Ancient celtic/norse pagans had a fascination with the head... the head was the seat of the soul and so human heads and skulls held particular importance. The disembodied head of Bran (welsh deity) was said to remain alive for many years in a sacred cauldron... a pre-cursor to the holy grail. D.) Pre-Christian druids had a reverence for trees and may, indeed, have decorated evergreen at the solistice time. Combine all those things and you get very weird rumors. -Scarlet
2016-05-23 02:06:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definately a holdover from a usurped pagen festival. Definately Germanic in region and has nothing to do with christianity but then again neither does the December date. The wise men didn't even reach Jesus until he was 2 years old, Jesus was most likely born in june or july as that would have been a normal time for a census during that era. All in all, we have changed these things to suit the average people out there in the world and to not destroy the timing of festivals and gatherings that the poor struggling people of the world looked forward to all year. (all in all it was great politics by the christian church at the time so as not to chase off potential converts)
It is still a great time to gather with family and remember the miraculous birth of Christ, even if it is not a direct representation of historical events.
2006-12-23 06:54:24 · answer #3 · answered by Mr Meanie Pants 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that the Christmas Tree was a German Tradition, hence the song "Oh, Christmas Tree" was originally sang in German as "O Tannenbaum". I'm not sure what this has to do with the birth of Jesus, but I guess the fact that we put Nativity scenes under our trees has put a Christian twist on the tradition.
As for Easter eggs, we use eggs to symbolize new life, as chicks come from eggs(so they fact that we eat the eggs we decorate is quite ironic).
2006-12-23 06:32:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is based in winter festivals done in the past not based on religion. That time of year was bleak for all, so they would have a big fat party to lighten the mood.
The big fat party still happens, but it is in conjunction with Christmas.
And let me ask you...what is wrong with celebrating and having traditions passed down from the past? It does not represent Jesus to have a Christmas Tree, the tree just happens to signify the winter celebration.
2006-12-23 06:28:52 · answer #5 · answered by Barbara 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas trees began in Germany. In America, the German tradition continues because many Americans have a German heritage.
2006-12-23 06:32:19 · answer #6 · answered by Random Person 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible also says love thy neighbor, and judge not lest you be judged, so how about just enjoying the beautiful holiday season and not showing dislike or being judgmental? I have to say, I think Jesus would really dig my Christmas tree. It's not like I pray to it! Just looks pretty. So does the manger on my mantel. Chill out and enjoy, it's almost over and you're gonna miss it!
2006-12-23 06:40:37 · answer #7 · answered by MattEMatt 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the Romans started it Christmas started of as the time of year that Romans took 2 days of and did nothing but eat and decorate, and then years later Christians came along and turned it into the time to celebrate Jesus
2006-12-23 06:28:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no recorded use of trees being decorated for pagan purposes, the tree represents the linage of Christ who is refered to as the root of Jesse,and so the tree is also called the Jesse tree.
2006-12-23 06:28:34 · answer #9 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was not so much a "christian" thing. Have you ever read about where St. Nick came from....it is a tradition on giving. And the actual Holiday is about Christ. Just makes it fun and creative.
2006-12-23 06:27:24 · answer #10 · answered by ~Another Day~ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋