Why do humans celebrate christmas?

Question

What is true meaning (purpose) of christmas?

Answer 1

Many of our modern Christmas traditions began hundreds of years before Christ was born. Some of these traditions date back more than 4000 years. The addition of Christ to the celebration of the winter solstice did not occur until 300 years after Christ died and as late as 1800, some devout Christian sects, like the Puritans, forbade their members from celebrating Christmas because it was considered a pagan holiday. So what is the history behind these traditions?

The Christmas tree is derived from several solstice traditions. The Romans decked their halls with garlands of laurel and placed candles in live trees to decorate for the celebration of Saturnalia. In Scandinavia, they hung apples from evergreen trees at the winder solstice to remind themselves that spring and summer will come again. The evergreen tree was the special plant of their sun god, Baldor.

The practice of exchanging gifts at a winter celebration is also pre-Christian and is from the Roman Saturnalia. They would exchange good-luck gifts called Stenae (lucky fruits). They also would have a big feast just like we do today.

Mistletoe is from an ancient Druid custom at the winter solstice. Mistletoe was considered a divine plant and it symbolized love and peace. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is Druid in origin.

The Scandinavian solstice traditions had a lot of influences on our celebration besides the hanging of ornaments on evergreen trees. Their ancient festival was called Yuletide and celebrated the return of the sun. One of their traditions was the Yule log. The log was the center of the trunk of a tree that was dragged to a large fireplace where it was supposed to burn for twelve days. From this comes the twelve days of Christmas.

Even the date of Christmas, December 25, was borrowed from another religion. At the time Christmas was created in AD 320, Mithraism was very popular. The early Christian church had gotten tired of their futile efforts to stop people celebrating the solstice and the birthday of Mithras, the Persian sun god. Mithras’ birthday was December 25. So the pope at the time decided to make Jesus’ official birthday coincide with Mithras’ birthday. No one knows what time of year Jesus was actually born but there is evidence to suggest that it was in midsummer.

So, if you are celebrating any of the western traditions of Christmas this year, remember that you are actually enjoying the rituals and activities of several ancient religions whose traditions have been borrowed by the Christians over the years for the celebration of the birth of Christ.

Happy Holidays!

Answer 2

At Christmas Christians celebrate the coming into this world of Jesus - the only Son of God.
This is, I think, the true meaning of Christmas.

The date should probably have been September but the early church took over the winter festivals of the pagan world to direct their celebrations to the Light of God that had come into the world.

But we should not forget that the Babe in the manger would one day die on the Cross and then Rise again to save us from our sins.

In truly believing this we have the certainty of eternity with Jesus Christ in Heaven.

God created Humans in Own image.

Answer 3

Humans celebrate Christmas for many reasons. Christians celebrate it because it is the day that Jesus was born. Many others in America celebrate it just because. Christmas in my family means sharing love and gifts because that is what Jesus did throughout His ministry, culminating with the greatest gift of all - paying the penalty for all sin.

Answer 4

The same reason why we celebrate birthdays and anniversary. It is being glad that our friend, father, mother or relatives are born. And throwing a party for it, is a reminder of that joy and happiness we that such a person is born or such an event occured.

The same with Christmas, Christians celebrate because they are happy that Jesus was born.

Non-Christians who celebrate...well many reason... mainly I think is PRESENTS, a chance to party or just a good way to get together with friends and family to "catch up:"

Answer 5

Christmas well it was suppose to be the celebration of the birth of Christ (Jesus of Nazareth) so all Christians and who ever wants to join celebrate it---but many forgot that meaning and instead it turned in to a commercial holiday filled with food and material goods instead of the memory of the messiah coming to die for our sins---

Answer 6

Because non-humans and animals don't celebrate Christmas.

Answer 7

Humans are the only creatures who celebrate events because they are the only ones who are aware of anything other than their immediate needs and surroundings. They are the only creatures capable of abstract thought.
The true meaning of Christmas is to commemorate and celebrate the birth of Jesus who was "God with us"--God in human form on this earth. He was fully Man and fully God and came to die on the cross to reconcile us with God and forgive the sins of all those who accept Him as their Saviour. The point of Christmas is the Resurrection...a lot of babies were born in Israel, but only One died and rose again.

Answer 8

I am human and a Christian and I do not celebrate Christmas. I know of it's origin. It is Pagan, and God warns us of Pagan festivals, regardless what name we give it. Exodus 32:4-10. I follow God's word, and not the traditions of men.

Answer 9

The true purpose of Christmas candice is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ the son of God.

Answer 10

It is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Who saved us from our sins. Some people say it isn't on the day He was actually born, but I think the getting the day right is less important than the reason we celebrate it, which is to commemorate His birth on Earth.