question about christmas....?

Question

I heard that christmas was a peagon holiday and the christians took it as there own. Is that true?

Answer 1

Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday that marks the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Christmas combines the celebration of Jesus' birth with various other traditions and customs, many of which were influenced by ancient winter festivals. Christmas traditions include the display of Nativity scenes and Christmas trees, the exchange of gifts and cards, and the arrival of Father Christmas (Santa Claus) on Christmas Eve. Popular Christmas themes include the promotion of goodwill, giving, compassion, and quality family time.

Christmas Day falls on December 25. It is preceded by Christmas Eve on December 24, and in some countries is followed by Boxing Day on December 26. Some Eastern Orthodox Churches (olt rite or old style Orthodox) celebrate Christmas on January 7, which corresponds to December 25 on the Julian calendar. December 25 as a birthdate for Jesus is merely traditional, and is not widely considered to be his actual date of birth.[1]

winter festival was traditionally the most popular festival of the year in many cultures, in part because there was less agricultural work to be done during the winter. From a Christian perspective, Easter was the most significant feast in the church calendar.[5] Christmas was considered less significant, and the early church opposed the celebration of birthdays of church members.[6]It is unknown exactly when or why December 25 became associated with Jesus' birth. The New Testament does not give a specific date.[12] Sextus Julius Africanus popularized the idea that Jesus was born on December 25 in his Chronographiai, a reference book for Christians written in AD 221.[12] This date is nine months after the traditional date of the Incarnation (March 25), now celebrated as the Feast of the Annunciation.[16] March 25 was also considered to be the date of the vernal equinox and therefore the creation of Adam.[16] Early Christians believed March 25 was also the date Jesus was crucified.[16] The Christian idea that Jesus was conceived on the same date that he died on the cross is consistent with a Jewish belief that a prophet lived an integral number of years.[16]

The identification of the birthdate of Jesus did not at first inspire feasting or celebration. Tertullian does not mention it as a major feast day in the Church of Roman Africa. In 245, the theologian Origen denounced the idea of celebrating Jesus' birthday "as if he were a king pharaoh." He contended that only sinners, not saints, celebrated their birthdays.[6]

The earliest reference to the celebration of Christmas is in the Calendar of Filocalus, an illuminated manuscript compiled in Rome in 354.[2][17] In the east, meanwhile, Christians celebrated the birth of Jesus as part of Epiphany (January 6), although this festival focused on the baptism of Jesus.[18]

Christmas was promoted in the east as part of the revival of Catholicism following the death of the pro-Arian Emperor Valens at the Battle of Adrianople in 378. The feast was introduced to Constantinople in 379, to Antioch in about 380, and to Alexandria in about 430. Christmas was especially controversial in 4th century Constantinople, being the "fortress of Arianism," as Edward Gibbon described it. The feast disappeared after Gregory of Nazianzus resigned as bishop in 381, although it was reintroduced by John Chrysostom in about 400.[2]


Middle Ages

Adoration of the Magi by Don Lorenzo Monaco (1422).In the Early Middle Ages, Christmas Day was overshadowed by Epiphany, which in the

Answer 2

The timing and many of the customs were, indeed taken from the Druids (aka Pagans) . It is celebrated near Yule which is a major Pagan holiday for the winter solstice. The decorating of trees, Yule log, holly,misletoe, even many of the common Christmas dinner items are deeply rooted in the "Old Ways."
The actual timing of the birth of Christ is up to debate, but most common consenses indicate some time in April.
If my history is correct, then it was Pope Gregory that rearranged the calendar in an effort to convert the Druids to Christianity.
There are many stories of bloodshed by the early church in efforts to convert by the sword (a practice still used by the Muslims) and even the cannonization of many of the old Gods.
As a pagan, I can attest that in northern Europe, there wasn't a concept of the "Devil" until the church invaded and tried to convert the native peoples there. Many of the practices were the same throughout much of Europe by peoples who had never interacted w/ each other.

Answer 3

a million. Is it going to be a white christmas? unsure what that 2. What do you like for christmas? jewelery, makeup, outfits, shoes.. ect.. atleast that's what i think of i'm getting. 3. What are you getting for christmas? i think of i'm getting what I mentioned above. 4. What are your traditions? each and every Christmas Eve, my grandpa has all the toddlers embody him as he reads twas the night previously christmas. 5. What do you do on christmas eve and yule day? Christmas Eve is at my grandparents and that i open some provides from all the kinfolk. I come homestead and that i'm getting a pre-christmas day present- (pajamas lol) and yule day is at my homestead and that i spend it with my mom, dad, and brother. I awaken.. open stocking.. and then I open the vast present that I have been given! As does my brother. 6. What do you like maximum approximately christmas? Oh.. gosh.. this is stressful.. properly i admire the lights furniture, the interior decorations, the music, and lots plenty extra.. yet maximum of all.. i admire the ambience and how it makes me experience.. the combination of each and every thing merely makes me cheery. I even have considered sooo many christmas video clips.. that exhilaration that christmas is linked with rubs off on me.. 7. What are your regularly occurring songs and carols? My famous christmas album is the single by potential of Justin Bieber lol 8. Are you excited approximately christmas? Are you kidding?!? of direction i'm!! i'm counting the days!! ("

Answer 4

To make Christianity more palatable for the pagans, many of their pagan holidays were changed into Christian holidays. For more on Christmas, specifically, check out here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

Answer 5

the name of the holiday is CHRIST-mas... as in the Mass of Christ... or celebration. it may have been that there was a pagan holiday around the same time but that is not why we celebrate it in December. Religious figures feel that this was more or less around the time He was born. Even if they chose this date because of a pagan holiday... the birth of Christ would have been celebrated regardless. Christ is the reason for the season... as they say.

Answer 6

As far as I know it is to recognise the birth of Jesus but I am a christian so what do I know.

Answer 7

no its not, by the way it kinda late for christmas questions lol

Answer 8

well christmas is a celebration af the day that christ was born.

Answer 9

true