Why do Christians believe that Easter and Christmas are about Jesus's birth and ressurection?

Question

History shows that these two holidays are actually Pagan times of solstice, so why do Christians not know this? This is not a question to slander Christianity, so please do not take offense when answering. I am not an Atheist. I am Muslim so I do believe in God just so that all of you know.

Answer 1

Because Christianity has a long tradition of paving over old ways or recoloring traditions that cannot be eradicated, like day of the dead turning into all hallows. Even Greek temples bear the cross because of crusades of one sort or another. Many Christians know this (really, did Jesus lay eggs or what?) but like to hang onto their traditions, since they are fun and can be painted Christian (see, light of the world, lights on a tree, this Tannenbaum is for Jesus, not bringing the sun back after the solstice). Others find this whitewashing or appropriating unseemly and like to deny it completely (how dare you suggest we would use pagan traditions for god). Others were simply not told these things and have a hard time really understanding it.

Answer 2

Real simple... the pope said it was so...

If you're really interested in all this stuff, do some reading in the Catholic Encyclopedia. It's long... I think 20+ volumes... but it's fascinating how much of Christian dogma and practice has evolved over the years.

Both Christmas and Easter were selected exactly BECAUSE they coincided with pagan celebrations. The branch of the Christian religion that became the Catholic church (out of which most other major denominations have come...) was looking to aggressively expand their influence. It was determined that finding "common ground" between christian and pagan practices would make the conversion process easier. So... they took historically pagan holy days and attached a Christian significance to the date.

The same is true for the whole emphasis on the virgin Mary by the Catholic church. Mary is not sanctified or called out in scripture. In actual fact, very little is said about her. So why is she such a huge central figure in Catholicism? Same reason... pagan religions were frequently centered around female deities. Earth was a mother, as were many of the leading pagan figures. Followers of these religions didn't connect to the male Christ-centric dogma of Christianity. So Mary was elevated in importance to create a central female role in the Christian faith, thereby providing a greater commonality with with people the church was trying to convert.

Answer 3

Thoughtful question.

As Christianity was taking over Pagan cultures, the question arose about how to deal with festivals that were deeply ingrained in the popular culture. The decision was made to keep the dates and some elements of the celebration but to change the meaning and significance.
From time to time some Christians have questioned the wisdom of this and have withdrawn from the general celebration of these festivals. Most of us, however, knowing little of the origins of the dates are busy celebrating the content of Christmas and Easter which is the birth and resurection from the dead of Jesus.

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Answer 4

Normally a Born Again Christian would never give importance to the Christmas day and Eater day.
Since these days are holidays, relatives will come together and we make joyful moments.
On Easter days we think of the Great Sacrifice our Lord has done for us and give thanks to that. That is the only reason we are.

Any one can easily understand that Dec 25 is not the birth day of Jesus Christ.

While the world celebrate Dec 25 with singing, dancing, partying or with any other entertainment like santa clause etc, we do only one thing; We thank God for the Love he has Shown to us.

Answer 5

While certainly true of Christmas, Christians adopted the solstice to use an ungodly holiday for a holy celebration.
But for Easter? Jesus' death and resurrection occurred on Passover weekend, the commemoration of the Jews departing their slavery in Egypt.

Answer 6

the solstice is a major point in all religions. It is well known that pope Julius the 1st decided the date of Christmas in the year 336 and Constantine decided in 325 on how to decide when Easter is. Easter isn't even on the same day every year. it was just easier to remember important dates by the lunar and solstice calender. That way everyone would know what day it was even without a calender.

Answer 7

Not to get into semantics, but thats what those 2 holidays ARE about. I think you mean they happen to fall around the same time as pagan or "pre-christian" holidays for winter solstace and for some sort of springtime fertility celebration, which is what I think too. The theory is that early Christians made the 2 holidays at those times to make it easier to win converts. I for one am GLAD that Christmas falls around the winter solstace,because at the coldest darkest part of the year, it cheers me up. I do believe the historians are correct though when they say Jesus was born in the summer and not December, because I've read alot about the life of Jesus and I say THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL that Jesus could be a Capricorn.

Answer 8

You are right, and the reason for this is because the Catholic church when they went into any area would take the pagan holidays or holy days or whatever give them a Christian name and make them part of the church so they could get converts to be catholic's. All for a dollar bill, it's all about money.

I am a Christian but what you say is very true.

Answer 9

Christ-Mas is the Anglican Celebration of the Birth of Christ, and Ester is the Celebration of the Resurection the Reincarnate Birth of Christ after he was Dead for Three Days as He Explained at the Time of his Eathly Death that he Would Rise upon that Third Day ater his Death---This is the Written Scripture in the Anglican Bible- Please contact any Anglican Rector/Pastor in Person for a More in depth Explanation. Just call any Church, Make an Appointment, All Ordained Preists are Delighte to Show anyone where they Learned this. Wonderful Question

Answer 10

Most Christians do know this. These holidays evolved over time to celebrate the birth and resurrection of Christ. It means little what the origins of the holidays were compared to what those holidays mean to Christians today.