Have you ever noticed that even though Jesus was a Jew, christian holidays all fall on Pagan holidays?

Question

Of all the days that could have been chosen for christmas and easter, christians picked two Pagan holidays to celebrate these things. At the same time, they never even thought about celebrating Jewish holy days. How can you follow a Jewish "savior" by neglecting to observe the same holy days he would have observed, but instead taking up holidays of the religions Jews were warned against by their god?

Here's some info on Jewish Holy Days: http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday0.htm

Did you even know these existed? You can't say it isn't important, because if your god chose for his son to be a Jew, and he gave the Jews those holy days, then he must have thought it was pretty important.

Can anyone tell me why christianity would take a Pagan holiday and make it holy, but act as if the Jewish holy days aren't even worthy of being acknowledged?

Answer 1

All "Christian" holidays are Pagan holidays.

Originally, the Christians did not believe in holidays for religion. You had the sabbath. All other days were to work for God and yourself.

Pagan celebrations were co-opted in order to assist in the conversion of Europe from Paganism to Christianity.

Of course, when that didn't work, we got the Spanish Inquisition, the Malleus Malificarum, and the Holy Roman Empire, but the holidays stuck, because even Christians enjoy a good party.

Answer 2

Number one God didn't choose for his son to be a Jew. God chose the Jews as his chosen people, and sent his son to the Jews as a savior. So, the important thing is that God chose the Jews out of all other nations. Jesus already was the son of God way before God chose the Jews. So it isn't like Jesus was in heaven as a Jew, he was in heaven as the Son of God.

As for the so-called Christian holidays, they are exactly that, holidays, not holy days. God didn't ordain them, none of the disciples observed them, there is no mention of Christmas or Easter in the bible. They are man made holidays, and as such are not worthy of mentioning, and I am a Christian.

As for why true Christians don't honor the Jewish holy days, is because we are not Jews, we are Christians. The bible tells us we can honor them or not as we feel, but it is not a requirement.

Answer 3

Christians wanted their own days for celebration but the government of the time told them no that they could observe their holidays on the pagan holidays that people were already taking off.

Answer 4

That has to do with the Catholic Church. They incorporated pagan holidays to get more people to join the Church. It started back in Rome...

Yes, I do know about the Jewish holidays, my Church practices them too... :o)

Even though the winter solstice falls on the 21st or 22nd, I celebrate Christmas as Jesus' birthday.

Although Easter has bunnies and eggs (fertility) I celebrate the resurrection of my Lord, Jesus Christ.

Hope that helps...

Answer 5

The early Christians borrowed these holidays and symbols to more easily convert Pagans.

Christianity has Pagan DNA!

Answer 6

But remember that what Christians now call The Last Supper, was the Jewish festival Passover, and that's what Jesus experienced it as. That's why Easter happens around the same time as Passover.

Answer 7

Jesus was a Jew.
I am not. The only thing Jesus asked his followers to do was part take in the Eucharist.


But to add like the above poster stated, that It made it easier to convert pagans. But before that, early Christians were being persecuted. So it is written that often they would celebrate Jesus' birth and death around the same times as the Pagans in the same fashion to be discrete about their worship.

Answer 8

This is well documented in history books. Christian holidays were often observed to coincide with Pagan holidays. It made it easier to convert Pagans to Christianity. This is why Easter occurs so close to the vernal equinox; this is also why Christmas occurs so close to the Roman holiday Saturnalia.

Answer 9

you know it is sad for Christians when Atheists and others are more knowledgable about the things they follow than they are. You are almost correct.
Everyone is quick to call those holidays "Jewish" and this causes christians to seperate themselves from them, all the while justifying their observance of pagan holidays, ignorantly following after the same traditins and practices used by the pagans.

Sabbath is not a Jewish holiday- Sabbath was instituted at the time of creation, before the nation of Isreal was called out and formed. All of the feasts God gave to the children of Israel were not "jewish" feasts but pictures of the coming Messiah - a way for God's people to look forward to the cross as we look back to it. The laws and feasts were never given for the salvation of Israel but as a means to look forward to and recognize the source of that salvation.
When the Israelites escaped Egypt, they were a saved people- when the Egyptians left with them, they were no longer Egyptians, those that followed after the Israelites left their false idols, left their own traditions and ways behind and became part of the nation of Israel- they did not try to conform God into their own images but they were transformed and no longer hte same. We were gentiles but are no longer to be gentiles, we are not to worship God in their way but we are to drop our pagan traditions and false idols and worship God in the Biblical way- observing hte feasts and traditions instituted by God. THese feasts were not specifically for and nor were they instituted by the Jews, it is just that the Jews, even not realizing that it is Yeshua that is the Messiah, take Gods commands and instruction more seriously than Christians and do not leave things to their own interpretation (for the most part)
Jewish people that accept Jesus as the Messiah continue to observe the feasts they always have, they are just more meaningful because they can see and celebrate Jesus in them- they do not adopt pagan practices and make excuse for them.

Answer 10

We pagans know how to have fun. ;-)

Seriously, the meanings behind the pagan holidays, such as hope, life, togetherness, and community, are universal human concepts that don't belong to only one religion. I'm happy to share.

Plus it makes celebrating these more socially acceptable, and I can get away with my enthusiasm.