Although this question is primarily intended for Christian (all denominations) others are invited to comment, however, please focus on the two holidays in question.
Christmas was the day in which God became flesh to dwell among men, share our experiences and show us the way.
Easter was the day that our Lord emerged triumphantly from the dark domain of death having forever paid the debt of sin for all mankind.
2007-11-24 02:42:08 · 9 answers · asked by sparc77 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It is true that Christmas was designated near the pagan holidays near the Winter Solstice for convenience since the exact date of Christ's birth was unknown at the time. It was far more efficient to arrange the holiday so that everyone could celebrate together rather than at different times of the year.
Easter, however is based on the Jewish calender and occurs on the first Sunday (which is NOT the Sabbath btw) following Passover. This has no connection with paganism beyond simple coincidence. The confusion that Easter is based on a pagan holiday comes from the imagery of the easter bunny and egg hunts, which are traditional activities based on pagan beliefs. Just because two events occur at the same time does not mean that they are related. My brother was born on Sept 11. That does not mean he was involved in the attack on the World Trade Center.
2007-11-24 03:02:01 · update #1
I'm amused that so many people seem to think that Easter and Christmas are "plagiarized" or "stolen" holidays.
As we know, the actual date for the birth of Christ was approximately 4BC around early September. We know this because of recovered records from the Roman Empire which coincide to Joseph's travel to Bethlehem to be taxed as is stated in the Bible.
Those records were not available when Christmas was declared to in December. The reason Christmas was put in December was because so many others were celebrating other holidays at the same time that it only made sense to put it there for efficiency. There is no argument that many Christmas traditions (Decorating trees, Yuletide, Mistletoe, etc) are pagan traditions that were adopted because the two holidays occurred roughly about the same time.
But let us be clear that the birth of Christ was not a pagan event.
btw, Bubba Jo....nice avatar
2007-11-24 03:47:35 · update #2
The idea that just because two events occur around the same time must mean that one was stolen from the other or that they are in some way related is a fallacy at best, and pure stupidity at worst.
Next time I go to the hardware store for 14-2 electrical wire and a circuit breaker (I'm an electrician), and my wife calls and asks me to pick up a new toilets seat, I'm sure that the cashier will draw the conclusion that I am up to no good.
See? Christians do have a sense of humor.
2007-11-24 03:55:26 · update #3
Hmmm. No one has actually answered the question. There seems to be a lot of tap dancing and unnecessary commentary (bordering on rhetoric), but on one seems to be willing to go out on a limb and simply answer the question.
2007-11-24 16:04:09 · update #4
Both are special and I treat them with equal respect and reverence! Though I do celebrate the Wicca/Pagan version, rather than the Christian.
2007-11-24 02:49:34 · answer #1 · answered by Rev. Kaldea 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Christmas is great . It's the Pagan Return of Light celebration . The days begin getting longer . Wonderful .
Easter is a beautiful holiday , the Pagan Rebirth . They celebrated it with eggs , baby bunnies , chicks , flowers , dancing , partying . Too bad the Christians had to steal the holiday , and invent a "rebirth " ( coming back to life ) of their hero .
2007-11-24 02:55:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Those are 2 of the four Cross Quarters, the solstices and equinoxes, that comprise the 4 lesser of the 8 Pagan sabbats.
So they are equally sacred to me, though not quite as much as Samhain (Halloween), Imbolc, aka Candlemas (Feb 2), Beltane (May 1) or Lughnasadh (August 1). Those are the High Holy days.
2007-11-24 02:49:32 · answer #3 · answered by Morgaine 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Neither. They both are pagan holidays from before Christ.
Just do a search on the origins. Catholics just mixed Christianity with paganism
2007-11-24 02:51:45 · answer #4 · answered by stvn967 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think holidays have become so commercialized that they are not holy anymore. There is no proof that Christ was born on December 25th. Jesus did not owe any debts for mankind's sin! He came to do away with the law of sacrifice. Yet, Christians continually tries to make Jesus a sacrifice for their own evil sins. This is a crude and debased way in which to view Jesus. Jesus came to live here on earth as a human to fulfill his final bestowal to become our Sovereign God within this super-universe. His spirit is poured out upon us and he has sent the Holy Spirit as our Comforter. He didn't have to die on the cross to accomplish this.
2007-11-24 03:01:30 · answer #5 · answered by Soul Shaper 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
hmmmm, the rebirth of the SUN or the worship of the GODDESS..... i would have to say the solstice holiday cause im particular to the Right Logic, but the Left Intuition has its place too
2007-11-24 02:50:02 · answer #6 · answered by nacsez 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Both days were originally pagan. How can anything plagiarized be 'holy'?
2007-11-24 02:50:53 · answer #7 · answered by American Spirit 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Neither are holy. But if I had to pick it would be Easter because it always comes on the Sabbath, a holy day.
2007-11-24 02:46:15 · answer #8 · answered by Fish <>< 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
NEITHER BECAUSE I AM JEWISH
2007-11-24 03:50:48 · answer #9 · answered by mindy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋