1. Christmas Tree
2. Popcorn on a string
3. Mistletoe
4. Giving presents to children, which makes them greedy at the same day of the year for each year.
5. Stockings
6. "Stocking Stuffers"
7. Santa Claus
8. His Reindeer
9. Wreaths and Garland.
10. Anything else im forgetting?
Also, im atheist, yet if i am correct, Jesus was born in a manger, in a stable, with no pine trees for at least a thousadn mile, and i do not think popcorn was invented, and i know Santa is a saint, but i dont know which, and where the hell did trees, stocking, stuffers, mistletoe come in withing the past 2000 years?!?!?
2007-11-28 02:45:18 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
-.- unfortunately your right Arthur, and me griping about Christmas is not making it different.
2007-11-28 02:49:42 · update #1
Santa Claus was originally in the fairy or elf family. He later became "Saint Nick." But still originally pagan. The popcorn I have no idea about but I will certainly look it up cause now you have me curious. The mistletoe is a pagan ritual for Yule -- originally symbolic of health and fertility (for the crops and animals). The Reindeer are a pagan symbol -- I believe they stand for the Stag symbol of Yule. The Yule Log (which you didn't mention) is also a pagan symbol/ritual. Pagans burned a Yule log to help bring back the Sun. The wreaths, garland, etc., go along with the tree which is also a pagan symbol. They were and are all used symbolically for Yule. The evergreen trees, and the garland and wreaths from evergreen, were considered symbols of the essence of life because they didn't die in winter as everything else did. However, one major difference, they weren't cut down and brought into the house. They were left standing and thus living where they grew. Gifts at Yule time used to only be placed in the stockings children laid out -- the major gift buying came later as a marketing tool for businesses and merchants.
Basically with the exception of the birth of Jesus (which even religious scholars say couldn't have happened at that time of year) and the accompanying church masses and sermons to attend, Christmas is entirely based on the customs of Yule.
2007-11-28 02:58:21 · answer #1 · answered by Goddess 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
1.AKA Evergreens - just like CHrist love for us - it does not fade or fall off with the seasons
2. what people could afford at the time and also became food for the birds - creations of God
3. plant life
4. in honour of Christs birth - like the wise men offering gifts. it's the parents who make the children greedy - not the gifts or sentiment
5. i wear them daily however i call them pantyhose and definitely would wear them on Christmas
6. those would be my legs - need them to get around at Christmas
7. originally started out as an advertisement for coca cola - an adaptation of St Nicholas
8. how else would someone get around the north pole
9. they smell greay
10. yes - the celebration of the Birth of my Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ. this day is when we honour His Glorious Birth!! THAT is the reason Christians celebrate this holiday.
2007-11-28 11:17:29 · answer #2 · answered by Marysia 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You did forget something in your list, a feeling of Joy, happiness, kindness, gentleness, children laughing and playing with their new toys, the celebrations of family's getting together, and yes some of us Christians still remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas, the kids do a short play at Church, and it warms our hearts, Yes, Jesus was born in a manger and under very humble beginnings, but His birth's significance is still being felt today. Glory to God!!!!!!!!!!
2007-11-28 13:36:25 · answer #3 · answered by victor 7707 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The chirstmas tree is an evergreen which is everlasting which is what God is. As far as the others go, couldn't tell you off hand sorry. I am not a big fan of the christmas that retail stores have made it too be this time of year kind of stinks.
2007-11-28 10:50:28 · answer #4 · answered by averagegolfer3 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's all just marketing ploys to get you buy stuff you really don't need. Christmas has become so commercialized that it really has nothing to do with religion anymore. It's just a time to take out your wallet and buy stuff for people.
2007-11-28 10:49:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Hey man, if there were handing out gold and myrrh I'd be down with them claiming the holiday as theirs!
(Until then, lets all just agree to share and feel good about life in general...)
2007-11-28 10:49:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Everything you mentioned are traditions adopted from other belief systems, by the church, because they were widely accepted by the general populace at the time...and adopting those traditions would make it easier to convert nonbelievers to christianity.
2007-11-28 10:49:27 · answer #7 · answered by Adam G 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Two words. Who cares? Christmas has become commercialized. What's NEW?!
2007-11-28 10:48:26 · answer #8 · answered by Arthurpod 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You may well ask what christ has to do with christmas as well seeing as his birthday was months before.
2007-11-28 10:53:51 · answer #9 · answered by Cotton Wool Ninja 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
you are right..nothing but it is extremely hard to put up a manger in my living room..Merry Christmas
2007-11-28 10:52:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋