Question about Christmas?

Question

I have a question, and I want your honest answer.
This is a question more for christians because it is directed at that religion, but anyone can answer, and probably will.

How can Christmas be *about Jesus* when the following factors exist:

Jesus was not born any time close to December, especialy not December 25.
Almost all pagan god's WERE born on December 25 or close.
All the rituals or "traditions" you use to celebrate christmas, are pagan traditions.
Jesus never said to throw him a birthday party.
Things such as tabernacles were already in place and Jesus followed those, but never christmas.


Please explain.

Thank you.

For the record, for all those who care:
I am NOT a JW
I rather enjoy the whole 'christmas spirit' as a secular holiday as long as we leave my God out of it.

NIMROD and SATURNALIA and other God's were born that day.
Mithros too.
It's very very interesting.

If we take Jesus out of christmas, then christianity is less of a target of this mocking because it has less to be mocked about.
Putting Jesus into christmas was like saying "hey, doubt this religion"
Who would do that?
I honestly don't know, it COULD have been an accident.

Captain, I assumed you were joking, a few other people mentioned it so I thought I would say something. Nice answer by the way.

Everyone - I believe Jesus is DEITY.

I am however, the grinch.

Answer 1

jessky loves, welcome to the world of "it suits me, so i'll take advantage"

it suited the church to take dec 25 and call it "christs" birthday because they were trying to convert pagans, they figured as long as they kept their holidays they woudn't mind renaming their god....

Answer 2

Thank you for such a thought provoking question I hope my answer helps you to better understand.

As a Christian of course I could start by explaining that none of your "facts" have been proved.

However, since you asked I'll answer the actual question and assume that you really want to know and are not just trying to start an argument.

How can Christmas be *about Jesus* : the actual word means celebration of Christ.

The date - really does not matter to us. It's just a date that someone picked many years ago in remembrance of our King's birthdate. While it's true that the date would be important to pagans it isn't to Christians.

Traditions & rituals: Yes! You are correct many of our "traditions" were originally pagan traditions, (celebrating exactly what we do with the same things by the way). A Christams tree for example is a symbol of everlasting life - which is what Our Savior, Jesus Christ brought to us.

Most religions celebrate important events in their history and very certainly to we Christians the Virgin Birth of our Savior is one of those events!

You might also note that most conversions from one faith to another often include traditions and even sometimes rituals of the first religion. This is not just a "Christian" thing. Have you ever studied how close Christian, Jewish and Muslim beliefs are at times? It still amazes me that we have so many disagreements when we have such similar beliefs and practices!

I wish you peace.

Answer 3

I'm not entirely sure we are suppose to celebrate birthdays anyway. When did Jesus celebrate his own birthday or the birthdays of any of his disciples? The Bible never notates even one account of him doing this. Personally the only reason I celebrate his birth is because of what he did after he rose again after his death. Because he rose again everyone is able to be with God in Heaven. It's okay to celebrate the birth of your child but it depends on the context of why you are celebrating it. Are you celebrating it because you are thankful for what God has given you or are you celebrating it because you are being selfish and want to have it because you want the child? God is suppose to be first in everything you do including giving birth to a child.

December 25 may or may not have been his birthday, but does it really matter when it was? Consider your other question about Nimrod and the tower of Babel. His birthday was December 25. People, not God, set Jesus' birthday as December 25. Honestly, we are not suppose to celebrate his life only once a year anyway. Jesus is to be celebrated year-round. Jesus is not a one day a year Savior. He saved us throughout the whole year every year. It doesn't matter when Jesus was born. It doesn't matter when Jesus died. The why is much more important than the when. Knowing when he died does not change the fact that he died. Knowing when he was born does not change the fact that he was born. Who cares when he was born or when he died. The important thing is Jesus was born, Jesus died, and Jesus rose again. The what he did and the why he did it are the most important questions. The other things are not that important.

This same question can be posed about Easter. How do you know for certain that Jesus was resurrected in April? If Jesus was not born in December then he might not have died or was resurrected in April. But once again who cares when he died. The important fact is that he did die and what he died for. And then he rose again on "Easter". Who cares if Easter is suppose to be in April or not? It doesn't matter.

Answer 4

Speaking only for myself, okay?
1) Nobody knows Jesus' birthday, but why can't it be celebrated on Dec. 25? If I celebrated it on say, May 10, I have just as much possibility of being wrong.

2) Not all pagan gods were born on Dec. 25, or nearly all. The solstice, which is a few days before Christmas, is also the birthdate of a couple of sun gods, I believe. But that is solstice, not 25th.

3) Many pagan traditions were adapted, or stolen if you want to use that word, for Christmas. Yes, part of that was definitely to wean the pagan European populations away from the old faiths to the new faith of Christianity. No argument there. But if you study much sociology or anthropology, you'll find this process is not unique to the Christmas tradition. If you find any holiday in the world that hasn't adapted at least a few traditions from another holiday, let me know. Syncretism is a fact of life. Also, being of Scotch-Irish descent, when I bring in those pagan elements, I feel closer to my ancestors in a way I can't really explain. And it's not really correct to say that all traditions of Christmas go back to pagan traditions, but we don't need to go through each tradition, do we? Or, we can if you like.

4) No, Jesus never said to throw him a birthday party and I suspect he's right sickened to see some of what goes on in his name this time of year. But, the gospels say he loved to be with people at parties and dinners and have a good time. I like to also think of the good done in his name right now: even people who aren't charitable any other time of the year will loosen up a little and give to the poor at Christmas. Of course they should do it anyway, but the point is, if they need Christmas to encourage them, then so be it. I can't give up on Christmas as long as it encourages people to put aside old hurts and make up, show kindness, and just stop for a minute and think of somebody or something other than themselves. I think Jesus is pleased when people do that.

And just for the record, people celebrating a secular Christmas, or Yule, Hannukah, kwanzaa or anything else does not offend me. The more happiness in this old world, the better.

Happy holidays to you, however you celebrate them.

Answer 5

We celebrate Christmas on 25th because it is now an established holiday. We dont seriously believe that he was born at the end of December. For a start, those poor sheep would have frozen. And who takes census at the end of the year? Christmas was put there to stamp out the Pagan festivals. Why should we abandon it now?

You dont like Christmas, do you? Are you the Grinch or a JW?

The fact of the matter is:Christmas is one of the few times of the year when people are in a better mood. Goodwill is prevailant and those with a faith also use that time to celebrate the fact that Jesus was born.

Edit: I was joking about the Grinch/JW thing!! I'm just saying that I use any opportunity to praise my Lord. I do it on a normal day so why not when the majority of people around me are singing songs about "Joy to the World, the Lord is Come?"

Answer 6

From the DVD 'The Bethlehem Star', the date December 25, 3BC. (Wasn't called that date back then. They had a different calender.)

In Matthew the star moved & the Magi followed, then stopped on December 25. King Jesus was then found in a house. This was after He was born in a Manger. The whole thing is a mystery. So? This was the first Christmas, when the Magi (we guess to be scientific Jewish (tribe of Dan) astronomers who stayed in Babylon (East). Why else would they want to Worship the King of Israel? Not Jesus birthday.

June is believed to be Jesus birthday, & then before that September is the Conception. All 3 events are recorded in the stars. When we use the lates scientific technology. Because stars are very regular. God knows where all the stars are & none are lost. (In our understanding, these are the months these happened, but they didn't use this calendar terminology.)

So? My Guess is that Jesus birthday was June4BC. But I didn't get the right date. Because the scientific study was difficult for me to grasp. http://www.bethlehemstar.net

If you listen to Kim Clement's prophetic Word on this Christmas, Jesus is blessing us this Christmas special. http://www.kimclement.com

Pagans had traditions also. Nothing wrong with Pagan traditions unless we are a Christians who worships the Lord. So? Then I won't worship Pagan traditions or Pagan gods. I will celebrate the Biblical Gods Holy Days as much as I want to. Many of the traditions are just an alternative to remember God on Gods Holidays. So? We now have the choice to remember God on Holidays or do the pagan traditions. I am not under the law of sin & death, I am under grace. If God says I can participate in Christmas, I can. No religious somebody can convince me that this is a sin worthy of hell to celebrate Christmas.

And how do you know if Jesus' mom never threw Him a birthday party. Most parents do (usually the moms), don't they?

Also, as far as I know from the DVD, Saturn wasn't a part of the star signs at Jesus Conception, Birth & the Magi giving the King Jesus Gifts.
1. The Conception was a sign in the heavens & recorded in Revelation, The Woman had the moon under feet & had 12 stars (this was the virgo constelati0n (virgin)). This was an astonomical event in September at Jesus Conception.
2. Then the birth was during the day, But there was the brightest star, The King Planet Jupitar & Venus (woman) that sat right on top of each other (This was the brightest star ever). (I may be off a little on this info.)
3. But then King Jupiter moved (appeared to move) past King Star Regularus, then stopped (Dec.25,3BC) returned past Star, then stopped & returned past regularus again. Forming a Halo / Crown. So? King was written in the stars. Plus this was around the constelation leo the lion (Lion of Judah).

This is possible to study only because of our recent technology to study stars with, in times past.


Also regarding the wannabe gods born on Dec.25. These come from the devil who knows the Real Gods messages in the stars. And the Devil has his copy cats / identity thieves of all Gods Names. Examples. 'Sons of God'. 1/3 of the angels left their Celestial habitation & messed with human women & they had 'supermen'. (Genesis 6) The difference is the real, only begotten Son of God was born from a virgin out of Israel. God showed the world who God Is through His People Israel. The Savior & the (Seed of the Woman, Born of a virgin) would be born out of Israel. God picked Father Abraham, Jacob & Israel. And also when God delivered Israel out of Egyptian bondage, The LORD God showed that He was a much Mightier God than the Egyption wannabe gods. There are the devil copycats througout all history. This is what I am trying to explain. Just to prevent us from being restored to God through Gods Salvation plan (our sins have separated us from God, so need to be restored).

Answer 7

The original pagan celebration was that of the Winter Solstice (the first day of winter) somewhere between December 22-25, depending on the year.
The Catholic Church sought to quell the celebration (because it was "pagan") for several centuries, but to little avail. Then some Cardinal or Bishop had the bright idea of claiming the date as Jesus' birthday, thus turning the pagan celebration into a religious (Christian) one.
Problem solved.

Answer 8

There is no explanation save the historical fact the church fathers chose this date purposely to join the existing traditions with a real reason to celebrate. It is perfectly acceptable to me as a Christian to share the holiday with the Holy Day; to embrace friends and family & remember as well the birth of the Son of G-d.
When you speak of the Birth of pagan gods, you reveal little except the fact that myths persisted in time before writing and before the birth of Jesus, a real man and the real Son of G-d.

Saint Nicholas was a disciple of Christ. His actions were directly related to the fact he was a follower of Jesus (hence: No Jesus, no Santa).
Who says the Church (and Jesus - remember the wedding feast?) doesn't know how to party?

Answer 9

Um, not "most gods" weren't born in December. A handful were.
But I get your point. I think it doesn't matter personally, and I'm pagan. The CONTEXT of Christmas is purely Christian. No one else is celebrating the birth of Jesus. We are all aware of why the borrowed the date and the tradtions. But besides that, does it make a difference? It's fun! Its the one time of the year that the human race at least ATTEMPTS to be better people.

Answer 10

The catholic church decided to change a pagan hoilday to a christian holiday back in the day. They thought the people would not rebel if they did'nt take away the day for celebration. They assumed Christ was born in september and concieved in dec. So the church used the 25th dec.as the day to celebrate,replacing the pagan holiday.

Answer 11

Because the tradition of man. Christmas is not a christain hoilday but christain don't know that. Jeremiah 10:1-6