2007-12-04 08:45:48 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Nothing
2007-12-04 08:48:29 · answer #1 · answered by Aletheia 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I knew that December 25th was celebrated by many cultures before JC and most of the traditions are pagan. I thought the gift-giving thing was based on the maji part of the Xmas story and Santa was named after St. Nicholas. But, someone said it was a custom from Saturnalia. I'm not sure-guess I'll go see...
I just 'Googled' it. Exchanging presents started back in ancient times and a few rulers tried to make it a big deal. But for some reason it didn't catch on until the Victorian era. The article I read said the Santa myth didn't start until the early 1900's but it didn't say much about it. I remember seeing a History chanel show about the history of Xmas but I don't remember what it said about Santa but I'm pretty sure they mentioned it.
2007-12-04 09:05:15 · answer #2 · answered by strpenta 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Santa is based off of a real person we all know as st. Nicholas. He lived in the third century in the village of Patara. At one point he overheard a young woman crying because she wanted to marry the man she loved, but her family was incredibly poor and didn't have enough money for a dowry. Nicholas had pity on her and decided to help her. Her family hung their stocking in front of the fireplace to dry as all families did a the time. Nicholas sneaked into their house and placed some money for her in the stockings. He often did things like this and gained a reputation for leaving presents for people anonymously, especially around Christmas, and was considered a saint. That has evolved into the Santa we know today. As for the 25th, that was originally a pagan holiday. Christians decided to celebrate the birth of Christ on that day to draw attention away from the pagan gods and practices and draw attention to Christ.
2007-12-04 09:00:39 · answer #3 · answered by vesper83 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As others have said: "Better yet, what does Christ have to do with the Yule season?"
Answer: Nothing.
To stay pagan free during the Christmas season avoid the following:
Decorations * a tree inside the house * candles lit all night (or lights) * exchanging gifts * mistletoe * toasting each other * feasting * gathering family together * burning a Yule log * celebrating a savior's birthday on the 25th
all of those things are pagan.
Added: sorry Rainbow - you are in error. Easter and such wasn't started by a "non-believer" to lure believers away from the holy holiday - they were started by pagans celebrating their pagan holidays LONG before they knew of the foreign religion Christianity.
2007-12-04 08:52:37 · answer #4 · answered by Aravah 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely nothing.
Christians stole the holiday Yule from the many forms of pagan worship in Ireland and present day U.K.
The winter solstice (usually referred to as Yule by many pagan and neo-pagan religions. Have you not noticed that Christmas has nothing do with Christ at all? People try to say that it was the day of his birth B.S. I'm sorry but no one can know when exactly Jesus was born because it was documented.
But either way Yule and Christmas is a time of rejoicing and being happy, not debating on why its on a specific date. For Christians the day is used to celebrate the birth of their savior. For Pagans its to celebrate the cycle of the year beginning again.
I hope this answer helps you out.
2007-12-04 08:58:07 · answer #5 · answered by Ashton 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Christ's birth was celebrated on Dec 25 by the early Christian church. Santa has evolved from Nicholas (St. Nick), who was a man who gave away gifts to poor families and children during the Christmas season.
2007-12-04 08:52:45 · answer #6 · answered by Jordan J 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Santa is the teaching of the world. As for the rest of this nonsense, if we choose to celebrate the birth of Christ on this day, what's it to atheists and others that would have you believe that we are wrong to do so?
The apostle Paul taught us not to let any man condemn us regarding the observance of holy days and feasts.
We, as Christians, observe CHRISTMAS as the time to give thanks to GOD for the birth of JESUS CHRIST. Does this offend some of you? GOOD !!
We have been celebrating CHRISTMAS in this country for many, many years, to honor CHRIST. So, your ridiculous re-naming of everything to do with CHRISTMAS means little-to-nothing to me.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL. FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY, IN THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOR, WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD.
2007-12-04 09:16:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Saint Nicholas was a protector of children from his love of the Christ Child. The church fathers chose December 25th to celebrate the birth of Jesus on earth to honor Him and also to incorporate the existing pagan rituals (why squash a beautiful celebration?). That the two are celebrated together makes it a doubly joyous occasion.
2007-12-04 08:54:53 · answer #8 · answered by Goethe's Ghostwriter 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Chippy is right Jesus has nothing to do w/ Dec. 25th the Winter Solstice. He wasn't even born then. It's time christians gave the Pagans back our holiday. Oh and Santa is also part of the Pagan culture. So if you are truly christian than Santa has no bussiness visiting you.
2007-12-04 08:51:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
What does christ have to do with Santa and Dec 25th
2007-12-04 08:48:37 · answer #10 · answered by darwinsfriend3 AM 7 · 7⤊ 2⤋
Absolutely nothing.
But you do know that Dec. 25th is just a day randomly picked for Christians to celebrate Christ's birth.
2007-12-04 08:48:34 · answer #11 · answered by daljack -a girl 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋