2007-12-10 16:37:53 · 13 answers · asked by helpme 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The early Church superimposed it on the pagan winter solstice to convert people to Christianity.
All the symbols we know and love, the tree, wreaths, lights, presents, are pagan customs.
2007-12-10 16:45:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Originally it was called Yule. The time is the Winter Solstice. It is an astronomical time of the year when the night is the longest-very important to the European pagans who had to harvest their food. In the Middle East, Mithrainism was a big deal and their savior was born on Dec 25th and had twelve disciples/apostles. The number twelve was significant to society b/c it represented a complete circle. The 25th was the time of the Solstice in that era...it has moved to the 21st by this era.
Christmas means 'Mass of the Christ' and was the name given to the pagan festival of the Winter Solstice when 'the church' was trying to convert all the European pagans.
2007-12-11 00:52:46 · answer #2 · answered by strpenta 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Celebrations of the winter season, especially Solstice probably dates back to the cave and pre-written history.
What most people know as Christmas was the Catholic Church "overlaying" a holiday over pagan holidays around the solstice and calling it the birth of Christ. During the season the Jews celebrate Hanukkah and pagans celebrate Yule, Saturnalia, the birth of the savior sun god Mithra, and the Solstice.
Most everything of the Christian Christmas was taken from the pagans: 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.
2007-12-11 00:42:55 · answer #3 · answered by Aravah 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
i believe some of you Christians didnt take world history of something close to that.
As any history educated person knows polytheistic came way before monotheistic.
Christmas is a PAGAN HOLIDAY
Jesus of Nazareth probably wasn't even born on dec. 25.
Like the first answer... christians did steal Christmas.
how dare christians steal something from someone else then kills them.
eh, well they have been doing that ever since the crusades.
k, well to sum it up.
Christmas = Pagan holiday (don't deny it people)
pagans created it for their God Mithra
and i don't know the purpose.
Did you know that an Egyptian God also celebrated their birth on Dec. 25, infact they where similar
Don't ya love fairytales?
2007-12-11 00:59:47 · answer #4 · answered by ~I wish you could smile~ 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is to celebrate the winter solstice. You are marking the longest night of the year, and the days will start to grow longer. It is a bigger celebration in far north civilizations such as Sweden and Norway. They also have a big celebration for the summer solstice.
2007-12-11 00:44:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Christians. They put the birthdate of Christ on Dec. 25 (taken from the ancient religion of Mithraism) to try and entice the Pagans to worship with them instead of Dec. 21 (our Yule...Winter Solstice). Christianity was founded to gain power and control. Pagans were forced to build the first churches, which is why they had Pagan Gods and Goddesses and protective gargoyles carved on them. (They figured if they would be forced to attend, they were gonna have their Gods and Goddesses on the building. Pretty smart Pagans.) When Pagans decided not to convert from their own religion, they were jailed, burned, hung, tortured and drowned . Pretty sad, brutal history.
Quoted:"pegans covering it up as a christian holiday saying it was jesus birthday..."
WHAT? Christians don't say Dec 25 is Christ's birthday? Then what's with all the lights, presents and church events? And what are we Pagans covering up??? (Mostly our dead ancestors who were burned.) Whoever gave Random Hero the thumbs up must have been in the same cult that taught the ridiculous fallacies he believes.
2007-12-11 00:40:21 · answer #6 · answered by wiccanhpp 5 · 7⤊ 2⤋
its to commemorate 25 years of excellence from Bush's Baked Beans
2007-12-11 00:42:00 · answer #7 · answered by jfjkekjeajkfekjfkejfjkekf 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
it's an omen from nature.... but in all things from nature the church's like to distort it and give it back to us religified...
2007-12-11 00:43:34 · answer #8 · answered by Gyspy 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Christmas it the birth of Jesus, it was created like 2000 years ago when jesus was born, it is meant to celebrate the first coming of Him.
2007-12-11 00:40:47 · answer #9 · answered by Room Service 4 · 1⤊ 9⤋
pegans covering it up as a christian holiday saying it was jesus birthday which it never says when he was born.
2007-12-11 00:41:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋