So some of the Christmas celebrations were originally pagan traditions, right?

Question

I've heard many atheists, agnostics, etc tell me this is why they celebrate Christmas-- because it was originally a pagan holiday that Christians stole.
So my question is, are the Easter traditions strictly Christian or are they borrowed from other religions/pagans too?
If they aren't, why do some atheists still celebrate Easter?

I'm not trying to upset anyone or anything, I'm honestly just curious to know.

To some answerers, I wasn't trying to say that atheists celebrate it because it's pagan-- I was saying that I've seen many atheists on this website say they celebrate Christmas because to them it is not about Christ, since it was from Pagans originally, when people ask them why they celebrate Christmas.

Answer 1

Easter was also a Pagan celebration. Ostara by most pagan traditions is the start of the season of rebirth. The eggs, rabbit, and other traditions are all Pagan.

Answer 2

Easter is strictly Christian. Easter is the resurrection of Christ. We may use eggs and bunnies and chicks to decorate with, which symbolizes as they also claim, new life, but Easter is the resurrection of Christ. Therefore, the first Easter, as one answerer claimed, could not have come 2000 years before Christ existed. How foolish!

Christmas, the way it is celebrated and has been celebrated for hundreds of years now, is far from the Pagan tradition. Therefore, unless atheists and Pagans celebrate their Christmas the way it was celebrated before it was Christianized, they are just giving an excuse and are doing something against what they say they believe. (Agnostics are those who do not believe in any particular group's teachings but still believe in God.)

I don't understand why some would claim that Christians "stole" the holiday when it was Christianized. The holiday, which comes from the words "holy day," was merely added to or changed to included Jesus.

Answer 3

I have heard the same as well, however I put up lights on the house, put up a Christmas tree, and decorate with Santa Clause because I am celebrating Christmas for what it is to ME, and that is celebrating Jesus, not a pagan holiday. As for Easter, I celebrate Easter, but I do not have an Easter egg hunt, give our Easter baskets, or anything of the sort. When I was a kid I enjoyed it, but that's not what Easter is about.

Answer 4

some christmas traditions were originally pagan celebrations.
Christians didn't steal or borrow those traditions, as Christ-mas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. I think it was more or less a combination of both kinds of holiday traditions that got meshed into one.... hence the holly and christmas trees, but also the whole nativity scene deal.

Technically they are seen as Christian holidays, but anybody can celebrate them for whatever reason they wish honestly.
But Christmas, is essentially a celebration of the birth of Christ. (hence the name Christ-mas) lol. But the idea of giving gifts to one another, stems from the story of the Magi, and how they presented gifts to the Christ child upon his birth, as he was the ultimate gift to the world. That is why we give gifts to one another, on Christmas.
As per Easter, i don't know that i see any pagan traditions in there. Easter is a celebration of the resurrection of Christ. I am doubtful that it's origins are pagan, as the pagans hadnt a reason to celebrate the resurrection of the Messiah. Yet, i wouldn't be surprised if just like Christmas, some pagan rituals managed to work themselves in there.
♥

*edit* nadina..... oh yes, you're right. There is the whole "easter bunny' thing. LOL i always forget that, as i celebrate the resurrection. *duh!*

Answer 5

i'm not an expert, but yes, a lot of christian traditions and holidays evolved from pagan ones. it's not that christians "stole" these holidays and traditions. remember, it's not like all of a sudden a huge group of people who were christians descended upon the earth. People who were pagans previously converted to christianity, and they took their old traditions with them. These traditions took on a more christian spin and mythology and evolved over time. I beleive that all religions are fundamentally the same, so its really not surprising that older religions would already have similar traditions, ideas, and holidays.

I don't know why some atheists still celebrate religious holidays. maybe it's simply a tradition for them, and does not hold and religious/spiritual value. Some of my atheist friends celebrate christmas even though they obviously don't beleive in Jesus' divinity.

Answer 6

Easter is originally a pagan holiday - it was called Ostara and it celebrated the spring, the rebirth of the earth - that's why you STILL have colored eggs and rabbits, both signs of fertility. In some countries and counties children still dance around a May Pole, want to guess what that represented?

Answer 7

Easter also has pagan traditions. It coincides with the spring equinox, it reeks of fertility symbolism, and the easter bunny sure isn't religious. However, I think you should celebrate holidays how you want and when you want. If it is a religious day for you, then that is what it is, even if your neighbor is celebrating the pagan reasons or the secular reasons.

Answer 8

Atheists and agnostics don't celebrate Christmas BECAUSE it's pagan. They celebrate it because it's fun. They get to drink to excess, fornicate, and have wild parties because they consider that fun. They couldn't care less that Christmas is actually of pagan origin.

Many so-called Christians are aware that Christmas is pagan, but they want to have fun too, while deceiving themselves that they are really celebrating the birth of Christ.

Answer 9

Atheists celebrate the "contemporary" easter, with the Bunny and chocolate eggs

Answer 10

Christmas and Easter are both pagen traditions. You can google the origins of both holidays and find out who started them and where they came from. It is pretty interesting.