Why do Atheists keep claiming that Christmas is a pagan holiday?

Question

I'm a Christian and know for a fact that Christmas is celebrated because of Jesus' birth and that there are only pagan TRADITIONS, and the origin isn't pagan. Why do they keep insisting it is?

Answer 1

First, I am a Christian.

Second, because the winter solstice was first celebrated by pagan religions. This is true.

Constantine thought it would be a good idea to blend Christian traditions and Holidays with the days of the year where pagan festivals and celebrations would occur. He felt it would allow for better evangelism.

Now, we don't actually know what day or date that Christ was born on. We have simply set aside December 25 (sanctified, if you will) to celebrate his birth. This does not in any way detract from the historical (biblical and non-biblical) fact that Jesus was in fact born in Bethlehem. We just don't have any evidence that this actually occurred on 12/25.

So, today the history of the winter solstice and the pagan traditions that predate Christ serve to create a wedge between why we celebrate Christmas and what we are celebrating, and those that have not yet come to a belief in Jesus.

If Constantine could have foreseen the trouble he was about to create, he may have made a different decision.

Answer 2

The reason is because while Christians celebrate the birth of Christ on the 25th of December, that is not actually Jesus' birthday. The church claimed this day because they wanted to make the conversion easier for Romans. The feast of Isis and the Roman winter solstice for example were celebrated at that time. The feast of Isis involved partying, gluttonous eating, and gift-giving. Sound familiar?

That and some traditions are pagan in nature though they were adopted by christianity. Like the Christmas wreath, decorating an evergreen bough was specifically forbidden for quite awhile among christians because it was a pagan tradition. The Yule log was a pagan tradition.

Just shows how there are politics in religion and that traditions and how the development of religion has meant adopting each other's traditions. Take in mind I am Catholic so I agree that the origin of what we know as Christmas is from the birth of Christ, just the celebration itself has very pagan roots, which is what the atheists you are thinking about are saying. But they are mixing up roots and traditions and a date being moved with the core of the holiday, the birth of Jesus. Just because December 25th isn't Jesus' exact birthday doesn't mean the origin of the celebration of his birthday isn't based on his birth. The reason we celebrate it is different than the reason we celebrate it on the 25th.

Answer 3

I'm a near-atheist. It doesn't matter to me that Christ's birthday is being celebrated on a day that was once celebrated as Saturnalia in the Roman Empire. No one was exactly certain of Christ's birthday, so why not pick a day that had too much to do with Paganism and give it a new meaning? I don't think it's atheists at all giving flak about Christmas as a Pagan holiday. I think it's members of Christianity's own family, and maybe Muslims and perhaps a Jew or two.

Answer 4

Christmas does have alot of pagan traditions, and is a fabric woven from many different cultures.

A few of the pagan traditions are as follows:
santa claus is basically a god, trees laden with gold are used in the old testamet as idols, and santa has an extreme resemblance to thor.

the way us Christians try to celebrate christmas is as a day of Jesus' birth, while his birth was really on the 15th day of september.

Answer 5

It is a fact. December 25 is the Winter Solstice,A pagan holiday. Constantine, The roman Emporor at the time of the niceaean council was a pagan when he picked out the dates for the holidays. Jesus was born in March.

Answer 6

What have unbelievers been doing since the beginning of Christ? Discrediting him from his glory and his birth. By observation from the answers, these people may have intelligence but no personal wisdom. I pray to God that he will provide them understanding and knowledge of the meaning behind Christmas. Christmas has been known for a celebration of Jesus' birth - that is why we celebrate it. Pagan celebrate differently. God Bless!

Answer 7

Because it is a pagan holiday.

You've been brainwashed into believing there was no history before Christianity because they're afraid if you know about that -- you'll discover the truth.

Christ wasn't born in December - conveniently during pagan solstice festivals (Saturnalia to be exact). Come on - you're smarter than that.

Answer 8

im christian and i hate to say it but they're right christmas is a pagan holiday it is derived from the pagan holiday saturnalia i'm not going to say what they did on saturnalia because it is sickening constantine issued christmas to be celebrated on december 25th that is the same day pagans paid homage to some god i forget and jesus wasn't born on december 25th the bible states that shepherds out at night saw angels in the sky the palestinian winters are too cold for them to be out that late so jesus was born in the summer like june or july plus the bible does not state that we celebrate jesus' birthday we celebrate his ressurection (easter)

Answer 9

Because theologians claim that Christ was born in the late summer, early fall...not in December. The church chose to celebrate Christmas in December to coincide with pagan traditions.

Answer 10

It IS a pagan holiday that the early church adopted because they were desperate for membership. It has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus' birth. And believing that three guys showed up while Jesus was still a baby is nonsense. They travelled by foot in those days. Jesus was probably two or three by the time those guys arrived on the scene.
You need to look at the time back then and completely erase what you know about today.