The Origin and Practices of Christmas: Christian or Pagan ?

[lifeandliberty]

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS AND CALENDARS - AN ENCYCLOPAEDIC HANDBOOK, 1993

Christmas Day

December 25

Christmas is the day on which Christians celebrate the birth of

Jesus Christ. The Roman Catholic Church designates it as a day

of holy obligation on which members of the Church must attend

services.

Originally, the birth of Jesus was commemorated in the East on the

Feast of Epiphany (January 6) but by 354, the Christmas Feast had

taken hold in the West and was observed on December 25. Since the

fifth century, most Eastern Orthodox Churches have celebrated the

Nativity on December 25; however, some Eastern congregations,

called "Old Calendarists," still use the Julian calendar and honor

the birth of Christ thirteen days later, on January 7. The Armenian

Church continues to celebrate "Old Christmas" on January 6.

As with many traditions surrounding Christmas, the selection of

December 25 as a commemoration of Jesus' birthday may be an example

of the blending of Christian ideas and the pagan traditions they

replaced. December 25 was the date of the Mithric observance of

the "Birthday of the Invincible Sun." This also coincided with

Saturnalia and the Winter solstice during the period when Mithraism

was practiced in Rome. Since the day was already being kept as a

holiday, Christians may have adjusted the symbolism of the day,

declaring it the birthday of their "Invincible Son." According to

events in the Gospel of Matthew, the date of Jesus' birth may

actually have taken place much earlier in the year.

The word "Christmas" means "the mass of Christ," and originated in

the 11th century as a name for this feast. It was one of the most

popular and universally celebrated holidays in Europe during the

Middle Ages. During the Reformation, however, the celebration of

Christmas began to decline in importance. Reformers engaged in

complex doctrinal arguments in an attempt to prove the celebration

of Christmas was unscriptural.

In some countries, the Protestant reforms brought about a ban of

Christmas celebrations. By the time of the Restoration in 1660,

however, the celebration of Christmas as a much more secular holiday

was revived in these countries. In New England, Christmas remained

outlawed until the mid-nineteenth century, and in Boston classes

were held in the public schools on Christmas Day until 1870, with

pupils who missed school that day being punished or dismissed. The

mass immigration of Irish Catholics to New England brought about the

reinstitution of Christmas celebrations.

_________________________________________________________________

"Christmas.", DICTIONARY OF CHRISTIANITY IN AMERICA, 1990

Both the northern European and North American custom of exchanging

gifts at Christmas... are possibly related to pre-Christian celebrations

at the close of the year. The celebration of Christmas has sometimes

been opposed as pagan by religious leaders. New England Puritans*

considered Christmas "popish" idolatry, and the Massachusetts General

Court in 1659 passed an act against its celebration, though the law

was repealed in 1681."

_________________________________________________________________

"Christmas", THE WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA, Vol. 3, "C-Ch", 1997

"The first mention of December 25 as the birth date of Jesus occurred

in A.D. 336 in an early Roman calendar. The celebration of this day

as Jesus' birth date was probably influenced by pagan [unchristian]

festivals held at that time. The ancient Romans held year-end

celebrations to honor Saturn, their harvest god; and Mithras, the [sic]

god of light... As part of all these celebrations, the people prepared

special foods, decorated their homes with greenery, and joined in

singing and gift giving. These customs gradually became part of the

Christmas celebration."

"In the late 300's, Christianity became the official religion of the

Roman Empire... The popularity of Christmas grew until the Reformation,

a religious movement of the 1500's. This movement gave birth to

Protestantism. During the Reformation, many Christians began to

consider Christmas a pagan celebration because it included nonreligious

customs. During the 1600's, because of these feelings, Christmas was

outlawed in England and in parts of the English colonies in America."

_________________________________________________________________

"Christmas", COLLIER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA, Vol. 6, 1992

"... The suppression of the Mass during the Reformation led to a sharp

change in the observance of Christmas in some countries. In England,

the Puritans condemned the celebration and, from 1642 to 1652, issued

a series of ordinances forbidding all church services and festivities.

This feeling was carried over to America by the Pilgrims and it was not

until the nineteenth-century wave of Irish and German immigration that

enthusiasm for the feast began to spread throughout the country.

Objections were swept aside and the old traditions revived among

Protestants as well as Catholics."

_________________________________________________________________

"Christmas," COMPTON'S INTERACTIVE ENCYCLOPEDIA, 1997

THE CHRISTMAS WREATH

The use of evergreens and wreaths as symbols of life was an ancient

custom of the Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews, among other peoples.

Tree worship was a common feature of religion among the Teutonic and

Scandinavian peoples of northern Europe before their conversion to

Christianity. They decorated houses and barns with evergreens at the new

year to scare away demons, and they often set up trees for the birds in

winter. For these northern Europeans, this winter celebration was the

happiest time of the year because it signified that the shortest day of

the year--about December 21--had passed. They knew the days would start

to get longer and brighter. The month during which this festival took

place was named Jol, from which the word yule is derived. Yule has come

to mean Christmas in some countries.

THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Trees and decorations. Ancient, pre-Christian winter festivals used

greenery, lights, and fires to symbolize life and warmth in the midst of

cold and darkness. These usages, like gift giving, have also persisted.

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CHRISTMAS GIFT GIVING

Gift giving is one of the oldest customs associated with Christmas: it is

actually older than the holiday itself. When the date of Christmas was

set to fall in December, it was done at least in part to compete with

ancient pagan festivals that occurred about the same time. The Romans,

for example, celebrated the Saturnalia on December 17. It was a winter

feast of merrymaking and gift exchanging. And two weeks later, on the

Roman New Year--January 1, houses were decorated with greenery and

lights, and gifts were given to children and the poor. As the Germanic

tribes of Europe accepted Christianity and began to celebrate Christmas,

they also gave gifts.

Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia

Copyright

[Old Timer]

Thanks for the excellent post.

A couple of other items

Nowhere in scripture is it even hinted that Jesus

Edited December 8, 2006 by Old Timer

[sweetycakes]

Thanks for the excellent post.

A couple of other items

Nowhere in scripture is it even hinted that Jesus

[billie]

I celebrate His birthday as a thanksgiving for His coming to Earth, suffering, and dying for me.

[kat8585]

The origins of Christmas are definitely pagan. Do a search. But besides that, nowhere in the Bible are we told to celebrate the birth of Jesus, only His death, by communion.

But even aside from all that, Christmas is my least favorite holiday. It's a commercial holiday when people go into debt and spend money they don't have to buy a lot of stuff people don't need and kids will forget about within a week, then they will pay for it for who knows how long. It's like an obligation they feel they have to do. Call me Scrooge. But some people really go to rediculous extremes. I know someone who is behind on her house payment and is risking losing her house, has shutoff notices, and her husband just started a new job--commision only, and hasn't had time to buile up a clientelle, yet she is getting all kinds of expensive gifts. She says her 10 year old daughter will only be a child once, and it is a "magical" time for her.

And besides all that, look what The ACLU (the American chuck the law union) and others are doing to Christmas!! It's pitiful, and gets worse every year. It got a little better this year.

[Old Timer]

I may be wrong, but I detect that maybe you are being just a bit too cynical here, OT.

Yes, Jesus' actual birthday wasn't mentioned in Scripture. But as Christians, we don't celebrate Jesus' birthday as we celebrate the birthdays of other people.

Rather, we celebrate his COMING....no?

Stephenwrth,

Well, you are probably correct. I am a bit too cynical.

Certainly we can celebrate His first coming but we (many Christians) seem to ignore His second coming, the Blessed Hope of Titus 2:13. That should be our focus!

Then, too, look at how His first coming is celebrated. By the pagan practices mentioned in lifeandliberty

[JesusisGod2]

You know this debate comes up every year and quite frankly I do see why. I like waht Wendy Francisco has posetd on her website regarding the matter

Some Christians decide not to celebrate Christmas because it

is not technically a Biblical holiday ..because it has "pagan origins".

Regardless of it's history, it is awesome that on this day, practically the whole world remembers that Jesus came to earth as a child.

My birthday isn't in the Bible, but my family celebrates it. There must be some pagan holiday that happens somewhere on that day, but my family throws me a party anyway.

Messianic believers sometimes don't celebrate Christmas because it isn't a traditional Jewish holiday, but I am a messianic believer who does celebrate Christmas. In fact, I could celebrate His coming everyday.

Some dislike the commercialization of Christmas. Well, Paul says that even when the Gospel is promoted with questionable motives, at least the Word goes out. Did you know that Christmas actually strengthens the world's economy? What would the world's economy be like if everyone gave to others everyday like they do during the Christmas season? Christmas is the biggest party on earth - and it ought to be.

We told our kids the difference between Nicholas, the historical figure credited with starting the tradition of giving on Christmas, and Jesus, who is God's Son, and who is with us today. Then, we continued the St. Nicholas tradition and the kids had just as much fun knowing the truth from the beginning.

We all know that the origin of the custom of decorating a tree isn't Christian. But it's festive and beautiful. Kids love Christmas trees and when we tell them it's our way of celebrating the birth of Christ, then they associate Him with one of the most wondrous and beautiful things they see all year. I have personally NEVER met a person, Christian or non, who worships the Christmas tree.

It isn't so much the day as it is the heart and spirit. Christmas is the day the world celebrates His coming, His abundance, His blessings, and His ultimate gift.

I am so happy that He came. I am happy to be alive because of Him. I think we need MORE days to celebrate Him together, not fewer.

The story of Scrooge is a tale of love which won out over hardness of heart. I wouldn't want the world to see me say Bah Humbug to Christmas. I am going to deck my halls, light up my house, break out the eggnog, and go for it with all my heart.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

:-) WF

So relax and fix your heart on Jesus and lets celebrate His life not only on the 25th of December, but evryday, for He is the giver of life and in this day in particular, many will at least think of Jesus on this day who would not have during the rest of the year.

Here is the website to Rocky Mountain Mimistries. Here

Great Wesite and is Hosted by Don and Wendy Francisco. This is the same Don Francisco who recorded "He's Alive"

God bless and a merry Christmas to all of you

In Jesus

kevin

[Guest lovinghim4ever]

The origins of Christmas are definitely pagan. Do a search. But besides that, nowhere in the Bible are we told to celebrate the birth of Jesus, only His death, by communion.

But even aside from all that, Christmas is my least favorite holiday. It's a commercial holiday when people go into debt and spend money they don't have to buy a lot of stuff people don't need and kids will forget about within a week, then they will pay for it for who knows how long. It's like an obligation they feel they have to do. Call me Scrooge. But some people really go to rediculous extremes.

Kat,

I agree with much of what you say here. Just yesterday my doctor was saying this kind of thing to me. Christmas is so commercialized that I don't look forward to this season any more.

Christians should celebrate Jesus EVERY DAY and live His giving, compassionate heart EVERY DAY!

[Guest Jwade003]

I think Jeremiah chapter 10 should be noted.

Soon after the fall of man, people began worshiping two false gods. They worshiped Baal (who represented the sun) and Ashtoreth, or Ashtoroth (was considered the moon goddess). The people would build temples to Baal and plant groves of trees called asharahs in order to worship the goddess Ashtoreth. In Christianity we are told that we are to be fruitful branches of the One True Vine. Jesus is also described as being the root of Jesse.

In conclusion, I would say that God has His way of saying and doing things, and Satan always has a counterfeit.

[sheya joie]

I agree with much of what you say here. Just yesterday my doctor was saying this kind of thing to me. Christmas is so commercialized that I don't look forward to this season any more.

I don't much look forward to grocery shopping during the christmas shopping season.