trueIs it true that the celebration of Christmas has Pagan roots?
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No it is almost certainly nothing to do with Saturnalia (one can never be 100% certain about historical things).
Saturnalia was officially on the 17th December but celebrations carried on for differing lengths of time during its history, though never for more than 6 days. Hence it always finished BEFORE 25th December. The church in the 3rd/4th century, when the 25th was chosen, was strongly AGAINST adopting pagan customs.
There is no evidence that any of our Christmas customs have pagan roots. Santa Claus comes from Saint Nicholas, a Christian saint and a bishop, with a bit of Father Christmas thrown in. The business of a sleigh and reindeer is a 19th century addition so does not derive from Odin.
The Christmas tree is unknown before the 16th or 17th century, long after the end of paganism in Europe. It is probably derived from the tree in the Garden of Eden.
The Roman Emperor did start a festival on the 25th December during the late 3rd century AD but it is not known whether this was before or after its adoption by Christians to celebrate the Nativity.
The stuff about other pagan Gods is complete crap invented by discredited authors in recent years.
No, not really. Pagans celebrate the return of the sun, not the birth of Christ.
However, as practiced today, Christmas uses all the pagan traditions: Decorated trees, stockings, Santa, mistletoe, feasting and gift giving. Early Christians adopted these to lure pagans away from their own religion.
Santa is also based on Odin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa Scroll down to the part about Odin, and you will see how he contributed to the Santa story.
It was all marketing. The pagans could become christian, but still keep their celebrations.
the modern Christmas is more akin to the Germanic Yule.
from the time of year to the decorations to some of the songs (one in particular) to the giving of gifts
and Santa has very little to do with ancient pagan culture....Santa is loosely based on St. Nicholas (Santa Claus = Saint Nicholas)
Christmas is the Mass of Christ and is a christian holy day. However the mythology of Jesus Christ is an amalgam of many older pagan myths.
Mithra, of Persia, born on December 25, his birth was witnessed by Shepherds that brought gifts to honor him. He was styled as a Mediator between God and Man.
Buddha, of India, born on December 25, his mother's name was Maya (similar to Mary) she was a virgin. He was immaculately conceived, and at birth, he announced that he was a savior to the world. His birth was announced by a star. At his birth, he was visited by Wise Men who declared that they had seen Signs of his birth, that is to say, signs of the royal birth (coincidence?).
Horus, of Egypt, born on December 25. His mother, Isis, gave birth to him in the swamp, she was warned by the god Thoth, to flee and conceal the child from the evil Set. Set had killed the father of Horus, whose name was Osiris, and sought to kill Horus, |also. Isis was able to keep Horus hidden from Set, till he (Horus) grew to manhood. Horus sought to avenge the murder of his Father, and made war against Set, and defeated him.
Quetzalcoatl, a god the Western Hemisphere, was born of a virgin. He sojourned in the wilderness, fasted forty days. Was crucified. He was variously represented as the God of light that struggled against the god of darkness called Tezcatlipoca.
Attis, of Phrygia, his mother was a virgin, her name was Nana. He was a shepherd, and reported to have died by self emasculation under a pine tree. He was alleged to have risen from the dead at Easter i.e. The vernal Equinox.
Thats only a very small sample. IMHO though, it is the intent that counts. There is more to religion thatdecorations, pretty lights and presents
The annual conversation between pagans and Christians has begun. Some people who celebrate Christmas in the Christian tradition argue that it is purely a Christian religion that took nothing from existing pagan religions of the time. Pagans talk about the historical roots of the holiday and how the church adopted pagan symbology to facilitate people's indoctrination in the new religion. But does it really matter? Is it really worth getting worked up about?
Christmas Borrowed from Pagan Religions
The fact that some Christmas symbology was borrowed from pagan religions seems unarguable. Christmas trees - pine trees decorated with lights and ornaments - were used in Yule and solstice celebrations. The Yule log is a direct transplant, even keeping the name of the pagan religion's holiday. It is obvious that many Christmas decorations have their roots in paganism.
Even the time of the Christmas holiday has roots in the winter solstice celebration. As some pagans celebrate the return of the sun, often described as the birth of the sun king to a nature goddess, Christians celebrate the birth of the son of God. Bible historians make a case for the actual birth of Jesus in the spring. The church decided to celebrate Christmas at the time of the winter solstice, perhaps to coincide with the existing pagan celebrations.
Interesting! But does it matter?
Some Christians deny all this. Some pagans accuse the Christian church of stealing their holiday. While history shows that church practices to convert pagans were not always peaceful, that has little bearing on the religions today.
Fourteen hundred years of Christmas celebrations have passed since the holiday was given its date in late December. This establishes a tradition that cannot be changed due to modern bible interpretations or any offense of pagan holiday usurpation. Christmas trees, yule logs, holly and candles - all firmly rooted in pagan symbolism - have become integral parts of the Christian holiday celebration.
In both religions, the holiday is a time to celebrate, to get together with friends and family and experience joy. It is a time when the earth is renewed, either through the natural return of the sun or by the birth of Christ. It is celebrated by both religions in a joyous manner, with good food, drink, religious services, and the giving of gifts.
Any attempt at snatching the Christmas tradition away from the hands of the Christian religious is futile. Denying the practices of modern pagans is just as disrespectful. Instead of arguing about who started it, or who owns the symbolic items of the holiday, perhaps people should concentrate on the most important aspects of the holiday: joy, generosity, new beginnings, and love.
Tradition
Sometimes tradition is acceptable and perhaps even pleasing in the sight of Yahweh. Sometimes it is not acceptable and is even hated by Him. The evil of traditions that transgress the commandment of Yahweh was a key teaching of Yahushua the Messiah:
Matt 15:1 (NKJV) Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Yahushua, saying, 2 ';Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.';
I hear people ask me this, ';Why do you not celebrate Christmas (transgress the traditions of our elders)?';. Nowhere in the pages of scripture do we find a command to keep the celebration of Christmas. Nowhere in the pages of scripture do we find an example of any disciple keeping Christmas. The only time Christmas is even mentioned in the pages of scripture is to condemn it (as we will see). So, my answer to this question would be, ';Why do you also transgress the commandment of Elohim because of your tradition?';.
3 He answered and said to them, ';Why do you also transgress the commandment of Elohim because of your tradition? 4 ';For Elohim commanded, saying, `Honor your father and your mother'; and, `He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' 5 ';But you say, `Whoever says to his father or mother, ';Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to Elohim'; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of Elohim of none effect by your tradition.
This was an example of how the scribes and Pharisees forsook the commandment of Yahweh in favor of their tradition. As I will share, Christmas is also transgressing the commandment of Yahweh in favor of tradition. What does Yahushua think about this?
7 ';Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 `These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with [their] lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching [as] doctrines the commandments of men.' ';
Christmas is honoring with the lips but it is one of many vain doctrines and commandments of men. Again, there is not a single scripture in the bible that tells us that we are to celebrate the birth nor th
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