Why do most religious holidays fall within or close to winter?
480997
When you say most religious holidays, what religion do you mean?  *No* Moslem  holiday falls during the winter.  In fact, no Moslem *date* falls during the winter!\n\nJewish holidays fall during the growing season--at the beginning, middle, or end of the summer.\n\nOf the major Christian holidays, one is a winter holiday, and one is a spring holiday.\n\nSo I have no idea what religion you're referring to!  (I know less about other religions, so I can't comment...)\n\nP.S. to gollum--of the three religions you mention, only *one* was born in Arabia--Islam.  Judaism and Christianity both have their roots in the Land of Israel.  It is to the north-west of Arabia, and with a much less desert climate.
244078
Christmas is actually more of a pagan holiday (even though the Christians don't seem to realize it).  The proper term is Solstice or Winter Solstice. . During the year, the position of the Sun seen from Earth moves North and South. When it changes direction it stands still momentarily. So solstices are those moments of the year when the Sun reaches its southernmost or northernmost position, at the Tropic of Capricorn or Tropic of Cancer.  It was traditional to give gifts on Winter Solstice and the passing of the year.  \n\nThats part of the reason gifts are given as it was designated a holiday, however when Christianity came along they designated it as Christ birthday even though no one knows the exact day and the tradition of giving gifts was taken.\n\nChristians would also say its in honor of the three wisemen who brought gifts to the baby Jesus.
928883
No,no,no,That isn't the reason at all,the real reason is that there is an "R"in the month and at this time of the year,Christmas is not far off,it happens to me all the time.Wait until May,the problem will probably resolve itself without the need for medical intervention.Good luck and don't worry,the thoughts of millions of concerned people around the world,are with you.
909443
If you were to read this account to the average Israeli today and ask him what time of year this could be, he would likely answer, “Sometime between April and October.” Why? The answer is simple. From November to March is the cold, rainy season in Israel, and December 25 is certainly in the wintertime. Shepherds would not be living out-of-doors, keeping watch over their flocks in the fields at night. Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, is located in the higher elevations and is just a few miles from Jerusalem. Even in years when the weather is less extreme, it is quite cold there at night during the winter.—Micah 5:2; Luke 2:15.\nA look into history at the time of Jesus’ birth sheds light on the fact that he was not born during December’s snow. Jesus’ mother, Mary, although in an advanced stage of pregnancy, had to travel from her home in Nazareth to Bethlehem. She and Joseph did so to meet the requirements of the census decreed by the Roman ruler Caesar Augustus. (Luke 2:1-7) The Jewish populace, resenting the Roman rule and its heavy taxation, was already on the verge of rebellion. Why would Rome unnecessarily irritate them by requiring many to travel to be registered during the most difficult and even treacherous winter weather? Is it not far more reasonable that this would have been decreed for a season that lends itself to travel, such as spring or autumn?\n\nRECORDED EVIDENCE OF COLD WINTERS\nEzra 10:9 reports that it can get cold during the winter months as recorded in the scripture:\n"  So all the men of Judah and Benjamin collected themselves together at Jerusalem within three days, that is, in the ninth month on the twentieth [day] of the month, and all the people kept sitting in the open place of the house of the [true] God, shivering because of the matter and on account of the showers of rain.  "\nDecember corresponds to the latter part of the ninth month (Chislev) of the ancient Hebrew calendar and the early part of the tenth month (Tebeth). With this in mind, consider the account in Ezra 10:9 about something that happened just a few miles from Bethlehem:\n\nTRUTH\nAs for December the 25th being designated as Christ's birthday, substituting of factual evidence with something known as a falsehood shows disregard for the wholesome truth at the very least. What other truths could be substituted also for falsehoods.
766826
We spent Christmas in Niagara Falls last year and it was awesome!  Lots of Jewish and Chinese people there who also don't recognize the Christian holidays were there as well so there were tons of people around and very busy.  We didn't have to dwell on anything but having a great time!  And it's beautiful there in the winter.  Go to the Canadian side though...so much better!
886675
Judaism and Islam do not have any holidays in common.\nMost Jews will tell you that they consider Yom Kippur (the day of atonement) as the most important Jewish holidays.\nMany Muslims will tell you that the month of Rmadan is most important to them.
26626
There are no statistics I'm aware of. However, not all parts of the world that celebrate Christmas get snow, so it isn't all that dangerous. Kinda hard to slip & fall on ice in SoCal.
824816
It's not all of them.  Just some of the zealots that try to start trouble by attempting to trick us.\n\nNow, your question should have been, why can't they understand that there is more to the holiday season than Christmas (Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, etc.) and let places like Wal-Mart just recognize them all by saying Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays.  Those particular people are just trying to push their religious holiday on others...and frankly, it's not very Christmas like...
471581
I prefer the winter.  When it's cold, there are less crazy people wandering around outside.
501740
yes....most of the christian holidays were actually important dates to Pagans...christians would always have their meetings on saturday untill Constantine showed up then it was changed to sunday to help convince his sun worshipping pagan people.  Not only that but Jesus is believed to be born in late summer early fall but that was changed as well so that Constantine would be able to sell the product cause his people believed if you were not born in the later of December there was no way you could be the son of a God.  Not only that but the very picture of Isis feeding her son became the image of Mary breastfeeding Jesus.  The examples could go on and on.  Even the story of Jesus was told before he was born.  Just do some research on Mithra.
127266
You misinterpret a matter of convenience with that of official religious adoption. The Government closes on Christmas, Easter, etc because most of the employees (80 percent plus) are Christian. Non-Christian employees are free to get time off for their own religious beliefs, and knowing the government it's probably paid time off.
901689
Yes I know that and agree. There has always been (since I've been a christian) a strange feeling for me at Christmas time. I felt trapped, enslaved, depressed, oppressed and angry during the holidays. Something just never sat well with me. I studied and found out it is all pagan and vain. God never says to follow any of these so called "christian" holidays. He did however mention the Holy Days in His Torah. I am not Jewish but I am being prompted by the Lord to study the feast days of the Lord and the Holy days and the Sabbaths. They weren't  meant just for the Jews but for all who were born again as well. They bring peace and understanding of the Messiah.
414850
the point is that they dont try to take jesus out of the holidays. they only act when they see the situation is growing and might cause a dispute bigger than what it should be. it is true we have a freedom of Religion in this country and part of that freedom is respecting everyone else's beliefs. The people that you see "standing" out against your christian holidays is becuase they feel like your forcing them to believe the way you believe. they feel like your being in their faces about it.\n\nTo relate to this situation. I assume you are a christian and if your not please imagine you are and you are located in a muslim country and there are muslim posters everywhere promoting islamic beliefs and Allah everywhere. thats the way those people feel about the holidays that you have in the country. they feel you are interupting their daily life.
866788
Have often wondered that myself.The whole Xmas tree and decos,cards and White Christmas theme can be blamed on Queen Victoria and her husband Albert.He was German, and in Europe they have had a combination of the St.Nicolaus (Santa) gift giving and a larger celebration for a few centuries.Though the day of gift giving varies from Xmas day in some countries.In England it used to be on the 26th ,that's why its called Boxing Day.\n But as to why it continued on after the Victorian era ,I have no idea!\n   As you know Jesus was not born anywhere near Xmas.But many other Gods were.So Christianity "adopted" it. \n An obvious reason for its perpetuation is its commercial potential,its been pounded into us so much that we feel the good old post/Christian guilt if we don't buy presents and take part in family rituals and traditions on that day.\n I get a bit 'narked because it is my birthday on the 25th Dec. and it gets lost in among the Xmas trappings.\nSo I have an excuse to celebrate on that date even though I don't pretend to be Christian.
480762
Excellent question!  Especially since my father is a used car salesman.  haha.\n\nAnyways, I know that certain people will not celebrate things like Christmas and Easter because they are not in the Bible, and the reason for this I believe is two-fold.  First of all, the Bible actually prescribes a very specific list of holidays that it requires.  These are the Jewish holidays, such as Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Shavuot, among some others.  Within this law it is stated that no one may add nor take away from the Law.\n\nTherefore, a strict interpretation might seem to indicate that these holidays, AND ONLY THESE HOLIDAYS should be celebrated, at least as RELIGIOUS holidays.\n\nHowever, Jews do celebrate some other holidays besides these because they are believed to be "within the spirit" of the Law.  For example, the Bible teaches that one should rejoice in the great things that God does in history.  So, Hanukkah celebrates a miracle that God performed for the Jewish people, and is considered to be acceptable to celebrate.  But it never is given the high status of the holidays which the Bible specifically describes.\n\nOn the part of Christians, I think it is noteworthy that Jesus seemed to accept the holiday of Hanukkah, even though it was post-Old Testament.  His disciples celebrated it, and Jesus told them to do so.  \n\nMost Christians however do not make this connection though I think, because they are not familiar with Jewish custom, and do not realize that Jesus was referring to Hanukkah when he mentions it.  (I'll get you a verse if you'd like, just ask and I can look it up).\n\nSo some Christians think that no holiday should be celebrated if it is not in the Law.  Christmas and Easter and Birthdays are not mentioned therein.\n\nOthers would say that birthdays are ok because they are not religious.\n\nOthers would say that Christmas and Easter are not permissible because they derive from non-Christian holidays that they believe embraced ideas contrary to their faith.\n\nThere are many things which have become custom and the people tend to assume it is biblical, when really, it is not necessarily.  Even the idea of getting married in a church or place of worship is not mentioned, and yet many would say firmly that a marriage done in a courthouse is not a marriage "in the eyes of God."\n\nI don't know why they would hold this view except that they must be ignorant of what is in their scriptures and what is not.
804396
Christmas is the darkest part of the year ,As well as often the coldest .\nAdd to this loneliness and illness as well as a sprinkling of the thought of Bills to pay in the new year ,You have a recipe for suicidal thoughts.
820337
I love the winter. Living in the uk, I dent like the summer. Cozy nights. The prayer during the day Isa good, only when I'm shopping its less convenient. Fajr and isha is really good. Fasting in short days is also good.