Does Christmas have some kind of link to Jesus?
829255
No.  No direct link at all.  It was not his birthday.  It wasn't even a Christian Holiday till after the Roman Catholic Church began to celebrate next to Pagans in hopes of getting converts (which right here shows me that the persecution they claim that went on, was not as wide-spread as they would like us to believe).  They ended up taking Pagan traditions from things like the Roman Saturnalia and other cultural traditions for Solstice celebrations that Pagans had during that time of year (Yule falls on the 1st day of Winter and was usually celebrated for about a week).\n\nAs for the Xmas thing... the X was a Greek symbol, Chi Rho, which meant "good passage" in many Greek writings.  It was later used as a symbol for Christ.  Some say it's the cross turned on it's side and meant to show the defeat of Christ... but I have yet to find any such thing in history that relates to that at all.\n\n\nHope this helped
813097
Reading the story of the Birth of Jesus on Christmas morning from the gospel of Luke, while the fire warms the room and we all eat cinnamon rolls and drink orange juice and coffee. It is a welcome comfort and joy. Before we get into the presents, we get into His Presence.\nGod Bless and Merry Christmas!
742637
Yes I think we have.  Instead of celebrating the birth of our Lord, Christmas has become so commercialized & materialistic.  It is all about who can spend the most or get the best gift.  And we put ourselves into so much debt for things we can not afford, just to impress others or for whatever the reasons.  Christimas items have been put into stores in early August.  The bottom line...money.
1144128
Scripture doesn't mention Jesus's birthdate or any christians celebrating His Birthday. The only birthday mentioned besides Pharoah is the heathen king Herod. "Christmas" means "mass of Christ"; the celebration coexisted in Rome before there was any in Jerusalem. The early Roman Church however did establish a pagan festival that (Jer.10) coexisted with Jesus's Birth and that was the birthday of the sun god. (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th ed., article: "Christmas"). The Catholic sources admit that Christmas didn't co-exist with the earliest festivals. Jesus wasn't born Christmas; even scripture makes this evident. "On the night of Jesus's birth, the shepherd's were still keeping watch over their flocks." (Luke 2:8). The rainy season in Ancient Israel began after the Feast of Tabernacles which generally is early October. In November, it would be cool and wet; the flocks from the pasture had already been brought and kept in winter quarters by the shepherds. This tells us the shepherds were no longer in the fields at night. Another peice of evidence is overlooked is in Luke 1:35-36; it tells us John the Baptist was born to Mary's cousin Elizabeth six months before Jesus. And as we look further in verse 5-17, we see Zacharias an elderly priest burning incense on the altar and then an angel appearing to him and telling him that he and his wife would have a son to prepare Christ's Way. We know however when this announcement was made by the angel because of Zacharias was "of the course of Abijah" Please look at 1Chron.24:1-19; it tells us that King David divided these priests into 24 "courses" that served in the temple by rotation. The Course of Abijah would be the 8th of the 24 courses which usually would occur around the end of May. Pentecost came the week after the 8th course served and he had to serve all 24 courses during the three festival seasons. So Zacharias came home approximately after the first week of June; in which John the Baptist was conceived around mid-June and 9 months later would be his birth. John Baptist's birth came around mid-March while Jesus's was around mid-September. Also notice every year people claim 3 wise men seen Jesus in a stable; is this really true? The Bible nowhere states "3 wise men" or "that the wise men visited Jesus in a stable". Read for yourself: (Matt.2:11); these Magi came from the east beyond the Euphrates River which in the 1st century was called the Parthian Empire (the eastern border of the Roman Empire). \n\nI can't finish this: so you would have to see it on:\nhttp://community.webshots.com/photo/271589370/1342393463049373547FazWzQ
882753
Of course it is, but so is Christmas. December 25 has always been a pagan holiday. Early Christians did not celebrate birthdays only pagans did and John the Baptist lost his head during  Herod's birthday celebration. Santa Claus, gift giving and all the yule tide traditions are very pagan in origin. \n\nChristianity today is very much engulfed in pagan traditions. \n\nAs a pagan myself I think it is ironic that Christians keep our holy days when the bible condemns them.
748340
Not to much since the real meaning of Christmas is becoming taboo. \n\nI heard that the toys for tots rejected a talking Christ doll, because it would offend people. But the people that it would offend have no right to even be recieving those toys since it is for CHRISTMAS.\n\nQuote from the Article\n"As a government entity, Marines "don't profess one religion over another," Grein said Tuesday. "We can't take a chance on sending a talking Jesus doll to a Jewish family or a Muslim family." " http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061114/ap_on_re_us/jesus_doll_rejected
187464
Along with mistleto, pine trees, gifts, celebrating the birth of Christ--NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE EVER COMMANDED IN THE BIBLE!!! Read the Book of Jeremiah Chapter 10! It explicitly mentions the "christmas" tradition--see what GOD really thinks about it all!
323819
Okay . . . Okay . . . the questioner is correct . . . \n\nChristmas is originally a pagan holiday . . . a week long festival . . . actually 12 days long . . . reminds you of a song.\n\nThis holiday was adopted to convert pagans into Christianity . . . and they accepted it hook, line, and sinker.\n\nThe majority of the holidays celebrated by Christian have pagan origins . . . but back to Christmas . . . \n\nSome of you said you celebrate this day in remembrance of the birth of Christ.  Did Christ ask his followers to remember his birth?  No he did not . . . instead he commanded his followers to commemorate the last supper in his remembrance . . . . Not do perform it daily or weekly . . . but annually like the early christians did . . . prior to 325 AD.
716773
Actually they are linked in a rather ironic way.\n\nEvery Christmas, the most powerful organizations in the Religious Right direct their time, money, attention and energy to getting the senior citizen paid below minimum wage at Walmart to say "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holiday." (It does mean HOLY-day, but that seems to escape them)\n\nWhich leaves them less time, money, attention and energy to pursuing their regular agenda.\n\nSo have a Merry Christmas! :-)\n\n~ Lib
778879
If you want the truth, I'll tell u--was never there--the idea comes from a pagan celebration but people are led to believe in this, Satan's system that is, that we are to celebrate  his birth as Christmas. Look it up! \n His death for all mankind is the only thing that Jesus said to  observe.  Remember?  The last supper?\nGetting into all other celebrations does not apply here.\n\nThe pagan's will refute
742212
Christmas has lost it`s true meaning today to the greater part of humanity, even Christians are getting lost in materialism, and the capitalists have long since hijacked this beautiful and solemn feast of Christ`s birth.\ngo back just one century and the difference with today is painfully apparent, the celebrations are becoming akin to paganism and worship of self is so obvious, and Jesus is relegated to third or last place.\nthe birthday gift that used to be adoration of Christ is now adoration of materialism instead, much to our shame.\nlook at it this way if the leader of any country or royalty were having a birthday then the media would be reporting this news, but sadly when Christs birthday comes around all we see is advertising for commodities, and Christ is even placed well behind the coca cola manufactured Santa Claus, who has replaced Jesus even on Christmas cards.
767934
I am not a Christian.  I am  a Jew.\n\nBut, I do know what Christmas is suppose to mean to Christians.  And, it is not for ''gimme, gimme, gimme''.  Maybe, instead, you should look to see what you can give to someone--maybe someone in need.\n\nIt is suppose to be a religious holiday.
712067
Remember the meaning and origin of Christmas! It's Jesus Christ's birthday. If you are a Christian I encourage you to make an effort to make Jesus Christ this year's theme in your decoration! Merrry Christmas!!!! :)
31387
The author is unknown. One of those dear souls who wrote a song loved over the centuries and s/he goes totally unadorned for the creativity and talent.\n\nHere is what I found:\n\nWho wrote it? No one knows. But it’s been around for a long time. Although I couldn’t speak to its author, I could start with two facts. First, the twelve days are the period between the differing celebrations of Christmas—December 25 (in the Western church) and January 6 (in the Eastern church).\n\nSecond, people living when it was written commonly wrote, painted, and thought using symbols to express what they meant. All those birds and people are probably much more than they seem. (It certainly isn’t a coded list of significant biblical numbers. That probably confuses it with a similar song called “In Those Twelve Days”.) So I started looking. Here’s what I found.\n\nIn the Middle Ages birds were symbols of a human being, the soul, and each bird had specific associations. But the birds in the song had interesting Christian connections.\n\nThe partridge was always associated with Jesus’ birth. More than that, so was the pear tree. So the song begins with a double-image of the Nativity! \nSince I’m thinking of Jesus’ birth, “two turtle doves” brought to mind Jesus’ presentation at Mary’s purification (Luke 2:21-24) and the Spirit’s descent upon him after his baptism at the start of his public ministry (Luke 3:21-22). \n“French hens,” symbols of self-sacrifice and care, are reminiscent of Jesus’ role as the Good Shepherd to his own while he was among them. \n“Calling birds”? One author suggested it might originally be “colley birds,” that is, blackbirds. (Unfortunately I haven’t found anything on their symbolism…yet.) \nSince it’s Christmas, the “five gold rings” aren’t jewelry. Instead they remind us of golden ring-necked pheasants that were often associated with Nativity scenes (as can be seen in Fra Angelico’s Nativity) as well as a royalty (suggesting Jesus’ Messianic role) and the promise of life that rises from the ashes of death. \n“Geese” (whether white or gray) symbolized spiritual vigilance, avoidance of worldly pleasures, wholehearted devotion to Godly obedience. Sounds like Jesus again. \n“Seven swans” bring the opening series to a climax. Swans, always associated with royalty and prophecy, were thought to know the hour of their death and announce their death with a great cry (“swan song”), thereby earning them an enduring association with Christ’s work on the cross. Then add the biblical nuance of seven suggesting a completed work, and the connection to the cross is complete. \nBoy, this was really interesting! If I’d lived 500 years ago, singing the first seven verses could be a powerful reminder of my Savior, his life and work. \n\nAs anyone who sings this song knows, from here on you gotta hold on to your dentures! Momentum gathers with the last five gifts – all people. Lowly “milk maids” at work give way to dancing “ladies” and “lords” in ever-increasing displays of joy, followed by an orchestra of “pipers” and “drummers” to support the chorus, and rehearsed at a speed that carries me along in its grand celebration. What a wonderful way to celebrate the coming of our Savior!\n\nThen I got out my calculator. How many gifts were there? If one arrives on the first day, three on the second, six on the third, …by the last day there’s a grand total of 364 gifts. That’s one for every day of the year!\n\nNow at last I understood. “My True Love” was no mere earthly lover but my Heavenly Father. The gift of His Son was sufficient for every day of my year.\n\nThe irony? Everybody, even my fellow Christians, think it’s only a secular song. They even enjoy the lusty singing of its parodies – like “The Twelve Days After Christmas – to mock at the corruption of the holiday. They don’t understand why I can’t laugh and sing it with t
944589
Not according to historians. It is believed that he was born some time in September.\n I found this:.\nWas Jesus born on December 25, or in December at all? Although it's not impossible, it seems unlikely. The Bible does not specify a date or month. One problem with December is that it would be unusual for shepherds to be "abiding in the field" at this cold time of year when fields were unproductive. The normal practice was to keep the flocks in the fields from Spring to Autumn. Also, winter would likely be an especially difficult time for pregnant Mary to travel the long distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem (70 miles). \n\n"A more probable time would be late September, the time of the annual Feast of Tabernacles, when such travel was commonly accepted. Thus, it is rather commonly believed (though not certain) that Jesus' birth was around the last of September. The conception of Christ, however, may have taken place in late December of the previous year. Our Christmas celebration may well be recognized as an honored observation of the incarnation of 'the Word made flesh' (John 1:14).
93284
Well, kind of. I believe that, he is really the spirit of Christmas, but not that he is an actual person, you know what i mean? if not thats all right i guess. yeah, well thats all ive got. ttyl
719677
Father Christmas exists in all of us. It is the spirit of the season that has its roots in the Christian miracle of Jesus' birth.\n\nIt's not so much the gifts and the decorations or the pagan Christmas tree, as much as it is the feelings of good will and charity that go along with the season.\n\nNow if we could get this spirit of Christmas to continue throughout the year, we'd have something. Can anyone say world peace?