Was Christmas ever a Pagan holiday?
952697
No one knows what day Jesus Christ was born on. From the biblical description, most historians believe that his birth probably occurred in September, approximately six months after Passover. One thing they agree on is that it is very unlikely that Jesus was born in December, since the bible records shepherds tending their sheep in the fields on that night. This is quite unlikely to have happened during a cold Judean winter. So why do we celebrate Christ’s birthday as Christmas, on December the 25th? \n\n\nThe answer lies in the pagan origins of Christmas. In ancient Babylon, the feast of the Son of Isis (Goddess of Nature) was celebrated on December 25. Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast. \n\n\n \nIn Rome, the Winter Solstice was celebrated many years before the birth of Christ. The Romans called their winter holiday Saturnalia, honoring Saturn, the God of Agriculture. In January, they observed the Kalends of January, which represented the triumph of life over death. This whole season was called Dies Natalis Invicti Solis, the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun. The festival season was marked by much merrymaking. It is in ancient Rome that the tradition of the Mummers was born. The Mummers were groups of costumed singers and dancers who traveled from house to house entertaining their neighbors. From this, the Christmas tradition of caroling was born. \n\n\nIn northern Europe, many other traditions that we now consider part of Christian worship were begun long before the participants had ever heard of Christ. The pagans of northern Europe celebrated the their own winter solstice, known as Yule. Yule was symbolic of the pagan Sun God, Mithras, being born, and was observed on the shortest day of the year. As the Sun God grew and matured, the days became longer and warmer. It was customary to light a candle to encourage Mithras, and the sun, to reappear next year. \n\n\nHuge Yule logs were burned in honor of the sun. The word Yule itself means “wheel,” the wheel being a pagan symbol for the sun. Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant, and the custom of kissing under the mistletoe began as a fertility ritual. Hollyberries were thought to be a food of the gods. \n\n\nThe tree is the one symbol that unites almost all the northern European winter solstices. Live evergreen trees were often brought into homes during the harsh winters as a reminder to inhabitants that soon their crops would grow again. Evergreen boughs were sometimes carried as totems of good luck and were often present at weddings, representing fertility. The Druids used the tree as a religious symbol, holding their sacred ceremonies while surrounding and worshipping huge trees. \n\n\nIn 350, Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth would be celebrated on December 25. There is little doubt that he was trying to make it as painless as possible for pagan Romans (who remained a majority at that time) to convert to Christianity. The new religion went down a bit easier, knowing that their feasts would not be taken away from them. \n\n\nChristmas (Christ-Mass) as we know it today, most historians agree, began in Germany, though Catholics and Lutherans still disagree about which church celebrated it first. The earliest record of an evergreen being decorated in a Christian celebration was in 1521 in the Alsace region of Germany. A prominent Lutheran minister of the day cried blasphemy: “Better that they should look to the true tree of life, Christ.” \nThe controversy continues even today in some fundamentalist sects.
869629
ITS NOT PAGAN.\n\nSET ASIDE A DAY TO HONOR THE BIRTH OF JESUS.\nGIFT GIVING REPRESENTS THE THREE GIFTS JESUS RECEIVED.\n\nNOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS.\n\nCHARITY---GIFT OF LOVE..........\nCHARITY COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SIN..\nTRY IT.............DOES A BODY GOOD.
921507
Many of the customs were borrowed from Pagan traditions.  It does not mean Xmas and Easter are pagan holidays.  Where did you get this stuff??\n\nYou can celebrate anything you want.  It's a free country.
137954
Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. I'm pretty sure that no one knows exactly when he was born, so Dec. 25 was adopted to celebrate his coming. So theres really no need to change it. For myself, I don't think the date is as important as his purpose. On the other hand, Gods timing is perfect, so I'm not going to question it or say that it's not important at all. Also Christians chose this day to counter and influence The Pegan "winter solstice". Some pegans adapted christianity, and Christians adapted the Christmas Tree. "Just one Christians point of view".
993398
I know that the pagan festivals that existed before the Christian holidays were used to encourage pagans to convert to Christianity. The early Roman Catholic leaders decided that if they used a pre-existing festival and incorporated new Christian concepts to it, they would have a greater chance of increasing the size of the flock. The dates of those festivals were acceptable (close enough), and as time went on, the pagan traditions went out and the holidays became completely Christian.
900895
For people to find out just where Christmas actually came from, and how it really makes God feel. Celebrating a Pagan festival can not be pleasing to God. Changing the name to suit mans purpose, still does not hide the fact of where it originated.
90757
Almost all of the Christian Holidays are on top of Pagan Holidays. Easter is on top of Ostera. Bunnies and eggs are pagan symbols of spring and fertility. \n\nHallowe'en is a Pagan holiday, but most people don't know where the holiday origins are from. Pagans call the day Samhain. The old God dies on this day, and the Goddess mourns him until his rebirth at Yule (Christmas - Winter Solstice). The Catholic Church created All Saint's Day (November 1) as a holy day to recognize all the Catholic saints. But it wasn't a powerful enough idea to wipe out the traditional Hallowe'en celebrattions. Ironically, many Christians don't approve of the celebration of Halloween because of its Pagan origins, not realizing that almost all of the holidays they observe had Pagan beginnings.\n\nChristmas is on the Winter Solstice. Even non-Pagans use the term "Yule" around the Christmas holidays. Yule is celebrated on the Winter Solstice (December 22nd), on the shortest day of the year. Since the days get longer from this point in the year, Yule is a celebration of the returning sun and the rebirth of the Pagan God who died at Hallowe'en. As with Easter, the Christian story of the birth of Jesus fits nicely with the Pagan mythology of a "God" reborn. Traditions such as wreaths and Yule logs are remnants of the original beliefs. Gifts were exchanged at Yule long before the Wise Men offered their gifts to the baby Jesus.\n\nGroundhogs Day, although not specifically a Christian holiday, is on the day of the Pagan Holiday called Candlemas (or Imbolc) that is celebrated on February 2nd. Because spring is just starting to show itself at this time of year, there were various superstitions about predicting the weather, and how long it would be until the end of winter. The original idea was to watch for a hedgehog, but as people immigrated to North America, the tradition changed to a ground hog, since we didn't have hedgehogs here.\n\nThe reasons Christian holidays are celebrated on the Pagan holidays is because in the early era of the Christian Church in Europe they were having trouble getting the peasants and simple folk to accept the Christian faith, so they placed the Christian Holidays at the same time as the Pagan Celebrations for that everyone would be happy. By blending the two together it was easier to convert the people to Christianity.
702203
Well, religious people are always religious regardless of the occasion...\n\nBut yeah actually it was meant to be a sort of patriotic celebration of the survival of the (religious, granted) pilgrims through the first harsh year after coming to America. That's why it's only celebrated in the US. There isn't any global religious significance.\n\nThe dinner goes much like Christmas around here, big dinner that's usually turkey, and the family sitting around the table (hopefully) enjoying each other's company. There aren't any gifts exchanged usually, except maybe something for the hostess like wine or flowers. There aren't really any Thanksgiving lights or songs to speak of.\n\nWhen I lived in Europe I missed my family more at Thanksgiving than I did at Christmas, oddly enough. I guess maybe because there were some Christmas celebrations going on that were very fun.\n\nIt might be seen as a sort of warm-up for the Christmas holiday (or Yule for me... same difference).
877403
That's because now that it's a federal holiday, it has turned into a secular celebration. Christians have stolen practically all of their holiday traditions from pagan ritual.\n\nDo you honestly think Jesus was born on December 25th?\n\nChristmas isn't an exclusively Christian holiday, little miss possessive. Do you want us to stop eating, drinking, having parties, and being merry simply because you don't like the idea of us non-believers celebrating a pagan holiday?\n\nFor a Christian, you sure are spiteful. Tsk tsk.
1032593
Good questions!\n\nBut do you know how many Christian holidays are based on Pagan holidays?   It was a transition to get people away from Paganism to Christianity.\n\nI've celebrated Halloween all my life.  Some "Christians" are now transitioning it to "Fall Festival" but it's the same thing/same night/same concept:  Dressing up in costumes and asking for Candy.\n\nIf my child threw all our eggs out into the yard on any day except Easter, I'd be mad...but it's a tradition.  If I was pinched any day except for St. Patrick's day, I'd be mad.  \n\nI have no problem with Halloween.  I know what's in my heart.
1151750
"Pagan" is hard to define; a lot of people think of it as "any religion that's not Christianity, Judaism or Islam." I don't think that's quite accurate, but it's okay to start with. \n\nSince your sister talked about a "Wiccaning" (not "wickening), she's talking about the pagan religion Wicca (and here's where I start quoting Wikipedia): Wicca is a religion, and although its adherents often identify as witches, Wicca and witchcraft are not necessarily the same thing.\n\nWiccans may worship a Goddess and/or a God; they observe the festivals of the eight Sabbats of the year and the full-moon Esbats; and they have a code of ethics that most live by. Wicca is thus generally considered to be distinct from witchcraft, which does not of itself imply any specific religious, ethical or ritual elements, and is practiced in various forms by people of many religions, as well as by atheists.\n\nWicca does, however, incorporate a specific form of witchcraft, with particular ritual forms, involving the casting of spells, herbalism, divination and other forms of magic. Wiccan ethics require that magical activities are limited to good purposes only.\n\nAccording to Gerald Gardner [the one who brough Wicca into modern public awareness], the religion derives from a secret but widespread witch-cult of early modern Europe, which incorporated all of the key religious beliefs and ideals and the distinctive ritual structures found in modern Wicca. While this historical interpretation is now much criticised, it makes it difficult to conclusively say whether Wicca is a religious form of witchcraft or a religion incorporating witchcraft.
930079
Hello,\nI'm a Pagan. I study Wicca and Buddhism. But I don't hate Christmas, either. I'm sorry that you got so many hateful responses to this. Most true followers of Wicca practice tolerance. I still get upset when people print stories about not being able to say "Merry Christmas". This is not about the Wiccans. I belong to a group of about 30 people and we all say "Merry Christmas" to others. Among ourselves we will wish a "Happy Yule". I've never been insulted that people put up Christmas Trees, or Mistletoe. I see it as an affirmation of what I believe as well. I will say that I regard the switch to Plastic Trees a very positive thing, because I am put off by the killing of a tree for decoration, but I can deal with those that do it.\nPeople, ALL people, should be free to worship they way that they see fit. The only time that I get upset about Christian Tradition is when it is forced upon me. When Bush tries to push for laws that are Pro-Christian and Anti-Pagan (Pagan simply meaning Non-Christian) then it is bad for the country. \nAll people have the right to do what they believe is right, that is what this country was based on. Freedom of Religion. Unfortunately, too many people want to think that their way is the ONLY way, and this is just not the case. \nLove And Peace to you,\nBlessed Be,\nAnd MERRY CHRISTMAS!
1173621
because christmas was a pagan holiday.\n\nChristmas Dec 25th.  No clue who came up with that date but it isn't correct.  Jesus was born in the spring time with flowers blooming and songs singing, so says the bible.  Even in Israel, that still translates to April-ish not December.  It snows in Jerusalem in December.\n\nBefore Christmas was Christmas it was known as Appollo's birthday as well as Mithras.  Both popular religious sects in Rome, before Christianity was founded (yes I did just say founded, read up some)  There was an old belief that the Holly King and the Oak King were born opposite one another on the yearly cycle.  The easiest way to explain this idea is the winter king and the summer king.  winter king was born in December (or snow) so that his rule would be transfered at the height of summer.  summer king was born in the height of summer so his crown would transfer at the height of winter.  Appollo was thought to be the holly/winter king and his birthfeast was afixed to december.  more than likely around the solstice December 20th or 21st.  As Christianity absorbed these sects the traditions came with them.  the apple was the signature fruit of Appolo.\n\nNow the celebration of Christmas had always been a somber and less than joyful celebration.  In the English area, the commoners celebrated Yule, while the nobils or rather highborns celebrated christmas....they were christians.  Once Christianity became the adopted form of religion Yule was prohibted, but again since Christianity was a Roman creation....it followed the roman ways, adopting things and calling it theirs.\n\nThe Christmas celebration had always been much tamer in the Protestant homes as they concentrated on the sacrifices Jesus made, until....\n\nOne English Queen married a German Nobil and the German Tradition (which was really a leftover from the Viking Era) was the Christmas tree.  This now German born English King refused to give up his winter/yule tradition and thusly the Christmas Tree tradition was born as everyone wanted to be like the Queen.  \n\nThen in the early 18th century, Christmas became a little less formal and more of a family affair about brotherly love and so forth.\n\nChristmas has seen a huge change since it's inception.  Anything to party and have fun, right?  Every reason is a reason to get together.
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.
704544
Greens used during this time of year was a custom taken from Pagan religions that existed long before Christmas.
806184
I think it has no effect on it.  Considering that putting up a tree, decorating and exchanging gifts are completely unbiblical and the pagan part of this pagan rooted holiday- to me it seems more appropriate that nonbelievers celebrate it than believers.  \nChristmas is a dressed up and renamed pagan feast that still retains much of its original pagan tradition.  The addition of "Jesus in the manger" is a nice touch but the fact is Jesus is not in the manger, and while it is good to remember this Biblical account- it does not end there and pick back up at Easter where he is on the cross. He is now risen and reigning at the right hand of the Father.\nBecause Christmas and Easter are pagan rooted man made tradition and not God instituted, they do not give a perfect, complete and nonconfusing picture of who Jesus really is.  Christians should be looking to the feasts that God instituted-  we have been decieved into believing that these are Jewish feasts that are no longer valid, the fact is Jesus celebrated them and they are altogether a perfect picture, giving clear and beautiful understanding of who our Messiah is and our relationship with Him.\nWhy would God invalidate the perfect feasts, the wonderful celebrations He instituted for His people in exchange for pagan, imperfect ritual that when it comes down to it is nothing more than strange fire?\nAt this point in our culture Christmas is one of two things,  a tradition so ingrained that one cannot let go even though the stress of outdoing the other or last year to get the best gift for everyone and live the rest of the year in debt dreading next Christmas, or a time to celebrate friends and family, a time to relax from the hustle and bustle of the year, reflect on the blessings and slow down to celebrate family-  if the nonbelievers (and believers alike)  are celebrating the way of celebrating family, more power to them - from what I observed the nonbelievers know more about the origin of Christmas and what the traditions really mean than the believers do and that if nothing else should be humbling and convicting to the heart of the believer!
151883
Most of the holidays celebrated today have a pagan origin, which means that they aroused from false religions.  These false religions used these celebrations to do bad things, like the worship of false gods and idols.  Many of the holidays today are an excuse for people to eat and drink in excess and commit acts of immorality, which, obviously, are things God condemns.