History of Christmas and traditions

[Tracian]

http://www.history.com/content/christmas/the-real-story-of-christmas/saturnalia


From the link:

In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date for his birth (a fact Puritans later pointed out in order to deny the legitimacy of the celebration). Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival.



Pagan traditions: Many Pagan cultures used to cut boughs of evergreen trees in December, move them into the home or temple, and decorate them. 7 Modern-day Pagans still do. This was to recognize the winter solstice -- the time of the year that had the shortest daylight hours, and longest night of the year. This occurs annually sometime between DEC-20 to 23. They noticed that the days were gradually getting shorter; many feared that the sun would eventually disappear forever, and everyone would freeze. But, even though deciduous trees, bushes, and crops died or hibernated for the winter, the evergreen trees remained green. They seemed to have magical powers that enabled them to withstand the rigors of winter.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/xmas_tree.htm

[LisaM22]

"In Worship of Pagan Gods"

http://www.strike-the-root.com/4/wasdin/wasdin30.html

"Someone recently said that he wished people would get back to the true meaning of Christmas. I wondered if he really believed this, because the “true meaning” of Christmas is rooted in Pagan beliefs. Christmas, as well as Easter and Halloween, are Pagan holidays. If we were to get back to the real meaning of these holidays, we would be worshiping Pagan gods. I wonder if most religious people are aware of this?"

[LisaM22]

the more you read about pagan roots of christianity, the more you start to see the truth of how christianity came to be

http://answering-christianity.com/abdullah_smith/cross_pagan_origins.htm

"The Vatican was constructed upon the site of an ancient Pagan sanctuary because the new is always built upon the old. In the same way Christianity itself has as its foundations the Pagan spirituality that preceded it."

even the cross was Pagan before it was claimed to be christian

"The cross is a pagan symbol that was adored in Egypt thousands of years before Jesus was born. The Roman Catholic Church adopted the cross symbol at least 600 years after Jesus was supposedly crucified. Even the early Christians of North Africa rejected the wooden cross after Tertullian condemned it.

Tertullian confessed that pagans worshipped crucified saviors hanging on a cross. "

[Tracian]

IMO, spiritual belief, regardless of what one follows are more the same than they are different.

Ancient people borrowed from other cultures, Roman and Greek Mythology a very good example of this, just as the Pagan and Christian traditions this time of year.

[witchywoman]

http://www.history.com/content/christmas/the-real-story-of-christmas/saturnalia


From the link:

In the early years of Christianity, Easter was the main holiday; the birth of Jesus was not celebrated. In the fourth century, church officials decided to institute the birth of Jesus as a holiday. Unfortunately, the Bible does not mention date for his birth (a fact Puritans later pointed out in order to deny the legitimacy of the celebration). Although some evidence suggests that his birth may have occurred in the spring (why would shepherds be herding in the middle of winter?), Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival.



Pagan traditions: Many Pagan cultures used to cut boughs of evergreen trees in December, move them into the home or temple, and decorate them. 7 Modern-day Pagans still do. This was to recognize the winter solstice -- the time of the year that had the shortest daylight hours, and longest night of the year. This occurs annually sometime between DEC-20 to 23. They noticed that the days were gradually getting shorter; many feared that the sun would eventually disappear forever, and everyone would freeze. But, even though deciduous trees, bushes, and crops died or hibernated for the winter, the evergreen trees remained green. They seemed to have magical powers that enabled them to withstand the rigors of winter.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/xmas_tree.htm

just wanted to wish u happy yule tidings and the brightest of blessings..

eta, im out, headed to airport to go to paris..

everyone have happy holidays!

[Tracian]

just wanted to wish u happy yule tidings and the brightest of blessings..

eta, im out, headed to airport to go to paris..

everyone have happy holidays!


Merry Part,

Be Blessed on your journey, and return safely.

[LisaM22]

just wanted to wish u happy yule tidings and the brightest of blessings..

eta, im out, headed to airport to go to paris..

everyone have happy holidays!

now that is celebrating the holidays in style, have fun :)

[LisaM22]

commercialization has really help make Christmas what it is today, the children enjoy it, family's enjoys it, it is what it is, it is no longer a pagan only or Christian only holiday, I see nothing wrong with that, in fact I think the holiday was meant to bring people together rather then tear them apart based on their beliefs

[LisaM22]

when the pope declared dec 25th as Jesus birthday, he was actually trying to take two holidays over, the other was Jan 1st

only the name "New Years Day" was more catchy then "Feast of the Circumcision" so the new religious name never really caught on


http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Feast+of+the+Circumcision

"Noun 1. Feast of the Circumcision Feast of the Circumcision - (Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Church) feast day celebrating the circumcision of Jesus; celebrated on January 1st"