Christmas
- Christian or Pagan in Origin? What is Christmas really about?
"Prove all
things; hold fast that which is good." By reading on, you will discover the truths about these practices that most people celebrate every December 25th, without knowing what they are really celebrating or taking part of. We have selected links from various sources that we find really informative regarding Christmas practices and compiled the information below. Please note that we do not endorse all the information or the links relating to the information found below. Just 'eat the hay but spit out the sticks'. You'll find that some sites below differ in opinion. As with most ancient customs, finding authentic sources is not very easy. We would encourage you to form your own opinions. What Does The Word Christmas Mean? Excerpt from: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm The word for Christmas in late Old English is Cristes Maesse, the Mass of Christ, first found in 1038, and Cristes-messe, in 1131. In Dutch it is Kerst-misse, in Latin Dies Natalis, whence comes the French Noël, and Italian Il natale; in German Weihnachtsfest, from the preceeding sacred vigil. The term Yule is of disputed origin. It is unconnected with any word meaning "wheel". The name in Anglo-Saxon was geol, feast: geola, the name of a month (cf. Icelandic iol a feast in December). "Formerly,
when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not
gods. But now that you know God-or rather are known by God-how is it that
you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish
to be enslaved by them all over again? YOU ARE OBSERVING SPECIAL DAYS AND
MONTHS AND SEASONS AND YEARS! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted
my efforts on you." The Christmas Tree
Excerpt from: http://members.iinet.net.au/~gregga/xmastree.html The concept of the
Christmas Tree originated around 3000 B.C. in ancient Egypt with King
Osiris and Queen Isis. Excerpt from: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm Gervase of Tilbury (thirteen century) says that in England grain is exposed on Christmas night to gain fertility from the dew which falls in response to "Rorate Cæli"; the tradition that trees and flowers blossomed on this night is first quoted from an Arab geographer of the tenth century, and extended to England. In a thirteenth-century French epic, candles are seen on the flowering tree. In England it was Joseph of Arimathea's rod which flowered at Glastonbury and elsewhere; when 3 September became 14 September, in 1752, 2000 people watched to see if the Quainton thorn (cratagus præcox) would blow on Christmas New Style; and as it did not, they refused to keep the New Style festival. From this belief of the calends practice of greenery decorations (forbidden by Archbishop Martin of Braga, c. 575, P. L., LXXIII -- mistletoe was bequeathed by the Druids) developed the Christmas tree, first definitely mentioned in 1605 at Strasburg, and introduced into France and England in 1840 only, by Princess Helena of Mecklenburg and the Prince Consort respectively. Excerpt from: http://home.sprynet.com/~pabco/ptofxmas.htm Nimrod, grandson of Ham, son of Noah, was the real founder of the Babylonish system that has gripped the world ever since - this system of organized competition - of man-ruled governments and empires, based upon the competitive and profit-making economic system. Nimrod built the tower of Babel, the original Babylon, ancient Nineveh, and many other cities. He organized the world's first kingdom. The name "Nimrod," in Hebrew is derived from "Marad," meaning "he rebelled." From many ancient writings, considerable is learned of this man, who started the great organized worldly apostasy from God that has dominated this world until now. Nimrod was so evil, it is said he married his own mother, whose name was Semiramis. After Nimrod's untimely death, his so-called mother-wife, Semiramis, propagated the evil doctrine of the survival of Nimrod as a spirit being. She claimed a full-grown evergreen tree sprang overnight from a dead tree stump, which symbolized the springing forth unto new life of the dead Nimrod. On each anniversary of his birth, she claimed Nimrod would visit the evergreen tree and leave gifts upon it. December 25th was the birthday of Nimrod. This is the real origin of the Christmas tree. The book Answers to Questions, compiled by Frederick J. Haskins, found in public libraries, says: The use of Christmas wreaths is believed by authorities to be TRACEABLE TO THE PAGAN CUSTOMS of decorating building and places of worship at the feast which took place at the same time as Christmas. The CHRISTMAS TREE IS FROM EGYPT, and its origin dates from a period long anterior to the Christian Era. "And they shall teach my people the difference between the
holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and
the clean." The Yule Log
Excerpt from: http://members.iinet.net.au/~gregga/holly.html The burning of the Yule Log originated with the Druids and their ritual burning of a carefully chosen log during the winter. Excerpt from: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm The calend fires were a scandel even to Rome, and St. Boniface obtained from Pope Zachary their abolition. But probably the Yule-log in its many forms was originally lit only in view of the cold season. Only in 1577 did it become a public ceremony in England; its popularity, however, grew immense, especially in Provence; in Tuscany, Christmas is simply called ceppo (block, log -- Bonaccorsi, op. cit., p. 145, n. 2). Besides, it became connected with other usages; in England, a tenant had the right to feed at his lord's expense as long as a wheel, i.e. a round, of wood, given by him, would burn, the landlord gave to a tenant a load of wood on the birth of a child; Kindsfuss was a present given to children on the birth of a brother or sister, and even to the farm animals on that of Christ, the universal little brother (Tiele, op. cit., p. 95 sqq.). Excerpt from: http://home.sprynet.com/~pabco/ptofxmas.htm The yule log is in reality the "sun log." "Yule" means "Wheel," a pagan symbol of the sun. Yet today professing Christians speak of the "sacred yule-tide season"! "Preach the
Word; be prepared in SEASON and out of SEASON; correct, rebuke and
encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will
come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their
own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to
say what their itching ears want to hear..." Holly Wreath
Excerpt from: http://members.iinet.net.au/~gregga/holly.html Holly berries were also considered sacred to the sun-god. Holly was revered along with the mistletoe, with decorations in those greeneries prominent in buildings and places of worship during the winter festival - leading to the holly wreath that we have today. Excerpt from: http://home.sprynet.com/~pabco/ptofxmas.htm Holly berries were also considered sacred to the sun-god. Even the lighting of fires and candles as a Christian ceremony is merely a ontinuation of the pagan custom, encouraging the waning sun-god as he reached the lowest place in the southern skies. The Encyclopedia Americana says: "The holly, the mistletoe, the Yule log...are relics of pre-Christian times." Of paganism! When you enter
the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the
detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who
sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or
sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who
is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these
things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these destable practices
the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be
blameless before the Lord your God. Mistletoe
Excerpt from: http://members.iinet.net.au/~gregga/holly.html The mistletoe were used at the festival of the winter solstice by ancient pagans because it was considered sacred to the sun. The mistletoe supposedly had miraculous healing powers, probably due to the fact that not only the plant remained green throughout winter but it actually bore fruit during this time, a type for fertility spirits!! This led to the tradition of "kissing under the mistletoe" - occuring early in the night of revelry and drunken debauchery, celebrating the death of the "old sun" and birth of the "new sun" at the solstice. Excerpt from: http://home.sprynet.com/~pabco/ptofxmas.htm Now where did we get this mistletoe custom? Among the ancient pagans the mistletoe was used at this festival of the winter solstice because it was considered sacred to the sun, because of its supposed miraculous healing power. The pagan custom of kissing under the mistletoe was an early step in the night of revelry and drunkren debauchery - celebrating the death of the "old sun" and the birth of the new at the winter solstice. Mistletoe, sacred in pagan festivals, is a parasite! Santa Claus
Excerpt from: http://members.iinet.net.au/~gregga/santa.html Also known as "Father
Christmas", the myths and legends surrounding Santa Claus are a mixture of
pagan customs from differing regions. Excerpt from: http://home.sprynet.com/~pabco/ptofxmas.htm But surely dear old Santa Claus is not a creature of pagan birth? But he is, and his real character is not so benevolent and holy as many suppose. The name "Santa Claus" is a corruption of the name "St. Nicholas," a Roman Catholic bishop who lived in the 5th century. Look in the Encyclopedia Brittanica, volume 19, pages 648-649, 11th edition, where you'll read: "St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra, a saint honored by the Greeks and Latins on the 6th of December... A legend of his surreptitious bestowal of dowries on the three daughters of an impoverished citizen...is said to have originated the old custom of giving presents in secret on the Eve of St. Nicholas [Dec. 6], subsequently transferred to Christmas day. Hence the association of Christmas with Santa Claus..." Through the years, parents punish their children for telling falsehoods. Then, at Christmas time, they themselves tell their little children this "Santa Claus" lie! Is it any wonder many of them, when they grow up and learn the truth, begin to believe God is a myth, too? Giving Christmas Gifts
Excerpt from: http://members.iinet.net.au/~gregga/xmasgift.html The wonderful tradition of exchanging gifts during Christmas. That excitement of looking forward to seeing what your loved one buys for you for Christmas. Oh of course, it is "Christian" to be giving gifts to one another.... but is it?? WELL HOW ABOUT THE GIVING
OF GIFTS TO BABY JESUS BY THE WISE MEN??
Notice here.... the wise men gave Jesus gifts because He was a KING of the Jews - it was not because it was His birthday. It was customary to give gifts to someone who is a King, just as it is so in many cultures today. In any case, the wise men didn't give any gifts to Jesus until long after His birthday.
Consider the poor among us who can't afford to buy gifts at Christmas time? Why is it that strife and torment increases around Christmas time? Family breakups, murders, suicides increases around Christmas time! Many of the impoverished among us speaks of the torments of not being able to buy gifts for one another at Christmas time, leading many to despair and suicide. Many tells of Christmas as being "a time of pain and heartbreak". Many will proclaim "it is the thought that counts", however reality is, we're bombarded by and surrounded by commercialised messages proclaiming in effect "how much you love someone is dictated by how much money you spend on a gift for them". Excerpt from: http://home.sprynet.com/~pabco/ptofxmas.htm But when it comes to the most important part of all in this Christmas observance - the Christmas shopping season - the buying and exchanging of gifts - many will exclaim triumphantly, "Well, at least the Bible tells us to do that. Didn't the wise men give gifts when Christ was born?" Again, we are due for some surprises, when we learn the plain truth. First, let's look at the historic origin of trading gifts back and forth, then see exactly what the Bible DOES say about it. From the Bibliotheca Sacra, volume 12, pages 153-155, we quote: "The interchange of presents between friends is alike characteristic of Christmas and the Saturnalia, and MUST HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY THE CHRISTIANS FROM THE PAGANS, as the admonition of Tertullian plainly shows." The fact is, this custom fastened upon people of exchanging gifts with friends and relatives at the Christmas season HAS NOT A SINGLE TRACE OF CHRISTIANITY ABOUT IT, strange though that may seem. This does not celebrate Christ's birthday nor honor it or Him! Suppose someone you love has a birthday. You want to honor that person on his or her birthday. Would you lavishly buy gifts for EVERYONE ELSE, trading gifts back and forth with all your OTHER friends and loved ones, but ignore completely any gift for the one whose birthday you are honoring? Rather absurd, when viewed in that light, isn't it? December often is the most difficult month to keep Christ's work from dying. People are too busy trading gifts back and forth among themselves to think of Him and His Work, it seems. Then, in January and even into February it seems they have to catch up from what they spent for Christmas, so they seldom get back to normal in supporting Christ and His Work before March. Instead of honoring Christ, it invariably retards His Work, often sets it back, at the Christmas season every year. Was Jesus born on December 25th?
Excerpt from: http://members.iinet.net.au/~gregga/xmasborn.html Christmas Day - December
25th - is near to the middle of winter in the Northerm Hemisphere -
including the Palestine region or Judaea.
The shepherds did NOT keep
their sheep in the fields during December! The sheep were brought in under
cover before mid-October to protect them from the cold rainy season that
would follow.
The exact date of Jesus'
birth is entirely unknown, though evidently He was born sometime during
September which is six months after the Passover. Excerpts from: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm Concerning the date of Christ's birth the Gospels give no help; upon their data contradictory arguments are based. The census would have been impossible in winter: a whole population could not then be put in motion. Again, in winter it must have been; then only field labour was suspended. But Rome was not thus considerate. Authorities moreover differ as to whether shepherds could or would keep flocks exposed during the nights of the rainy season. ~ LINKS ~ Holidays and Holy Days - (What every Christian should know about
Santa Claus, elves and more. .) The Plain Truth About
Christmas Graphics on this page are taken from the below links
|
