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Thanks interesting replies. Yea I am not trying to run down Christmas I love Christmas the decorations, except for the loneliness part and me being single I hate that,
But Id like to get more about the history as we go its all good.
For many including myself in the past Christmas is a lonely time. You can just go out sing carols and enjoy the Winter Solstice celebrations.
Have a Happy whatever!
The symbolism is apt for the Northern Hemisphere. The light diminishes until it's at the lowest ebb. Then the process reverses itself and light starts returning.This one would be appropriate too.
Have a pleasant ongoing rebirth
It's rooted in pagan practices and traditions, but it's current manifestation is Christian - for the moment.
It's definitely taking on more of a secular tone in this day and age. It feels like the nativity is just slapped onto the side while Yolfathr, I mean Yule Father, I mean Father Christmas, I mean Saint Nicholas, I mean Santa Claus takes the spot light.
Interesting how in spite of Christian's attempts to hijack holidays, they never were able to muscle out the pagan roots and traditions. Just as well; they would be a lot more boring without them.
Could not find my old thread so I had to put it up again Merry Christmas.
How could it be pagan when we are celebrating the birth of the Christ child?
The general idea idea that gets endlessly repeated is "Christians are devious and tried to hijack Pagan festivals as a cheap marketing ploy to dupe the masses".
It's completely wrong, but that's the general idea.
Actually its still pagan with a thin "Christian" label grafted over the top of it. But is that OK with God?
2 Corinthians 6:14-18...
"Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? 15 Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Beʹli·al [the devil]? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? For we are a temple of a living God; just as God said: “I will reside among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 17 “‘Therefore, get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing’”; “‘and I will take you in.’” 18 “‘And I will become a father to you, and you will become sons and daughters to me,’ says Jehovah, the Almighty.”
According to this, a Christian cannot mix true worship with false religion. We have to separate ourselves from those spiritually "unclean" things.
Exactly. Atheists celebrate it like the greed-fest that it is. Its a commercial holy day dedicated to the god of mammon. Funny how Santa is so generous to the rich kids but so mean to the poor ones.
Boring maybe.....but probably more acceptable to God if we just give them a wide berth.....
The general idea idea that gets endlessly repeated is "Christians are devious and tried to hijack Pagan festivals as a cheap marketing ploy to dupe the masses".
It's completely wrong, but that's the general idea.
I don't know about Saturnalia, but there are definite similarities between Christmas as it is celebrated today and Yule. Heavy drinking, merry making, gift giving, etc. are all very Nordic pagan in origin. Instead of a flying sleigh with eight reindeer, Odin has a flying horse with eight legs. Instead of putting gifts in stockings, Odin leaves gifts in boots. Odin crosses the sky on the night of Yule. The Yule log is still practiced even today, minus the carved runes. Odin has dwarves who make him things. Trees were brought into the home with apples tied on in Yuletide. I could keep going, honestly.
How is this any different than Easter or Halloween?
In terms of how it is celebrated there are all kinds of influences.
That's different from why it is on the 25 Dec
Easter (pascha) is linked to the Jewish passover (pesach).
Halloween also has Christian roots.
Again, the how may be different from the why though.
You're right, but this one comes close: Saturnalia - WikipediaThere wasn't one on the 25th
How could it be pagan when we are celebrating the birth of the Christ child?