Though December 25 is the day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the date itself and several of the customs we’ve come to associate with Christmas actually evolved from pagan traditions celebrating the winter solstice. Christmas is celebrated on Sunday, December 25, 2022. It was first decided to the specific date in the Western calendar by Dionysius Exiguus, a Scythian monk who was an abbot in Rome. Why is Christmas considered a pagan holiday? In this secular Christmas celebration, a mythical figure named Santa Claus plays the pivotal role. The History of Christmas James Hardy JanuAs a main celebration in the Christian liturgical calendar, it follows the season of Advent and ushers in Christmastide, or The Twelve Days of Christmas. On the Roman calendar, December 25 was the date of the winter solstice (December 21 on the modern calendar). However, there are some differences of opinion when it comes to the selection of day of celebration. Now, as Christmas applies to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas is decidedly not pagan. European pagans were largely responsible for dressing their homes with the branches of evergreen fir trees in order to bring color and light into their dull winters. Some will answer that it means so much to the children and that it brings families together.Ĭhristmas trees did begin as a pagan tradition as early as the fourth century C.E., according to ABC News. Many know Christmas is pagan but insist on continuing to celebrate it. Saint Boniface (675-754) was an English bishop who went to Germany (particularly to Hesse) to spread the Christian faith. Face it, Christmas had nothing to do with Jesus before, and even though Christmas had Christianity written all over it, it. One very interesting and popular tradition partly from history and partly from legend in Germany affirmed that the Christmas tree originated in the 8th century. Jesus said in John 4:24 that true worshipers of God obey Him in spirit and in truth-which means according to the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17). This doesn't even really scratch the surface. Does the Bible say to celebrate Christmas? While the Christmas tree first popped up in 17th-century Germany, the concept derives from the pagan practice of decorating inside homes with greenery during the winter. Because of the prevailing culture, it is often difficult to simplify Christmas and to focus on its origins.Cultural traditions As for the cultural celebration of Christmas, there are a number of callbacks to pagan traditions. Adults feel pressure financially and work to create an outstanding celebration with perfect food, drink, and decoration for their families. Children have come to expect not just a gift or two from Santa Claus but to receive a large number of expensive gifts each year. Christmas has also been commercialized, with merchants counting on the Christmas season to bring in the lion's share of their profits each year. It has even been adopted in countries like Japan, where the population is not predominantly Christian. The religious activities were enhanced by food, drink, decorations, and an appreciation of winter as a doorway to the renewal of spring.Ĭhristmas continues to be celebrated around the world. Nonetheless, Christmas was consistently a time for families to come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus and worship together. Over the years, elements of pagan festivals were integrated into the Christmas celebration. So how did Christmas start? As history explains, it began as a religious festival. Francis of Assisi presented the nativity in the form of the crib or crèche used today. As early as the fourth century, hymns and carols became part of these dramatic events. Some of the early masses included dramatic representations of the Nativity. These masses started in various locations around and near the Holy Land. In the fourth century, most churches settled on December 25 as the date of the annual celebration. However, in various places around the Holy Land, starting in about 200 AD, masses celebrating Christ's birth became annual events. 11 Christmas Gift Wrap Ideas for Fun Holiday FestivitiesĪccording to the Catholic Encyclopedia online, Christmas (or "Mass of Christ") was not one of the earliest celebrations of the Catholic Church.11 Clever Ideas to Make Christmas Eve Service Memorable.15 Lovely Mantel Christmas Decoration Ideas.Its said that the symbolic uses of evergreen trees can be traced back to ancient. However, it is the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on the very first Christmas that we celebrate. Others associate it with the Roman holiday of Saturnalia, which was a celebration of the births of several Roman gods. The Christmas tree is a wonderful and historic tradition that we don our homes with every Christmas to fill us with spirit and to lay our gifts underneath. Some theorists have surmised that the celebration of Christmas is related to the Jewish Festival of Lights, during which Jesus was born.
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