Christmas is widely accepted as a Christian celebration by the churches throughout the world. It is observed by hundreds of millions of people.
Regarding the origin of Christmas and the day of Christ's birth, note the following comments from religious and historical sources:
"Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church."-The Catholic Encyclopedia.
"The first mention of the celebration of Christmas occurred in A.D. 336 in an early Roman calendar."-The World Book Encyclopedia.
"Inexplicable though it seems, the date of Christ's birth is not known. The Gospels indicate neither the day nor the month."-New Catholic Encyclopedia.
The Bible ignores Christmas because it is not a Christian doctrine or practice. It is not of divine origin.
Jesus Not Born on December 25
Regarding the date December 25 given for the birth of Jesus, there is no evidence to indicate that this is correct. The evidence shows otherwise.
In the book Celebrations, by Robert J. Myers, we read: "The Biblical narrative of the birth of Jesus contains no indication of the date that the event occurred. However, Luke's report [Luke 2:8] that the shepherds were 'abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night' suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer or early fall.
The Encyclopedia Americana says of December 25: "This date was not set in the West until about the middle of the 4th century and in the East until about a century later."
Where, then, did Christmas originate? On this, there is general agreement. U.S. Catholic states: "It is impossible to separate Christmas from its pagan origins." It adds: "The Romans' favorite festival was Saturnalia, which began on December 17 and ended with the 'birthday of the unconquered sun' (Natalis solis invicti) on December 25. Somewhere in the second quarter of the fourth century, officials of the church of Rome decided December 25 would make a suitable day to celebrate the birthday of the 'sun of righteousness.' Christmas was born."
In 1643, England's Parliament even outlawed Christmas because of its pagan background, but later it was restored. In 1659, it was also outlawed in Massachusetts, but there too it was later restored. And U.S. Catholic reports: "Because Christians in the U.S. . . . associated Christmas with pagan customs, they didn't celebrate Christmas in a big way until the mid-19th century."
Nearly all the traditions associated with Christmas are derived from pagan and unscriptural practices. Really, no account is recorded in the Bible of peoples celebrating or observing Christ's birth.
Yes, it a pagan tradition.
Yule means Christmas, or the Christmas season. It comes from the Old English word, geola, which was a pagan feast that occurred around the same time Christmas does now.
Puritans refused to celebrate Christmas because they felt it was pagan in origin.
No he was pagan.
Yes Christmas is pagan, and I'm not just saying that out of opinion. Look into, Lew White "Fossilized Customs". It explains everything. No, Christmas is not a pagan celebration. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas began in the early areas of Christendom in the 2nd or 3rd Centuries.
No he was pagan and based on a Norse legend.
No he is Norse and comes from a pagan legend.
The Pagan Christmas tree is special because the evergreen tree represents Christian winter rites. It was adopted by Europeans and these trees soon were decorated with ornaments as well.
Nothing, really, if by Christmas you mean Christ's birth. The tree is a pagan tradition, appropriated by the Church in Europe and brought to North America.
Yes. It was stolen from the Yule Tree decorating tradition of the pagan peoples.
No he was pagan and based on a Norse legend.
It is different. One is religious and the other is pagan.