I've heard Christmas has pagan backgrounds....any insight?

Question

I've been trying to look up info on the holidays' origins/practices....but I'm getting conflicting reports....Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

http://www.allthingschristmas.com/tradit…

As this site explains, very little of the traditions associated with Cristmas have to do with the Bible or Jesus. In point of fact the only day Jesus ordered his followers to observe is the memorial of his death.
Details of the conditions surrounding the day of his birth tell us he could only have been born in what for us would be the fall since December is the rainy season in that part of the world and shepherds would not be out away from shelter for their flocks.

But read the information at the site I referenced and find out for yourself.

Source(s):

http://www.christmas-tree.com/where.html

http://www.christmas-time.com/ct-history…

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

I liked the insight on the timing facts ~ and the links were very helpful.

Thanks!

Answer 2

Yep.

The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year (in the northern hemisphere), and it's a time to celebrate the time when the days will get longer and spring will return. It's a solar holiday, and it can be celebrated by non-religious people as well from a secular aspect. However, it was originally celebrated by pre-Christian Pagans from various countries and traditions. Many modern day Christmas traditions stem from the earlier Pagan traditions.

It's a time to celebrate with friends and families. Yule is when trees are decorated because the evergreen is a symbol of life. (It stays green during the winter, even though the other trees have lost their leaves!) Wreaths represent rebirth, because they are circular. Gifts are given, and big meals are eaten. It's a time to cherish each other's company.

Also, many other Gods aside from the Christian Messiah share the same birthday. Check out Mithras, Dionysus (Bacchus), and Heru (Horus). Worship of these Gods predates Jesus, so perhaps that is what is upsetting. Even in modern Pagan traditions, it is a time to celebrate the birth of a Sun God.

Source(s):

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=…

Answer 3

yes i have heard the same thing it has to do with the gift giving and the tree i think
i just vaguley heard somthing

Answer 4

There used to be a big pagan celebration on December 25, and the christians started Christmas then to lure people to Christ. What you have today is a mixture of the two. Celebrating with a tree is from the pagan side.

Answer 5

check out wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagan_Belie…

Answer 6

yes. we are mainly bible bas. but the romans put some of thir traditons into CHristmas and easter and etc. its all stll Christian based and alotta the tradititon in the catholic church come form paganism.

the romans didnt want to give up there pagan tradition so they incorporated them in with Christianity. kinda cooky.

Answer 7

check out this site http://www.locksley.com/6696/xmas.htm

Answer 8

From what I remember of history, there was an Ancient Roman holiday dedicated to a pagan god - Mars, I think - on December 25. Then, when the church was established, someone had the bright idea to celebrate Jesus' birth on December 25 to "cover up" the pagan holiday. So really, it's both.

Answer 9

Yes it does!

Source(s):

http://www.sabbatarian.com/Paganism/Xmas…
http://www.history.com/minisites/christm…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

Answer 10

The Pagans celebrated their big holiday, "Yule," at the time of the Winter Solstice. They celebrated it by decorating trees, exchanging gifts, and having a festive meal with their friends and family. After many Pagans converted to Christianity, they still wanted to celebrate Yule even though the church didn't approve. So the leaders of the early church moved the celebration of Jesus's birthday to the time of the solstice.

Answer 11

Who cares?

Answer 12

christ-mas that is all i have to say

Answer 13

The pagan Romans celebrated Saturnalia - in honor of their god Saturn. This became Christmas, once Pan died.

Answer 14

Way back in the beginning of human life people noticed that the days become shorter and shorter , then at one point they begin getting longer again. They were able to determine this by watching the sun cast shadows of stationary objects.
This period they called the Return of Light, and held celebrations. They decorated with evergreen branches because they thought that the evergreen was a favorite of the gods since it remained green while all the others lost their leaves.
The Romans celebrated their most important holiday at the same time. They called it Saturnalia in honor of the god Saturn, god of planting and harvesting. We get the word Saturday from Saturn.
Nothing was ever recorded of the birth of Christ, He was unknown until he began to annoy both the Romans and the Jews. When he was considered to be a God, the church had to find a beginning for him. They had him born on Saturnalia or the Return of Light for convenience of switch-over.
The story of the trip to Jerusalem does not agree with Roman records. There was no census taken that year.

Answer 15

NOT MYSELF..... The Christmas Tree came from the Germans!!!!! I saw a show about the History of Christmas on the History Channel just recently. Um.....there may be some things from the Pagen religion but not much. Most of it came from other cultures where there were not any Pagens.

Check out to see if the History Channel has a website and to see if they have anything about the show on the History of Christmas. That show explained a lot on the background of Christmas. I know it did mention something about Pagens and how we now celebrate it and where things originated from like the gift giving, the tree, stockings, and even why we decorate the tree, and so on. I do know, Rudolph was something that was invented in this country by a company.