Why Do Christians Celebrate An Essentially Pagan Festival?

[nailit]

Called Christmas?

Even as a young evangelical, I never understood why Christians, of whatever flavour, celebrated what is essentialy a mid-winter festival that has jack to do with Jesus?
Nowhere in the Bible is it commanded to celebrate December 25th as the birth of Jesus.


*ALL* Christmas traditions, from a tree to ivy & miseltoe to xmas pudding etc, ALL
have their roots in pre-christian religion revolving around the seasons of the year and nature worship.

[Buenchico]

Prior to the arrival of Christianity, many ordinary people laboured seven days per week, with only Pagan festival days off. When Christianity arrived, those who preached it forbade celebrating Pagan festivals but, unsurprisingly, people didn't want to lose the few holidays they got each year. So they simply 'converted' Pagan festivals into Christian ones.

[douglas9401]

I'll say this for you, Nailit,

no,

maybe I won't.

[eve1974]

As buenchico said it was to keep the holidays. As a Christian I don’t think that the dates are important anyway.

[Theland]

We like the time off.
It is not a problem for us.
It seems only to be a prob!em for atheists looking over our shoulders and telling us what we should be or not be doing.
Yes?
Any more complaints?h

[Atheist]

Theland; do you ever get off your persecution complex hobby horse? Why do you keep having a go at atheists? Why not just sink back into your faith pillow and enjoy the experience? You don't need to persecute others, do you? Or do you?

[woofgang]

Because this
"On every world, wherever people are, in the deepest part of the winter, at the exact midpoint, everybody stops, and turns, and hugs, as if to say "Well done. Well done, everyone! We're halfway out of the dark." Back on Earth, we called this Christmas, or the Winter Solstice. On this world, the first settlers called it the Crystal Feast."

[Theland]

Atheist - Nailit does the not picking, not me.
I am simply defending my apparently UNchristian mentality.

Thank you Woolf. Nice.

[Atheist]

Thanks for a non-answer, Theland. Maybe my question was too complex.
Why have a go at atheists whenever you get the chance?

[Atheist]

Sorry, Theland; I'm still being too open-ended with my questions, and that's not fair. I hope you have a pleasant evening.

[woofgang]

Theland that quote is from a Dr Who Episode. It was a Christmas special one called A Christmas Carol.

[royfromaus]

Who cares...there's some cracking hiss-ups over Christmas

[royfromaus]

Normally :0(

[andy-hughes]

Theland - // It seems only to be a prob!em for atheists looking over our shoulders and telling us what we should be or not be doing. //

It's not a 'problem for atheists' as you put it - Nailit was simply asking a question.

Maybe addressing the question instead of playing the victim would be a step in the right direction?

[naomi24]

Christian festivals were aligned to
Pagan festivals to
encourage people to accept the new religion. There’s always a method in the
madness.

[THECORBYLOON]

Not all Christian sects celebrate Christmas and Easter, members of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland don’t celebrate them, for instance

[venator]

Moon day, Tiusday, Wodinsday,Thorsday Friggasday, Saturnsday, Sun day.

"Conquering kings their stories take from the foes they captive make"

[Theland]

Atheist - I am not in the habit of having a go at atheists simply for the sake of doing so.
I will of course ask the occasional question, but I have no axe to grind with atheists.
Nailit, as you will be aware, often asks questions of Christians with an implicit criticism of the beliefs we hold.
I address them, and them specifically without attacking atheists, but questioning the logic and reason for their non belief.

[jno]

I never understood why Christians, of whatever flavour, celebrated what is essentialy a mid-winter festival that has jack to do with Jesus

"why"? They celebrate it then because they want to. Ask an Australian why he celebrates a midwinter festival and he'll ask you what you're talking about.

Feel free to enjoy Queen's Birthday holiday even though it isn't her birthday, she won't mind.

[steg]

//Nowhere in the Bible is it commanded to celebrate December 25th as the birth of Jesus. //

Christians doing what they are not commanded to do,
is that not a good thing?

I find it strange that non religious people would ‘celebrate’ a ‘religious’ festival

[goodlife]

Good question if you study on with J W you would found the answer.