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.

[Paigntonian]

The usual hatred against Christians. You expect us to respect non-Christians, rightly so, but don't give us an inch. Of course, you don't criticise Muslim holy festivals, Hindu holy days or Shintu festivals, Maybe it's because you don't know their significance or perhaps it's because you have absolutely no understanding of the Christian faith. Look forward to you being so predictably rude and ill-informed to other faiths as you are to mine. I expect it might be a while.

[Paigntonian]

Same every year. If you dislike, or even, hate Christianity then please don't celebrate the birth of our Lord and do something else. I would think that's the only logical thing for you to do. Have a happy something.

[Atheist]

Bobbi, you got it right second attempt. Don't take me too seriously, I try not to take myself too seriously. Thanks for your attention.

[Bobbisox1]

Haha , I dont Ath....I'll stick with that :0))

[Atheist]

Paigntonian, who are you addressing? I don't hate Christians and I don't think I have ever said that I do.

[nailit]

//Of course, you don't criticise Muslim holy festivals, Hindu holy days or Shintu festivals, Maybe it's because you don't know their significanc//

Or maybe its because I know that they don't pretend to be something that they are not.

[fiveleaves]

I am pretty laid back when it comes to Christmas. What matters is that Jesus was born, the date it happenned is unimportant.
Jesus almost certainly not born on 25th December as there would not be shepherds on the Judean hills in December.
Each nation has its own Christmas customs, some of them perhaps with Pagan origins, So what.
Christians will worsh out ip Jesus, they wont worship a Christmas tree.
Celebrate Christmas if your conscious allows you to. If you dont you miss out on a party, apart from this year when you miss out on a socially distanced gathering of up to 3 households for 5 days

[idiosyncrasy]

Christmas seems to be the "in" thing at the moment. Regardless of the dangers of COVID most people still want to go ahead and celebrate it.
I can appreciate the fact that they are not seeing family, but surely they can still "see" family via zoom, skype and whatsapp. What if they lived on the other side of the earth? They wouldn't be seeing them or spending time in their presence.
Looking at the history of Christmas it is a Pagan festival. Many of the traditions are pagan.
But its not just "Christians" who celebrate it is also the Muslim, the Hindus, even some Jewish celebrate it.
My family and I choose not to celebrate it. It is certainly less expensive. Have no worries after about my Credit bill being skyhigh and worrying about paying it back.
If my daughter or grand children want something special, they'd get it
but not at Christmas when the prices are high, I wait till the prices come down. I prefer to save my money and have a good holiday.