Is Christmas based on a pagan holiday?
Things like kissing under a mistletoe, carolling, wreaths, and even gift-giving were all aspects of pagan holidays that were adapted into Christmas celebrations in the early years. In fact, most of the cultural aspects we associate with Christmas are steeped in pagan roots.
Why Is Xmas a pagan holiday?
In Germany, people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Oden, as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.
What is the pagan version of Christmas?
Christmas owes its roots to the ancient Roman holiday of Saturnalia, which was a pagan festival which was celebrated from December 17-25 each year.
Does the Bible mention Christmas?
Christmas Is Not Supported By Scripture One of the first things you will notice when studying Scripture is that the word “Christmas” is not mentioned in any verse, chapter, or book of the Bible. None of Jesus’ disciples, nor any of His apostles attempted to celebrate the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior.
What pagan holiday is in December?
Saturnalia, held in mid-December, is an ancient Roman pagan festival honoring the agricultural god Saturn. Saturnalia celebrations are the source of many of the traditions we now associate with Christmas.
Is Christmas a biblical holiday?
Although Christmas is not mentioned in the Bible, it is biblical to celebrate the first coming of Christ and His birth. When the shepherds found out about the birth of Jesus, they worshipped God and then told everyone around them that the Savior of the world had come.
What is the true meaning of Christmas according to the Bible?
The true meaning of Christmas is love. John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. The real Christmas story is the story of God’s becoming a human being in the Person of Jesus Christ.
Is Christmas a festival stolen from pagans?
In reality, the notion that Christmas is a festival stolen from pagans is quite as much a compound of confusions and inaccuracies as anything believed about the feast day by Christians themselves. There is no evidence — absolutely none — that the birth of Mithras was celebrated on 25 December.
Is there such a thing as paganism?
The answer seems to lie, not in paganism, but — as one might expect — in the great seedbed of Jewish tradition. Rabbis and Church Fathers in the early centuries of the Christian century shared a conviction that the great events of creation and salvation were framed by an essential symmetry.
Why do we call Christmas mid winter?
Saturnalia, this celebration was called: the feast of Saturn. It might seem fitting, then, that the festival we call Christmas — Cristes Maessan, as it came to be known in the 11 th century — would have been described by Athelstan and his courtiers simply as Midne Winter: Midwinter.
Why do the Romans celebrate Christmas on 17 December?
Instead, it commemorated a god who, so the Romans believed, had reigned over a golden age, and whose festival on 17 December was praised by poets as “the best of days”. The entire week that followed it might be given over to merry-making.