Bun-Girl offers up this article about the pagan origins of Christmas in response to my post about Halloween earlier today.
I was already aware of the issues it mentions, but thank her for offering it.
Actually, I believe that Christ was probably born on the Feast of Tabernacles, usually celebrated in late September. I don’t recall the most likely date He was born, but it’s somewhere around the 20th. Because of the differences between the Jewish Lunar calendar and our Gregorian Sidereal (Solar) calendar, the date changes every year.
I enjoy Christmas, and take the time to spend with my family every year. However, I’m somewhere between cold and luke-warm when it comes to most of the traditions, such as the Christmas tree. It’s origins go all the way back to Babylon. Jeremiah even comments on a similar practice. (I don’t think this passage is reason enough to not have a Christmas tree in your home). 3 For the customs of the people [are] vain: for [one] cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 They [are] upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also [is it] in them to do good. (Jeremiah 10:3-5)*.
Easter is quite pagan as well. I celebrate Resurrection Sunday, but have no time for Easter. The name comes from the Babylonian goddess “Ishtar”, the goddess of fertility. This is why there is all the emphasis in rabbits that lay eggs! I have no love for the Easter Bunny. It did not die on the cross to pay the price for my Sin!!
All this is why I am interested in the Jewish Feasts. There are seven of them, each prophetic of something to do with Jesus Christ. They have their origins in the Bible, and offer more to me than the pagan frauds that our culture promotes. I don’t celebrate the Feasts, but am always interested in learning more.
*I had already gotten this typed up (but not yet published) before Steve of Blithered posted it in the comments. Interesting that we were thinking the same thing!
just to pick a nit, it’s actually Bun-Girl, not Bug-Girl. She hates bugs.
Mr Bun-Girl
Thanks.
Sometimes I type too fast for my own good.
Oh, and welcome back to both of you. I hope you had a great trip!!
Why is it morally questionable to Christianize something? Isn’t that the essence of redemption? God takes something evil (humanity) and makes it good. This is what the early Christian church did with pagan festivals, such as Christmas. This is what Christians are called to do in every part of their life. By God’s grace and assistance, make that which is evil work for good. This is biblical in every sense! To shy away from this calling is to take the first steps towards isolation and separation from the world. We are called to be IN the world (though not of it), to be salt, and to be light. If you take Christians out of Christmas then you take Christ and consequently hope from the holidays. What a tragic thing for Christians to do…