But best of allwhat a splendid antidote to the commercialism of the christmas season to be reminded of the true meaning of. Such wreaths originally served as christmas tree ornaments, and not as the standalone decorations were familiar with today. More specifically, when we use the word meaning, were talking about the purpose of his birth that christmas is supposed to celebrate. The early romans were not celebrating christmas but rather a pagan feast called the saturnalia. God loved his own and provided a waythe only wayfor us to spend eternity with him.
The true origins of christmas united church of god. December 25 is referred to in documents as christmas day in a. Not going out the true meaning of christmas tv episode. Christmas goes beyond religious and cultural differences. Christians began to see the secularization of the celebration day of the birth of christ as the shift toward santa and gift exchanging replaced. The first eggnog made in the united states was consumed in captain john smiths 1607 jamestown settlement. True, christmas celebrates the incarnation of the son of god as a baby born to a galilean teenage girl named mary in bethlehem. Though december 25 is the day christians celebrate the.
The origin of christmas presents in prechristian rome, the emperors compelled their most despised citizens to bring offerings and gifts during the saturnalia in december and kalends in january. Christmas or the mass of christ has long been known as the celebration of the birth of jesus christ, and the celebration first began to be observed in the early fourth century. Christmas is about totally pure, unconditional, irrepressible, inconceivably awesome, selfdenying true love. We hope you enjoyed these christmas facts and have a better understanding of the real reason behind christmas. He begins with an insightful survey of the nativity narratives in matthew and luke. Little baby jesus, three wise men and follow that star thats the true meaning of christmas. The origins of christmas the origins of christmas go back to before the time of christ when many ancient cultures celebrated the changing of the seasons. Christmas can be celebrated as completely secular because ultimately it is not a christian holiday. Take time this holiday season to celebrate the true meaning of christmas by glorifying the one who gave it all. No one knew exactly when jesus was born in bethlehem.
But christmas wreaths brought a new layer of meaning to the old idea. The song, the twelve days of christmas is an english christmas carol. The origin of christmas eve for centuries, christmas was celebrated not as a single day, but as a whole season in parts of the world, beginning with this. Owen chadwick, former professor of history at cambridge university, gives additional details. The english term christmas mass on christs day is of fairly recent origin. The original celebration is called saturnalia in which they create a feast to sam hein the god of the dead. Christmas is one of the most important christian and cultural holidays of the year, but what is the true meaning of christmas. Its foundation is based on the tradition of men and not the truth of god. This is the true origin of the christmas character we know as santa claus, who brings gifts underneath an evergreen tree every year on dec 25 th which is very similar to the ruler nimrod and his son tammuz. Many people mistakenly state that jesus is the reason for the season. The true meaning of christmas is a phrase that began to appear in the mid19th century when a shift toward a more secular culture resulted in a national backlash. And some of us celebrate holidays that, although unconnected with the winter solstice, occur near it. While scripture does not supply the saviours birth date, most scholars agree that he was born in the fall, not december 25.
In the northern hemisphere in europe, for example, the winter solstice, which was the. And this taxing was first made when cyrenius was governor of syria. The true meaning of christmas nimrod the lord of xmas. Pagan origins, christian adaptation, and secular status. An old babylonish fable told of an evergreen tree which sprang out of a dead tree stump. Christmas, christian festival celebrating the birth of jesus. World war i ravaged a continent, leaving destruction and debris in its wake. John was one of twelve disciples of jesus, and he wrote the book in the bible known as the gospel of john. He was not born in the middle of winter, we know that for sure because the sheep were out in the fields. The unexpected origins of popular christmas traditions. But from the midst of this dark conflict comes the story of the christmas truce of 1914. True origins of christmas traditions and real pagan.
But the germans got it from the romans, who got it from the babylonians and the egyptians. The original story involves violence and a doll kingdom. And consequently for the greater part of humanity, christmas has no legitimate meaning at all. A child was born in humble circumstances and his sacrificial death reflected the. Christmas, as everybody knows, is not the birthday of christ. Christmas is the annual christian festival celebrating christs birth, held on december 25 in the western church. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from caesar augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
The following demonstrates what the babylonians believe about the origin of the christmas tree. The true origin of christmas, child sacrifice, nimrod. The dark history of christmas traditions the independent. Colonists in new england followed the english laws and also outlawed christmas. But the modern worlds version of christmas does just that. The origin of christmas is presented beautifully in the wellknown biblical account of luke. The humble birth of jesus christ was never intended to conceal the reality that god was being born into the world.
In conclusion, the day on which christmas is celebrated has its origin based solely on nonbiblical sources. It would have been very cold at night in the hills of judea and it has always been the practice of shepherds in that area, not to keep sheep in the. The origin of christmas is the christ mass or the yearly church gathering in which the birth of jesus was celebrated. One of the most remarkable stories of christmas comes from one of the darkest moments of modern history. Most of the customs originated in cultures that existed before christianityin 1643, the puritans, who regarded such celebrations as pagan, outlawed the observance of christmas in england. The history of christmas trees christmas tree facts and. Tweet reddit flipboard email some christmas traditions have pagan roots. The true meaning of christmas specials tv movie 2002 imdb. The reality of the history and origins of christmas traditions. We have touched on it without directly focusing on it.
The true pagan history behind christmas should have us at the very least question the practice. They do so, because they believe people have lost sight of the true meaning of christmas. In short, the christmas holiday we celebrate today is indicative of christianitys willingness to absorb the worlds customs and traditions, and forget its. To discover the god being honored at christmas, it is necessary to trace its pagan origins. Christmas is indeed a time to celebrate gods blessings and peace. The tradition of adding candles to the tree branches is most commonly attributed to martin luther, leader of the protestant reformation movement. Dave foley hosts a christmas special to convince himself through music, friends, and counsel from the ghosts, that christmas retains a special meaning in spite of the trappings of santa, money and gifts, and hollywood star power.
This practice has its roots in a prime function of all priests of baal. The problem is, yahushua the saviour was never in christmas to begin with. First, the birth of jesus fulfilled many old testament prophecies. The high point of the christian cult of the sun as a symbol of light was the making of christmas day. Later, this ritual expanded to include giftgiving among the general populace.
The bible offers many reasons for why believers celebrate the birth of jesus as the true meaning of christmas. The true meaning of christmas is the celebration of the birth of jesus who lived in israel 2000 years ago and who died on the cross for our sins 1 corinthians 15 14. When fall has given way to winter and snow covers the ground while lights twinkle from house to house, you know christmas is. He gave his only son to take our punishment for our sins. William gutsch, chairman of the american museum of natural historyhayden planetarium, further confirmed the original name of christmas with this quote on december 18, 1989, in a westchester, new york, newspaper, the reporter dispatch. The true origin of christmas was more likely the winter solsticewhen, after a long autumn of increasing darkness, the earth tilts into the blessed cone of sunlight, and the days begin to lengthen once more. Daniel goodman business insider the nutcracker ballet is based on the 1816 story the nutcracker and the mouse king by german author e. If you like our content and would like to stay updated please subscribe and press the bell next to the subscribe button to receive updates and notifications. Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the united states on june 26, 1870. From 1558 until 1829, roman catholics in england were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Origin of christmas the history of christmas and how it. No article about christmas is complete without some explanation of the christmas tree. The true christmas tree tradition can be traced to 16thcentury germany, where christians began to decorate treesor, if times were tough, simple pyramidshaped stacks of wood inside their homes. The history of christmas 85 y the origins of christmas collegeville, mn.
He paid the price in full, and we are free from condemnation when we accept that free gift of love. For god so loved the world that he gave his one and only son. The traditional date of december 25 goes back as far as a. As such, anyone who considers himself or herself a true christian and who keeps the holiday needs to take a serious look at continuing such a practice. Another truth about the origin of christmas springs from the modern word cannibal. With dave foley, jann arden, dick dale, joe flaherty. The history of the twelve days of christmas catholic. The christmas tree is mystical tammuz, the slain god come to life again.
Its christmas eve, and lee and lucy face a possible christmas disaster when they discover the perfect present they have bought for their children has already been gifted to them by their grandparents. Hoffmann in the original tale, a 7yearold girl named marie slices her arm open after being startled by a vision of her toy nutcracker coming to life. However, some traditions associated with christmas actually began as a part of pagan culture. For christians, the true meaning of christmas is the celebration of the savior, jesus christ.
The earlier term yule may have derived from the germanic jol or the anglosaxon geol, which referred to the feast of the winter solstice. With lee mack, sally bretton, hugh dennis, abigail cruttenden. An old roman festival played a a major part in the choice of this particular day. The surprisingly dark origins of popular christmas.