Is Christmas a Christian (or Catholic) Holiday?

[Leviticus]

Christmas is a Christianized version of a Roman holday called Saturnalia. Many Christmas traditions were ones which were practiced during Saturnalia, while others, such as the Yule Log, were borrowed from other Pagan faiths. The Yule Log is based on the Norse holiday of Yul, or Jul for example. Jul is even what most Norse countries call Christmas to this day.

Even the Christmas tree is borrowed from Pagans.

The reason Saturnalia became Christmas was because of the Roman government, proclamation that Christianity was the official faith of the Roman Empire, ad promised Pagan Romans, who were upset that they would still be allowed to practice elements of their faith and celebrate certain festivals in order to appease them and prevent rebellion. So, they basically just took a bunch of Pagan traditions and slapped Jesus' name on them,

Early Christmas celebrations were so much like their Pagan precursors that the Catholic Church even banned Christmas for several years because they viewed it as "unchristian".

 

[zaangalewa]

Christmas is a Christianized version of a Roman holday called Saturnalia. ...

Wrong date. The Saturnalia were from the 17th-23rd of December. In later times 17th-30th. And the Saturnalia (country festival) are more comparable with Carnival. Slaves and masters for example changed their roles for a day and so on.

 

[zaangalewa]

Even the Christmas tree is borrowed from Pagans. ...

The Christmas tree is a German invention and about 500 years old. Has nothing to do with pagans. Since the 18th century Christmas trees are very popular.

 

[zaangalewa]

... the Catholic Church even banned Christmas for several years because they viewed it as "unchristian".

Source for this nonsense? The Christmas tree once started as a symbol for the tree in the paradise. In history it always only had been a pure Christian symbol.

 

[Leviticus]

The Christmas tree is a German invention and about 500 years old. Has nothing to do with pagans. Since the 18th century Christmas trees are very popular.

The christmas tree was borrowed from germanian pagan traditions. There was a tradition in germanian cultures of decorating trees well before they were ever converted to christianity.

 

[zaangalewa]

The christmas tree was borrowed from germanian pagan traditions.

No. Scuh tress weer "mighty" - big and imposing. Christmas trees was more an effect of "nachhaltiger Forstwirtschaft" ... sustainable forestry. If you plant a new tree for every felled tree then this is much too less. You have to plant some more trees. And from time to time you have to give the best trees more place and so you have to fell some little trees which are not so good: nice Christmas trees - remembering the paradise which we lost and the heaven which we will win with the birth of Jesus Christ in the center. Sustainable forestry was a Christian thing.

There was a tradition in germanian cultures of decorating trees well before they were ever converted to christianity.

You have a totally wrong imagination of Germanic tribes. No one converted anyone under Germanics. A tribe had just simple always the same religion. It was also just simple totally clear to overtake the gods of the winners. Reason: The own gods had been weaker so they had to go. This normally happened automatically so no one had to convert anyone. It was more in the opposite that Germanic tribes forced others to become pagans and/or Christians depending on their own religion after they wan in a war. But many overtook the Christian religion because of the contact with others. The Wulfilla bible for example is from ~ 350 AD. And what you can see very nice in the names of the 7 days Jewish week are their pagan names. Never anyone saw any need to change this names out of a time when Christians and pagans lived together without big problems. The main reason for conversions was a better education, knowledge and organisation.

 

[Zebra]

I have the impression that some here mix up Christmas ....
.... and the German Carnival = Karneval or Fasching or Fasnacht.

 

[Zebra]

For me there is no question whether Christmas and Easter are Catholic or Protestant.
They are clearly Christian holidays.

And it does not matter whether there are any pre-Christian fore-runners.

 

[Zebra]

Funny how it ended up around the northern hemisphere winter solstice, the pagan festival celebrating the rebirth of the sun. Must be a coincidence.

Funny how it ended up around the northern hemisphere winter solstice, the pagan festival celebrating the rebirth of the sun. Must be a coincidence.

Funny how it ended up around the northern hemisphere winter solstice, the pagan festival celebrating the rebirth of the sun. Must be a coincidence.

it was intention!

 

[Stann]

it was intention!

Correct , Peter founded the church in Rome , the center of the known western world. The biggest celebration of the year was Saturnalia of the Roman pagan religion , Christmas replaced that when it became the state religion.

 

[Zebra]

Correct , Peter founded the church in Rome , the center of the known western world. The biggest celebration of the year was Saturnalia of the Roman pagan religion , Christmas replaced that when it became the state religion.

it was a clever move!

 

[Stann]

it was a clever move!

Political from the very begining.

 

[Zebra]

Because the Catholic Saints are not based on a Pagan pantheon, right?

some of them are

 

[Stann]

some of them are

The hierarchy of Angels better translates to the hierarchy of Roman gods. Michael was the strongest Christian angel , the equivalent of Apollo. The colors / chakras used to define each are not always equivocable. Then again St. Michael was seen as a strong saint in the upper hierarchy of saints , so you're both. Correct.

 

[Zebra]

The hierarchy of Angels better translates to the hierarchy of Roman gods. Michael was the strongest Christian angel , the equivalent of Apollo. The colors / chakras used to define each are not always equivocable. Then again St. Michael was seen as a strong saint in the upper hierarchy of saints , so you're both. Correct.

good,,!

 

[CarlinAnnArbor]

Correct , Peter founded the church in Rome , the center of the known western world. The biggest celebration of the year was Saturnalia of the Roman pagan religion , Christmas replaced that when it became the state religion.

Your "Christianity" was conquered by pagan Rome

 

[Stann]

Your "Christianity" was conquered by pagan Rome

Christianity isn't mine. Of course pagan elements ( way too many ) were incorporated into the Christian religion. They had to be an amalgamation in order to appeal to the much broader audience of the entire western world.

 

[surada]

I have the impression that some here mix up Christmas ....
.... and the German Carnival = Karneval or Fasching or Fasnacht.

Isn't fasching like Mardi gras?

 

[Zebra]

Isn't fasching like Mardi gras?

like it, but not exactly the same

 

[surada]

I have the impression that some here mix up Christmas ....
.... and the German Carnival = Karneval or Fasching or Fasnacht.

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