why do christians celebrate christmas?

Question

If christians believe christmas is a religous holiday, why did they adopt a lot of the pagan rituals to go along with it? Christmas trees were derived from the yule log. The idea of santa and presents came from the danes. christians just churched it up, to make it a celebration of christ's birth. When we all know jesus of nazerene,was not born in the winter but spring.

Answer 1

Another way of asking this is, "Why are true Christians considered odd for NOT celebrating Christmas?



Christmas - It's Origins And Associations

http://searchforbibletruths.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-how-should-christian-view-it.html

Answer 2

They did not adopt a lot of pagan rituals. They adopted none, as far as the historical evidence goes.



Christmas tree - no evidence of this at all in any pagan society. Christ was known to early Christian writers as the new Tree of Life, the original being in the Garden of Eden. The glass baubles represent the fruit of the tree.



Yule log - No evidence of this from pre-Christian religions either. Not mentioned in any of the old Viking or Germanic sagas.



Santa Claus - Derived from Saint Nicholas, a Christian bishop known for his secret gift giving.



Jesus' actual birthday - Simply not known. There is nothing in the bible from which you can deduce it. December 25th is just as likely as any other day. However, it is the day the church chose to celebrate His birth 1700 years ago.

Answer 3

Christmas trees are actually a cross between two trees that German Christians bred. Not a log. The idea of Santa came from a 3rd century saint by the name of Saint Nicholas who loved children and gave all of his money every year to give children gifts in the name of Christ. Christmas is the day Christians chose to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Answer 4

I am celebrating the birth of the Messiah as far as the date goes it doesn't matter to me.

As for the pagan symbols you are referring to they were used to apply a different meaning.

To me the tree I have up is not about whatever it is a symbol in my home to remember those Christmases of the past and ornaments each a story to remind me of my family members that are alive and those who are long gone. A tree of remembrance.



You question lacks originality because every year someone comes along and rehash the same old story.



1) Christmas is too commercialized

2) We need to get back to the Original meaning

3) People like you bring come up with the some question about the pagan roots of the parts of symbols Christians use.



Each I can't do anything about them but to work on myself and try to get closer to G-d.



So this season I wish you a Happy Hanukkah (a celebration that Yeshua himself celebrated)

and Merry Christmas as I remember the birth of our Savior.



Yours too if you want just ask him.

Answer 5

Because it is (or was) a pagan festival. As the other guy says it actually celebrates the winter solstice. It's a mismatch because we didn't get the calendar accurate until fairly recently. When the Catholic church was made the state religion by Constantine back in three hundred and something at the council of Nicea, the church needed help converting all the non-Christians. It did so by transposing Christian festivals for the pagan ones. Since no one knows when Christ was born and it was the major pagan festival they used that.

They also moved the sabbath from Saturday for the same reason.

Answer 6

Oh yes. The "pagan" rituals. I expected it from the question.



Did it ever occur to you and the countless others who ask the same question twice a year--Easter gets the same question--that early Christian leaders used celebrated pagan holidays to relate to Christianity to help the pagans understand better? It's a classic teaching technique to use what the students knows in helping him/her understand the new concept. Thus, Christians were helping pagans understand Jesus, his birth, his divinity, etc. by linking it to pagan celebrations. Therefore, what was once pagan has become Christian. Once the pagan's were converted, they continued to celebrate their holidays but with a Christian connection. It's really not that difficult to understand.



And, indeed, Santa Claus comes from Saint Nicholas, the bishop of Myra in Turkey. He had a reputation of putting coins in the shoes of those who left them outside their doors. Now, tell me you can't see the connection between the two?

Answer 7

Why do you care and/or want to celebrate Christian holidays?



Is it a coincidence that American atheists only celebrate Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, oh, only Christian-centric holidays! The reality is atheist love Christian holidays and want to find ways to rationalize for why their doing it, so they accentuate the "pagan origins" theory and run wild with it.



Some atheists are so brave when they stand up to Christians and against Christian holidays, and we all know these same empty suits would never stand up to other religion's holidays, 'cause if they did they'd hog-tied and ripped to pieces. It's a joke.

Answer 8

As you say,to celebrate the birth of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.However,so that you might know.A lot of the Christian celebrations do coincide with pagan rites.For example All Saints Day(Halloween)and as you've mentioned,some of the Christmas celebration has been influenced by the European traditions.Chris Kringle,Santa etc.But note the spirit of giving is strongly stressed and is a parallel to Jesus giving His life for us,the giving of gifts by the Magi and on & on.So merry Christmas to you brother.Thanks for asking.

Answer 9

So you really think that God, who is wise and powerful enough to see what's in our hearts and mind, will actually believe that we are celebrating some pagan festivals??? HE is wiser than that and no matter what the origin of the celebration was, HE knows that we don't and have never belonged to those pagan beliefs.



But, of course, only a true believer is able to trust in God's discernment.

Answer 10

they do both the toys and to celebrate the birth of the savior Christ Jesus, Christmas was put on that day by Christians because it was a pagan holiday and wanted to over shadow it.

Answer 11

For your information, the original of "Santa" was St Nicholas, who was not exactly known for being a pagan.

Answer 12

Santa was derived from Saint Nicholas.



Please stop the insanity. It's just a celebration get over it

Answer 13

because it is on this day we celebrate the birth of christ

Answer 14

Because Yeshua/Jesus Is The Reason For The Season.

Answer 15

Thank you. Hail Odin and merry Yule

Answer 16

Because its a day to celebrate the Annual airing of The Wizard of Oz and Zulu of course!

Answer 17

At this point it is mindless habit.

But, no problem, it's the same reason the rest of us celebrate it.

Answer 18

The story of the Grinch stealing Christmas repeats itself... spiritually speaking, of course!

Answer 19

They like to remember the solstice?



Sten (above): you might want to research the history of Christmas. It has little to do with dead Jewish carpenters.

Answer 20

why do atheists celebrate christmas?

http://www.essortment.com/all/christmaspagan_rece.htm



and santa was derived from st. nicholas , who is catholic (christian)

Answer 21

Persons who have turned their life over to God have repented( turn from sin) Any involvement in idols ect is sin cut & dry. They are not celbrating for God!

Answer 22

WOW!!! THIS QUESTION HAS NEVER EVER BEEN ASKED HERE!!!



Oh, sorry...... here's YOUR sign.....

Answer 23

Becuase of the birth of Christ, not toys.

Answer 24

Where'd you read that, some Atheist propaganda website?