christians will you be celebrating the new year this friday, it is pagan after all?

Question

ANCIENT NEW YEARS
The celebration of the new year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible cresent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring).

The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical nor agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary.

The Babylonian new year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say that modern New Year's Eve festivities pale in comparison.

The Romans continued to observe the new year in late March, but their calendar was continually tampered with by various emperors so that the calendar soon became out of synchronization with the sun.

In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the beginning of the new year. But tampering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established January 1 as the new year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days.

THE CHURCH'S VIEW OF NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS
Although in the first centuries AD the Romans continued celebrating the new year, the early Catholic Church condemned the festivities as paganism. But as Christianity became more widespread, the early church began having its own religious observances concurrently with many of the pagan celebrations, and New Year's Day was no different. New Years is still observed as the Feast of Christ's Circumcision by some denominations.

Answer 1

I can't wait to see the ball drop so I can yell "Happy Foreskin Day!!!!"(?)

Answer 2

I am a catholic (non practising) and i will not be celebrating the New Year, I may stay awake and watch tv in bed but I will be on my own as hubby is working night shift and it is the busiest time of the year for him in security work. i will be glad when it is over and I can get back to work. The highlight of my christmas and new year holidays is finding the enthusiasm to emulsion my walls. in the past the New Year was well celebrated up here in Glasgow but that is dying off, most people bring in the new year and then go to bed.

Answer 3

i will be making a Witches Brew on Samhain. also Moon Cakes. then perform a Sabbat ritual.... after that i will physically and spiritually clean my house, getting rid of all the negative things that this is trapped in the house this year, and bringing in room for the positive. :) Samhain Witches Brew 1 Gallon Apple Cider 1 Apple (sliced) 1 Orange (sliced) 3 Cinnamon Sticks 3 Slices Ginger 1 Handful Dried Rose Petals 1 TBS Spice (your choice) Simmer for two hours and serve Moon Cookies (Recipe) These may be used as Cakes in Communion. Bless all Ingrediants before using. Hold you Hands over the Ingrediants while Visualizing aPurifying White Light, and Say: Golden energy of the sun-kissed grain, precious drops of cleansing rain, beams of moon light from stem to bud, bring joy from up above . Blessing of the Mother , Strength of the Father, unity of love, so mote it be. 1 Cup Shortening 2 Cups Sugar 2 Eggs 1 Cup Oil 1/2 Teaspoon Salt 1 Teaspoon Vanilla 5 Cups Flour 2 Teaspoons Baking Soda 2 Teaspoon Cream of Tartar Powder or Colored Sugar Cinnamon Cream, Shortening, Sugar, Eggs, Oil, Salt, and Vanilla together. Mix Flour, Baking Soda, and Cream of Tartar in separate bowl. Add Slowly to Wet Mixture until thoroghly mixed. Roll into 1 Inch balls, then Shape into Half Moons or Stars. Flatten a bit with fork. Pre-Heat oven 350 degrees, Cook for 10 minutes After Cookies have been baked, spinkle with Powdered or Colored Sugar, and top with Cinnoman. Makes 8 Dozen.

Answer 4

"New Years is still observed as the Feast of Christ's Circumcision by some denominations."



I did not know that. Thank you for enlightening me. That will be something to tell everyone around the dinner table on Friday night.

Answer 5

Wow, isn't she so smart? I mean that's what you want to hear right? You did some internet searching and now you have all the answers? I live in a society which deems the start of the new year Jan 1, for business purposes, purposes of counting years, etc... I don't think God spends too much time dwelling on man-made calendars, so I would say I'm pretty safe.

Answer 6

My local priest stood outside the church with leaflets saying Santa was not real, and that children should be focusing on Jesus Christ, and not on presents, at Christmas time. My daughter was heartbroken!



To get him back, I'm going to stand outside the church next Sunday and give out Science textbooks.

Answer 7

Unlike you, I won't have a hangover on the morning of the 1st, and be puking my guts out, nor wonder how many people I had sex with or if I picked up an STD because of my drunkenness.



p.s. Lousy job of copying/pasting. Do you ever have any ORIGINAL thoughts?

Answer 8

I am not a member of the Catholic Church. However, my wife and I will grill out steaks at our home and not share the road with drunks!

Answer 9

Get a life.

New Year is not a Christian festival!

It's just when those that use the Western calendar choose to mark the end of the year.



What's your problem with Christianity?

You make yourself look foolish.

Answer 10

I wouldn't call it celebration, I watch the ball drop on tv and feast on great foods until midnight.

Whether I celebrate it or not though, on Saturday it will be a new year.

Answer 11

Believers in Jesus Christ can celebration everyday because we live under His grace. Everything we celebrate we give glory to God. God is concerned with the hearts of men/woman and not whether we enjoy a certain day with family and friends.

Answer 12

We Celebrate Jesus 365 days of the year and He is The New Year! We use a pagan calendar too....cherrio, pip pip and all that...

Answer 13

nope Rev. can barely remember the last time I stepped out for this event, I stay at home, usually crashed out long before the mid night hour LOL, but Thanks for asking, hope whatever you'll be doing is fun and safe:-)

Answer 14

Well I'm not Christian, used to say I was one though but now I know that Christians are mostly hypocrites. I used to celebrate New Years but no longer will I. It just sucks I have to live with my parents,even though I'm almost 19,it seems like they want me here forever. They are so into the world.Celebrating Christmas,Thanksgiving,New Years,all those pagan holidays.Cooking pork. I can't wait to live this house of devils.I told them I dont eat pork & what do they do alot?Cook food with pork in it knowing I done told them I don't.And I have to go through with them celebrating & it just annoys me.That's why I usually just stay in my room.I dont want to deal with that lifestyle.

Answer 15

You have GOT to be kidding me. Every culture throughout history has had some kind of year-end celebration, even if they were held at different times. New Year's in itself is not pagan.

Answer 16

Our modern calender wasnt even invented until 525 AD

Answer 17

Rev never get wang, you must lead a boring life to do all that research about something nobody gives a shat about. Have a happy new year !!!!

Answer 18

When a Christian celebrates something as a Christian, it is Christian.



When a Pagan celebrates something as a Pagan, it is Pagan.



All the days of the week, the month names, all are Pagan by your definition.

Answer 19

my family and i are taking my mom out for her birthday (the 31st) and i'll be spending the rest of the night with my husband. he's being deployed in two weeks.



my mind is on more important things...maybe yours should be too. be concerned for your own life and don't worry about mine. in short terms--mind your own business.

Answer 20

PAGANS HAVE TOO MANY HOLIDAYS HOW CAN ONE BE A CHRISTIANS AND NOT RUN INTO ONE OF THEIR HOLIDAYS!!!!

Answer 21

Yes, I might even have me a sip of....

Answer 22

its just celebrating the (NEW) year.

Answer 23

yes and you know your history what about Mussolini or Hitler? didn't they both die in 1945 ?

Answer 24

christians celebrate all of the pagan holidays for some reason

Answer 25

I love this question.

Answer 26

NO!!!