The day after Halloween on my way to school, I was so happy to see that all the Halloween decorations had been taken down. Sadly, I didn’t realize that most the world looks over Thanksgiving and just focuses on Christmas. Yesterday while we were setting out our Thanksgiving decorations, down the street some of our neighbors setting up their Christmas decorations. You may have grown up keeping Christmas or maybe your church taught that Christmas is good. But, I’m going to give you some reasons to think again before deciding to keep Christmas.
Where did Christmas come from? What is the meaning of it? Christmas comes from the pagan roots of worshiping the Roman Italic god, Saturn. The truth is that all of the customs of Christmas pre-date the birth of Jesus Christ; A study of this would reveal that
Christmas in our day is a collection of traditions and practices taken from many cultures and nations. The word "Christmas” itself reveals who put paganism to Christianity. The word "Christmas" is a combination of the words "Christ" and "Mass. The word "Mass" means death and was coined originally by the Roman Catholic Church, and belongs exclusively to the Church of Rome. The ritual of the Mass involves the death of Christ, and the distribution of the "Host", a word taken from the Latin word "hostiall" meaning victim! In short, Christmas is strictly a Roman Catholic word. A simple study of the tactics of the Roman Church reveal that in every case the church absorbed the customs, traditions and general paganism of every tribe, culture and nation in their efforts to increase the number of people under their control. In short, the Romish church told all of these pagan cultures, "Bring your gods, goddesses, rituals and rites, and we will assign Christian sounding titles and names to them.” When Martin Luther started the reformation on October 31, 1517, with other reformers following his lead, all of them took with them the paganism that was so firmly imbedded in Rome. That is where Christmas was born.
You may be saying to yourself now that its roots don’t have any bearing and it’s not really part of Christmas. Besides God says to celebrate it, right? Well, God doesn't say to celebrate Christmas. In fact, He says the opposite. God says do His commands and not follow your heart or traditions (Isa 5:20-21). Would God tell you to celebrate a holiday that is Pagan, or doesn’t even acknowledge God? As Paul would say, certainly not! In the Bible, there are only seven Holy Days. The seven Holy Days are Passover, First Day of Unleavened Bread, Seventh Day of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day. Not one of the seven Holy Days God commands us to celebrate is Christmas. God doesn’t tell us to celebrate Christmas, and it’s disobeying God to put Jesus Christ in something that He isn’t in.
Is Christmas actually the real birth of Jesus Christ? A careful analysis of Scripture, however, clearly indicates that December 25 couldn't be the date for Christ's birth. Here are two primary reasons:
First, we know that shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks at the time of Jesus' birth (Luke 2:7-8). Shepherds were not in the fields during December. Luke's account suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer or early fall. Since December is cold and rainy in Judea, it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for their flocks at night
Second, Jesus' parents came to Bethlehem to register in a Roman census (Luke 2:1-4). Such censuses were not taken in winter, when temperatures often dropped below freezing and roads were in poor condition. Taking a census under such conditions would have been self-defeating.
Since Elizabeth (John's mother) was in her sixth month of pregnancy when Jesus was conceived (Luke 1:24-36), we can determine the approximate time of year Jesus was born if we know when John was born. John's father, Zacharias, was a priest serving in the Jerusalem temple during the course of Abijah (Luke 1:5). Historical calculations indicate this course of service corresponded to June 13-19 in that year. It was during this time of temple service that Zacharias learned that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a child (Luke 1:8-13). After he completed his service and traveled home, Elizabeth conceived (Luke 1:23-24). Assuming John's conception took place near the end of June, adding nine months brings us to the end of March as the most likely time for John's birth. Adding another six months (the difference in ages between John and Jesus (Luke 1:35-36) brings us to the end of September as the likely time of Jesus' birth.
So is Christmas pagan? Does God say to keep or to not keep Christmas? Is it actually Christ’s birth? I hope I have given you enough facts to prove that to yourself. So next time Christmas comes around, think twice before doing something that is wrong in God’s eyes.
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125,029 Literary Works • 672,776 Reviews
Hello!
RandomTalks here with a short review!
This was a very interesting essay! I have to say, Christmas has always been just a Holiday for me - I had never really bothered to look behind the story that has been narrated to us since childhood. Your essay made me question and wonder and look at this beloved Holiday through entirely new lens!
I think my favorite thing about this essay is how passionate it is. You seem to really believe in what you are addressing and it reflects in your narration. I like how informal you were in your narration while still maintaining the formality of an essay/article. At times, you were directly addressing the readers and asking them to think about the facts rather than telling them what to think. That made me feel more engaged in the essay and made me feel involved.
Another thing I liked is the research you have so obviously put into this essay. Each statement was backed by a proven fact and it left no space for us to doubt the legitimacy of the content matter. In fact, it made the essay feel more concrete and credible, especially as your readers can see the amount of work you have put into it.
Now, coming to the criticisms - there are certain lroblems in the sentence structure at times. Also, you overlook the punctuations at times and end sentences without a period or full stop. You need to be more careful about your punctuation as these kind of errors often make the sentences seem incomplete and disrupt the flow of the narration in the process.
That's all!
Keep writing and have a great day!
Hello!
Interesting points you bring up. How come Christians celebrate Christmas even though it isnt one of the Holy Days? I have wondered that myself.
I liked this essay because you have a ton of evidence to prove your points. However, I'd have to agree with SecreteJournalist, for someone like me who is not very well versed in the bible, adding in a whole bunch of random verses confused me. And I don't know if this is true or not, but shouldn't they connect more? Although you may think these are obvious points, I think you should analyze your quotes a bit more to get someone like me to see the connections you are making between them.
You also start your essay talking about Thanksgiving and Halloween, but you don't mention these holidays anymore after that. I feel like that entire bit was unneeded. Sure it was nice to hear your thoughts about the way Thanksgiving iscompletely forgotten but it didn't relate to what you talk about in the essay. And in a way you were being hypocritical because you mention how no one pays attention to Thanksgiving yet you write an entire essay about Christmas. And I also think the part about Halloween should be clarified more; why is it that you were happy about Halloween being over with? Is it because you hate the holiday itself or that it goes against your beliefs?
One last thing, and sorry if I sound like I am attacking you. I don't mean to sound hostile! I believe you make valid points in your essay and that it is very well written. But if you say Christmas isn't one of the holy days God wants us to celebrate, how come you celebrate Thanksgiving? You might want to take out that entire bit about Thanksgiving and Halloween in the beginning to clear up confusion.
Nice work though!
Thank you for the Review! I will take those ideas into consideration!
-RavenLords
Maybe you need to brush up on your knowledge of the Catholic faith, ravenlords.
Timmyjake here to give you a review.
Christmas is not pagan, but the pagan world has made it so. It is no longer the day that the world celebrates the birth of Christ, but a day for the world to give each other bigs hugs and exchange presents. In fact, the giving of presents began because people gave gifts on Christmas to signify Christ giving himself to the world. And still others gave gifts because the wisemen gave gifts to Jesus.
Now, you say that Christmas means death and that Catholicism is a pagan religion formed before the birth of Christ. As a traditional Roman Catholic, I can say that Catholicism was formed ten days after Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven, after the Holy Ghost descended on the Apostles, giving them his gifts and strengthening them.
Now you say that Mass is a latin word and its translation means "death". Well, I looked it up at Google translate(handy tool) and the English translation of the word mass is... Mass!! Not death!!
Now you talk about the Mass that we celebrate. Jesus, during the last supper he had with his apostles before his death, celebrated the "first mass." His words during that last supper our priests repeat on the altars every day. He is the victim. He said, "do this in memory of me." Which means repeat it over and over and over.
The Catholic church DOES NOT just want people under their control. Perhaps our "good" Pope Francis does, who honestly I don't like. His doctrines are messed up. The Catholic Churches goal is to bring souls to God, not to gain control over them.
Also, you say that the Church takes many of the pagan customs and renames them. If so, name one and I will explain everything to you! Christmas is not a pagan custom, because Christmas was started on December 25th, in the year 0 A.D, the night Christ was born!! Pagans have taken our customs and renamed them for themselves, not the other way around.
Also, you state from the bible that the time of Christmas is incorrect. Well, let me clear things up. The census was given, yes, but you forget that the Roman Empire was enormous! The census could have been given from Italy and taken months to find its way to Israel. Also, did it occur to you that it might have been the only time he had? He was a carpenter, if you remember. A carpenter's slowest time is the winter. I know that because my dad is one. Perhaps that also played a part in why he went there in the middle of winter.
Another thing you state is that the sheperds were in the field in the middle of the night, in the middle of winter. Well, the bible is accurate, but doesn't always state when things actually happened. It doesn't say that the sheperds found Jesus on the actual night of his birth, does it? No, it doesn't.
And you say that after they traveled home, Elizabeth conceived. Well, does the bible state when after they arrived home she conceived?
And just because Christmas is celebrated by Pagans, doesn't mean that it is a Pagan Holiday. Pagans had taken the holiday on as a means of revenue. A way to make money. They have taken Christmas and changed it into a second birthday for everyone, shutting Christ out. Will you do that, too? I think you need to work on Holy days, too. The first and seventh days of atonement might be holy days for Jews, but not for me. I don't even know when they are and I don't really care! I am not a jew. I am a catholic.
Please do more research and talk to a priest of the Catholic Faith. If you are going to ridicule the Catholic Faith and catholics, at least do it with SOME knowledge of our faith!
I enjoyed this essay, though. Very well written! If I was someone who didn't understand stuff like this, I would probably believe you. But, as it is, I don't.
Can you pm me or just reply and we can continue talking about it? I don't want to have you not celebrate Christ's birth!
Oh, and one more thing I forgot. Christmas lights is something started by Cahtolics as well. Christ is the light of the world, so we put up lights to celebrate and remember that!
As for grammatical errors, I think you did a good job!
Christmas actually started as the celebration of Yuletide, and when the Romans took over, they overlapped the two celebrations to ease the passage of the non-christians into christianism.
I think this sums it up pretty well:
The Encyclopedia Americana, 1956 edition, adds, %u201CChristmas%u2026was not observed in the first centuries of the Christian church, since the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth%u2026a feast was established in memory of this event [Christ%u2019s birth] in the 4th century. In the 5th century the Western church ordered the feast to be celebrated on the day of the Mithraic rites of the birth of the sun and at the close of the Saturnalia, as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ%u2019s birth existed.%u201D
Christmas actually started as the celebration of Yuletide, and when the Romans took over, they overlapped the two celebrations to ease the passage of the non-christians into christianism.
I think this sums it up pretty well:
The Encyclopedia Americana, 1956 edition, adds, %u201CChristmas%u2026was not observed in the first centuries of the Christian church, since the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth%u2026a feast was established in memory of this event [Christ%u2019s birth] in the 4th century. In the 5th century the Western church ordered the feast to be celebrated on the day of the Mithraic rites of the birth of the sun and at the close of the Saturnalia, as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ%u2019s birth existed.%u201D
Christmas actually started as the celebration of Yuletide, and when the Romans took over, they overlapped the two celebrations to ease the passage of the non-christians into christianism.
I think this sums it up pretty well:
The Encyclopedia Americana, 1956 edition, adds, %u201CChristmas%u2026was not observed in the first centuries of the Christian church, since the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth%u2026a feast was established in memory of this event [Christ%u2019s birth] in the 4th century. In the 5th century the Western church ordered the feast to be celebrated on the day of the Mithraic rites of the birth of the sun and at the close of the Saturnalia, as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ%u2019s birth existed.%u201D
Christmas actually started as the celebration of Yuletide, and when the Romans took over, they overlapped the two celebrations to ease the passage of the non-christians into christianism.
I think this sums it up pretty well:
The Encyclopedia Americana, 1956 edition, adds, %u201CChristmas%u2026was not observed in the first centuries of the Christian church, since the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth%u2026a feast was established in memory of this event [Christ%u2019s birth] in the 4th century. In the 5th century the Western church ordered the feast to be celebrated on the day of the Mithraic rites of the birth of the sun and at the close of the Saturnalia, as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ%u2019s birth existed.%u201D
Christmas actually started as the celebration of Yuletide, and when the Romans took over, they overlapped the two celebrations to ease the passage of the non-christians into christianism.
I think this sums it up pretty well:
The Encyclopedia Americana, 1956 edition, adds, %u201CChristmas%u2026was not observed in the first centuries of the Christian church, since the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth%u2026a feast was established in memory of this event [Christ%u2019s birth] in the 4th century. In the 5th century the Western church ordered the feast to be celebrated on the day of the Mithraic rites of the birth of the sun and at the close of the Saturnalia, as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ%u2019s birth existed.%u201D
Christmas actually started as the celebration of Yuletide, and when the Romans took over, they overlapped the two celebrations to ease the passage of the non-christians into christianism.
I think this sums it up pretty well:
The Encyclopedia Americana, 1956 edition, adds, %u201CChristmas%u2026was not observed in the first centuries of the Christian church, since the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth%u2026a feast was established in memory of this event [Christ%u2019s birth] in the 4th century. In the 5th century the Western church ordered the feast to be celebrated on the day of the Mithraic rites of the birth of the sun and at the close of the Saturnalia, as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ%u2019s birth existed.%u201D
Christmas actually started as the celebration of Yuletide, and when the Romans took over, they overlapped the two celebrations to ease the passage of the non-christians into christianism.
I think this sums it up pretty well:
The Encyclopedia Americana, 1956 edition, adds, %u201CChristmas%u2026was not observed in the first centuries of the Christian church, since the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth%u2026a feast was established in memory of this event [Christ%u2019s birth] in the 4th century. In the 5th century the Western church ordered the feast to be celebrated on the day of the Mithraic rites of the birth of the sun and at the close of the Saturnalia, as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ%u2019s birth existed.%u201D
Darn. Why did it do that? I'm gonna go do something else. YWS isn't liking me today.
No, you are right. The specific day was unknown, but like Halloween, the Catholic Church put it there to divert attention from the pagan holiday and to make it easier for those used to the Roman life, who had gods for everything.We celebrate All Saints Day instead of Halloween. My younger siblings dress up as saints or people from the bible and we have a big party with friends, having games, etc... Thank you for that!
What I meant by "Christmas was started on December 25th, the year 0 A.D was simply to tell him that it was NOT a pagan holiday. It began as a Christian holiday and remains a Christian holiday.
That's ok. It got the point through!
^^
Sadly I'm going to have to agree to disagree. In other words I believe that I believe and you what you believe. This is just my personal opinion.
-RavenLords
I can respect that, but still. If you ever have any questions about my faith, just ask. I will answer as best I can!
OK thanks! If you ever have any questions about my Faith you can go here http://www.ucg.org/
-RavenLords
Aha!! Just noticed your were on the alien team! Oh... sorry. The ice cream warrior of Pluto. I'm a dumpling myself.
Are you guys ready to get beat?
Yes, we are losing pretty bad :/ But we are stubborn and we will never give up! We will beat you!!!
SURE!!! I just did another review. We are smoking you. Just get on your knees and pray. Maybe we will be merciful. I rather doubt it. Firefox is one rockstar when it comes to reviews! 44 and counting!!
Aha! I see again that you are going along with the persuasive, enjoyable articles/essays... good for you(:
Now this article, I shall again split into likes and dislikes.
Likes)
1) I like all the facts that are supported, and the intro! But onto the facts, they are all believable and its always nice to know something new!
2) The intro is very enjoyable, as well as something to agree with or relate to. People across the world go extremely crazy with Christmas decor right after Halloween. Though this may be an strong opinion, I can tell most agree with it immensely.
3) For a while, I followed my family tradition and was actually 'pagan' or 'wiccan' . That was up until this year, when I decided my family couldnt choose my future for me. I am currently an atheist I suppose. It's enjoyable to see that the public still recognizes Paganism as a religion(:
Dislikes/Suggestions:
1) Being I was never Christian, the bible confuses me immensely. Just adding in verses from the bible may confuse people like me. Explaining it more, or taking some out would help out a lot!
2) The very last line mentions 'God'. If this topic is beginning in Christmas, ending/concluding it in Christmas would make for a proper ending!
I do like this, and yet I have a few dislike, as I have mentioned. Do keep writing articles/essays though, I am enjoying them from you immensely... it's nice to learn something new!
Sincerely,
SecreteJournalist
Reviewing for
Epic Ice Cream Warriors of Pluto
Look into being a Christian!
Thank you very much for the review, and I agree that the verses might confuse someone like you! Thank again.
-RavenLords