Author Topic: Christians Celebrating Pagan Holidays  (Read 1952 times)

lpp011

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Christians Celebrating Pagan Holidays
« on: August 31, 2011, 12:52:53 AM »
As a Christian, I find it odd when I see other Christians celebrating Christmas by giving out presents and telling their children that Santa will soon visit them.  As we all know, December 25th is the day in which we choose to celebrate the birth of Jesus and nowhere in the bible does Jesus' birth include a fat man in a red suit and his reindeers.

Are there any other Christians that do celebrate Christmas in the form of Santa, Xmas trees etc. And if so, what are your reasons for doing so?

GayeBann

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Re: Christians Celebrating Pagan Holidays
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2011, 01:45:56 AM »
Isn't this always an interesting discussion among Christians?  I do celebrate the "secular" version of the Christian holidays, mostly because it is a part of our culture and is such a fun aspect of the holidays.  I believe that even if we are not "of" the world, we still have to live "in" it.  As long as my children understand that Santa, trees, Easter eggs, bunnies, etc. are not the reason we celebrate these holidays, then I'm okay with using these things in our celebrations.  As long as we keep Jesus as the "reason" for these holidays, I don't think there's anything wrong with using secular traditions.

iamprolife2006

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Re: Christians Celebrating Pagan Holidays
« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2011, 11:42:34 PM »
I grew up in a family where my mother was a Catholic and father an Agnostic, so basically I had a secular Christmas with Santa Claus and "christmas" trees. When I turned 18 and became a born-again Christian I couldn't understand why some Christians would celebrate Christmas without Christ. Before my husband and I were married he knew how I wanted to celebrate Christmas and agreed that we would celebrate it as a religious holiday (Holy Day). We have a Nativity scene in place of a "christmas" tree and do not talk about Santa Claus coming to bring presents. We have seven children and one on the way and when our oldest two were toddlers I explained to my parents how we celebrate Christmas. Needless to say, they weren't happy with it but respect our wishes. I don't know why gift-giving is part of Christmas but we do allow my children to give it they want to and we exchange gifts with my parents and in-laws.
Sincerely in Christ,
Leesa C.
Eph.2:8,9

cgoddard

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Re: Christians Celebrating Pagan Holidays
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2011, 02:49:34 AM »
We celebrate a secular Christmas. We talk about Santa and give gifts and enjoy Christmas music and food. We also talk about Mary and Joseph and Jesus. Why not? What's wrong with celebrating Christmas as a time to appreciate family members with gifts? Jesus was not born in the winter. The season and the celebration really has nothing to do with Christianity. Christians just adopted, took over really, the holiday. The original celebration was Saturnalia, and I would much rather celebrate Christmas. No one celebrates birthdays in the Bible either, but we still have a party every year. It is nice to have a special time of the year set aside that the entire world recognizes as the birth of Christ, a time in which people are nice just because, whether it is historically accurate or not.

Easter is the same. It's a pagan holiday that Christians took over. Jesus did not die on Friday and rise again on Sunday morning. Jesus rose on the third day, not the second. The early Christians wanted to stop the worship of the goddess Easter, or Ishtar (the Queen of Heaven mentioned in Deut.), so they took over her celebration and made it about the resurrection. I would rather people be remembering and celebrating the death and resurrection of Christ in the spring than worshiping a goddess, so we celebrate the holiday. One thing we don't do however is pass off imaginary figures as real. My kids know that Santa and the Easter bunny are as real as Chuck E Cheese.

eric.cornelison

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Re: Christians Celebrating Pagan Holidays
« Reply #4 on: December 08, 2011, 05:39:36 AM »
I put up a tree and docorate, but when it comes to Santa, I explain that this is only a fairy tale like Peter Pan. I tell them the real reason we celebrate Christmas and my kids only get three gifts so they have to choose wisely when I ask them what they want.

catowoman

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Re: Christians Celebrating Pagan Holidays
« Reply #5 on: December 08, 2011, 08:41:02 AM »
Christmas is the season of giving as we are blessed to be given or born of our savior Jesus Christ. It’s like the best time to share and give like how God would want His creation to be doing. He already set His example. And in every birthday, there’s a celebration as we celebrate life and a new year to be alive. I think that is why Christmas is the best celebration in a year where the whole world rejoices. That’s why it’s colorful and everybody awaits and prepares for it. That’s why the environment is so alive because Christ is having His birthday. Some may not be aware of it but surely deep in their mind and heart they are celebrating for Christ as it is the reason for yuletide season. It’s different for the young ones of course but then they would know why Christmas is being celebrated if it’s being explained to them and that Santa Claus is just a representation of the season of giving. Anyhow, I always thought that they derive the idea of Santa Claus from Jesus or God itself or someone from the history who chose to give and lessen other people’s suffering or make other people happy.

eric.cornelison

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Re: Christians Celebrating Pagan Holidays
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2011, 06:03:22 PM »
Please remember why Christmas is celebrated on this day. We already know Jesus was not born on this date, but we do recognize it as a day of His birth and that is what should be celebrate.

catowoman

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Re: Christians Celebrating Pagan Holidays
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2011, 09:08:10 AM »
Thanks, Eric. Yes, Let us not forget our Christ in CHRISTmas.  :)

eric.cornelison

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Re: Christians Celebrating Pagan Holidays
« Reply #8 on: December 22, 2011, 05:16:27 PM »
Thanks catwoman, it just seems to me that some Christians concentrate on Dec. 25th originally being a pagan holiday, and not the real reason this date was chosen. Celebrating the birth of Jesus should be done everyday, but this is a date where everyone can celebrate this glorious event. Who cares if it also falls on a pagan holiday. I believe that it has taken over that pagan holiday and that was the original intention anyway. Does anyone know what pagan holiday was celebrated at the same time? I am not sure many Christians or non-Christians even know.

trentz

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Re: Christians Celebrating Pagan Holidays
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2012, 07:36:28 PM »
Well, certainly catholics celebrated the wrong date since as far as i know Jesus wasn't born in December. So Catholics must have know another Jesus. If we are to look back,  December is winter. 

Sandra Piddock

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Re: Christians Celebrating Pagan Holidays
« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2012, 10:09:21 AM »
I live in Spain, which is a Catholic country, and I feel they have the balance between religion and secular celebration just right. There are no visible preparations such as decorations in houses and city centres until after Imaculada, 8th December. This is St Anne's Day and celebrates the conception of the Virgin Mary. After 8th, the Belens are erected and shops decorate their windows with a Christmas theme.

Belens are representations of the whole village of Bethlehem at the time of the birth of Christ, rather than simple Nativity scenes. Shops incorporate a Nativity scene of some sort into their window dressing, so even as you shop, you are reminded of the significance of the holiday, but it isn't pushed down your throat.

In Spain, 3 Kings Day - 6th January - is the focal point of Christmas. Each town has a 3 Kings procession on 5th, and the Kings parade through the streets to the church, throwing sweets into the crowd. Spanish children go home and put their shoes outside, and the Kings bring gifts as they sleep. As in countries where Santa Claus is the bringer of gifts, the children are told that the Kings don't visit naughty children!

In areas where there is a large expatriate presence, Spanish children also receive small gifts on Christmas Day, and expat kids get a visit from the Kings. It's a great way for all children to learn of the real significance of the holiday, and the Christian religian has joy at it's heart, so why shouldn't the birth of Christ be celebrated in secular as well as religious fashion? It doesn't make me less of a Christian because I cook a special meal on Christmas Day.

Lucky120

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Re: Christians Celebrating Pagan Holidays
« Reply #11 on: February 03, 2012, 04:39:59 AM »
Well everyone can celebrate how they want to, but if you are one that hates it make sure to teach your kids about the real reason Christmas is here. We hand out gifts and stuff like that, but we always say it is better to give than receive. There are times when people need something to help them through. I have to say that there is nothing wrong with giving gifts, but make sure that you tell your kids the true meaning of Christmas, I mean they did give Jesus gifts. We do not do the Santa thing in my house at all, so I really have nothing to say about that. When I was growing up I knew that mom bought my gifts. Good luck to everyone and God bless.

zararina

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Re: Christians Celebrating Pagan Holidays
« Reply #12 on: February 13, 2012, 06:52:31 PM »
We do have nine morning masses before Christmas that makes everyone remember and know the real meaning of Christmas and that is the birth of Jesus Christ and some other important things about it.
We had adopted Santa and Christmas tree as representation of the holiday season and as Santa the representation of giving/sharing.

misumaru15

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Re: Christians Celebrating Pagan Holidays
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2012, 02:39:27 AM »
We have had a Christmas tree. We knew growing up that Santa was just a made up man. I do believe that people should remember to keep Christ in Christmas. Some people go broke trying to put on airs. That is just not right.

HollysMom

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Re: Christians Celebrating Pagan Holidays
« Reply #14 on: February 16, 2012, 09:14:13 PM »
The secular "Santa" is a made up man, but Saint Nicholas is not. In my faith, we incorporate Dec. 6, St. Nicholas' feast day, into the gift giving season. Dec. 25 is primarily for church and family, but many families exchange gifts on that day, too. Epiphany (Three King's Day) is a big part of the religious celebration. Many families--mine included--have a Christmas tree and enjoy holiday specials, but they are not emphasized the way the birth of Christ is emphasized.


 

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