I am going through all the booklets I have on the topic so you can read my resources. If you want to write an article or book on the topic please feel free to use as you like.
Rough Notes -WDHCF
Where did Halloween originate from?
How did we get it?
Halloween was celebrated by pagans centuries before the First Century Congregation was founded.
Introduced into the First Century Congregation centuries after the death of the Apostles, yet it was celebrated by the pagans centuries before the First Century Congregation was founded.
From Halloween Through Twenty Centuries, by Ralph Linton, page 4, it says, "The American celebration rests upon Scotish and Irish folk customs which can be traced in direct line from Pre-Christian times. Although Halloween has become a night of rollicking fun, superstitious spells, and eerie games which people take only half seriously, its beginnings were quite otherwise. The earliest Halloween celebrations were held by the Druids in honor of Samhain, Lord of the Dead, whose festival fell on November 1."
very distant from being righteous festival.
pagan holiday masquerading as though it was a genuine custom of the true Congregation of Yeshua / Jesus Christ.
parents allow their children to get involved in the spirit of the pagan custom.
The Encyclopedia Americana states, "it's clearly a relic of pagan times."
The Encyclopedia Britannica states, "It long antedates Christianity. The two chief characteristics of ancient Halloween were the lighting of bonfires and the belief that this is the one night in the year during which ghosts and witches are most likely to wander about. History shows that the main celebrations of Halloween were Druidical and this is further provided by the fact that in parts of Ireland October 31 is still known as Oidhch Shamhna, "Virgil of Saman.'"
Halloween celebrated by the pagans long before Yeshua / Jesus Christ was even born.
Halloween was celebrated by the Romans.
Encyclopedia Britannica continues, "On the Druidic ceremonies were grafted some of the characteristics of the Roman festival in honor of Pomona held about November 1, in which nuts and apples, representing the winter store of fruits, played an important part."
Halloween's pagan customs are widespread around the world to celebrate this season.
The Book of Halloween by Ruth Kelley writes, "The pagan Druid priests taught the immortality of the soul, that it passed from one body to another at death ... They believed that on the last night of the old year (October 31) the lord of death gathered together the souls of all those who had died in the passing year and had been condemned to live in the bodies of animals, to decree what forms they should inhabit for the next twelve months. He could be coaxed to give lighter sentence by gifts and prayers. "
Halloween Through Twenty Centuries page 5 writes, "On the New Year, their sins being expiated, they were released to go to the Druid Heaven."
Wheel of the Year, picture found here illustrates Pagan festivals such as Samhain (Halloween), Yule (Saturnalia - Christmas), Imbolc, Ostara (Ishtar - Easter) Beltane, Litha, Lammas, Mabon, which some of their customs have been grafted into Christianity.
Halloween / Samhain promoted the 'Doctrine of Immortality of the Soul" that the dead are not really dead.
almost all heathen countries had festivals or days set aside to honor the dead.
These festivals originated from the death of Nimrod, (Genesis 10:8-10) whom Semiramis said had resurrected from the dead when an evergreen tree grew out of a dead tree stump which is the origins of the Christmas tree associating Yule (Saturnalia - Christmas) to Samhain (Halloween).
The meaning of the word "Halloween" - Allhallows or Hallowmas, or All Saints Day which is one of the festivals of the Catholic Church says Lintons Halloween Through Twenty Centuries, page 3.
Samhain / Halloween was the evening celebration commencing at sunset, in anticipation of November 1, honoring the Lord of the Dead.
Who is Lord of the Dead?
Yeshua / Jesus Christ states in Matthew 22:31-32 "But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living"
God is not God of the dead but in reality and in righteousness, Yeshua / Jesus Christ is Lord of the dead.
the dead do not serve God (Psalm 6:5, 115:17), the soul that sins dies (Ezekiel 18:4), the dead know nothing (Ecclesiastes 9:5), the dead's thoughts perish (Psalm 146:4), only God has immortality (1 Timothy 1:17, 6:15-16), and only God can destroy a persons soul (Matthew 10:28)
to consult the dead is an abomination. (Leviticus 19:31, Deuteronomy 18:9-12) and is part of the abominations of the nations. (Deuteronomy 18:9, 1 Kings 14:24, Ezekiel 6:9)
How is Yeshua / Jesus Christ Lord of the dead? He defeated death as atonement for our sins but also to become Lord of the dead (Romans 14:9)
Yeshua / Jesus Christ through his resurrection obtained the keys to Hades or state of the dead. (Revelation 1:18)
Who did Yeshua / Jesus take the authority of "Lord of the Dead" from? Satan / Lucifer ofcourse. (Hebrews 2:14)
What is Yeshua's / Jesus Christ's function as Lord of the Living and the Dead?
on the last day to change the righteous from mortal to immortal (1 Corinthians 15:51-58, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18), to resurrect the righteous to eternal life (John 3:16) and the unrighteous to resurrection of condemnation (John 6:39, 40, 44, 54, 11:24-26, 12:48, 5:28-30)
Paganism make the "Lord of the Dead" other than Yeshua / Jesus Christ but give authority to deities such as Samhain, Baal, Nimrod, Hercules, Tammuz, Adonis, Achilles, Orion, Belial, Mithra, Horus, Osiris, Thor, Yule, Cronos, Kronus, Saturn, Odin, Bacchus, Dionysus, Molech, Deonius, Jupiter, Man the Branch, Wodan, Attes, Attis, and many others depending which variation of paganism the name derives from.
Paganism really is worshiping Satan / Lucifer as "Lord of the Dead" , as Satan deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9) and Satan / Lucifer is the Prince the power of the air (Eph 2:2) and god of this world (2 Cor 4:4).
Giving these deities the authority of "Lord of the Dead" rather than Yeshua / Jesus Christ is glorifying Satan / Lucifer and is a form of Idolatry.
In my opinion Halloween is Satanic.
people today are deceived into believing that Halloween is harmless fun, but infact are honoring Satan on this day.
most people know deep in their soul that Halloween is Occult, sinful, and honors Satan / Lucifer
Apostle Paul states that this kind of worship is worshiping demons (Galatians 4:8)
Halloween is not a righteous form of worship to worship God
The True God demands that worshipers worship him in Spirit and in Truth. (John 4:23-24)
What is the origins of All Saints Day?
November 1st, derived from the pagans is celebrated by in hundreds of Church denominations to honor the dead Saints
Pope Urban IV states All Saints day is "to honor all the saints, known and unknown, and to supply any deficiencies in the faithful's celebration of saints' feasts during the year" according to Reference Catholic Encyclopedia
How did Christianity come to venerating saints come to be observed on the day in honor of the devil?
The Catholic Encyclopedia continues, "... The Church, feeling that every martyr should be venerated, appointed a common day for all."
The Catholic Encyclopedia continues, "Gregory III (731-741) consecrated a chapel in the basilica of St. Peter to all saints and fixed the anniversary on November 1 ... Gregory IV (827-844) extended the celebration on 1 November to the entire church. The vigil (Halloween) seems to have been held as early as the feast itself."
From Halloween Through Twenty Centuries Ralph Linton says, "All Saints' Day was introduced into the church calender because the year was not long enough to make it possible to dedicate a special day for each spirit of the Catholic Church, ... That the day chosen was one already associated in the popular mind with a thronging of spirits of the dead which was quite in line with church policy of incorporating harmless pagan folk ideas. "
Protestant Churches observe All Saints' Day "since it was on this day in 1517, that Martin Luther posted his epoch-making ninety-five theses on the door of the castle church at Wittenberg, ... He chose Halloween night because he knew that the townsfolk ... would be coming to the church that night." (Halloween pp 9-10)
What is the origins of "Trick or Treat?"
Where did the prank of children knocking on peoples doors and shouting "Trick or Treat" come from?
From Halloween Through Twenty Centuries Ralph Linton says, "... certainly it comes from pagan times. ... led by a man in a white robe wearing a horse mask. ... which indicated that this custom was a survival of a Druid rite."
The horse head was sacred to the Sun God.
The procession levied a contribution from the farmers in the perverted name of what probably was an old Druid god. Unless the procession was treated liberally with gifts, the farmers were tricked with the threat of a curse that would ruin following years crops.
The custom of having processions at Halloween were further derived by wealthy churches during the Middle Ages copying the ancient Greek and Roman processions parading the relics of patron saints.
Poorer churches could not afford to buy relics so they used caricatures of their patron saints
Halloween Through Twenty Centuries page 103 states, "Those who were not playing the parts of the holy ones also wanted to get into the procession and so dressed up as angels or devils. The Allhallows procession around the churchyard eventually became a gay and motley parade."
the "Trick or Treat" custom simply derived from these former degenerate absurd customs which came out of paganism, grafting them into Christianity labeling them with Christian names.
It is not a Christian name. It bears its Chaldean Babylonian origin on its very forehead. The popular observances that still attend the period of it's celebration amply confirm the testimony of history as to it's Babylonian character. The hot cross buns of Good Friday and the dyed eggs of Easter Sunday, figured in the Chaldean rites just as they do now. The "buns" known too by that identical name, were used in the worship of the Queen of Heaven, the goddess of Easter. The prophet Jeremiah takes notice of this kind of offering when he says:
Jeremiah 7:18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.
From where comes the eggs?
The classic poets are full of the fable of the mystic egg of the Babylonians and thus its tale is told by Hyginus, the Egyptian, the learned keeper of the Palatine library at Rome, in the time of Augustus, who was skilled in all the wisdom of his native country.
"An egg of wondrous size is said to have fallen from heaven into the river Euphrates, the fishes rolled it to the bank, where the doves having settled upon it, and hatched it, out came Venus, who afterwards was called the "Syrian Goddess" -- that is, Astarte. Hence the egg became one of the symbols of Astarte or Easter.
From where comes the "Easter Bunny"?
That a rabbit, or more accurately a hare, became a holiday symbol can be traced to the origin of the word "Easter". According to the Venerable Bede, the English historian who lived from 672 to 735, "the goddess Eastre" was worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons through her earthly symbol, the hare." - Panati's Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things pg 55
Easter is another example of a Christianized pagan festival. For hundreds of years before the Messiah was crucified the pagans had a festival which basically celebrated the "Queen of Heaven." This spring equinox festival was known by different names in different cultures (Eastre / Ishtar / Astarte), but the same traditions associated with it are pagan customs. YHWH (God) commands us not to worship Him with pagan customs.
Deut. 12:30-31 says, "enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise."
You can choose the broad way (the way the world / crowd goes) that leadeth to destruction ... (Matt 7:13) The pagan bunny fertility symbol - Ishtar / Eostre to Easter - spring fertility goddess worship rites. Or you can choose the narrow way (of truth that few people find), which leads to life eternal (Matt. 7:14) - Leviticus 23 eternal feast days and Sabbaths Obey Elohim's (God's) eternal holy days (Lev. 23) for all Israel (including grafted in believers in Yeshua / Jesus) (Rom. 3:31; 11:17, Eph. 2:12-13) Check a good encyclopedia on Easter / Eastre / Ishtar.
This video exposes the pagan pederastic roots of St. Valentine's Day. Originally, cupid and his mother were the Madonna and child of ancient Babylon. He is always represented as a naked little boy with wings. Cupid is Latin for Eros the god of Love from ancient Greece, and Amor the Roman god of love, son of Venus and either Mercury or Mars. This day is dedicated to the fertility worship of ancient Greece, Rome and Babylon, but has nothing to do with God's Word.
You might suppose that school teachers and educators would know. But do they? How many of you were taught the real origin of Valentines Day? Why should you observe the custom of exchanging valentines? The silence of educators!!! Teachers are all too often silent about the origin of the customs, they are forced to teach in today's schools! If they were to speak out, many would lose their jobs!
Isn't it time we examined why we encourage our children to celebrate St. Valentines Day -- when it is never so much as mentioned in the Holy Bible as a practice of the New Testament Congregation? Today, candy makers unload tons of heart-shaped red boxes for February 14, while millions of the younger set are annually exchanging valentines Florists consider February 14, -- St. Valentines Day -- as one of their best business days. And young lovers pair off -- at least for a dance or two -- at St. Valentines balls.
Why? Where did these customs originate? Where do we find any such practices in the Holy Bible? How did we come to inherit these customs? Did you know that century before Christ, the pagan Romans celebrated February 15 and the evening of February 14 as an idolatrous and sensuous festival in Honor of Lupercus, the "Hunter of Wolves"? The Romans called the festival the "Lupercalia". The custom of exchanging valentines and all other traditions in Honor of Lupercus (the deified hero-hunter of Rome) was also linked anciently with the pagan practice of teenagers "going steady". It usually led to fornication.
Today, the custom of "going steady" is thought to be very modern. It is not. It is merely a rebirth of an old custom handed down from the Roman festival of the Lupercalia, celebrated in the month of February, when names of young women were put into a box and drawn out by men as chance directed. When Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire there was some talk in church circles of discarding this pagan free-for-all.
But the Roman citizens wouldn't hear of it! So it was agreed that the holiday would continue as it was except for the more grossly sensual observances. It was not until the reign of Pope Gelasius that the holiday became a "Christian custom". As far back as 496 Pope Gelasius changed Lupercalia on February 15 to St. Valentines Day on February 14.
But how did this pagan festival acquire the name of St. Valentines Day? And why is the little naked Cupid of the pagan Romans so often associated today with February 14? And why do little children and young people still cut out hearts and send them on a day in Honor of Lupercus the hunter of wolves? Why have we supposed these pagan customs in Honor of a false god are Christian? Who was the Original St. Valentine?
Valentine was a common Roman name. Roman parents often gave the name to their children in Honor of the famous man who was first called Valentine in antiquity. That famous man was Lupercus, the Hunter. But who was Lupercus? -- and why should he have also born the name Valentine among the heathen Romans? The Greeks called Lupercus by the name of "Pan". the Semites called Pan "Baal," according to the "Classical Dictionaries".
Baal -- mentioned so often in the Bible -- was merely another name for Nimrod, "the mighty Hunter" (Genesis 10:9). The hunter Nimrod was the Lupercus -- or Wolf Hunter -- of the Romans. And St. Valentines Day was originally a day set aside by the pagans in his Honor! But why should Nimrod have been called "Valentine" by the Romans? And why should the celebration of this day have been anciently limited to the city of Rome before Pope Gelasius' time? What part did the site of ancient Rome play in the life of Nimrod?
Valentine comes from the Latin word "Valentinus", a proper name derived from the word "valens", meaning "to be strong," declares "Webster's Unabridged Dictionary". It means literally "strong, powerful, mighty." Any connection with Nimrod? We read in the Bible that Nimrod was the "Mighty Hunter" (Genesis 10:9). It was a common proverb of ancient time that Nimrod was "the Mighty Hunter before the Lord." Nimrod was their hero -- Their Strong Man -- Their Valentine!
How plain that the original Valentine was Nimrod, the mighty hunter of wolves. Yet another of Nimrod's names was "Sanctus" or "Santa", meaning "Saint". It was a common title of any hero-god. No wonder that the Roman Lupercalia is called "Saint Valentines Day"! But why do we associate hearts on a day on Honor of Nimrod -- the Baal of the Phoenicians and Semites? The surprising answer is that the pagan Romans acquired the symbol of the heart from the Babylonians. In the Babylonian tongue the word for "heart" was "bal". The heart --- "bal" was merely a symbol of Nimrod -- the "Baal" or Lord of the Babylonians!"
Nimrod -- the original St. Valentine -- was also known as Saturn, the Roman-Babylonian god Hid from his pursuers in a secret place. The Latin word Saturn is derived from the Semitic-speaking Babylonians. It means "be hid", "hide self", "secret", "conceal". The original Semitic (Hebrew) word, from which the Latin Saturn is derived, is used used 83 times in the Old Testament.
According to ancient tradition, Saturn (Nimrod) fled from his pursuers to Italy. The Apennine Mountains of Italy were anciently named the mountains of Nembrod or Nimrod. Nimrod briefly hid out at the site where Rome was later built. The ancient name of Rome, before it was rebuilt in 753 B.C., was Saturnai -- the site of Saturn's (Nimrod's) hiding. There he was found and slain for his crimes.
Later, professing Christians in Constantine's day made Nimrod -- the St. Valentine of the heathen -- a Saint of the Church and continued to Honor him under the name of a Christian martyr. Why February 14Th? But why should the Romans have chosen February 15 and the evening of February 14 to Honor Lupercus -- the Nimrod of the Bible? (Remember that days in ancient times began at sunset the evening before.)
Nimrod -- the Baal or sun god of the ancient pagans -- was said to have been born at the winter solstice. In ancient times the solstice occurred on January 6 and his birthday therefore was celebrated on January 6. Later, as the solstice changed, it was celebrated on December 25 and is now called Christmas. It was the custom of antiquity for the mother of a male child to present herself for purification on the fortieth day after the day of birth.
The fortieth day after January 6 -- Nimrod's original birth date -- takes us to February 15, the celebration of which began on the evening of February 14 -- the Lupercalia or St. Valentines Day. On this day in February, Semiramis, the mother of Nimrod, was said to have been purified and to have appeared for the first time in public with her son as the original "Mother and Child". The Roman month February, in fact, derives its name from "februa" which the Roman priests used in the rites celebrated on St. Valentines Day.
The "febua" were thongs from the skins of sacrificial animals used in rites of purification on the evening of February 14. Cupid makes his appearance. Another name for the child Nimrod was "Cupid" -- meaning "Desire". It is said that when Nimrod's mother saw him, she lusted after him -- she desired him. Nimrod became her Cupid -- her desired one -- and later her Valentine! So evil was Nimrod's mother that it is said she married her own son!
Inscribed on the monuments of ancient Egypt are inscriptions that Nimrod (the Egyptians called him Osiris) was "the husband of his mother." As Nimrod grew up, he became the child-hero of many women who desired him. He was their Cupid! In the book of Daniel he is called the "Desire of woman" (Daniel 11:37). He provoked so many women to Jealousy that an idol of him was often called the "image of jealousy" (Ezekiel 8:5).
Nimrod, the hunter, was also their Valentine -- their strong or mighty hero! No wonder the pagans commemorated their hero-hunter Nimrod, or Baal, by sending heartshapped love tokens to one another on the evening of February 14 as a symbol of him. Nimrod, the mulatto son of Cush the Ethiopian, was later a source of embarrassment to the pagans of Europe. They didn't want an African to worship. Consequently, they substituted a supposed son of Nimrod, a white child named Horus, born after the death of Nimrod. This white child then became the "fair Cupid" of European tradition.
It is about time we examined these foolish customs of the pagans now falsely labeled Christian. It is about time we quit this Roman and Babylonian foolishness -- this Idolatry -- and get back to the faith of Yeshua /Jesus that he delivered once for all time. Let's stop teaching our children these pagan customs in memory of Baal the sun god -- the original St. Valentine -- and teach them instead what the Bible really says!
First off all there is nothing from Torah, the Prophets and the B'rit Chadashah or in Gentile terms nothing from Old testament to New testament that commands a gentile to observe Chanukah.
So why do I?
Well I am no longer a Gentile. You see though the mighty work of God and His son Yeshua I am no longer a Gentile. I have been called from afar off to be grafted into the olive tree, that is Abraham's tree. Yeshua did all the work and all I have to do is believe, follow and obey. Actually Yeshua destoyed all principalities and powers of darkness and all works of Satan in his work on the cross. Everything nothing left of darkness we just need to believe that.
Yes but still why do I celebrate Chanukah?
Well even being a gentile by birth but by a new birth through the work of Yeshua I have become a spiritual Jew. Not only this, If I believe in his sacrifice and obey his commandment, and walk as he commands, he will write my name in Heavenly places and write my name in the Lambs book of Life.
Where does Chanukah come into all this?
Well it is God's purpose in his elect for the Gentile and Jew He calls to be one. When a Gentle is born anew through the power of the work that Yeshua has done, the Gentile can only be filled with unlimitless love for the Jew.
We are called in love, through the work of Yeshua, for the Jew and Gentile to be his body until he comes again. We are his bride or first fruit.
However, many Gentiles do not go that way, infact many Gentiles created their own religion and ignore the Jew which is not the purpose of God. just read : http://ruthsheart.ning.com/group/christmasalookatitspaganroots unfortunately the Christian church has much antisemitism towards Israel. The church has recycled many pagan practices that are opposed to God's Word and Israel in general.
Personally I love Israel and follow Israel as long as nothing violates Jeremiah 10:2 . The faith is not some Gentile pagan faith like Christianity has made it out to be.
So Why Chanukah?
Well I love Yisrael and follow her, I follow her observances. I understand that Chanukah is not commanded but I love Yisrael and love the work that God did for Yisrael. So if I love Yisrael and am grafted into her I love her victories. Chanukah is for me I am sorry
Furthermore John 10:22 proves that Yeshua observed the Feast of Dedication. Leaves a Gentile anew with only one priority. If Yeshua observed Chanukah I must too. Scripture says so. You don't believe me? read 1 John 2:3, 4, 5, and especially 6 "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk , even as he walked .
Isn't the beginning of spring a logical time to start a new year? After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. January 1st, on the other hand, has no astronomical or agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary. The celebration of the new year is one of the oldest of all worldly holidays.
It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. The Babylonian New Year began with the first new moon after the Vernal Equinox (first day of Spring). The Romans continued to observe the New Year in late March but their calendar was continually tampered with by various emperors so that it soon became out of sync with the sun. In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC declared January 1st to be the beginning of the New Year.
In 46 BC, Julius Caesar established January 1st as the New Year after the god Janus (January). Janus was the Roman god of doors and gates, and had two faces, one looking forward and one back. Caesar celebrated his first declared New Year by ording the violent routing of revolutionary Jewish forces in Galilee. Eye witnessess say blood flowed in the streets.
In later years, Roman pagans observed the new year by engaging in drunken orgies. The early Catholic Church condemned New Years festivities as pagan. But as Christianity became more widespread, the early church began having its own religious observances concurrently with many of the pagan celebrations, and new years day was no different.
The tradition of using a baby to signify the new year began in Greece around 600 BC. It was their tradition at that time to celebrate their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth.
Other traditions of the season include the making of new year resolutions. That tradition also dates back to the early Babylonians. The early Babylonians' most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment.
Should we celebrate new year? Should we participate in a festivity that has its roots in paganism? False worship is unclean and detestable in the eyes of YHWH / God, and we should reject practices that have such origins.
"When you come into the land which the Adonai (Lord) your Elohim (God) is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations." Deuteronomy 18:9
The Apostle Paul wrote: "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And What communion has light with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14
"'Therefore, come out from amoung them and be separate,' says the Adonai (Lord) . 'Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I shall be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me.'" 2 Corinthians 6:17-18
Indeed, YHWH (God) promises eternal blessings and prosperity to those who are loyal to him.
"For the Adonai (Lord) loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; The are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off." Psalms 37:28
I am going through all my booklets I have on the topic so you can read my resources. If you want to write an article or book on the topic please feel free to use as you like.
Rough Notes -PAPC
- we acknowledge the details of Yeshua's (Jesus') birth Luke 2:10, 11 -strangely no one knows the exact date of Yeshua's (Jesus') birth - was it December 25th? - is this birth date, December 25th taught in Bible? - Christmas is not taught in the Bible nor even celebrated by the Apostles nor the first century Congregation - What is the origin of Christmas and the December 25th date? - What is the origin of the Christmas Tree, lights decorations, and Santa Claus? - Where did these traditions come from? - Who authorized them and for what reason? - New Standard Encyclopedia Volume 4 Article "Christmas" (Chicago, Illinois: Standard Education Corporation, 1989), C-320 writes, "Christians began to celebrate Christmas about 200. But they observed it on varying dates, because the exact date of Christ's birth was unknown. In 354, December 25 was declared to be the birthday of Christ, and in 440 the pope decreed on that date. The Church at Constantinople, however observed it for years on January 6, and that date is still used in some Eastern Orthodox churches." "December 25 comes only a few days after the winter solstice (about December 22). the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This season had long been a period of celebration among the pagans in many parts of the world because it symbolized the beginning of a new year in nature. Christmas thus replaced a pagan holiday with a Christian one, while keeping the same symbolism - the birthday of Christ corresponds to the birth of the year. Many of the pagans customs became part of the Christmas Celebration." - Earl W Count, 4000 Years of Christmas (New York, New York: Henry Schuman, 1948, 18 writes, "Mesopotamia is the very ancient Mother of Civilization. Christmas began there, over 4000 years ago, as the festival which renewed the world for another year. The twelve days' of Christmas; the bright fires and probably the Yule log; the giving of presents: the carnivals with their floats, their merrymakings and clownings, the mummers who sing and play from house to house; the feastings; the church processions with their lights and songs - all these and more began there centuries before Christ was born. And they celebrate the arrival of a New Year." "For that day [December 25] was sacred, not only to the pagan Romans but to a religion from Persia which, in those days, was one of Christianity's strongest rivals. This Persian religion was Mithraism, whose followers worshiped the sun, and celebrated its return to strength on that day. The church finally succeeded in taking the merriment. the greenery, the lights, and the gifts from Saturn and giving them to the babe of Bethlehem." "It happened that the date [December 25] did fall in the midst of the Saturnalia. Far from being an invention to compete against Roman and Persian paganism, the birthday of Christ ran the danger of being swallowed up in pagan merrymaking. The [church] Fathers tried strenuously to keep Christmas strictly a church celebration. It was part of their unremitting struggle to break the grip of the pagan gods upon the people. And they broke the grip -- after a battle of centuries. The pagan Romans became Christians -- but the Saturnalia remains." - Here is the origin of the Christmas Tree: R. Brasch, How did it Begin? (New York, New York: David McKay Company, Inc., 1966) 332, 333 writes, "It is a fact that the Christmas tree stems primitive pagan customs. Its main features, green foliage and candles, were associated with the winter solstice when nature seemed dead, and green branches and trees were used in a magical rite to insure the return of vegetation and the victory of light over darkness." New Standard Encyclopedia, Volume 4, C-320 writes, "Nearly all American customs can be traced to other countries -- the homeland of the many nationalities represented in the United States. For instance, the Christmas tree, usually an evergreen , was first used in Germany.The mistletoe was sacred to the Druids, priests of ancient Britain and Gaul. The Norse used holly and yule log to keep away evil spirits." - Here is the origin of the gift giving: New Standard Encyclopedia, Volume 4, C-320 writes, "Gifts were exchanged during the Roman celebration of Saturnalia, a feast to the god of Saturn, held December 17-23. Gift-giving came to symbolized the gifts brought to the Christ Child by the Three Wise Men or Magi." Note the wise men gave gifts to Yeshua (Jesus) not exchange gifts among themselves. Adam Clarke, Clarke's Commentary, Volume 3 writes, "the people of the East never approach the presence of kings and great personages without a present in their hands." - Here is the origin of Santa Claus: originated from 2 Christmas traditions; 1. St Nicholas 2.Kris Kringle - Saint Nicholas was a fourth century bishop of Myra which is now in Turkey; Patron Saint of children; the Dutch call him Sinterklaas - In Germany reformers replaced Saint Nicholas with the Christ Child or Kris Kringle and in North America Kris Kringle became Santa Claus, in England he became Father Christmas - Santa Claus legendary figure who brings gifts to children on Christmas pictured as Joly old elf who knows if children have been naughty or nice - Children are taught to write to Santa to tell him what they want for Christmas or sit on his lap and tell him their Christmas wishes - Children are also taught it is Santa who brings the gifts and that on one night, Christmas eve, Santa encompasses the whole world to bring gifts to all children everywhere in the world and that he is in Sleigh drawn by reindeer whereby he goes from rooftop to rooftop and even comes down every ones chimney. Santa is a rival to Jesus in the Christmas celebration, Children are taught to pay attention to Santa Rather than Jesus - Is Yeshua (Jesus) honored by all this myth and deception? - Was the real Yeshua (Jesus) part of Christmas in the first place or is the Christmas Jesus a different Jesus? Read this: 2 Corinthians 11:1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. - Santa is made to be a god knowing who's been naughty or nice, actually knowing all our actions all year long - Santa is a Myth and the real Yeshua (Jesus) is not - Yeshua (Jesus) is the giver of gifts and when he returns he brings our rewards whether good or bad Re 22:12 - And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. - Mixing religious practices has never been acceptable to YHWH. John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. Jeremiah 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. 2 Corinthians 6:4 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. R. Brasch, How Did it Begin, 324 writes, "It is interesting... to see how the genius of the human mind has been able, through the centuries to give them [heathen customs] a different and sacred meaning" Ezekiel 23:29 And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms. 30 I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. - Yeshua (Jesus) was never part of Christmas so we cant put him back into something he was never in. M. A. Smith, From Christ to Constantine (Dowers Grove, Illinois: Inter-Varsity Press, 1971) 150, 151 writes, "Christmas was generally celebrated in the West only after the triumph of Constantine, when the time of Christ's birth was reckoned with the day of the Unconquered Sun on December 25." The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Volume 3, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1908), 48 writes, "The pagan Saturnalia and Brumalia were too deeply entrenched in popular custom to be set aside by Christian influence ... The pagan festival with its riot and merrymaking was so popular that Christians were glad of an excuse to continue its celebration with little change in spirit and in manner."
Shalom Mike
tags: Christmas, December, custom, 25th, Heathen, century, congregation, tree, origins, Apostles, first, trees
