Historical Origins of
Christmas Traditions
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and
adulteresses,
know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?
whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
 The date of
December 25th for celebrating Christ's Mass supposedly in honor of
his birth is well known now for what it really was -- the feast of
Saturnalia, an extremely vile festival.
"December 25th was the date of Saturnalia, a celebration in honor of
the Roman god, Saturn, which day coincided with the winter solstice. To ancient
pagan civilizations this was the birthday of the gods -- the time of year when
the days began to lengthen and man was blessed with a regeneration of nature.
"December 25th was indicated on the old Roman Calendar as Dies
Natalis Invicti Solis -- the Day of the Birth of the Unconquered Sun. The
Roman church adopted that date as the birthday of Christ, blending their
culture's pagan traditions with [so-called] Christianity as a way of
'converting' souls to Christ.
"Such celebrations were not peculiar to the Romans, however. The
ancient Egyptians, perhaps the most advanced initiates into the mysteries of
Babylon, had long before instituted festivals and even laws which commemorated
the birth of the sun.
"Nearly 1400 years before the birth of Christ, a pharoah-mystic by
the name of Akenaten made a symbol of the sun with each of its rays ending in a
human hand. He called this the Aton: the light of the world. Akenaten declared
that Aton gave its light to all nations, to all races, and to creatures of every
kind. It did not judge or condemn; it simply gave life and light forever.
Today's religious humanists (e.g., universalists) present a similar picture of
God." (1) This is in keeping with the "gentle Jesus, meek and
mild" image that is given to our mighty King at this time of year.
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(1) The Origins of Christmas Traditions; http://www.hhs.net/evangout/origins.htm
Revelation 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the
blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus...
While many of our readers by now are probably aware of where the name
"Christmas" comes from, we put the information here for those who may
not and for research purposes.
"The name "Christmas" is a contraction of "Christ's
Mass," a special Roman Catholic mass performed in celebration of Christ's
birth.
In the Roman Catholic mass Jesus is considered both the priest and the
victim, represented by the Catholic priest who offers Him as a sacrifice each
time the mass is performed. In offering this "sacrifice" the priest
believes he has the power to change the bread and wine of the Communion into
Jesus' literal flesh and blood, requiring the people to worship these elements
as they do God Himself:
'There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that all the faithful ought to
show to this most holy sacrament [the communion wafer] the worship which is due
to the true God, as has always been the custom of the Catholic Church. Nor is it
to be adored any the less because it was instituted by Christ to be eaten."
(Vatican II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents [Northport
NY: Costello Printing Co., 1975], EM ef, reaffirming the Council of Trent,
Session 13: Decree on the Eucharist, ch 5; Denz. 878, 1648.)'" (1)
The whore church of Rome has been filling herself with the blood of our
brothers and sisters in Christ for centuries now. No truely born again person
should want to celebrate a Roman Catholic Mass. Once they are aware that is what
Christmass is, there should be no question about what to do.
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(1) The Origins of Christmas Traditions; http://www.hhs.net/evangout/origins.htm
Yuletide and the Yule Log
"The Yule Log tradition comes to us from Scandinavia, where the pagan
sex and fertility god Jul, or Jule (pronounced 'yule'), was honored in a
twelve-day celebration in December. A large, single log (generally considered to
have been a phallic idol) was kept with a fire against it for twelve days,
a different sacrifice to Jul being offered in the fire on each of the twelve
days."(1) "The Yule log was originally an entire tree,
carefully chosen, and brought into the house with great ceremony. The butt end
would be placed into the hearth while the rest of the tree stuck out into the
room. The tree would be slowly fed into the fire and the entire process was
carefully timed to last the entire Yule season." (2)
This is where the Twelve Days of Christmas originated, which are now
counted as the twelve days between "Christmas" and Epiphany (January
12th).
"Yuletide, meaning the turning of the sun or the winter solstice, has
traditionally been a time of extreme importance in Scandinavia - a time when
fortunes for the coming year were determined and when the dead were thought to
walk the earth. For a long time, it was considered dangerous to sleep alone on
Christmas Eve. The extended family, master and servant alike, would sleep
together on a freshly spread bed of straw. "(2)
In France the Yule log is still held in present use in the form of a log
shaped cake called "buche de Noel." This cake has found its way
into other countries, among them the USA.
Using logs to decorate or shape cakes after, giving yuletide greetings,
and any recognition of the Twelve Days of Christmas or Twelfth night; is giving
credit to this vile phallic worship of Scandinavia's past. Yuletide is
also observed by witches today as one of their main high days, so if you are
"celebrating" you are doing so with witches.
The Norse also sacrificed a boar to their god Freyr during yuletide.
It is thought that this is probably where the English tradition of serving
boar's head at "Christmas" came from.
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(1) Holidays and Holy Days, by Tom C. McKenney
(2) The History of Christmas; http://www.ridgenet.org/Szaflik/history.htm
The excuse for giving gifts to each other at Christmass is generally that
the wisemen gave gifts to Jesus. Despite the self-implied hypocrisy of this,
there are other reasons that it is wrong. "... the custom has many
superstitious origins besides that it is associated with the Egyptian god Bes..."(1)
[See article on Santa Claus.]
"Among the Romans it was customary to exchange food, trinkets,
candles, or statues of gods during the mid-winter Kalends (the first day of the
month in the ancient Roman calendar). This custom was transferred to December
25th by the Roman Church in keeping with the Saturnalian festival.
"In old England there was a custom known as "letting in
Christmas." This superstition centered on the first person to enter a house
on Christmas Day. It was believed that no one should leave the house on that
morning until "the lucky bird" (the first person entering) was let in.
He would enter through the front door and proceed through the house, leaving at
the rear. Along the way he was given gifts to insure that he would bestow good
luck on the household. To have a dark-haired man "let in Christmas"
was believed to bring good luck. Red-haired persons were shunned as purveyors of
evil. To have a woman "let in Christmas" was believed to bring
extremely bad luck."
While the custom of "first footing" has been altered and may
have been moved to New Year's Eve, or Hogmanay in Scotland, it is of note that
in Anglo-Saxon England, New Year's Day was December 25th!
Giving of gifts accompanied the pagan rituals of Rome and other Babylonian
affected cultures. Woden and Odin were thought to give special gifts in the
north, while in Rome branches from the grove of the goddess, Sternia were given.
Later the Romans started giving more expensive gifts on New Years. (Sending of
Christmas and New Years cards is probably an extension of this ancient custom
that was brought about by the invention of the printing press.)
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(1) The Origins of Christmas Traditions; http://www.hhs.net/evangout/origins.htm
Santa Claus
(or Satan Claus)
While many are aware that children should not be allowed to
believe in Santa Claus and some are aware that he was a ploy of the Roman
Catholic Church, not many realize that the origins of the legend come so
thoroughly from paganism! He is an anti-christ image through and through.
[See article COMPARISON
OF SANTA CLAUS WITH JESUS CHRIST]
"The name 'Santa Claus' is believed to be a corruption
of the Dutch 'Sant Nikolaas' (Sant-Ni-Klaus). St. Nicholas (as he was canonized
by the Roman Catholic Church) was made bishop of Myra because of his reputed
piety. He was believed to have venerated the Christ-child and practiced the
child-like virtues of meekness and humility. Legend has it that he gave aid to
the poor, always providing his gifts anonymously. In memory of his generosity
mothers would hide gifts for their children and tell them they were left by St.
Nicholas.
"Because of his alleged piety, and legends attributing
'miracles' to him which centered on children and the bestowing of fertility upon
childless couples, St. Nicholas is revered by the Roman Catholic Church as the
patron saint of children.
"The legends of St. Nicholas bear many similarities to
those of the ancient Egyptian god Bes, a rotund, gnome-like personage who was
the patron of little children."(1) Bes was the god of war,
slaughter, music and dance and childbirth, but was also supposed to be the
protector of children. Among other things, his symbols included bells and
drums. Bes was usually "Depicted as a bearded savage-looking yet
comical dwarf, shown full-face in images (highly unusual by Egpytian artistic
conventions). Revered as a deity of household pleasures such as music, good
food, and relaxtion. Also a protector and entertainer of children. However, many
texts point to the idea that Bes was a terrible avenging deity, who was as swift
to punish the wicked as he was to amuse and delight the righteous." One
source claimed that Bes was Babylionian in origin.
To complete the description of Santa Claus, we find that
"Many pagan societies have worshipped a hearth god, clad in red, who came
down the chimney to bless those who pleased him and to curse those who didn't.
Food and drink offerings were left for him on hearth or mantel, an effort to
please and appease him. There are such red-clad hearth gods worshipped in India
and China today."(3) Tiawan's hearth god is said to return to heaven to
report on the affairs of men on the 24th day of the 12th lunar month. This
is reminiscent the scripture regarding Israel's apostasy in these things:
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. This verse covers a multitude of evils
from egg nog to Christmas cookies, but it also fits the sacrifices left out for
the Old Nick, otherwise known as St. Nicholas or Santa Claus. Leaving these
offering under the "Christmas tree" has even more significance when we
read in Ezekiel 6:13 that they offered sweet savours to their idols under
every green tree.
So, here again we have the fertility connection so prevalent
in the "Christmas" tradition and again idolatry right down to the
details.
Added to this is another horrible fact: "It would
surprise many to learn that even the name 'Christ Child' has been given to this
pagan deity under the name 'Kriss Kringle' (a corruption of the German 'Christ
Kindl'). This has to be one of the most subtle of Satan's blasphemies, yet most
Christians are unaware of it." (1) So, not only is the
Egyptian god, Bes, being promoted as a saint; he is even given the name of
Christ! Again the blasphemy
is unavoidable!
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(1) The Origins of Christmas Traditions; http://www.hhs.net/evangout/origins.htm
(2) http://www.tir.com/~lanata/kristi2.html
(3) Holidays and Holy Days, by Tom C. McKenney
Stocking hanging comes from an English legend: "Father Christmas
once dropped some gold coins while coming down the chimney. The coins would have
fallen through the ash grate and been lost if they hadn't landed in a stocking
that had been hung out to dry. Since that time children have continued to hang
out stockings in hopes of finding them filled with gifts." (1)
-------------------
(1) The History of Christmas; http://www.ridgenet.org/Szaflik/history.htm
"The 12 Days
of Christmas"
- the song
When most people hear of "The 12 days of Christmas" they think
of the song. This song had its origins as a teaching tool to instruct young
people in the meaning and content of the [so-called] Christian faith.
From 1558 to 1829 Roman Catholics in England were not able to practice
their faith openly so they had to find other ways to pass on their beliefs.
The song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is one example of how
they did it. "The 12 Days of Christmas" is in a sense an allegory.
Each of the items in the song represents something of religious
significance. The hidden meaning of each gift was designed to help young
Christians learn their faith.
The song goes, "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to
me..." The "true love" represents God and the "me" who
receives these presents is the Christian.
The "partridge in a pear tree" was Jesus Christ who died on a
tree as a gift from God. The "two turtle doves" were the Old and
New Testaments - another gift from God. The "three French hens"
were faith hope and love - the three gifts of the Spirit that abide(I
Corinthians 13). The "four calling birds" were the four Gospels
which sing the song of salvation through Jesus Christ.
The "five golden rings" were the first five books of the Bible
also called the "Books of Moses."
The "six geese a-laying" were the six days of creation.
The "seven swans a swimming" were "seven gifts of the Holy
Spirit."(I Corinthians 12:8-11, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4:10-11)
The "eight maids a milking" were the eight beatitudes.
The "nine ladies dancing" were nine fruits of the Holy
Spirit.(Galatians 5:22-23)
The "ten lords a-leaping" were the Ten Commandments.
The "eleven pipers piping" were the eleven faithful disciples.
The "twelve drummers drumming" were the twelve points of the
Apostles' Creed.
So the next time you hear "The 12 Days of Christmas" consider
how this otherwise non-religious sounding song had its origins in the Christian
faith.
(primary source of this information was an articles in the Anderson
Independant-Mail newspaper Anderson, SC Jan. 21, 1996 by Dr. William Hunter)
http://members.carol.net/~asmsmsks/12days.htm
"Christmas Caroling"
From:
The Legends and Traditions of Holiday Plants
Wassailing
Wassailing is the tradition of going from house to house caroling, eating,
drinking, and socializing with friends and relatives. Wassailing, however, was
originally an important part of a horticultural ritual. In England, it focused
on the apple orchards. The purpose was to salute the trees in the dead of winter
to insure a good crop for the coming year. The date varied across the 12 days of
Christmas. If done formally, the wassail procession visited the principal
orchards of the area, caroling as it went. In each orchard, major trees were
selected and cider or liquor was sprinkled over their root systems. Incantations
such as
Stand fast at root,
Bear well at top,
Every twig bear apple big,
Every bow bear apple now.
or
Here's to thee old apple tree,
Hats full, sacks full,
Great bushel baskets full,
Hurrah!
were recited. To frighten evil spirits away, guns were fired into the air.
Before proceeding, the procession usually danced about the honored trees and
then snaked its way out of the orchard. The care with which the ceremony had
been executed was measured by the crop yield the following year.
---This article originally appeared in the December 8, 1995 issue, pp.
157-158. Prepared by Richard Jauron, Department of Horticulture Iowa State
University, Ames, Iowa. http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1995/12-8-1995/trad.html
Most graphics and background
by Mary Van Nattan
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