The Origin of Today’s The Origin of Today’s Christmas customsChristmas customs

Nothing but the facts.Nothing but the facts.

Jer 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the Jer 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.for the heathen are dismayed at them.

Jer 10:3 Jer 10:3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.the workman, with the ax.

Jer 10:4 Jer 10:4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

De 7:25 De 7:25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.an abomination to the LORD thy God.

De 7:26 De 7:26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.cursed thing.

What does the bible have to say?What does the bible have to say?

So where did these customs originate?

You’ll find that today’s Christmas custom came from many You’ll find that today’s Christmas custom came from many different cultures and nations. different cultures and nations.

The date of December 25th comes from Rome and was a The date of December 25th comes from Rome and was a celebration of the Roman god, saturn, and the rebirth of the celebration of the Roman god, saturn, and the rebirth of the sun god (jupiter).This was done long before the birth of sun god (jupiter).This was done long before the birth of Jesus. It was noted by the pre-Christian Romans and other Jesus. It was noted by the pre-Christian Romans and other pagans, that daylight began to increase after December pagans, that daylight began to increase after December 22nd, when they assumed that the sun god died, that the 22nd, when they assumed that the sun god died, that the great mother goddess gave birth to the new sun, restarting great mother goddess gave birth to the new sun, restarting the cycle of the seasons.the cycle of the seasons.

This was a cause for much wild excitement and celebration. This was a cause for much wild excitement and celebration. Gift giving and merriment filled the temples of ancient Gift giving and merriment filled the temples of ancient Rome, as sacred priests of saturn, called druids, Rome, as sacred priests of saturn, called druids, carried carried wreathswreaths of of evergreen boughs evergreen boughs to worship these gods.to worship these gods.

Customs continuation……

The oldest written reference of a festival to mark the return of the The oldest written reference of a festival to mark the return of the sun is made to the Mesopotamians. They held a 12-day festival to sun is made to the Mesopotamians. They held a 12-day festival to help the god merodach tame the monsters of chaos for one more help the god merodach tame the monsters of chaos for one more year. This is why Christmas is in this day celebrated for 12 days.year. This is why Christmas is in this day celebrated for 12 days.

Jer 52:31-And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the Jer 52:31-And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth five and twentieth dayday of the month of the month, , thatthat Evilmerodach king of Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the Babylon in the firstfirst year of his reign lifted up the head of year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison,Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison,

The worship of saturn was recorded in the Bible, Amos 5: 26But ye have borne the tabernacle of your moloch(jupiter) and chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.

Customs continuation.

In Germany, the In Germany, the evergreen treeevergreen tree was used in worship and was used in worship and celebration of the celebration of the yule god (jupiter)yule god (jupiter), also in observance of , also in observance of the resurrected sun god. The the resurrected sun god. The holly woodholly wood was used by was used by witches to make wands. witches to make wands.

These customs transcended the borders of Rome and These customs transcended the borders of Rome and Germany to the far reaches of the known world. Germany to the far reaches of the known world.

Act 14:13-Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their Act 14:13-Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.have done sacrifice with the people.

Red holly (mistletoe berries) was used in Red holly (mistletoe berries) was used in the worship of Diana goddess of fertility. the worship of Diana goddess of fertility. This is the same Diana from acts!This is the same Diana from acts!

Both Both holly and mistletoeholly and mistletoe were hung in doorways of were hung in doorways of temples and homes to invoke powers of fertility in temples and homes to invoke powers of fertility in those who stood beneath and kissed, causing the those who stood beneath and kissed, causing the spirits of the god and goddess to enter them. spirits of the god and goddess to enter them.

19:3519:35-And when the townclerk had appeased the -And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, people, he said, YeYe men of Ephesus, what man is men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the Diana, and of the imageimage which fell down from Jupiter? which fell down from Jupiter?

How pagan rituals became tied with How pagan rituals became tied with today’s culture.today’s culture.

The question now arises: How did all of these customs find their way into The question now arises: How did all of these customs find their way into modern Christianity, and other religions.modern Christianity, and other religions.

Emperor Constantine declared Christmas to be an immoveable feast Emperor Constantine declared Christmas to be an immoveable feast celebrating the birth of Christ.celebrating the birth of Christ.

The word Christmas came from the Roman Catholics. The word The word Christmas came from the Roman Catholics. The word "Christmas" is a combination of the words "Christ" and "Mass. The word "Christmas" is a combination of the words "Christ" and "Mass. The word "Mass" means death. The word Christmas belongs exclusively to the "Mass" means death. The word Christmas belongs exclusively to the Catholic church of Rome. Catholic church of Rome.

A simple study of the tactics of the Roman Catholic Church reveals that in A simple study of the tactics of the Roman Catholic Church reveals that in every case, the church absorbed the customs, traditions and general every case, the church absorbed the customs, traditions and general paganism of every tribe, culture and nation in their efforts to increase the paganism of every tribe, culture and nation in their efforts to increase the number of people under their control.number of people under their control.

In short, the Roman Catholic church told all of these pagan cultures, "Bring In short, the Roman Catholic church told all of these pagan cultures, "Bring your gods, goddesses, rituals and rites, and we will assign Christian your gods, goddesses, rituals and rites, and we will assign Christian sounding titles and names to them. sounding titles and names to them.

Protestants took the Catholic practice of Christmas with them.Protestants took the Catholic practice of Christmas with them.

Hannukah

The holiday commemorates the rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Jews' 165 B.C.E. victory over the Hellenist Syrians. Antiochus, the Greek King of Syria, outlawed Jewish rituals and ordered the Jews to worship Greek gods.

Mattathias Maccabee, a Jewish High Priest lead the revolt against the Syrains.

Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days because at the time of the rededication, only a day supply of oil was found to light the menorah, supposedly that oil lasted for eight days.

The word Hanukkah actually means “dedication.” Hanukkah gained unusual importance with many secular Jewish

families in twentieth century America, who did not consider themselves religious, yet wanted an alternative to Christmas celebrations that often coincide with Hanukkah.

Hanukkah, like Purim, is a post-Biblical holiday, a happy, fun-filled celebration for the young and the young-at-heart.

True Santa Clause

“The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in Patara, a village in what is now Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young.”

Nicholas was a young bishop in the Catholic church

Stories about Saint Stories about Saint NicholasNicholas

One story is of Saint Nicholas on a ship traveling One story is of Saint Nicholas on a ship traveling back home, on his journey home a mighty storm back home, on his journey home a mighty storm threatened to wrecked the ship. It was said that he threatened to wrecked the ship. It was said that he prayed and the wind and waves suddenly calmed.prayed and the wind and waves suddenly calmed.

Compare this to Luke 4:37-39 -Compare this to Luke 4:37-39 -37-37-And there arose And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. ship, so that it was now full. 38-38-And he was in the And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? not that we perish? 39-39-And he arose, and rebuked And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Another story is of 3 students on their way to Athens Another story is of 3 students on their way to Athens the study. They came to an inn, and the inn keeper the study. They came to an inn, and the inn keeper murder them and hide their remain, it was said that murder them and hide their remain, it was said that Saint Nicholas happened to be traveling that same Saint Nicholas happened to be traveling that same way and stayed at that same inn. And that night he way and stayed at that same inn. And that night he had vision of the murder, and arose out of his sleep had vision of the murder, and arose out of his sleep and summoned the inn keeper and prayed and the and summoned the inn keeper and prayed and the student where restored to life and wholeness.student where restored to life and wholeness.

41Then they took away the stone 41Then they took away the stone from the placefrom the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up hishis eyes, eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

43And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud 43And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44And he that was dead voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Christmas Evolved in Germany

Germans put candles on their evergreen trees

In German mythology, Thor was a norse god pulled through the sky in a chariot by two magic goats: Tanngrisnir (tooth-grinder) and Tanngnjóstr (tooth-gnasher)

And the elves?And the elves?

During the pagan era in During the pagan era in Scandinavia , the people Scandinavia , the people believed there were believed there were house gnomes which house gnomes which prevented evil from prevented evil from entering their homesentering their homes

Scandinavian writers put Scandinavian writers put these gnomes into play these gnomes into play when Christmas became when Christmas became popular again in the popular again in the 1800’s1800’s

These gnomes are now These gnomes are now known as Santa’s Elvesknown as Santa’s Elves

European Immigrants Bringing

European immigrants brought the holiday of Christmas to the United States

In 1823 Clement Clarke Moore followed a printer's error that made them "Donder and Blitzen" instead of the Dutch-American words "Dunder" and "Blixem," meaning thunder and lightning. Moore spoke German, but not Dutch.

Materialism

Christmas more than anything these days is about receiving, about getting that gift that you’ve been longing for throughout the year. And not only Christmas, but if you look at Easter it has become more about spring break and less about the resurrection of our Lord. Thanksgiving has become a day to fill yourself with food, and the day after is the biggest shopping day of the year. These seemingly good holidays have become a retailers dream.

ConclusionConclusion

We believe that many of the customs We believe that many of the customs are of pagan origin, but we do not are of pagan origin, but we do not condemn the remembrance of our condemn the remembrance of our Lords birth on December 25.Lords birth on December 25.

John 4:23But the hour cometh, and now John 4:23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.worship him.