Paganism in our Holidays

Bun-Girl offers up this article about the pagan origins of Christmas in response to my post about Halloween earlier today.

I was already aware of the issues it mentions, but thank her for offering it.

Actually, I believe that Christ was probably born on the Feast of Tabernacles, usually celebrated in late September. I don't recall the most likely date He was born, but it's somewhere around the 20th. Because of the differences between the Jewish Lunar calendar and our Gregorian Sidereal (Solar) calendar, the date changes every year.

I enjoy Christmas, and take the time to spend with my family every year. However, I'm somewhere between cold and luke-warm when it comes to most of the traditions, such as the Christmas tree. It's origins go all the way back to Babylon. Jeremiah even comments on a similar practice. (I don't think this passage is reason enough to not have a Christmas tree in your home). 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. ⁴They 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. (Jeremiah 10:3-5)*.

Easter is quite pagan as well. I celebrate Resurrection Sunday, but have no time for Easter. The name comes from the Babylonian goddess “Ishtar”, the goddess of fertility. This is why there is all the emphasis in rabbits that lay eggs! I have no love for the Easter Bunny. It did not die on the cross to pay the price for my Sin!!

All this is why I am interested in the Jewish Feasts. There are seven of them, each prophetic of something to do with Jesus Christ. They have their origins in the Bible, and offer more to me than the pagan frauds that our culture promotes. I don't celebrate the Feasts, but am always interested in learning more.

*I had already gotten this typed up (but not yet published) before Steve of Blithered posted it in the comments. Interesting that we were thinking the same thing!