Why do YOU celebrate Christmas? Because it’s the Messiah’s birthday? Is it? It’s all about the Messiah???? Are you sure???? Well, I'm writing this EARLY just in case you want to adjust your family celebration. It's up to you.

You know, I don’t argue with people. However, since this blog is to state an opinion, I will state mine and how I reached the conclusions that I did.

I want to show respect and honor to the Messiah. I am sure that you do, too. I have to ask you to really be honest with yourself. Is it all about the Messiah? OR is it just convenient to “USE” the Messiah for a brief moment, when truly when the REAL issue is seems to be TRADITION and a good time.

I loved the holidays. It was a tradition in my family, church, country, and almost worldwide! Couldn’t be anything wrong with that. I certainly liked the family get-togethers, the traditional meal, and the giving and getting associated with Christmas. I am all for family closeness any time of the year. I love good meals, especially with family. Also, it’s nice when another person chooses to give gifts to each other. So, if you want good quality time with family --do that--every day of the year, if you can.

It’s a well know fact that the Christmas HOLIDAY (not HOLY day) is one of the most stressful and depressing times of the year. You mean the Messiah caused all that painful stress and depression? You mean he is the reason you spend every cent you can and go in debt for, is honoring the Messiah? I’ve seen no where we were told to observe his birthday. In fact, no one actually KNOWS it is his birthday and most researchers agree, December 25 is NOT the day or even the time of the year.

For those who do choose to have a family get together whatever day it is, it can be a loving and meaningful thing . Please don’t lie to yourself or others about the reason. I don’t like it that the Messiah is “used” as the reason and that Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas are the focus. children and grandchildren are LIED to about them, in great detail. Is that honoring the Messiah? I don’t care how “giving” Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas were, what has that got to do with the Messiah? Neither one of them “gave” what the Messiah did! So, if you want to lie to the children about Santa Claus and Saint Nicholas, don’t even compare them with the Messiah!

Also, an interesting verse in the Scriptures. Jeremiah 10:1-5. Sounds amazingly like the pagan Christmas tree to me. Now, I know that’s Old Testament. But, read Matthew 5:17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. That says to me that we are to throw the Old Testament away and there is no good in it. If it was pagan then, it certainly is not honorable now.

So, yes, I’m sorry that the holiday was not actually what we were brought up to believe. I’m sorry it’s strictly based on pagan beliefs and traditions. Even if I wanted to say that since the exact day is not know and I just want to pick a day to observe HIS birthday, I don’t think the pagan way is how HE would want HIS birthday observed. Yes, I do visit with relatives and friends on December 25. No, I don‘t have a tree, or other pagan Christmas symbols, and I don‘t call it his birthday. I do refuse to lie to children about Santa Claus. I do realize others will disagree with me. You have to decide for yourself what you really believe. I don't push people around.

I will include a couple of articles I found with some very informative links to look at. Some of my research cover several years. I give credit to the place I copy and paste from--since that is sharing what they say word for word and giving them the credit for the work. The Christian answers and History channel information was on there links I’m enclosing as of November 4, 2007. I’ve seen the same or similar information on their links in previous years. There are many places you can research, but in case you have never researched Christmas before, these links can give you a start to what you may find to be a very informative, surprising journey.

I wish you JOY and PEACE every day!



Archeologists say they have traced the origins of the first Christmas to be celebrated on 25 December, 300 years before the birth of Christ. The original event marked the consecration of the ancient world's largest sun god statue, the 34m tall, 200 ton Colossus of Rhodes.

It has long been known that 25 December was not the real date of Christ's birth and that the decision to turn it into Jesus's birthday was made by Constantine, the Roman Emperor, in the early 4th century AD. But experts believe the origins of that decision go back to 283 BC, when, in Rhodes, the winter solstice occurred at about sunrise on 25 December.

The event was preserved by academics on Rhodes or in Alexandria, and seems to have been passed to Caesar by the Hellenistic Egyptian scientists, who advised him on his calendrical reforms. The date was chosen because the emperor seems to have believed that the Roman sun god and Christ were virtually one and the same, and the sun's birthday had been decreed as 25 December some 50 years earlier by one of Constantine's predecessors, the Emperor Aurelian. He, in turn, seems to have chosen 25 December because, ever since Julius Caesar's calendar reforms of 46 BC, that date had been fixed as the official winter solstice, even though the real date for the solstice in Caesar's time was 23 December.

Dr Alaric Watson, one of the British historians involved in the current research and author of the major book on the period, Aurelian and the Third Century, said: "Constantine's choice of 25 December as the day on which to celebrate the birth of his divine patron, Christ, must be viewed in terms of the tradition on which Aurelian had drawn and which may well have originated in the celebration of the winter solstice at Rhodes some six centuries earlier.

"Constantine clearly saw his divine patron, initially Sol Invictus but later Christ, in much the same way as Aurelian had done. The imagery of Christ, like that of the ruler cults of the Hellenistic and Roman worlds, owed much to solar theology."

Jesus's real date of birth is not known, although various different pre-4th century traditions and computations put it either in the January to March period or in November.

© 2003 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_medical/story.jsp?story=475919

This link was from 2003 so that story is not on that page at this time in 2007.


Why is Christmas celebrated??

The Real Story of Christmas

Begin History Channel study of Christmas with link:

http://www.history.com/minisites/christmas/viewPage?pageId=1252

They have a very interesting site that brings out many interesting points about the entire Christmas HISTORY and pagan roots.

Christmas - An Ancient Holiday

The middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Centuries before the arrival of the man called Jesus, early Europeans celebrated light and birth in the darkest days of winter. Many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.

In Scandinavia, the Norse celebrated Yule from December 21, the winter solstice, through January. In recognition of the return of the sun, fathers and sons would bring home large logs, which they would set on fire. The people would feast until the log burned out, which could take as many as 12 days. The Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the coming year.

The end of December was a perfect time for celebration in most areas of Europe. At that time of year, most cattle were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply of fresh meat. In addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally fermented and ready for drinking.

In Germany, people honored the pagan god Oden during the mid-winter holiday. Germans were terrified of Oden, as they believed he made nocturnal flights through the sky to observe his people, and then decide who would prosper or perish. Because of his presence, many people chose to stay inside.

The Legend of St. Nicholas and Santa Claus

http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=1276&display_order=3&mini_id=1290

Christmas Trees: How It All Got Started Christmas Did you know the Christmas tree has its origins in Pagan mythology? Find out why at the History of Christmas web site!

http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=1284&display_order=4&mini_id=1290