BigToe
You are my itchy sweater.
- Jun 24, 2003
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The Christmas tree is taken from Pagan traditions, not because it is Christian. In fact, some Germanic tribes celebrated Yule with male sacrifices where they hung the bodies from a tree. Other cultures would make sacrifices near trees. But really, its now a Christmas tradition because when Europe was converted to Christianity in droves, many cultures didn't want to get rid of traditions so they simply adopted their old Pagan activities into their new Christian lives. If the Church didn't want a tradition to be kept, they got rid of it. So they obviously had no problem with the Pagan origins of the tradition. The first decorated trees are from late 1500s Germany and were decorated with foodstuffs.
Martin Luther is even said to have decorated a small tree, not to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but to be like the shining of the stars at night.
And the trees were once decorated the 24th and left up for the twelve days of Christmas and then taken down. To have them up before or after that time was considered bad luck. So traditions, even around major holidays, obviously change.
The mistletoe tradition comes from Norse, Celtic and Druid mythology.
And there are a multitude of Christmas songs that mention nothing about Jesus or Christianity.
But there are a multitude of traditions that are friendly for folks of all beliefs or none at all. So, how is it not a family friendly holiday for even athesits and other nonChristians to enjoy? The winter holidays were often the most largely celebrated holidays because the winter meant less agricultural work needed to be done.
The early church was opposed to celebrating birthdays with Easter being the biggest celebration (and if you think about it, that's the one that has the most significance on the whole religion anyway). December 25th was first mentioned as being Jesus's date of birth in 221 AD and when it was suggested, no mention of a huge celebration or feast to honor it was noted. It was going from the idea he was conceived on the same day he died on the cross, fiting with Jewish ideals of prophets living an integral number of years. And in fact many early church fathers said that sinners, not saints, celebrated birthdays.
Martin Luther is even said to have decorated a small tree, not to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but to be like the shining of the stars at night.
And the trees were once decorated the 24th and left up for the twelve days of Christmas and then taken down. To have them up before or after that time was considered bad luck. So traditions, even around major holidays, obviously change.
The mistletoe tradition comes from Norse, Celtic and Druid mythology.
And there are a multitude of Christmas songs that mention nothing about Jesus or Christianity.
But there are a multitude of traditions that are friendly for folks of all beliefs or none at all. So, how is it not a family friendly holiday for even athesits and other nonChristians to enjoy? The winter holidays were often the most largely celebrated holidays because the winter meant less agricultural work needed to be done.
The early church was opposed to celebrating birthdays with Easter being the biggest celebration (and if you think about it, that's the one that has the most significance on the whole religion anyway). December 25th was first mentioned as being Jesus's date of birth in 221 AD and when it was suggested, no mention of a huge celebration or feast to honor it was noted. It was going from the idea he was conceived on the same day he died on the cross, fiting with Jewish ideals of prophets living an integral number of years. And in fact many early church fathers said that sinners, not saints, celebrated birthdays.
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