Christmas. A staple in American culture and economy, celebrated almost ubiquitously; commercialized yet recognized in churches and religious communities. So what is Christmas, exactly?
The tradition of winter celebrations may have began with Saturnalia, a Roman custom. Roman courts closed down for a week, allowing many evil and terrible acts to happen, and go unpunished, and general lawlessness. The Greek poet, writer and historian Lucian in his dialogue titled 'Saturnalia' records human sacrifice, extensive drunkenness, going from house to house naked and singing, and raping women. Authorities in each community chose a "Lord of Misrule" who was forced to partake of food and other "physical pleasures" for the span of the week. Then at the end of the week, the person was brutally murdered to supposedly "destroy the forces of darkness."
The Church at that time decided that in order to convert Roman pagans, or nonbelievers, that they would name the last day of Saturnalia as the birthday of Jesus, who is God in the christian religion. It is believed that Jesus came to earth as a human, born to a virgin named Mary. He was beaten, whipped and crucified over thirty years later, because of his teachings which had caused many of the jewish religious leaders at the time to hate him. They did not believe what he said, about himself being the Son of God, and other things; they considered these things to be blasphemous. However, Jesus was not held in such contempt among the people. Thousands would gather to hear him teach, about life, heaven, love, and God. Christians believe that Jesus, the messiah, or savior, was innocent of any sin, (wrongdoing in God's eyes) and died on the cross to pay for the sin of everyone, and was then resurrected from the dead so that whoever believes this would be made right with God and be saved from the punishment that their sin deserves. (Romans would nail criminals to a cross, where they would slowly and painfully die.) Chances are, December 25 is not actually the day Jesus was born. But the church used it as a way to meld christianity into the culture of the time; but in order do so, they told the people that they could celebrate it pretty much just like they'd always been, which is not anything to do with God. Because of it's pagan origins, it was illegal to celebrate christmas in puritan ruled massachusetts between 1659 and 1681.
The Christmas Tree originated from evergreen tree-worship, and Santa Claus came from the historical figure of Saint Nicholas, who was a Christian gift-giver and bishop. The image of Santa Claus, with his red outfit and plump complexion come primarily from Clement Clarke Moore's poem "A visit from St. Nicholas" and from caricaturist and cartoonist Thomas Nast. These conceptions of Santa Claus are and were reinforced by media and commercialization. The tradition of winter celebrations may have began with Saturnalia, a Roman custom. Roman courts closed down for a week, allowing many evil and terrible acts to happen, and go unpunished, and general lawlessness. The Greek poet, writer and historian Lucian in his dialogue titled 'Saturnalia' records human sacrifice, extensive drunkenness, going from house to house naked and singing, and raping women. Authorities in each community chose a "Lord of Misrule" who was forced to partake of food and other "physical pleasures" for the span of the week. Then at the end of the week, the person was brutally murdered to supposedly "destroy the forces of darkness."
The Church at that time decided that in order to convert Roman pagans, or nonbelievers, that they would name the last day of Saturnalia as the birthday of Jesus, who is God in the christian religion. It is believed that Jesus came to earth as a human, born to a virgin named Mary. He was beaten, whipped and crucified over thirty years later, because of his teachings which had caused many of the jewish religious leaders at the time to hate him. They did not believe what he said, about himself being the Son of God, and other things; they considered these things to be blasphemous. However, Jesus was not held in such contempt among the people. Thousands would gather to hear him teach, about life, heaven, love, and God. Christians believe that Jesus, the messiah, or savior, was innocent of any sin, (wrongdoing in God's eyes) and died on the cross to pay for the sin of everyone, and was then resurrected from the dead so that whoever believes this would be made right with God and be saved from the punishment that their sin deserves. (Romans would nail criminals to a cross, where they would slowly and painfully die.) Chances are, December 25 is not actually the day Jesus was born. But the church used it as a way to meld christianity into the culture of the time; but in order do so, they told the people that they could celebrate it pretty much just like they'd always been, which is not anything to do with God. Because of it's pagan origins, it was illegal to celebrate christmas in puritan ruled massachusetts between 1659 and 1681.
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