Christmas Trees are Pagan

[Solon]

"Christmas Trees" were not Christian but Pagan. It wasn't until the 16th Century that the Catholic Church finally allowed this previous "pagan anathema" to be included in the celebration of the Birth of Jesus. Once again, the Church had to cave in to the cultural demands of its flock, just like in the Apollonius saga when they co-opted the Roman holiday commemorating the Birth of Mithras and made it the official Birth of Lord Jesus Christ. At any rate, the tradition of a "Yule Tree" or "Solstice Tree" long pre-dated the time of "Jesus" and the Catholic Church. There can be no doubt that their origin lies in a "pagan" remembrance of a time when there was a Cosmic Tree, a home of "Gods", connected by a "Rainbow Bridge" to our "Northland Vigrid Plain".

So there it is; as with much of the Christmas festival, it is Pagan in origin and was either hijacked by the Church, or as stated, the Church had to accept that many of its members held on to old beliefs. And therfore they absorbed these beliefs.

Solon

 

[Fluffy]

The same is true of every major Christian holiday, Solon. It isn't really stealing or hijacking, its a good business tactic. Assimilate festivals that are already successful and you ensure a supply of customers straight away.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

"Christmas Trees" were not Christian but Pagan.

Therefore?

 

[Fluffy]

Therefore?

Therefore all Christians are infact being led astray by the devil!!!! Actually we already have a thread or five going down that root so lets hope this wasn't Solon's point .

 

[Solon]

Therfore nothing, just a pointing it out to some people who may not be aware of their pagan origins.

 

[Lindsey-Loo]

Personally, I don't care if Christmas trees were Pagan traditions. As long as I am not celebrating Christmas as a pagan holiday, I'm fine.

And may I point out that God never invented Christmas, Easter, etc. etc. These were holidays made up by men, and celebrated by Christians in rememberance of Jesus. God had nothing to do with creating/making into Christian holidays.

 

[Solon]

Well, I will be observing the festival as a Pagan Festival, and the Solstice is of more importance to me than Christmas day. You may point out, that indeed holidays are created by men, but in the first instance to honour the Old Ones.

S

 

[Feathers in Hair]

You know what's nice? It can be a Pagan tradition and a Christian tradition and no one has to worry about whether one path is celebrating the traditions of another. Unless someone decides that they prefer an adversarial approach to another faith, there's nothing wrong with acknowledging that a tradition has, over the years, become recognized by both traditions as a way to celebrate a certain event.

 

[Mike182]

You know what's nice? It can be a Pagan tradition and a Christian tradition and no one has to worry about whether one path is celebrating the traditions of another. Unless someone decides that they prefer an adversarial approach to another faith, there's nothing wrong with acknowledging that a tradition has, over the years, become recognized by both traditions as a way to celebrate a certain event.

here here :clap

 

[Nehustan]

You are right about the christmas tree representing Yggsdaril...but the tree of life is not just a semiotic image of what you would call Pagans, it occurs it pretty much every system including those of the Levant, be it Chaldean, Sumerian, Hebrew, and thus subsequently, and probably behind closed doors, that wierd and wonderful Roman cult oxmoronically called 'Christianity', oh and I suppose all of it's illegitimate offspring.


(P.S. Nice pentagram Fluffy, Jeheshuah, much nicer than a cross!!!)

 

[Solon]

here here :clap

I agree, but where I beg to differ is that the certain event is far from certain. However, the Solstice is most certainly certain.

S

 

[FFH]

I don't have a tree or celebrate Christmas because of it's pagan origins. Trees belongs outside uncut and far away from my living room. Too much of a fire hazard.

 

[Katzpur]

I don't have a tree or celebrate Christmas because of it's pagan origins. Trees belongs outside uncut and far away from my living room. Too much of a fire hazard.

Faith,

You're a Latter-day Saint and you don't celebrate Christmas? I never cease to be amazed at things I hear people say on this forum, but I've got to admit, your post left me speechless.

Kathryn

 

[FFH]

I don't celebrate Christmas because of it's Pagan origins.

Trees in the living room are nice but it's such a waste. I can't justify cutting down a live tree and putting it in my living room, just to enjoy its aroma and beauty, for a few weeks. Trees belong outside and uncut. Too much of a fire hazard. The whole Christmas thing is about gratifying our selfish desires and making wealthy merchants more wealthy.

 

[Draka]

Oddly enough I'm a pagan who doesn't have a tree for Yule. Not that concerned with it. I have my own very simple decorations for the entire Winter season, but don't get into the whole dumping money into decorations that will only be up for a month. Seems ridiculous to me. I celebrate the season the whole season long, and the Yule day with a simple celebration... a few presents, a feast and sabbat ritual. That's all that's needed.

 

[Nehustan]

Draka...is there a wiccan significance to the tree of which I am unaware, other than say as a factor of the female earth, dare I say, Gaia principle of the triplicity of the 'Godess'?

 

[Katzpur]

The whole Christmas thing is about gratifying our selfish desires and making wealthy merchants more wealthy.

Really? Wow, and here I've always been under the impression that the whole Christmas thing was about celebrating the birth of our Savior. Silly me!

 

[FFH]

Faith,

You're a Latter-day Saint and you don't celebrate Christmas? I never cease to be amazed at things I hear people say on this forum, but I've got to admit, your post left me speechless.

Kathryn

I get an uneasy feeling around Christmas time. I heard a statistic once that more people commit suicide on and around Christmas than any other time of the year. There is too much pressure to buy gifts at this time. We Christians are so arrogant and selfish. We give ourselves and our loved ones expensive gifts and call ourselves Christians. We give no thought of others. I do recognize that there are many unselfish acts during Christmas time, but for the most part it is a selfish holiday. Christmas is just another way to feed our selfish desires. To me it is the opposite of what a Christian holiday should be. "Ba Humbug"

 

[Katzpur]

I get an uneasy feeling around Christmas time. I heard a statistic once that more people commit suicide on and around Christmas than any other time of the year. There is too much pressure to buy gifts at this time. We Christians are so arrogant and selfish. We give ourselves and our loved ones expensive gifts and call ourselves Christians. We give no thought of others. I do recognize that there are many unselfish acts during Christmas time, but for the most part it is a selfish holiday. Christmas is just another way to feed our selfish desires. To me it is the opposite of what a Christian holiday should be. "Ba Humbug"

To each his own. Christmas is what you choose to make it, in my opinion. I just hope they don't ask you to participate in your ward Christmas program. You could put quite a damper on things.

 

[Draka]

It is symbolic of the tree of life, like most other pagan traditions. Your life and the many branches it can take. The candle at the end of each branch to light the way. At this time of year it is mostly symbolic of your life the year ahead. All the different things that you have to choose from in the coming year. Usually the tree is evergreen to symbolize constant life renewal.

It's not that I don't like the symbolism of the tree or feel it's too Christianized now or whatever, I just don't have one now. I have a small apartment and while I could get a small tree I simply don't see the need for one when my simple winter decorations do quite fine for me now anyway.