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38 Answers

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Read today that originally Santa was pulled by a huge "goat" in the north. Culture evolves too.

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Well people can do what they want. They can put up pictures of Big Ben and celebrate london on the 4th of July but that wouldn't be what the holiday is about. If people are celebrating something other than Christ's birth then what are they celebrating? What's the reason for the celebration? No other holiday has ever taken place on December 25th in the last 2000 years.

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Actually it's both. For some (myself included) it is the time set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament. For others it's cultural & about Santa Claus and/or family.

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There are those, of course, for which it is a religious holiday, and I wish them a good one! In the bigger picture though, I doubt there will be too many who can honestly disagree that it is a commercial and corporate event, one that is used to forecast and add finishing touches to annual reports, begun with an arguably cynical event the media goes so far as to argue their economic predictions over, a certain event given the name of Black Friday. 

I find it sad and ultimately insulting that management teams who, safely isolated behind glass upstairs (undoubtedly sharing video feeds with their corporate masters further up on the food chain), sit cackling as "the beef" stampedes through the doors, trampling each other, and in some cases killing each other in order to get the best "deal" on a microwave oven or TV! :)

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Although is a day to give thanks to *** for his sacrifice. But culture has turned it around so much that it revolves around somthing else. Saint nick was trying to put together a christion holiday in the middle of all the pagan holidays. That caught on in Germany. he wasn't from the north pole and he origanaly was ridding a horse to represent the second coming of Christ and the saints that will be with him when he judges the world and cast satan down to ****. The story came along way from the truth.

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it is still religious to me but commercialism has certainly got a strong hold on it

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It isnt a religious holiday for me or my family but we enjoy it nontheless. I allways like when folks are loving and generous it seems Christmas helps some to be just that.

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Although a lot of people consider it cultural, I consider it religious because although we celebrate with gifts and about St. Nick there was in fact once a real Saint Nicholas that did many gift giving so not only are we celebrating the birth of Jesus but also we are celebrating the life of Saint Nicholas but I am angry people don't put Christ first

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It is a day of materialism to celebrate the birthday of a man that hated materialism

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It depends on who you are. I mean, it's certainly evolved into a cultural (commercial,) tradition. But there are many who beleive it to be a (sacred,) holy day.

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Christmas has never been a religious holiday. If you read Jeremiah 10:1-5 you will see that *** warned his people against this specific day. This day is a pagan holiday and it do not represent Jesus day of birth. My question is, Why havent the leaders of the churches stood up and said this is not a celebration of ***? Instead they teach, preach and celebrate the pagan holiday themselves. Maybe they dont read or believe the bible... ijs

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Sweetie you are too late. You needed to come along in 350AD. True Christians were actually Jews along with some gentile converts. These converts led a more simple lifestyle similar to the REAL Christian jews. Not material, shared what they had with others, loved each other, and they were very much naturalists. If you read the prophets and get a sense of who they are they had much more in common with people like the native americans than any people wearing robes. The entire teaching of all these men from Moses all the way up until the time of Christ was warning the Israelites not to be like the gentiles. They believed **** looked like people and lived in the sky, did supernatural things, built statues and figurines of worship, believed there was a place of torture under the ground, that when you die you turn into a ghost. You know, all the things religious people today believe. The early Christians did such a good job in being martyrs and converting that they finally one over the Romans and when Constantine converted to Christianity in 360AD he made himself the head of it and the Romans basically kept all their pagan believes and just changed their many **** to one ***. Jesus. the rest is history. Christianity the pagan religion.
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It seems to be more of a cultural celebration. Although I wish it would be more of a religious holiday like it was intended to be.
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In Christianity is is the birth of Jesus and is celebrated by giving gifts. The idea of giving gift same from a Christian saint Saint Nick
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Not so, research the holiday and also read Jeremiah 10;1-5. *** warns his people against this day long before Christ birth.
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Your right *** never said not to celebrate the birth of his son. He was ***, and we give gifts as we honor him
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This may be difficult for some of you to grasp, but religion is culture. I am referring to the 610 cultural votes that that have been cast here.

The really strange thing is that all 610 who cast their cultural votes, would be the first to scream 'separation of church and state' if a Nativity were placed in a city park.
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read Jeremiah 10:1-5 in the bible and see for yourself about this day
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What was once a religious celebration is now a season of commercial enterprise, constituting as much as 50% of the annual sales of many companies. How many ads do
you see on t.v. for any religious connotation, as opposed to the 24/7 bombardment of "sale" for this and "get yours now"? I've spent a large sum and days shopping, wrapping, delivering, mailing, and returning gifts, literally consuming the past two weeks. I will spend
about an hour at a Christmas eve little gathering listening to a "Bell Choir". And, I'm probably reasonably typical of Americans.
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never a holiday Jeremiah 10:1-5, read it
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t's both but for me it's only cultrual as i'm not christian.

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Christ wasn't born in winter and all of these winter holidays are just copying the pagans because back then everyone wanted a Festival of Lights. The idea of Santa Claus isn't st. Nicholas it's a character invented by coca cola the whole idea of Christmas has been commercialized to mean nothing. If this was supposed to be about st nick why are the rich kids getting presents and the poor kids getting nothin? If it's about Christ why is the idea of a jolly fat man dressed in a red and white suit and sneaking into your house at night to give presents to the ******** a common thought?
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By and large, it's a cultural celebration with a religious tradition.

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IT IS A CELEBRATION OF CONSUMERISM AND MATERIALISM. Almost the entire focus is on spending money to buy things. Jesus is just the excuse.
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t's a mix of things, but in most of the world it's a christian holiday. although it was originally a pagan holiday that was co-opted by the romans.
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this day will never be a holiday for Christ Jesus. You can not take what has been given to devils and give it to ***. This day never has been about Christ Jesus. Read Jeremiah 10:1-5 and see for yourself that this day has always been a pagan celebration and *** warned his people about this day long before the birth of Christ
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Christmas, at it's roots, is not a religious holiday, at least in the Christian sense. It was derived from a pagan holiday celebrated in Rome. It wasn't until Christian missionaries intervened that this holiday was cut down to one day that was supposed to mark the birth of Jesus, despite that this day was more than likely not his actual date of birth. Many of the customs that were incorporated into the modern Christmas, such as the Christmas tree, are actually melting pots of different backgrounds coming together to make a holiday celebrated by people all around the world. Personally, I love Christmas Day, it's the madness leading up to it now that I dislike.

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Cultural and Pagan! The celebration of Christmas has absolutely nothing to do with King Jesus Christ and his birth. If *** the Father wanted Humanity to celebrate His Son's Birth, with a billion dollar boost for the sake of glorifying the lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. And putting a Financial Burden upon the backs of the Poor, and Middle Class. I am sure that *** would have had it Written in His Holy Bible. But He did not! Christmas is another way for the Devil to manipulate spiritually blind human beings into serving him and his evil purposes( Matthew 4:8-11, 1 John 2:15-18, John 8:44). Jesus Christ came to "Save the World from perishing on the Day of Judgment"( John 3:16-17). Not to encourage people to do the will of the Devil!
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Wow AdriHead you want to get slaughtered on ** or something? It's started out as a religious holiday and ***** up being a day off where everyone goes into debt trying to keep up with the Jones.
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It is SUPPOSED to be the Celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ . I`m not really sure what it is now.
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It is a largely secular celebration with a focus on greed and materialism, but is based on pagan holidays around the Winter solstice and Saturnalia. It has been given some superficial appearance of a connection to Christianity. However it is not a Christian celebration at all, and never has been.
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Santa Claus has nothing to do with Jesus. It is a hyper commercialized bitter struggle between crazy people.
Except for Christians. We remember the reason for the season and enjoy our families.
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It's both, really, but I'll always remember that it started as a religious celebration... which is why I don't celebrate it.
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In our house Christ is the reason for the season. My husband and I attend church every week but on Christmas Eve the whole family goes to church for the lessons and carols service.

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Origins of Yule:

In the Northern hemisphere, the winter solstice has been celebrated for millenia. The Norse peoples viewed it as a time for much feasting, merrymaking, and, if the Icelandic sagas are to be believed, a time of sacrifice as well. Traditional customs such as the Yule log, the decorated tree, and wassailing can all be traced back to Norse origins.

Winter festivals were also common in Greece and Rome, as well as in the British Isles. When a new religion called Christianity popped up, the new hierarchy had trouble converting the Pagans, and as such, folks didn't want to give up their old holidays. Christian churches were built on old Pagan worship sites, and Pagan symbols were incorporated into the symbolism of Christianity. Within a few centuries, the Christians had everyone worshipping a new holiday celebrated on December 25.
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SO ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN

Most people will tell you they are but in reality they are only
religious people following the words of man come Saturday or Sunday.
lets do the math on earth today there are over 3 billion people claiming to be christian of those 3 billion there are over 3000 different religions teaching there version of there *** be it catholic Muslim Mormon or whatever they are all products
of man not the true ***. Christ is the church and at this time he sets at the right hand of *** any church on earth built and started by man was made corrupt by both man and Satan. Christ tells us (oh how they worship in vain preaching for truth the doctrine of man. ) the only truth is in **** words Christ said man cannot live by bread alone but by every word of ***. **** words are in his book given to us so we may no the truth. the world will never know the real *** until they give up mans religion. And even now I know that only a very few people will understand this because they are to busy pointing there finger at others and claiming there right. When none are right no not one for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of ***. Christ will return one day soon and he will gather his flock and build his church here on earth and all others will be destroyed. Learn to seek the truth now do not take my word for it read your bible and learn for yourself but you must first seek Christ be Baptized and read in an honest search for real truth do not just take mans word no mater what or who they are your preacher is only as good as the religion that schooled him. **** book is truth and all the answers are in it you will not need mans interpatation ask *** he will show you the answer. *** is the light and truth Satan is darkness and lies so think about it with over 3000 different religions don't you feel a lot like your in the dark and being lied to. Remember there is only one *** not 3000 ****. Satan will not let go untill the last second so let go the chains of religion or you will never find truth. may *** help you understand this and send you down the narrow path that leads to Christ Amen.
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Both s/b the answer. ****, I'm an atheist but I buy presents for loved ones on Xmas.

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Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ. It may seem like a cultural holiday today and I guess depending on the person celebrating, it would be. But it has been and always will be a Christian holiday.

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Jesus was bon in September

Origins of Yule:

In the Northern hemisphere, the winter solstice has been celebrated for millenia. The Norse peoples viewed it as a time for much feasting, merrymaking, and, if the Icelandic sagas are to be believed, a time of sacrifice as well. Traditional customs such as the Yule log, the decorated tree, and wassailing can all be traced back to Norse origins.

Winter festivals were also common in Greece and Rome, as well as in the British Isles. When a new religion called Christianity popped up, the new hierarchy had trouble converting the Pagans, and as such, folks didn't want to give up their old holidays. Christian churches were built on old Pagan worship sites, and Pagan symbols were incorporated into the symbolism of Christianity. Within a few centuries, the Christians had everyone worshipping a new holiday celebrated on December 25.
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I think most people believe Christmas is the remembrance of the birth if Christ. Weather they admit it is to be seen.
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Christmas is actually all about Christ, the birthday of Christ. But because we, humans invented a lot of things during Christmas we forgot the true meaning and importance of Christmas.
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It is supposed to be a Christian religious holiday and I think Christians should fight ****** for keeping it that way within their communities instead of it being watered down by their less serious counterparts to being merely a gift-giving time where retailers make their biggest profits. 

I'm not a Christian but I have a few friends that say they are and I give them a **** time every year for not going to church on this most special day to their religion...even though they still have Christmas trees and do the present thing.

BTW, my cousin claims to be a Christian and he invited me to his famiy's 'yule party' this year. I jokingly asked him when it was he became a Pagan since yule parties are not Christian in origin.

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How is it "supposed to be" a Christian holiday? Just because the Christians pretend that Jesus was born that time when they know he wasn't? Just because they picked that date because of all the other celebrations that were based on the solstice that were already happening at that time? You say that Christians should fight ****** to keep it about their religion, but they "hijacked" it from others in the fist place! Most of the traditions are not Christian. The tree. The giving of gifts. Decorations. Santa Claus. All the fun stuff that people like are not Christian things. The only Christian thing is the nativity scene.
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@ hangman

LOL. Relax turbo. Are we writing in English? After the answer you gave, I hope you say 'no' and that we are really communicating in words and sentence structure we hijacked from other European languages since English itself is considered a 'borrowed' language. Jeez! Happy Yule Log!
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@cybertron

I never claimed we don't call it Christmas. The Christian name for the holiday is the one that survived, no argument about that. That's different from saying "it is supposed to be a Christian holiday" that's all I'm saying. As far as I can tell, it's supposed to be a celebration of life... The time of year being based on the days starting to get longer, the sun not going away forever, the traditions of bringing symbols of life into the home like the evergreen boughs that became the Christmas tree, etc.
Not that it matters much. What it is will continue to evolve.
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Right on, its cool. I took a really good cultural anthropology class in college many years ago and my professor emphasized the concept of 'TRANSCULTURATION' and how different societies have borrowed language, symbols, concepts etc etc from one another since the dawn of civilizations.

So, yea, we're all cultural mutts to a degree. LOL.

Cheers!
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Swp - First of all Jesus was born, just not on December 25th. Jesus was born on September 11th to be exact. This research was done by a Christian and he published a book over 20 years ago about it


Origins of Yule:

In the Northern hemisphere, the winter solstice has been celebrated for millenia. The Norse peoples viewed it as a time for much feasting, merrymaking, and, if the Icelandic sagas are to be believed, a time of sacrifice as well. Traditional customs such as the Yule log, the decorated tree, and wassailing can all be traced back to Norse origins.

Winter festivals were also common in Greece and Rome, as well as in the British Isles. When a new religion called Christianity popped up, the new hierarchy had trouble converting the Pagans, and as such, folks didn't want to give up their old holidays. Christian churches were built on old Pagan worship sites, and Pagan symbols were incorporated into the symbolism oabout.com/...f Christianity. Within a few centuries, the Christians had everyone worshipping a new holiday celebrated on December 25.
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Jesus may have been a real person, but even if he was, he was just one of the many false prophets of the time. Nobody knows the exact date of his birth, or even 100% if he was ever a real person... Since most of what was written about him was done something like a hundred years after he was dead.
I'm in general agreement with the rest of what you wrote.
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Did you just say Jesus was born on 9/11? YIKES! j/k

Just curious: do you know what calendar the society Jesus was born into used around his birth time?
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It is an ever cheaper way of saying you actually do care when you don't really give a rat chit about the actual meaning of Christ or Gandhi or anyone or anything else but what the jones do tomorrow.

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Was and still is a Religious Holiday but commercial business has turned it into a Cultural Celebration/. Most people don't even no the reason for the season. Jesus is the reason and the way. Did I offend anyone with my freedom of speech which is in the constitution because I know there is not any constitution for offending anyone.

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esus was born on September 11th to be exact. This research was done by a Christian and he published a book over 20 years ago about it


Origins of Yule:

In the Northern hemisphere, the winter solstice has been celebrated for millenia. The Norse peoples viewed it as a time for much feasting, merrymaking, and, if the Icelandic sagas are to be believed, a time of sacrifice as well. Traditional customs such as the Yule log, the decorated tree, and wassailing can all be traced back to Norse origins.

Winter festivals were also common in Greece and Rome, as well as in the British Isles. When a new religion called Christianity popped up, the new hierarchy had trouble converting the Pagans, and as such, folks didn't want to give up their old holidays. Christian churches were built on old Pagan worship sites, and Pagan symbols were incorporated into the symbolism of Christianity. Within a few centuries, the Christians had everyone worshipping a new holiday celebrated on December 25.
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It is actually both, Christians Celebrate it because it is supposedly the Time when Christ was born. However according to the Bible While it is possible that Jesus was born in the winter, this is far from certain, and the fact that the shepherds and sheep were out in the fields might well suggest the birth occurred during some other season of the year.Like what we consider Late Summer or early Fall.... Please note that In the Hebrew calendar the months of Marchesvan and Chislev were equivalent to October/November and were the times of the early rain. Tebeth, Shebat and Adar equivalent to November/December and December January. were during the Rainy Season and would not have been during shepherding season. Over the centuries the Monotheistic Churches have ******* that the birth of their Saviour took Place in December in a Stable. Christmas is and Always has been a Christianized version of Yule. Pagans Celebrate Yule It is the Time of year when the darkness subsides and the light becomes more prevalent, It is also the time When new life begins to blossom.

Today most Celebrate it as a Materialistic expression of "He who has the most and best toys wins"

BTWs....... Last week **** **** O'Reilley called it a SECULAR NATIONAL HOLIDAY, in his interview with Mikey Weinstein.....IJS

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No, Jesus was born in September NOT December 25th. The Yule thing you have right though
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