Christmas: Origin and History

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST

Along with Samhain, the winter solstice and the observance of Yule are probably the most widely celebrated today of the ancient rituals. Although today Yule is linked to the Christian observance of the Nativity, there is no biblical or historical evidence that Christ was born on Christmas. Rather, December25 was long held to be the celebration day of the Roman deity, Mithras. It is believed that the cult of Sol Invictus, or “invincible sun,” with which Mithras is often associated, may have even predated the Romans by several hundred years. [p.38-39]

Nock, Judy Ann. "Season Two Yule." The Provenance Press Guide to the Wiccan Year: Spells, Rituals, and Holiday Celebrations. Avon, MA: Provenance, 2007. 37-63. Print

And first, as to the festival in honour of the birth of Christ, or Christmas. How comes it that that festival was connected with the 25th of December? There is not a word in the Scriptures about the precise day of His birth, or the time of the year when He was born. What is recorded there, implies that at what time soever His birth took place, it could not have been on the 25th of December. At the time that the angel announced His birth to the shepherds of Bethlehem, they were feeding their flocks by night in the open fields. [p. 119]

Now, no doubt, the climate of Palestine is not so severe as the climate of this country; but even there, though the heat of the day be considerable, the cold of the night, from December to February, is very piercing, and it was not the custom for the shepherds of Judea to watch their flocks in the open fields later than about the end of October. [p.119]

Luke 2:8 KJVS

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

It is in the last degree incredible, then, that the birth of Christ could have taken place at the end of December. There is great unanimity among commentators on this point. Besides Barnes, Doddridge, Lightfoot, Joseph Scaliger, and Jennings, in his "Jewish Antiquities," who are all of opinion that December 25th could not be the right time of our Lord's nativity, the celebrated Joseph Mede pronounces a very decisive opinion to the same effect. After a long and careful disquisition on the subject, among other arguments he adduces the following;--"At the birth of Christ every woman and child was to go to be taxed at the city whereto they belonged, whither some had long journeys; but the middle of winter was not fitting for such a business, especially for women with child, and children to travel in. [p120]

Hislop, Alexander. "Chapter 3 Festivals." The Two Babylons: Or, The Papal Worship Proved to Be the Worship of Nimrod and His Wife. N.p.: EZ Reads, 2009. 119-132. Print.

Luke 2:1-5 KJVS

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. [2] (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) [3] And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. [4] And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) [5] To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

ORIGIN & HISTORY

The festivals of Rome are innumerable; but five of the most important may be singled out for elucidation--viz., Christmas-day, Lady-day, Easter, the Nativity of St. John, and the Feast of the Assumption. Each and all of these can be proved to be Babylonian. [p.119]

It was no mere astronomic festival, then, that the Pagans celebrated at the winter solstice. That festival at Rome was called the feast of Saturn, and the mode in which it was celebrated there, showed whence it had been derived. The feast, as regulated by Caligula, lasted five days; loose reins were given to drunkenness and revelry, slaves had a temporary emancipation, * and used all manner of freedoms with their masters. Subsequently the number of the days of the Saturnalia was increased to seven. * If Saturn, or Kronos, was, as we have seen reason to believe, Phoroneus, "The emancipator," the "temporary emancipation" of the slaves at his festival was exactly in keeping with his supposed character.

Hislop, Alexander. "Chapter 3 Festivals." The Two Babylons: Or, The Papal Worship Proved to Be the Worship of Nimrod and His Wife. N.p.: EZ Reads, 2009. 119-132. Print.

Season Two: Yule - The God Is Reborn

The Yuletide celebration has its roots in the ancient Roman observance of Saturnalia, which was held from December 17 until December 25. [p.38]

Nock, Judy Ann. "Season Two Yule." The Provenance Press Guide to the Wiccan Year: Spells, Rituals, and Holiday Celebrations. Avon, MA: Provenance, 2007. 37-63. Print

Saturn (Roman god)

Saturn’s great festival, the Saturnalia, became the most popular of Roman festivals, and its influence is still felt in the celebration of Christmas and the Western world’s New Year. The Saturnalia was originally celebrated on December 17, but it was later extended to seven days. It was the merriest festival of the year: all work and business were suspended; slaves were given temporary freedom... https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saturn-god

2 Corinthians 11:14 KJVS

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.