What is the pagan history of Christmas?

Though December 25 is the day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the date itself and several of the customs we’ve come to associate with Christmas actually evolved from pagan traditions celebrating the winter solstice. “In ancient Rome there was a feast called Saturnalia that celebrated the solstice.

Did the word Christmas come from?

The word Christmas comes from the combination of the words ‘Christ’ and ‘mass. ‘ But where did the X in Xmas come from, and what does it mean? In the Greek alphabet, X is the symbol for the letter ‘chi. ‘ Chi (or X) is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ.

Is Santa Claus a pagan tradition?

The modern Santa Claus is a direct descendent of England’s Father Christmas, who was not originally a gift-giver. However, Father Christmas and his other European variations are modern incarnations of old pagan ideas about spirits who traveled the sky in midwinter, Hutton said.

Why is Santa Claus a symbol of commercialism?

For many, Santa Claus is the symbolism of Christmas commercialism gone amuck. But the tale of Santa actually comes from a real man who lived in the fourth century. Nicholas was an incredibly generous man who often found opportunities to give to the poor.

What is the meaning of the word Christmas?

What’s interesting is the etymology of the word Christmas. It literally means Christian Mass. It’s a shortened form of Christ’s Mass. Christmas is a time of spiritual reflection on the important foundations of the Christian faith. It’s also a celebration.

How is Santa Claus a symbol of Christmas?

By placing lights on our own homes and trees, we also (symbolically) follow Christ’s instructions to us to also be the light of the world. For many, Santa Claus is the symbolism of Christmas commercialism gone amuck. But the tale of Santa actually comes from a real man who lived in the fourth century.