True Origins of Christmas Traditions and Real Pagan History

In this blog post, we discuss the sad but true origins of Christmas traditions.

WARNING: This blog post may just ruin Christmas for you forever. You have been warned.

Pagan Origins of Christmas – Sun Worship

The pegan origins of Christmas can be traced back to the commemoration of the Winter Solstice celebrated in Europe on or around December 22nd. 

Prior to England becoming a nation the Caucasian or Anglo Saxon used the word “geol” derived from the word “yule” or phrase “Yuletide Season” to signify sun worship during the time of the winter solstice.

Origin of Christmas Decorations

Sun worship was significant for the European during this time as the days (time the sun was up) were shorter and causing a harsh climate that left much of their land barren and non-productive.

They began to worship the evergreen tree as it was the one tree that remained green during the winter. They adorned the tree with brightly color bulbs and balls to represent their worship of the sun.

Pagan Origins – Saturnalia Christmas

Similarly, in ancient Rome, the festival Saturnalia was celebrated from December 17 through December 23. This festival involved the public sacrifice of young pigs offered on the altar to make blood pudding. Some other practices during this festival included orgies, giving of gag gifts, performing of street plays, fighting, and drunkenness.

What Does the Bible Say About Celebrating Christmas – Bible on Christmas Trees

Jeremiah 10: 1-5

1. Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 2. Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

Clearly, the bible does not agree with this practice and nor should any real Christian, unless you are as upright as a palm tree or a heathen who enjoys vain customs.

Council of Nicaea

 The First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. This council was convened by Emporer Constantine a known pegan. One of the purposes of this meeting was to decide on the date of Christmas. They choose this date because Saturnailia was already celebrated during this time.

The December 25th Pagan Holiday

In the Story of Civilization, Will Durant writes:

Paganism survived in the moral sense as a joyous indulgence of natural appetites; as religion, it remained only in the form of ancient rites and customs condoned or accepted and transformed by an often indulgent church. An intimate and trustful worship of saints replaced the cults of the pagan gods, and satisfied the congenial polytheism of simple or poetic minds. Statues of Isis and Horus were renamed Mary and Jesus; the Roman Lupercalia and the Feast of the Purification of Issi became the Feast of Nativity; The Saturnalia were replace by the Christmas Celebration.

History of Christmas Tree

One of the most prominent symbols during Christmas time is the, Tree. The Romans hung fertility symbols on trees to worship Bacchus, the Greek Dionysus.

The Caucasian European worshiped the evergreen tree as they were amazed by its ability to stay green during the winter. They decorated their houses with anything green that they could find. 

Origin of Christmas Lights Pagan – Yule Log

Lights were of great significance to the European as they worshiped the warmth and light that fire brought to Europe during their often foggy and inclimate weather. 

The burning of the Yule log was a reminent celebration of Musa teaching the caveman how to heat his cave in 2,000 B.C.

During the Puritain prohibition lights were placed in the window of homes to let the Catholic Priest know that the yultide was being celebrated in that home.

History of Santa Clause (Satan’s Cause)

The name Santa Clause is derived form the Dutch name “Sinter Klaas” the dutch name for St. Nicholas, a 4th Century bishop of Asia Minor.

German Mythology contest that Santa or Satan first appeared as a hairy imp named Pelz Nichol.

In Holland, The name “old Nick” was terminology for “the devil” .

After the protestant reformation the name St. Nicholas was replaced by the name Christ Kindl or Christ Kindli meaning Christ Kind in parts of Germany and Switzerland. From this name Kris Kringle, a fat elf or hairy imp, was created as the symbol for the one bearing gift during the time of Christmas.

The modern image of Santa/Satan was created in 1822 by American minister and poet Clement C. Moore in his famous poem “T’was the Night Before Christmas.” This poem described a sled pulled by reindeers and Santa’s fur trimmed suit.

The Truth About Christmas During Slavery

In 1882 Frederick Douglas relates speaks on his experience as a slave during Chistmas time. He speaks on the use of Christmas as a tool to pacify the slave. Frederick Douglas states:

“We were induced to drink, I among the rest, and when the holidays were over we all staggered up from our filth and wallowing, took a long breath and went away to our various fields of work, feeling upon the whole, rather glad to go from that which our masters had artfully deceived us into the belief was freedom, back again to the arms of slavery. It was not what we had taken it to be, nor what it would have been, had it not been abused by us. It was about as well to be a slave to master, as to be a slave to whiskey and rum. When the slave was drunk the slaveholder had no fear that he would escape to the North. It was the sober, thoughtful slave who was dangerous and needed the vigillance of his master to keep him a slave.”

Origins of Christmas Traditions  – Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed these Christmas facts and have a better understanding of the real reason behind Christmas. The reality of the history and origins of Christmas traditions. The true pagan history behind Christmas should have us at the very least question the practice.