Meaning of Christmas
- Is from ‘Christes Maesse’, literal meaning is Mass of Christ.
- Celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth.
Where did this command come from?
There is no command or instruction to celebrate it in the Bible - rather, the celebrating of birthdays is a pagan, not a Christian custom, believe it or not.
- Following taken from a Christian site:
In the midst of these conditions, Christ was born and He worked a transformation in the lives of people. He gave a new and a spiritual turn to the lives of man. There came a change upon the land. People started upon a new way of life. Thus a new era dawned for the world.
In that period the seeker has no thought of God or higher spiritual life. He lives a life of lust, anger, greed, deluded attachment, pride and jealousy. If the seeker must enter into a new life of spiritual aspiration, purity and devotion, then the Christ-spirit must take its birth within his heart. That is the real Christmas when the Divine element begins to express itself in the heart of the man. From then onward, light begins to shine where darkness was before.
Does this really happen with all the people who celebrate Christmas today?
Do they even know that this is the real significance?
- Look at the hypocrisy amongst Christians from the following statement:
Though the true origin of Christmas is filled with controversy and compromise, today, Christmas has turned out to be one of the most popular festival that fills joy, happiness and love in people's life. The festival of Christmas has absorbed various customs and traditions of world and 25th December has emerged as the most important day for Christians, irrespective of its roots. It is taken as a day that reflects the power, glory and salvation of Jesus Christ and his message of hope to the world.
So from this statement, the truth of origin is not important, lies and deceit can be adopted to achieve the ultimate goal – unfortunately this does sum up Christianity today.
True origins of Christmas
WHAT ENCYCLOPEDIAS SAY
The word "Christmas" means "Mass of Christ," or, as it came to be shortened, "Christ-Mass." It came to non-Christians and Protestants from the Roman Catholic Church. And where did they get it? NOT from the New Testament - NOT from the Bible - NOT from the original apostles who were personally instructed by Christ - but it gravitated in the fourth century into the Roman Church from paganism.
Since the celebration of Christmas has come to the world from the Roman Catholic Church, and has no authority but that of the Roman Catholic Church, let us examine the Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911 edition, published by that church. Under the heading "Christmas," you will find:
"Christmas was NOT among the earliest festivals on the Church...the first evidence of the feast is FROM EGYPT." "PAGAN CUSTOMS centering around the January calends gravitated to Christmas."
And in the same encyclopedia, under the heading "Natal Day," we find that the early Catholic father, Origen, acknowledged this truth: "...In the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his birthday. It is ONLY SINNERS (like Pharaoh and Herod) who make great rejoicings over the day in which they were born into THIS world".
Encyclopedia Britannica, 1946 edition, has this: "Christmas (i.e., the Mass of Christ)...Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the church..." It was not instituted by Christ or the apostles, or by Bible authority. It was picked up afterward from paganism. The Encyclopedia Americana, 1944 edition, says: "Christmas...It was, according to many authorities, not celebrated in the first centuries of the Christian church, as the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth..." (The "Communion," which is instituted by New Testament Bible authority, is a memorial of the death of Christ.) "...A feast was established in memory of this event [Christ's birth] in the FOURTH CENTURY. In the fifth century the Western Church ordered it to be celebrated forever ON THE DAY OF THE OLD ROMAN FEAST OF THE BIRTH OF SOL, as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ's birth existed."
Now notice! These recognized historical authorities show Christmas was not observed by Christians for the first two or three hundred years - a period longer than the entire history of the United States as a nation! It got into the Western, or Roman, Church, by the fourth century A.D. It was not until the fifth century that the Roman Church ordered it to be celebrated as an official Christian festival!
JESUS NOT BORN DECEMBER 25th
Jesus was not even born in the winter season! When the he was born "there were in the same country shepherds ABIDING in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night" (Luke 2:8). This never could have occurred in Judaea in the month of December. The shepherds always brought their flocks from the mountainsides and fields and corralled them not later than October 15, to protect them from the cold, rainy season that followed that date. Notice that the Bible itself proves, in Song of Solomon 2:11 and Ezra 10:9, 13, that winter was a rainy season not permitting shepherds to abide in open fields at night.
The above translation for the verse (Luke 2:8) above is from the King James Bible which is not a very accurate translation. The Greek word translated as ‘abiding’ in this verse should in fact be correctly translated as ‘camping’. From this correct and true translation, we find that naturally the shepherds would not be able to camp in the open fields during the winter nights as it would have been too cold to do so, and so this proves that this ‘camping’ took place only during the summer nights.
"It was an ancient custom among Jews of those days to send out their sheep to the fields and deserts about the Passover (early spring), and bring them home at commencement of the FIRST RAIN," says the Adam Clarke Commentary (Vol. 5, page 370, New York ed.)
Continuing, this authority states: "During the time they were out, the shepherds watched them night and day. As...the first rain began early in the month of Marchesvan, which answers to part of our October and November (begins sometime in OCTOBER), we find that the sheep were kept out in the open country during the whole SUMMER. And, as these shepherds had not YET brought home their flocks, it is a presumptive argument that October had not yet commenced, and that, consequently, Jesus Christ was not born on the 25th of December, when no flocks were out in the fields; nor could he have been born later than September, as the flocks were still in the fields BY NIGHT. On this very ground, the nativity in December should be given up. The feeding of the flocks by night in the fields is a CHRONOLOGICAL FACT...See the quotations from the Talmudists in Lightfoot."
Any encyclopedia, or any other authority, will tell you that Jesus Christ was not born on December 25. The Catholic Encyclopedia frankly states this fact.
The exact date of Jesus' birth is entirely unknown, as all authorities acknowledge.
If God had truly wished the Christians to observe and celebrate Jesus Christ's birthday, He would not have so completely hidden the exact date.
HOW THIS PAGAN CUSTOM GOT INTO THE CHURCH
The pagan Saturnalia (Dec. 17-24) and Brumalia (Dec. 25), celebrating the shortest day of the year and the 'new sun', WERE TOO DEEPLY ENTRENCHED IN POPULAR CUSTOM TO BE SET ASIDE BY CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE...The pagan festival with its riot and merrymaking was so popular that Christians were glad of an excuse to continue its celebration with little change in spirit and manner.
Remember, the Roman world had been pagan. Prior to the fourth century, Christians were few in number, though increasing, and were persecuted by the government and by pagans. But, with the advent of Constantine as emperor, who made his profession of Christianity in the fourth century, placing Christianity on an equal footing with paganism, people of the Roman world began to accept this now-popular Christianity by the hundreds of thousands.
But remember, these people had grown up in pagan customs, chief of which was this idolatrous festival of December 25th. It was a festival of merrymaking, with its special spirit. They enjoyed it! They didn't want to give it up. Now this same article in the New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge explains how the recognition by Constantine of Sunday, which had been the day of pagan sun worship, and how the influence of the pagan Manichaeism, which identified the SON OF GOD with the physical SUN, gave these pagans of the fourth century, now turning over wholesale to "Christianity," their excuse for calling their pagan-festival date of December 25th (birthday of the SUN-god), the birthday of the SON OF GOD.
And THAT is how "Christmas" became fastened on the Western world. They may call it by another name, but it's the same old pagan sun-worshipping festival still. The only change is in what they call it. You can CALL a rabbit a "lion," but it's still a rabbit, just the same.
Christmas Trees are Pagan Idols
It is a curious fact that there are no Christmas type trees in Bethlehem, Nazareth or Galilee, in fact throughout the Middle East coniferous tree do not naturally grow. Coniferous trees or evergreens, as they are also known as, grow naturally only in cold snowy climates such as northern Europe and northern America.
The northern Europeans pagans use to worship nature and tree's. And it was during the Roman Empire that this pagan worship was popularised across Germania (known today as Germany).
The month of December was already a pagan holiday before the advent of Hadhrat Jesus (peace be upon him); Like in Roman traditions it was also to celebrate the winter solstice i.e. the increase in daylight hours.
The northern Europe pagans came from areas today known, as Iceland, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden etc and they believed that trees held spirits within them that could benefit them. That is why they would decorate coniferous trees and place gifts underneath them to appease these spirits so they would bring them good fortune in the coming year.
What we as Muslims must realise is that just because a Christmas tree doesn’t look like a brightly coloured Hindu deity with colourful garlands and presents at its feet. The two are still venerated in the same way. And it doesn’t make it any less shirk in the sight of God Almighty.
ORIGIN OF HOLLY WREATH, MISTLETOE, YULE LOG
The Encyclopedia Americana says: "The holly, the mistletoe, the Yule log...are relics of pre-Christian times." Of paganism!
Mistletoe:
Among the ancient pagans the mistletoe was used at this festival of the winter solstice because it was considered sacred to the sun, because of its supposed miraculous healing power. The pagan custom of kissing under the mistletoe was an early step in the night of revelry and drunken debauchery (over-indulgence in sensual pleasure) - celebrating the death of the "old sun" and the birth of the new at the winter solstice.
The mistletoe was used in the casting of druidic spells to make a woman open and helpless to exploitation. This is where the custom of kissing under the mistletoe comes from. And those traditions and modern plastic equivalents are still around today.
Candle lighting:
Even the lighting of fires and candles as a Christian ceremony is merely a continuation of the pagan custom, encouraging the waning sun-god as he reached the lowest place in the southern skies.
Decorating home with lights:
In days past European people placed an oil-burning lamp in their windows to show passers-by that they were participating in the pagan worship of the phallic idol Yule. And in today’s commercialism this is where we have the custom of decorating the house and windows with lights.
Carol Singing:
Carol singing came from the ‘kolyada’ or ‘koleda’ singing. An ancient Slavic winter ritual celebrating the old year. The singing was in honour of another pagan sun god – Dazbog. It too was also assimilated into Christmas tradition by Charles Dickens.
The original names and types of singing are still in use today in Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Croatia. In western culture Russian and Polish immigrants have changed it into singing on Christmas Eve.
Christmas stockings
The belief was that Odin (father of Thor) would ride on his eight-legged horse named Sleipner and come down chimneys to give gifts for those children who were good. Children therefore used to put straw, carrots or sugar in their boots by the chimney for Odin’s horse. This has now changed to hanging up Christmas stockings by the chimney, a practise still done today.
YES, AND EVEN SANTA CLAUSE
But surely dear old Santa Claus is not a creature of pagan birth? But he is, and his real character is not so benevolent and holy as many suppose.
There are many theories as follows:
The name "Santa Claus" is a corruption of the name "St. Nicholas," a Roman Catholic bishop who lived in the 5th century. Look in the Encyclopedia Britannica, volume 19, pages 648-649, 11th edition, where you'll read: "St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra, a saint honored by the Greeks and Latins on the 6th of December... A legend of his surreptitious bestowal of dowries on the three daughters of an impoverished citizen...is said to have originated the old custom of giving presents in secret on the Eve of St. Nicholas [Dec. 6], subsequently transferred to Christmas day. Hence the association of Christmas with Santa Claus..."
Another view:
Santa Claus or the Norse god Odin
Most children know that Santa Claus (Father Christmas) doesn’t exist. But the true origins of this fantasy person are also surprising and disturbing.
It may be surprising to know that the Norse god Odin looked like Santa. He was a major god for the Germanic pagans and was also remembered over the Yule festival. Icelandic traditions say Odin had an 8-legged horse named Sleipnir and legend says that Sleipnir could leap great distances in a single bound. The origin to the story of Santa and his eight magical flying reindeer.
In Norse traditions we find that children use to put straw, carrots or sugar in their boots near the chimney for Sleipnir to eat, and Odin would reward then by replacing the food with candy and gifts. With this tradition surviving even to this day in Germany, Netherlands and Belgium.
As traditions moved to other countries the boots near the chimney became colourful stockings hanging by the fire.
And it was sometime later that the story of a man titled Sinterklaas (Dutch for Saint Nicholas) appeared in places like Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. A huge annual feast was commemorated by some Church denominations in his honour.
Legend has it that he was supposed to have conquered Satan and put him under his control. In historical artwork of Sinterklaas it usually depicted with a pet goat. The goat may have been symbolic for the devil as even today the goat is used to symbolise the devil in pagan symbology.
Interestingly narrative about Sinterklaas are always told where he is helped by Zwarte Pieten (Dutch for Black Peter). A racist and pagan name for an evil spirit. And the two of them went around visiting children on the 5th or 6th of December.
Zwarte Piet was supposed to be his bound Satan. It is said that Zwarte Piet carried with him a book, which had a list of good and bad children. And that Sinterklaas referred to this book and asked children to recount some scripture or good deed before Zwarte Piet rewarded them with apples, nuts and gingerbread. If a child was bad or unable to recount scripture Zwarte Piet punished the child with a beating with willow canes.
In some historical pictures Zwarte Piet was depicted as a goat or a small black horned devil. In Germanic tradition Sinterklaas’s satanic helper was named Knecht Ruprecht. Ruprechet, commonly meaning the devil in German.
And further research reveals that the first known origins of Sinterklaas were not from a Christian Saint but from Anglo-Saxon pagan mythology. Borrowing heavily from Norse mythology. It was said that he rode a white horse named Sliepnir, (the same name as Odin’s horse) and he flew through the air as the leader of a special wild hunt. It is narrated that he had with him two ravens that would listen at the chimneys about the good and bad behaviour of the mortals. And then Sinterklaas returned to his master Woden to report. Woden was a pre Christian Anglo-Saxon god. Note how similar the name sounds the same as the Norse god Odin.
Through the years, parents punish their children for telling falsehoods. Then, at Christmas time, they themselves tell their little children this "Santa Claus" lie! Is it any wonder many of them, when they grow up and learn the truth, begin to believe God is a myth, too?
And so when we examine the facts, we are astonished to learn that the practices of observing Christmas is not, after all, a true Christian practice, but a pagan custom.
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS TREE
Following is in fact from a Christian Minister!
But if the Bible is silent about telling us to observe Christmas, or recording any such observance by the apostles or early true Church, it DOES have something to say about the Christmas tree.
This will come as a real surprise to many. But here it is: Jeremiah 10:2-6: "Thus saith the Lord, LEARN NOT THE WAY OF THE HEATHEN...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. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not."
There is a perfect description of the Christmas tree, termed as "the way of the heathen - the customs of the people." Christians are commanded not to learn that way or follow it. It is also viewed in this passage as idolatry. The fifth verse shows that these trees cannot speak - cannot walk - must be carried. "Be not afraid of them; for THEY (the trees) cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good." They are not gods to be feared. Some people misread this to make it say there is no harm in having a Christmas tree, but that is not what it says.
ISN'T EXCHANGING GIFTS SCRIPTURAL?
Following is in fact from a Christian Minister!
But when it comes to the most important part of all in this Christmas observance - the Christmas shopping season - the buying and exchanging of gifts - many will exclaim triumphantly, "Well, at least the Bible tells us to do that. Didn't the wise men give gifts when Christ was born?"
Again, we are due for some surprises, when we learn the plain truth. First, let's look at the historic origin of trading gifts back and forth, then see exactly what the Bible DOES say about it.
From the Bibliotheca Sacra, volume 12, pages 153-155, we quote: "The interchange of presents between friends is alike characteristic of Christmas and the Saturnalia (the Roman day of giving gifts), and MUST HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY THE CHRISTIANS FROM THE PAGANS, as the admonition of Tertullian plainly shows."
The fact is, this custom fastened upon people of exchanging gifts with friends and relatives at the Christmas season HAS NOT A SINGLE TRACE OF CHRISTIANITY ABOUT IT, strange though that may seem. This does not celebrate Christ's birthday nor honour it or Him! Suppose someone you love has a birthday. You want to honour that person on his or her birthday. Would you lavishly buy gifts for EVERYONE ELSE, trading gifts back and forth with all your OTHER friends and loved ones, but ignore completely any gift for the one whose birthday you are honouring? Rather absurd, when viewed in that light, isn't it?
Yet this is exactly what people the world over are doing. They honour a day that is not Christ's birthday by spending every dime they can scrape together in buying presents to trade back and forth among friends and relatives. But I can say by years of experience, as I believe most pastors and ministers can say, that when the month of December rolls around, nearly all professing Christians forget to give gifts to Christ and His cause almost altogether. December often is the most difficult month to keep Christ's work from dying. People are too busy trading gifts back and forth among themselves to think of Him and His Work, it seems. Then, in January and even into February it seems they have to catch up from what they spent for Christmas, so they seldom get back to normal in supporting Christ and His Work before March.
Now consider what the Bible says about the wise men giving gifts when Christ was born. It is in Matthew 2:1-11. "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born KING OF THE JEWS? ...And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him: AND WHEN THEY HAD OPENED THEIR TREASURES, they presented unto HIM gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."
WHY GIFTS PRESENTED TO CHRIST
Following is in fact from a Christian Minister!
Notice, they inquired for the child Jesus, who was born KING of the Jews. Now why did they present gifts to Him? Because it was His birthday? Not at all, because they came several days or weeks after the date of His birth. Was it to set an example for us, today, to trade gifts back and forth among ourselves? No, notice carefully. They did not exchange gifts among themselves, but "they presented unto HIM gifts." They gave their gifts to Christ, not to their friends, relatives, or one another.
Why? Let me quote from the Adam Clarke Commentary, volume 5, page 46: "Verse 11. (They presented unto him gifts.) The people of the east never approach the presence of kings and great personages, without a present in their hands. The custom is often noticed in the Old Testament, and still prevails in the east, and in some of the newly discovered South Sea Islands."
There it is. They were not instituting a new Christian custom of exchanging gifts with friends to honour Christ's birthday. They were following an old and ancient eastern custom of presenting gifts to a king when they came into his presence. They were approaching Him, born King of the Jews, in person. Therefore custom required they present gifts - even as the Queen of Sheba brought gifts to Solomon - even as many people today take a gift along when they visit the White House for an appointment with the President.
No, the custom of trading gifts back and forth does not stem from this scriptural incident at all, but rather, as quoted from history above, it is the continuance of an ancient pagan custom. Instead of honoring Christ, it invariably retards His Work, often sets it back, at the Christmas season every year.
DOES IT REALLY HONOR CHRIST? A christain perspective!
Following is in fact from a Christian Minister!
Now come two arguments often used to justify Christmas observance.
1) Many will reason this way: "But, even though the exact date of Jesus' birth is unknown, should we not select SOME date to celebrate as His birthday?" The answer is positively no. Did you not notice the statement quoted from the Catholic Encyclopedia: "Sinners alone, not saints, celebrate their birthdays." The custom of birthdays is not a Christian, but a pagan custom, observed by sinners!
2) But, many still reason, "Even so - even though Christmas was a pagan custom, honouring the false sun-god, we don't observe it to honour the false god, we observe it to honour Christ."
But how does God answer in His Word? "Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them [the pagans in their customs]... that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God: for every abomination to the Eternal, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods" (Deut 12:30-31).
God says plainly in His Instruction Book to us, that He will not accept that kind of worship, even though intended in His honour. To Him, He says, it is offering what is ABOMINABLE to Him, and therefore it honours, not Him, but false pagan gods. God says we must not worship Him according to the "dictates of our own conscience" - a term we often hear. But Jesus says plainly, "God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). And what is truth? God's Word - the Holy Bible - said Jesus, is truth (John 17:17); and the Bible says God will not accept worship when people take a pagan custom or manner of worship and try to honour Christ with it.
Again, Jesus said: "In VAIN they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matt 15:9). Christmas observance is a TRADITION OF MEN, and the commandments of God, as quoted, forbid it. Jesus said, further, "full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition."
That is precisely what the millions are doing today. They ignore the commandment of God. He commands, regarding taking the customs of the pagans and using them to honour or worship God: "Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God." Still, most people today take that command of God lightly, or as having no validity whatsoever, and follow the tradition of men in observing Christmas.
Other Problems with Christmas
- Huge financial burden on families – many don’t look forward to it.
- Has become very commercialised – where there is big money, this is bound to happen.
Christmas has become a commercial season. It's sponsored, kept alive, by the heaviest retail advertising campaigns of the year. You see a masqueraded "Santa Claus" in many stores. Ads keep us deluded and deceived about the "beautify Christmas spirit." The newspaper, who sell the ads, print flowery editorials exalting and eulogizing the pagan season, and its "spirit." A gullible people has become so inoculated, many take offense when told the truth. But the "Christmas spirit" is created each year, not to honour Jesus Christ, but to sell merchandise. Like all Satan's delusions, it appears as an "angel of light," is made to appear good. Billions of dollars are spent in this merchandising spree every year. Of only people put all that money they spend for God’s work.
- Our own kids being forced to take part in school plays and so taking part in Shirk – we should not allow it by politely asking the School not to due to its complete pagan origins and nothing to do with real Christianity.
- Question - What is wrong with celebrating Christmas, Birthdays and Halloween? It’s all just harmless fun is it not?
- Celebrating your own birthday is not in line with being humble as it is the celebration of oneself, giving importance to oneself.
- According to a hadith, arrogance is the last and most difficult sin to leave you. The opposite of humbleness is arrogance. As celebrating yourself breeds arrogance, it should be avoided.
- Even the idea of just having a get-together amongst family members for a birthday is still celebrating and so should be avoided.
- Maybe that’s why no Prophet of Allah is ever known to have celebrated their own birth!
- Christmas parties – even today as in the past, the main focus is on drinking, merry-making and fornication. Such parties must be avoided.
- When ignorant of the pagan origins of these celebrations then you have an excuse, but as Ahmadi Muslims, we all should always be seeking the truth, and after having now realised the truth about the true pagan origins of all these celebrations, to then continue celebrating and part in them in anyway or form is to become part of the pagan belief, to take part in shirk which will not be forgiven by Allah Almighty.
- Celebrating your own birthday is not in line with being humble as it is the celebration of oneself, giving importance to oneself.
- There is a belief amongst some Muslims that there is no harm in taking part in someone else’s birthday celebration or a Christmas celebration in order to integrate with the British people:
- There are many ways to integrate without a Muslim having to compromise his own beliefs and taking part in shirk.
- An example could be given of eating meat – if you go to someone’s house and you are offered a piece of meat which you know the animal was slaughtered in the name of another god besides Allah, this meat has therefore clearly become ‘haraam’ for you to eat and so you will refuse to eat it without worrying about causing offence as in eating it you will be going against Allah’s commandments which are far more important. It is the same with these pagan celebrations where you know that their origin is based in worshipping false deities and as Allah Almighty has clearly forbidden this as shirk, you should not take part in these celebrations either just as you would not eat the haraam meat.
- Therefore even giving presents on these pagan festivals or even wishing someone i.e. Merry Christmas or Happy Birthday is still becoming part of these pagan beliefs and so need to be avoided.
- The Promised Messiah (as) came to rid the world of all false beliefs which have corrupted all the religions and so as Ahmadi Muslims should not worry about causing offence and looking to integrate with others by also adopting their false practises (like the Church did in the past to get the pagans to accept Christianity). Instead, we need to always stand firm to the truth and look to politely educate others to the right path also. If we don’t make a stand to false beliefs, then who will?
- There are many ways to integrate without a Muslim having to compromise his own beliefs and taking part in shirk.