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In New England it was illegal to celebrate Christmas for about 25 years in the 1600s – The Puritans hated the holiday and if the Catholic Church gradually came to embrace Christmas, the Protestant Reformation gave the holiday a good knock on the chin. In the 16th century, Christmas became a casualty of this church schism, with reformist-minded Protestants considering it little better than paganism. In England under Oliver Cromwell, Christmas and other saints’ days were banned, and in New England it was illegal to celebrate Christmas for about 25 years in the 1600s.If you want to look at a real ‘War on Christmas,’ you’ve got to look at the Puritans – They banned it!
Ricky Grimsley [12/19/2015 1:04 PM]
On the first christmas i was youth pastor…..the sunday school teacher came to me furious. She said “pastor ricky your daughter told all the other kids that santa was dead.” (She was three). I said ” Im sorry i will correct her. I told her santa was the devil”.
John Kissinger [12/19/2015 1:06 PM]key word here: “was pastor” – It’s generally accepted that early Christians adopted December 25th as the day of Christ’s birth to co-opt the pagan celebration of the winter solstice. Some believe this fact undermines Christianity.
But according to Professor William Tighe, this “fact” may actually be a myth.
Ricky Grimsley [12/19/2015 3:03 PM]
Yep a different life.
John Kissinger [12/19/2015 4:20 PM]
Werner Keller’s book The Bible as History the following admission: “December 25 is referred to in documents as Christmas Day in A.D. 324 for the first time. Under the Roman emperor Justinian [A.D. 527-565] it was recognized as an official holiday. An old Roman festival played a a major part in the choice of this particular day. December 25 in ancient Rome was the ‘Dies Natali Invictus,’ ‘the birthday of the unconquered,’ the day of the winter solstice and at the same time, in Rome, the last day of the Saturnalia, which had long since degenerated into a week of unbridled carnival…” (p. 331).
Keller goes on: “Meteorologists as well as historians and astronomers have something of importance to contribute to this question of fixing the date of the birth of Jesus. According to St. Luke: ‘And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night’ (Luke 2:8).
“Meteorologists have made exact recordings of the temperature at Hebron. This spot in the southern highlands of Judah exhibits the same climatic conditions as Bethlehem, which is not far distant. The temperature readings show over a period of three months that the incidence of frost is as follows: December — 2.8 degrees; January — 1.6 degrees; February —0.1 degrees. The first two months have also the greatest rainfall in the year: approximately 6 inches in December, and nearly 8 inches in January. According to all existing information the climate of Palestine has not changed appreciably in the last 2,000 years, consequently modern meteorological observations can be taken as a basis. At Christmas-time Bethlehem is in the grip of frost, and in the Promised Land no cattle would have been in the fields in that temperature. This fact is born out by a remark in the Talmud to the effect that in that neighborhood the flocks were put out to grass in March and brought in again at the beginning of November. They remained out in the open for almost eight months. Around Christmas-time nowadays both animals and shepherds are under cover in Palestine. What St. Luke tells us points therefore to the birth of Jesus having taken place BEFORE the onset of winter…” (p. 331-332).
John Kissinger [12/19/2015 7:37 PM]
History of Rome, by Michael Grant: “Yet there was also another pagan belief during this same epoch, that much more nearly competed with Christ for the control of the Western world. This was the cult of the Sun, which was revered by millions of the inhabitants of the Roman Empire, and its religion for a time even became the state worship…. In Rome, the divinity of the Sun came very early on; and then, centuries afterwards, in the superb dome of Hadrian’s Pantheon, the central opening, surrounded by star-like rosettes, represented the solar orb….Before long, the emperor Aurelian established a massive temple of the Unconquerable Sun as the central and focal point of the entire religious system of the state (274). The birthday of the god was to be on DECEMBER 25, AND THIS, TRANSFORMED INTO CHRISTMAS DAY, WAS ONE OF THE HERITAGES THAT CHRISTIANITY OWED TO HIS CULT” (p. 391- 392, emphasis mine).
John Kissinger [12/22/2015 8:49 PM]
NOT ALL is lost http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/the-myth-of-the-pagan-origins-of-christmas/
John Kissinger [12/27/2015 12:34 PM]
Varnel Watson
some food for brains Isara Mo Joe Absher Jim Price Puritans in the English Parliament eliminated Christmas as a national holiday in 1645, amid widespread anti-Christmas sentiment. Settlers in New England went even further, outlawing Christmas celebrations entirely in 1659. Anyone caught shirking their work duties or feasting was forced to pay a significant penalty of five shillings. Christmas returned to England in 1660, but in New England it remained banned until the 1680s, when the Crown managed to exert greater control over its subjects in Massachusetts. In 1686, the royal governor of the colony, Sir Edmund Andros, sponsored a Christmas Day service at the Boston Town House. Fearing a violent backlash from Puritan settlers, Andros was flanked by redcoats as he prayed and sang Christmas hymns.
Jim Price
Somethings gain such momentum that it’s counter productive to resist them. I keep my observance and participation to a very minimum.
Varnel Watson
Jim Price Ricky Grimsley in New England it was illegal to celebrate Christmas for about 25 years in the 1600s – The Puritans hated the holiday and if the Catholic Church gradually came to embrace Christmas, the Protestant Reformation gave the holiday a good knock on the chin. In the 16th century, Christmas became a casualty of this church schism, with reformist-minded Protestants considering it little better than paganism. In England under Oliver Cromwell, Christmas and other saints’ days were banned, and in New England it was illegal to celebrate Christmas for about 25 years in the 1600s.If you want to look at a real ‘War on Christmas,’ you’ve got to look at the Puritans – They banned it!
Tom Williams
Jim Price isn’t it interesting, how the pendulum swings from one extreme to the other in many issues in Christianity today ? Certainly the truth of Gods word rings true , there is nothing new under the sun !
Christmas Eve , I though wouldn’t it be nice if I could find some biblical songs and worship about what I celebrate ! Jesus birth ?
So going from the many listings on Roku ? Nope not one Christian broadcaster has even one song of worship and praise about the birth of Jesus ? Not only there , but you would be hard pressed to find any worship glorifying the birth of Jesus on the secular channels as well !
Now attending the public schools Christmas concerts , not one single song mentioning the birth of Jesus Christ the Son of God ?
But well then why should the church complain about Christ being driven out of our society ! The church is the greatest offender and was given an opportunity under the most hated , to do something to bring Glory and honor to God ? But because of blind hatred and demonic oppression, the church is going further to sleep ?
How dare any minister raise his voice to complain about the Lords standing in this republic ?????
The church sinks deeper into witchcraft and demonic hatred ???? Now what just close your eyes , close your Bible , close down the opportunity given by God to lift up his name ?????
Isn’t it really only about hating perfectly the miracle God has given to bring a change to a nation lost and sliding towards Hell ? Really what ever they ask or say is reputed and we prove our pure hatred by our actions ????
Time is evaporating , we are at the tipping point for the end of all things are at hand ! Still the church squirrels away opportunity for real revival ,for a real move of God ! Lol mean time the Church builds witchcraft to stop what God wants to do ?
Here is what God has put on my heart , we need to fall on our face , for the wicked rule , only God could rescue you if they decide to permanently destroy you ! Let us cry to God for Elijah to now come on this earth ! His last days miracle ministry is one last gasp of breath for this church and world sliding into eternity ! Amen praying ???????????????????????????????????????????????????
Jim Price
Tom: I experienced Christmas very different than you. All week my wife and I viewed several Christmas specials with many songs about Jesus birth included. On Christmas eve we watched a TBN special that mainly celebrated Christ’s birth. ” there is nothing new under the sun ! ” That holds true only in a certain context; otherwise there is so much much new over the last 100 years that it would be impossible to name them all. ” Time is evaporating , we are at the tipping point for the end of all things are at hand ! ” I used to feel that way when I was in my late teens but now that I am 85 I sense that the end of me is at hand but I think that the world will keep right on turning and struggling with an never ending fight for what is right.. May you and your family experience a Happy New Year in Christ!
Varnel Watson
Jim Price not much different than me oldtimer 🙂