it may have begun independently in several parts of Europe. Ceremonial worship of trees in ancient pagan rites almost certainly led to the decoration of trees at the time of the winter solstice. [pp 52]

We read about this practice from the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 10:1.

1 Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel:
2 Thus says 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 cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

Who made this a “holy day,” and what days were replaced by these pagan observances?

December 25th

Again, Webb Garrison writes:

The festival of “Christes Masse”…was celebrated very early – at a variety of times and seasons. In AD 350 Pope Julius 1st formally designated December 25 as Christmas. He chose that date because it coincided with important pagan festivals. [pp 54]

From the book All About Christmas, Maymie Krythe writes:

A celebration at the time of the winter solstice, when all were looking forward to the coming of spring, was not an original idea with the Christians. For many years before Christ’s birth, other religious groups

 

 

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