Where does Christmas really come from?
No date for the birth of Jesus (peace be upon him) is mentioned in the Bible nor does he command people to celebrate his birth. The word 'Christmas' is not even present in the entire Bible. The Bible has closed lips on the entire feast of Christmas with one exception, the decoration of tree. Fortunately, for the Christians, the Bible does has a word or two to say on the decoration of the Christmas tree, but unfortunately for them, their own Bible criticizes the use of decorating tree:
"The customs of the people are worthless, they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel, they adore it with silver and gold, they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter".
(Jeremiah 10:3-4)
Pre-Christian pagans superstitiously believed that the evergreen tree has special power of protection. In fact, the use of Christmas tree began in the 17th century, in Strasbourg, France and from there it spread to Germany, Britain and then to the U.S.
"Tree worship was a common feature of religion among the Teutonic and Scandinavian peoples of northern Europe before their conversion to Christianity… German settlers brought the Christmas tree custom to the American colonies in the 17th century. By the 19th century its use was quite widespread".
If the Bible is to be believed, when Jesus (peace be upon him) was born, the Shepherds with their sheep were still on the hills, yet if you were to go to Palestine at Christmas time today you would find all the sheep brought down from the hills as at this time it is too cold for them and they would freeze – So why is Christmas celebrated at this time of the year?
The modern festival known as Christmas developed over many years from different cultures and traditions, but none of them have anything to do with the correct way of worshipping the Almighty Creator.
"Tree worship was a common feature of religion among the Teutonic and Scandinavian peoples of northern Europe before their conversion to Christianity… German settlers brought the Christmas tree custom to the American colonies in the 17th century. By the 19th century its use was quite widespread".
(Compton's Encyclopedia, 1998 Edition)
If the Bible is to be believed, when Jesus (peace be upon him) was born, the Shepherds with their sheep were still on the hills, yet if you were to go to Palestine at Christmas time today you would find all the sheep brought down from the hills as at this time it is too cold for them and they would freeze – So why is Christmas celebrated at this time of the year?
The modern festival known as Christmas developed over many years from different cultures and traditions, but none of them have anything to do with the correct way of worshipping the Almighty Creator.