Christmas is often called "the most wonderful time of the year," but how accurate is this description? While millions worldwide engage in gift-giving, tree decorating, and festive meals during this season, the holiday's history reveals some surprising facts. Christmas was once banned in Christian countries, including America, as evidenced by a 1659 public notice that stated: "The observation of Christmas having been deemed sacrilege, the exchanging of gifts and greetings, dressing in fine clothing, feasting, and similar satanical practices are hereby forbidden, with the offender liable to a fine of five shillings." This historical notice has been documented on various websites, including Mass Moments,1659. For example, you can find a reprint of the 1672 edition of Massachusetts’s laws, with additional historical context provided by Daseger (2016) and Bell (2019). This historical law has been verified through multiple sources, including Snopes, 2018 and the Massachusetts public records. What's particularly noteworthy is that this law classified Christmas practices as both satanical and sacrilegious. The Oxford Dictionary defines sacrilege as "the violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred," while Merriam-Webster describes it as "a gross irreverence toward a hallowed person, place, or thing."
In England, Christmas was officially banned by Parliament and the Puritan leaders in 1647 (Historic England, 1972; Oliver Cromwell, n.d.). Under Oliver Cromwell's Puritan leadership, all Christmas-related activities were prohibited from 1647 to 1660. In colonial America, the Puritans maintained their own ban on Christmas from 1659 to 1681. It wasn't until the 19th century that American states began to legally recognize Christmas—Alabama was first in 1836, followed by Louisiana and Arkansas in 1838 (Cromwell Museum, n.d.). These historical bans show how what we now celebrate on December 25th was once condemned as both sacrilegious and satanic.
Looking at the etymology of the word "sacrilege," we find it means "stealer of sacred things." Why is this relevant? Because Christmas celebrations predate the birth of the Messiah by thousands of years. Werner Keller(1983)'s book "The Bible as History" notes that December 25th was first designated as Christmas Day in AD 324 under the Roman Emperor Justinian, becoming an official holiday by the 6th century AD. The date was chosen to align with an ancient Roman festival—Dies Natalis Invictus (also known as Dies Natalis Solis Invicti or Sol Invictus), meaning "birth of the unconquered Sun." This winter solstice celebration coincided with Saturnalia's final day (Westminster, 2021).
On December 25th, followers of Mithraism honored Mithras, the sun deity whose haloed image resembles Lady Liberty. The day also belonged to Saturnalia, a festival honoring Saturn, which ran from December 17th to 23rd (Cartwright, 2016; History.com, 2017; Matthews, 2023). During this pagan celebration, Romans gathered at the Temple of Saturn and Roman Forum for sacrifices and public feasts. Saturnalia featured private gift-giving, continuous festivities, and carnival revelry that upended Roman social norms. Even gambling was permitted during this time.
According to Michael Grant's (1978) "History of Rome," Emperor Aurelian later established a grand Temple of the Unconquerable Sun as Rome's primary religious center, with its deity's birthday set for December 25th—later becoming Christmas. Another winter festival, Brumalia, honored various deities including Saturn, Chronos, Ceres, Demeter, and Bacchus. By the Byzantine era, these celebrations extended from November 24th through Saturnalia (December 23rd), lasting nearly a month and continuing until the 6th century AD. The festivities included feasting, merrymaking, and animal sacrifices.
This tradition influenced Yule; a modern pagan Wiccan celebration held from December 20th to December 23rd that marks the sun's rebirth. While Germanic peoples originally observed Yule to honor Odin (known as the Germanic god of death, among other titles), it is now one of eight festivals Wiccans celebrate around the Christmas season. The celebration centers not only on honoring the sun's rebirth but also includes magical rituals, bonfires, potluck feasts, and communal gatherings (Wicca Living,n.d; Britanica, 2024 ). But what are Christmas's true origins? Did it emerge 2,000 years ago, or does its history stretch back even further into antiquity?
According to the Roman Catholic Church and the Catholic Encyclopedia of 1911, Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the church. The encyclopedia states that "the first evidence of the feast is from Egypt." What you're about to discover is that Christmas traces its origins back to ancient Babylon. Let's explore some topics commonly associated with Christmas today, starting with Santa Claus.
Santa Claus is actually derived from St. Nicholas, a Roman Catholic Bishop from the 5th century AD. According to Encyclopedia Britannica (Volume 19, pages 648-649) and Masjid Tucson's Special Publications (2008), St. Nikolaus, Bishop of Myra, was honored by both Greeks and Latins on December 6th. The encyclopedia notes that a legend of his secret gift-giving to three daughters of an impoverished citizen originated the custom of giving presents on St. Nikolaus Eve (December 6th). This tradition was later transferred to Christmas Day, establishing the connection between Christmas and Santa Claus (Amstrong, 1970; Tyehimba,2004; Britanica, 2024).
There's something intriguing about Santa Claus and his name. The letters in "Santa" can be rearranged to spell "Satan"—a fact anyone can verify. This isn't the only connection between Christmas and Satan. Let's examine the Christmas tree's origins, which differ significantly from common belief. The Christmas tree tradition began in Germany but traces its roots through Rome, Egypt, and ultimately to Babylon. This practice is even referenced in Scripture, specifically in Jeremiah 10:1-4, which warns against cutting down trees from the forest, decorating them with silver and gold, and fastening them with nails and hammers.
What is the true purpose of the Christmas tree? According to William Walsh's Curiosities of Popular Customs (1898, page 242); Pack (n.d) and Caswell Visuals (2021), an old Babylonian fable tells of an evergreen tree sprouting from a dead tree stump. The old stump symbolized the dead Nimrod, while the new evergreen tree represented Nimrod's rebirth through Tammuz among the Druids. Different cultures had their sacred trees: the Egyptians revered the palm, while in Rome, the fir was decorated with red berries during Saturnalia.
The Christmas tree carries additional symbolic meaning according to Bible Tools (n.d.). Both the obelisk and the Christmas tree are considered phallic symbols associated with Nimrod. Babylonian tradition tells that after Nimrod's death (who was known as Horus in Egyptian tradition), his wife Semiramis (called Isis in Egypt) collected all his body parts except for his reproductive organ. This missing part became symbolized by the obelisk and later the Christmas tree. Through this symbolism, Christmas celebrations inadvertently honor Nimrod, who was worshipped as a sun deity. We'll examine this connection in more detail as we continue.
Present-giving traditions trace back to Saturnalia, which honored Saturn, the deity of agriculture. The ornaments we see on Christmas trees also have ancient origins. Romans decorated their trees during Saturnalia to honor Bacchus, the god of fertility, placing 12 candles on them to honor their sun god. The Greeks worshipped Adonis, who was said to be resurrected by the serpent Asclepius—another reference to the theme of rebirth. Germans traditionally attached fruit and candles to their trees to honor Woden (from whom we get the name "Wednesday").(History.com, 2009, 2017).
According to the Philadelphia Church of God (2012) and The Herb Society (2019), Christmas tree decorations have pagan origins and symbolism. The lights and ornaments are connected to ancient sun worship practices, while the star commonly placed on top is linked to various pagan deities. These decorative elements were adapted from pre-Christian traditions that honored nature deities rather than having any biblical foundation.
Even reindeer carry deeper symbolic meaning. In pagan tradition, reindeer are associated with Cernunnos, the horned god of Celtic mythology who resembles the Baphomet. Cernunnos was considered the deity of fertility, animals, wealth, and the underworld. According to Spirit Animal Mysteries (n.d.) and Think Differently About Sheep (n.d.), reindeer symbolism is deeply rooted in shamanic traditions, where they were seen as spirit guides between worlds. Norse mythology adds another layer, featuring Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged horse—a helping spirit who travels through different worlds in Norse tales. This connection suggests that Satan, not Santa, guides these mythological reindeer through Christmas night.
The bows of holly represent fertility symbols, similar to rabbits and Easter eggs, while also paying homage to Isis, the fertility goddess commonly known as Easter. As for wreaths, mistletoe, and the Yule log, the Encyclopedia Americana (2024) notes that these are all relics of pre-Christian times. Frederick J. Haskin's 1926 book "Answers to Questions" explains that Christmas wreaths can be traced to pagan customs of decorating buildings and places of worship during winter festivals.
The Yule log represents the Scandinavian fertility god and the rebirth of the sun god Lu, carrying phallic symbolism. It held a central role in Teutonic nature worship rituals. According to Wildwood Pagan (2016) and the Encyclopedia Britannica (2024), mistletoe was deeply significant in Druid ceremonies and remains prominent in folklore. Its Christmas associations began during Anglo-Saxon times. Mistletoe, which grows parasitically on oak trees, held special importance because Druids conducted their worship in oak groves. The Irish Place (2017) notes that Druids viewed mistletoe as an "all-healer" in Celtic tradition, believing it possessed magical healing powers and using it as a fertility aid for animals. They gathered it during special ceremonies. Holly berries, like mistletoe, were sacred to the sun god. The original sun log evolved into the Yule Log—with "Yule" meaning "wheel," a longstanding pagan symbol for the sun.
You might think Christmas is simply a celebration of the Messiah mentioned in the New Testament, honoring his supposed birth on December 25th. However, historical evidence shows he wasn't born on or near December 25th. The Messiah of the New Testament, whose name is Jesus Christ, was likely born during the fall feasts (September-October), as supported by both biblical and historical evidence. According to Messianic Bible(n.d.) and as Rab Davis (n.d.) explains this further, the timing of Jesus's birth aligns with the Fall Feasts, particularly during Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles), based on the priestly service schedule of Zechariah (John the Baptist's father) and other biblical chronological markers.
December 25th was already celebrated as the birth date of numerous deities in various mythologies, including Nimrod, Horus (Egypt), Mithras (Persia), Tammuz (Babylon), and others. According to Nehemia Gordon's research (2021) and Muslim Converts (n.d.), each of these deities was depicted with sun symbolism, which helps explain the prevalence of sun imagery in ancient cultures and modern religious practices.
The specific choice of December 25th relates to the winter solstice. This date falls near the solstice—the shortest day and longest night of the year—when daylight begins to increase, symbolizing rebirth. Historical evidence suggests this was associated with the worship of various deities including Tammuz, as documented in ancient Mesopotamian sources and confirmed by Islamic historical records.
Notably, Scripture never commands the observance of birthdays. The only birthday celebrations mentioned in Scripture are those of Pharaoh (Genesis 40:20-23) and Herod (Matthew 14:6), both instances marked by tragic events - the execution of Pharaoh's chief baker and the beheading of John the Baptist. Neither our Lord Jesus Christ instructs us to celebrate His birthday, nor does our Father command us to observe Christmas. Scripture reveals that the Messiah was not born during the time we now celebrate as Christmas. We know this because Luke 2:8describes shepherds watching their flocks in the fields at night when the Messiah was born. This could not have occurred in Judea in December, as shepherds brought their flocks from the mountainsides no later than October 15th to protect them from the cold rainy season. Both Song of Solomon 2:11 and Ezra 10:9confirm that winter was a rainy season when shepherds could not stay in the open fields at night.
According to Adam Clarke's Commentary (1997, Vol5, p.370) of the New York edition, Hebrew shepherds would traditionally take their sheep to the fields and deserts around Passover in early spring and bring them home with the first autumn rains, long before winter began. Additionally, Luke 1 indicates that the Messiah was conceived six months after John the Baptist, which means He was born six months after John during the fall feasts.
Scripture explicitly warns against celebrating Christmas. In Jeremiah 10:1-4, our Father warns us to "learn not the way of the heathen" and describes practices similar to Christmas customs that pagans observed centuries before the Messiah's birth. In Amos 5:21-22, our God declares, "I hate, I despise your feast days and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them, neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts."
The Torah demonstrates how Christmas observance breaks divine commandments. Exodus 20:1-17 shows it violates the first, second, and third commandments. Deuteronomy 12:29-31 forbids involvement in pagan practices, while Deuteronomy 12:1-4 prohibits graven or carved images. Additionally, Exodus 34:13, Deuteronomy 7:5, and Deuteronomy 16:21 specifically forbid Asherah poles or trees, which would include Christmas trees, as confirmed in Jeremiah 2:20. The New Testament reinforces these principles in passages like 2 Corinthians 6:14-17, which warns against mixing light with darkness and calls believers to separate from unclean practices. 1 John 2:15-17 further advises against loving worldly customs, while Colossians 2:8 cautions against being deceived by traditions of men rather than following Christ.
This raises several crucial questions we must consider: Are we following truth or Babylonian customs? Are we honoring the true God while participating in ancient pagan rituals? What message do we send our children when we mix biblical truth with pagan traditions? As Alexander Hislop (1916) notes in "The Two Babylons," long before the Christian era, heathens celebrated a festival at this same time of year honoring the son of the Babylonian Queen of Heaven. The Roman Church later adopted this festival, merely giving it Christ's name to accommodate pagan converts.
Before participating in Christmas celebrations, especially knowing its roots in paganism and Babylonian traditions, we must consider how to ensure our worship remains pure and undefiled. We must ask ourselves: Are we following truth or tradition? Could decorating trees, exchanging gifts, and using these ancient pagan symbols compromise our spiritual integrity? How can we justify incorporating practices that God specifically commanded the Israelites to destroy? Are we unknowingly inviting spiritual forces into our homes through these ritualistic practices? Just as the Israelites were warned about adopting pagan customs, should we be concerned about the spiritual doorways we might be opening?
Consider carefully: When we display symbols with documented connections to ancient deity worship, could we be creating spiritual bridges to forces we don't fully understand? What spiritual implications might arise from teaching our children to believe in and welcome Santa Claus - a figure with documented ties to ancient spirits and deities? If God explicitly warned against adopting the practices of other nations, how can we rationalize incorporating these same elements into our worship today? What would Jesus say about using His holy name to justify celebrations centered around material excess, feasting, and worldly entertainment? When we claim to honor His birth while indulging in festivities that often lead to overindulgence, materialism, and distraction from true spiritual reflection, are we not misusing His name for our own pleasure?
To maintain pure and undefiled worship, we must examine whether participating in these practices aligns with biblical principles of spiritual protection and holiness. What would the apostles say about our willingness to incorporate practices they specifically warned against? As the Day of the Lord draws near, these questions become increasingly urgent. We must be especially vigilant in these last days to ensure our worship is pure and pleasing to God. As always, we encourage you to pray earnestly and seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in discerning these matters, focusing on worship that glorifies God alone without compromise.
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