What was the origin of Christmas and Easter?
Introduction. If Bible Questions can cause people to think, it will have been worth the effort. Our question concerning Christmas and Easter reflects a thinking person. If we will learn to question origins and view different practices in the light of Bible authority, we will have formed an excellent discipline.
The origin of Christmas. Christmas is from Christes Maesse, which means Christ Mass (Ency. Brit. Micro, vol. 2 pg. 903). This reference work states: "...during the 4th century the celebration of Christ's birth on December 25 was gradually adopted by most Eastern churches. In Jerusalem, opposition to Christmas lasted longer..." December 17-24th was the period of Saturnalia, a well-known festival in pagan Rome. December 25th was the birthday of Mithra, the Iranian god of light. The most reliable history tells us regarding this day: "...was adopted by the church as Christmas to counteract the effects of these festivals" (Vol. 7, pg. 202).
The origin of Easter. The great church historian Mosheim tells us "Easter began in the second century (Mosheim's Institutes of Eccl. History, pg. 73). The council of Nicea, 325 A. D. ruled that Easter was to be universally celebrated on the same Sunday. Easter is paganistic in its origin. Some maintain "Easter" is derived from Eostre or ostara, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring. Acts 12: 4 (KJV) is an unfortunate translation. The word is Passover, not Easter (Easter, as such, was unknown in the first century).
A warning. Paul warned against observing "days, and months, and times, and years" (Gal. 4: 10). There were religious events unauthorized by God. The scriptures say nothing of religiously celebrating Christmas and Easter. They are post-apostolic; hence, unauthorized by God's word (see Gal. 1: 6-9; Rev. 22: 18,19). Christmas and Easter owe their beginning to man, not God.
The origin of Christmas. Christmas is from Christes Maesse, which means Christ Mass (Ency. Brit. Micro, vol. 2 pg. 903). This reference work states: "...during the 4th century the celebration of Christ's birth on December 25 was gradually adopted by most Eastern churches. In Jerusalem, opposition to Christmas lasted longer..." December 17-24th was the period of Saturnalia, a well-known festival in pagan Rome. December 25th was the birthday of Mithra, the Iranian god of light. The most reliable history tells us regarding this day: "...was adopted by the church as Christmas to counteract the effects of these festivals" (Vol. 7, pg. 202).
The origin of Easter. The great church historian Mosheim tells us "Easter began in the second century (Mosheim's Institutes of Eccl. History, pg. 73). The council of Nicea, 325 A. D. ruled that Easter was to be universally celebrated on the same Sunday. Easter is paganistic in its origin. Some maintain "Easter" is derived from Eostre or ostara, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring. Acts 12: 4 (KJV) is an unfortunate translation. The word is Passover, not Easter (Easter, as such, was unknown in the first century).
A warning. Paul warned against observing "days, and months, and times, and years" (Gal. 4: 10). There were religious events unauthorized by God. The scriptures say nothing of religiously celebrating Christmas and Easter. They are post-apostolic; hence, unauthorized by God's word (see Gal. 1: 6-9; Rev. 22: 18,19). Christmas and Easter owe their beginning to man, not God.