The Christ-Mass Tree
Green trees were cut down, mounted, and then decked with offerings of food and precious gifts to the gods, Mithras in particular. Evergreens; because of their ability to remain fresh and green all year, symbolized immortality and fertility. Egyptian priests taught that the evergreen tree sprang from the grave of their god Osiris, who, after being murdered by another god, was resurrected through the energy in an evergreen tree. The fruit of the evergreen is of course the pine cone, which is again symbolic of evergreen tree worship and fertility.
The Bible states in Jeremiah 10: 2-4 “Hear the word which God speaks to you, O house of Israel. 2 Thus says The Lord: “Do not learn the way of the heathens; do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the peoples are futile; for one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. 4 They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple.
According to A Dictionary of Symbols, by J. E. Cirlot, the Christmas tree is also a symbol in the sense of being a pyramid. “…in European folklores… [The pyramid] is symbolic of the earth in its maternal aspect. Pyramids with Christmas decorations and lights, moreover, express the twofold idea of death and immortality, both associated with the Great Mother.” (p. 267)
Additionally, during the 1600’s it was actually illegal to have a Christmas tree or Christmas service in the new land of America! Those on the American Frontier had just left the confines of the English/Roman religious system and where fresh off the heals of reformation in Europe. It wasn’t until after the Civil War that Christmas and its traditions where widely practiced, this is due primarily to the influx of immigrants from the North (European nations) migrating throughout the country.
The pine cone staff is a symbol of the solar god Osiris. (Egyptian Museum, Turino, Italy) Osiris originated in Egypt, where he was their “Christ”, who died for the good of his people, and who’s mother, Isis, was worshipped as the Virgin Mother. Osiris was the Egyptian counterfeit of Jesus Christ!
This clearly shows that the custom of bringing in a tree and decorating it is associated with the signs of the heathen — the winter solstice in this case — and the Lord God does not want His people learning to do these things.
Jeremiah 3:13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity (lawlessness), that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.
Long before the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ evergreens were used by the pagans in their superstitious worship. In the northern regions of Europe they were brought inside under the superstitious notion that the woodland spirits and fairies would live in them during the winter and thus survive the cold. In Italy, evergreens were used to decorate in honor of Saturn. Added to this is the fact that when Israel went into apostasy they sacrificed under green trees and God punished them for it.
Ezekiel 6:13 Then shall ye know that I am the LORD, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.
Offering sweet savors to idols under a green tree sounds like putting milk and cookies and other presents under a “Christmas tree” does it not?
As mentioned previously, it’s also thought that Christ was crucified on a pine tree, because all the other pagan deities where identified with a pine tree which represented fertility and eternity. The pine cone has long been associated with fertility rites as it is the fruit or seed of the tree. It is likened to Easter eggs in it’s methods of offering to the gods. The photo below shows a pine cone from the Vatican’s Court of the Pine Cone- this is the largest pine cone structure in the world. At far right, the arrow points to the pine cone upon which the crucifix is built. The images of ancient paganism are everywhere.
Garland Decorations
The only place garlands show up in the Bible is of course in pagan worship.
Acts 14:12-18 “And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifices with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And with these sayings scarce restrained the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.”
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is also related to pagan sun god worship. Balder, the Norse sun god, was supposed to be immune to all forms of destruction because of spells cast by the other gods. The only thing they missed in their incantations was mistletoe and so Loki, the evil god, contrived to have Balder killed by an arrow made of mistletoe. After the other gods brought Balder back to life, the mistletoe promised never to hurt anyone again. It became the symbol of love. Perhaps because of this legend, or perhaps for other reasons, it was worshipped by the Druids.
They also used it to cast spells, the principal belief being that if they held it over a woman’s head she was powerless to resist, and they could then have their way with her sexually. From this comes our custom of hanging it over doorways, and the tradition that if a girl in caught under the sprig of mistletoe she may be kissed and may not resist. As it all had to do with fertility and sex, the berries on the sprig made its power more potent. Mistletoe is still considered worth more if it has berries.
And if that isn’t enough for you, the practice is believed to have originated with orgiastic celebrations in connection with the Celtic Midsummer Eve ceremony when the mistletoe was gathered. During that festival the men would kiss each other as a display of their homosexuality. The custom was later broadened to include both men and women. Balder as in the image on the previous page suggests, is likened to Christ in art and pagan religious custom. Shakespeare’s Midsummer Nights Dream is in part loosely based around the Celtic ceremony.
2 Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them [the heathen], and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you…”
Advent Wreaths and Holly
Circular wreaths of evergreen branches (especially holly) were a featured part of the Saturnalia festival and other deity birth rites. These were formed in the shape of the sun, and represented life which could not exist without sunlight. These wreaths were placed on inside and outside walls during the celebrations. At the time of initiation into the Dionysian mysteries, these were worn by the initiates as fertility symbols upon the head. They represented the perpetuity of existence through ongoing cycles of life, death, and rebirth. “The use of Advent wreaths is believed by authorities to be traceable to the pagan customs of decorating buildings and places of worship at the feast which took place at the same time as Christmas. The Christmas tree is from Egypt, and its origin dates from a period long anterior to the Christian era.”–Frederick J. Haskins, Answers to Questions.
Today, many people utilize Advent wreaths with four candles going around the wreath. This too is a perpetuation of the sun wheel and couples with pagan fertility customs as the candles represent phallic worship. Advent is from the Latin Adventus, implicitly coupled with Redemptoris, “the coming of the Savior”, which if you have read this far, you know does not refer to Messiah Jesus.
Yule
The Yule Log tradition comes to us from Scandinavia, where the pagan sex and fertility god Jul, or Jule (pronounced ‘yule’), was honored in a twelve-day celebration in December. A large, single log (generally considered to have been a phallic/male genital idol) was kept with a fire against it for twelve days, a different sacrifice to Jul being offered in the fire on each of the twelve days. The Yule log was originally an entire tree, carefully chosen, and brought into the house with great ceremony. The butt end would be placed into the hearth while the rest of the tree stuck out into the room. The tree would be slowly fed into the fire and the entire process was carefully timed to last the entire Yule season.
We noted earlier how the 12 days of Christmas was derived from the original Roman Saturnalia which was practiced throughout the old empire. Part of that old empire encompassed the northern Germanic and Celtic territories which had migrants to the Norse territories of Holland, Scandanavia, etc. After the Pilgrims left England they went to the Norse territories and remained there for about 15 years. They left due to the harsh weather conditions, but not before adopting more of the pagan Yule-tide customs. It was then that the Pilgrims returned to England to replenish their stock to head to the new world, America. That’s how America came to learn about the 12 days of Christmas.
Yuletide, meaning the turning of the sun or the winter solstice, has traditionally been a time of extreme importance in Scandinavia – a time when fortunes for the coming year were determined and when the dead were thought to walk the earth. For a long time, it was considered dangerous to sleep alone on Christmas Eve. The extended family, master and servant alike, would sleep together on a freshly spread bed of straw.
In France, the Yule log is still held in present use in the form of a log shaped cake called “buche de Noel.” This cake has found its way into other countries, among them the USA as “hot cross buns” and “stollens”. Using logs to decorate or shape cakes after, giving yuletide greetings, and any recognition of the Twelve Days of Christmas or Twelfth night; is giving credit to this vile phallic worship of Scandinavia’s past. Yuletide is also observed by witches today as one of their main high days, so if you are “celebrating” you are doing so with witches.
The Norse also sacrificed a boar to their god Freyr during yuletide. It is thought that this is probably where the English tradition of serving boar’s head at “Christmas” came from and our tradition of serving “Christmas Ham”.
Gift Giving
The Romans exchanged food, small statues of gods (we now give snowmen, Santa statues, Jesus statues, etc.), and trinkets to one another during the winter festival. The church in adopting the custom, declared that it was to again be done on December 25 but in their cleverness they deceived the masses by teaching “the three wisemen brought gifts to Christ when He was born, so we do too”.
“The interchange of presents between friends is alike characteristic of Christmas and the Saturnalia, and must have been adopted by Christians from the pagans, as the admonition of Tertullian plainly shows.”–Bibliotheca Sacra, Vol. 12, pp. 153-155.
Should we today give gifts to our friends and to those who need them? Yes, it is well to do this all through the year,–especially to the needy.
Luke 6:30-35 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ lend to ’sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Our choicest gifts should be brought to Christ.
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea . . . and when they [the magi] came into the house, they . . . fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”–Matthew 2:1-11.
Give Him the best you have; give Him your life. Dedicate all you have to Him, to be used in His service. Read the Bible daily and obey its commands through the enabling grace of Christ. Only then can you have genuine happiness. But let not ancient paganism select the day on which you will worship God. If we want to have happy gatherings with our loved ones, that is great. But let’s not copy the heathen in doing it.
“Take heed to thyself, that thou be not snared by following them . . . that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, how did these nations serve their gods? Even so will I do likewise? Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God: for every abomination to the Eternal, which He hateth, have they done unto their gods.”–Deuteronomy 12:30-31
“In vain, do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”–Matthew 15:9
Wassailing
Wassailing is the practice of going door-to-door singing Christmas carols and requesting in return wassail (food or drink) or some other form of refreshment. In modern times it is most commonly known through reference in various traditional Christmas carols (e.g., “Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green”). Wassailing, however, was originally an important part of a horticultural ritual.
In England, it focused on the apple orchards. The purpose was to salute the trees in the dead of winter to insure a good crop for the coming year. The date varied across the 12 days of Christmas. If done formally, the wassail procession visited the principal orchards of the area, caroling as it went. In each orchard, major trees were selected and cider or liquor was sprinkled over their root systems. Incantations (-) such as: Stand fast at root, Bear well at top, every twig bear apple big, and every bow bear apple now. Also, Here’s to thee old apple tree, Hats full, sacks full, Great bushel baskets full, Hurrah! Incantations such as these were recited. To frighten evil spirits away, guns were fired into the air. Before proceeding, the procession usually danced about the honored trees and then snaked its way out of the orchard. The care with which the ceremony had been executed was measured by the crop yield the following year.
Wassailing actually developed from a spell casting ceremony!
- Incantation: Ritual recitation of verbal charms or spells to produce a magic effect.
Ø A formula used in ritual recitation; a verbal charm or spell.
Ø A conventionalized utterance repeated without thought. (American Heritage Dictionary)
Santa Claus
While many are aware that children should not be allowed to believe in Santa Claus some may not realize that the origins of the legend come so thoroughly from paganism! He is an anti-Christ image through and through.
The name ‘Santa Claus’ is believed to be a corruption of the Dutch ‘Sant Nikolaas’ (Sant-Ni-Klaus). St. Nicholas (as he was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church) was made bishop of Myra because of his reputed piety. He was believed to have venerated the Christ-child and practiced the child-like virtues of meekness and humility. Legend has it that he gave aid to the poor, always providing his gifts anonymously. In memory of his generosity mothers would hide gifts for their children and tell them they were left by St. Nicholas. Because of his alleged piety, and legends attributing ‘miracles’ to him which centered on children and the bestowing of fertility upon childless couples, St. Nicholas is revered by the Roman Catholic Church as the patron saint of children.
The legends of St. Nicholas bear many similarities to those of the ancient Egyptian god Bes, a rotund, gnome like personage who was the patron of little children. Bes was the god of war, slaughter, music and dance and childbirth, but was also supposed to be the protector of homes and children. Among other things, his symbols included bells and drums. Bes was usually depicted as a bearded savage-looking yet comical dwarf, shown full-face in images (highly unusual by Egyptian artistic conventions). However, many texts point to the idea that Bes was a terrible avenging deity, who was as swift to punish the wicked as he was to amuse and delight the righteous.” One source claimed that Bes was Babylonian in origin.
To complete the description of Santa Claus, we find that many pagan societies have worshipped a hearth god, clad in red that came down the chimney to bless those who pleased him and to curse those who didn’t, such as China’s Zaowang. On December 23rd, the people living in rural areas clean out or rebuild their kitchen stoves or fire places. It is believed that on this day that Zaowang will return to heaven to report on the goings-on in the household. He again returns on the 30th day of December when people stay up all night eating and celebrating, anticipating the arrival of the New Year. There are other such red-clad hearth gods worshipped in India and throughout Asia today. Taiwan’s hearth god is said to return to heaven to report on the affairs of men on the 24th day of the December. This is reminiscent of the scripture regarding Israel’s apostasy in these things:
Jeremiah 7:18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.
Gathering wood and kindling the fires would be done after the stove or hearth was cleaned of old ash. Making cakes to the “Queen of Heaven” is linked to the hot cross buns and stollens we find this time of year, which are again phallic symbols. Lastly, pouring out drink offerings is linked to eggnog and milk and cookies for “other gods”.
Leaving these offering under the “Christmas tree” has even more significance again when we read:
Ezekiel 6:13“…that they offered sweet savors to their idols under every green tree.”
So, here again we have the fertility connection so prevalent in the “Christmas” tradition and idolatry. Added to this is another horrible fact: “It would surprise many to learn that even the name ‘Christ Child’ has been given to this pagan deity under the name ‘Kriss Kringle’ (a corruption of the German ‘Christ Kindl’). This has to be one of the most subtle of Satan’s blasphemies, yet most Christians are unaware of it.” So, not only is the Egyptian god, Bes, being promoted as a saint; he is even given the name of Christ!
Additionally, Chemosh ( Hebrew כמש, pronounced [χe'moʃ] ), was the god of the Moabites (Num. 21:29; Jer. 48:7, 13, 46). The word Chemosh meant the destroyer, subduer, or fish-god. This deity was looked upon as the god of prosperity and is directly related to Santa Claus in a couple ways… first, this fish god, also known as dagon is the same one worshipped in Ninevah at the time of Jonah, Ninevah of course was founded by Nimrod, King of Babylon. Chemosh is the masculine name for Ashtar (Ishtar/Easter) and could therefore be construed as a husband to Easter. Chemosh was an idol forged of some sort of metal which could be heated hot enough to consume human flesh fairly quickly. It was a pot-bellied god, which is where the fire was housed (the belly). The priests of Chemosh wore the prygian cap (mitre) just like those of Tammuz and Mithra.
It was on December 25th that the Moabite child-mass began. Followers would come before this pot-bellied god, now red hot with fire, and recite a list of their desires for the next year. Upon completion of their list they would place their child in the lap of this god to be sacrified by fire. The reality is that we allow our children to do the same thing- we parade them before the pot bellied, cherry red Santa in the local mall to recite their desires for Christmas Day only to place them in his lap for judgment. Those guilty of this idolatry will be judged in the holy fire of a living God- Jesus the Messiah.
The Following is a chart showing the comparisons between Santa Claus and Jesus Christ.
|
SANTA CLAUS 1. Has white hair like wool |
JESUS CHRIST 1. Revelation 1:14 – Daniel 7:9 |
Still unsure why Santa is wrong? Allow me to be blunt; Santa is an anti-Christ image. Santa is nothing more than a devil. Just move the “N” in the word SaNta to the end and you have SataN…
SPIRIT & TRUTH
A few years ago, WorldNetDaily published a controversial exposé that spotlighted one of the more frequent skirmishes in our current culture war. Masterfully written by Joe Kovacs, “Christmas in America becomes battleground” reveals the pagan origins of this esteemed tradition and demonstrates why increasing numbers of “fundamentalist Christians” are realizing that one cannot “put Christ” back into something in which He never was.
C.S. Lewis, in his book Mere Christianity, asserts that one of Satan’s most common ploys is to “send error into the world in pairs”—pairs of opposites—”and then he encourages us to spend a lot of time thinking, Which is the worst?” Satan persuades us to argue over two options, or two points of view, neither one of which is true. Regardless of which side carries the argument, Satan wins the day.
In the current war over Christmas and religious symbols, Satan has pitted the secular humanists, who want to blot out Christianity and encourage almost any other form of worship, against mainstream Christians, who are fighting for the right to worship as they see fit by putting evergreen trees in schools per Jeremiah 10:2-5. Atheists and agnostics arrayed against Christmas bent “Christians”—for whom do we root?
The truth of the matter is that Satan is the real winner regardless of the outcome.
Jesus Christ tells us, but the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24); therefore if we worship Christ in anything less than truth it could be said that we do not worship Him at all- for how could we, not knowing the truth of who He is?
DARE TO BE DIFFERENT
Most of us are by nature conformists. We tend to want to blend into the crowd and desire not to stand out as different. Most cultures teach conformity to their children early and often, and this initial training remains with them throughout their lives. Those who stray from conformity are called “black sheep,” and are regarded somewhat suspiciously by “normal” people. As adults, we feel similar peer pressure, but the stakes are higher. Now it is cars, homes, memberships, investments, salaries, résumés, benefit packages, and vacation destinations—not to mention all the latest toys, gizmos, and accoutrements. Not running with the in-crowd is not as devastating to an adult as it is to a teen, but the subconscious desire to fit in is certainly present. We may call it “staying in style” or “not wanting to fall behind,” but it is the same urge not to stand out as different.
We Christians have another ingredient to add to the mix: our calling. God’s invitation to His Family really complicates matters in terms of fitting in to society. He has called us out of this world (John 15:19). The purpose of His invitation is to make us different! If we accept His invitation, we agree to spend the rest of our lives as the proverbial sore thumb. We are set apart from other people in the world, and commissioned—nay, commanded—to widen the gap!
As I hear so often from my family members “Well each one has their own beliefs”, and “Believe what you want, it’s for the kids”.
Notice Paul’s blunt statement in Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. . . .” John is equally as blunt: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (I John 2:15). As is James: “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). And God Himself: “Come out of [Babylon, a type of the world], My people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4).
Paul’s warning in II Timothy 3:12 can be discouraging: “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” The last of Christ’s Beatitudes offers some balance: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. . . . (Matthew 5:10-12)
Is this enough to dare to be different? I truly believe so; for I know that we will inherit the kingdom of heaven, and I know what we are doing is true to the word of the living God and because I have come to know Him through this refining process.
We’re called to be peculiar people (1 Peter 2:19), what makes us different from everyone else if we celebrate the same holidays and Sabbaths as the heathen? Nothing! That’s why we must separate ourselves unto God.
Joshua 24:15 “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers (church tradition) served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites(pagans), in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD”. {Emphasis mine}
Filed under: Daily Bible Study | Tagged: Christmas, Pagan, Paganism
Great Post!
Thanks
Thank you Wilinson4jesus, I feel it is important for our brothers and sisters to know and understand the truth.