Which pagan holidays did the Christians "steal," exactly?
2008-10-16T17:54:02Z
Which pagan holidays were observed on Christmas and Easter?
2008-10-16T17:58:32Z
Yule was all of December and January, and was based on the lunar calendar. Christmas is the (solar) solstice. Saturnalia was observed in early December, and had nothing to do with the solstice. The feat of Sol Invictus was implemented by Aurelian in the late 3rd century, long after the tradition that Jesus was born on December 25th (as first attested in Julius Africanus, 221 AD.
2008-10-16T18:01:05Z
Christians didn't even call Easter "Easter" for nearly 1000 years. Are you seriously suggesting that Christians adopted the celebration of Easter but waited 1000 years before adopting the name of the holiday? And besides, there is no documented pagan holiday with the name "Easter" or "Eoster." They only called it "Easter" because the Christian pascha was observed at dawn, or "easter" (in Anglo-Saxon).
2008-10-16T18:03:21Z
You guys realize that the Germans changed Yule to December 25th *after* the introduction of Christianity, right? Before that they didn't even have a solar calendar.
2008-10-16T18:04:44Z
For you Easter fans, which paga holiday was observed on the first sunday after Paschal full moon following the vernal equinox?
AP2008-10-16T18:59:08Z
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Sounds like you already know the answers
Easter was defined at the First Counsel of Nicaea. Jesus was crucified during passover and the Christians wanted it defined as a separate holiday.
When Christmas was defined as December 25th is debated. However, it WAS decided when Jesus was born centuries after he died. Many cultures, not just Pagans, had winter celebrations.
There are parallels between between the Paganism and Christianity. The most likely reason would be ease of conversion. Some people say Christians stole the holidays but "alignment" would be a more accurate description.
It's not the specific holidays as much as it is the customs that surround them. There are so many minor holidays w/in the liturgical calendar that there's bound to be one for each of the pagan holidays.
Dec. 25th is Mithras' birthday. He was also known as the "Unconquerable Sun," a title that is incorporated into the Christian mythos. The symbols of Yule and the midwinter festival include evergreen branches (Xmas trees) brought into the house and decorated w/ light, holly w/ it's red berries (The Holly King dies at the winter solstice.), the colors red and green, Father Christmas, gift giving, caroling, and the running of the deer.
Easter's name in Romance languages refers to the Passion. In Germanic languages it takes its name from Eostre or Ostara aka Astarte, the mother goddess. The symbols of the Easter bunny and decorated eggs come from the cross quarter holiday, Imbolc, on Feb.2. On the Christian calendar it is celebrated as Candlemas.
Halloween or All HallowsEve corresponds to Samhain, the day the Veil Between the Worlds is thin and people feast w/ their Ancestors much like the Day of the Dead.
The English custom of May Day was once celebrated as Beltane. It becomes Christianized as a celebration to the Virgin Mary and it begins the Month dedicated to Her.
Whether it was to make Christianity more appealing and not too exotic to the northern Europeans or if it was aimed at the local customs which could be Christianized but not eradicated is unknown. I believe it was a bit of both. Christianity is being "sold" when people share the Good News. Missionaries need to speak the local language and know the people of an area to communicate well.
The Hebrews were pagan before they converted to one god. A lot of the Torrah/Old Testament was taken from the days before they converted. They just changed the name of the particular deity in each story to God. Exhibited by all the contradictions in God's actions. Mesopotamian priests wore Vulture wings since Vultures were a sign of transendence, and would look similar to Angels.
As the Christians, primarily Catholics, came into contact with new Pagan cultures, they simply did the same thing. They Christianized them, and incorporated them into their own.
Yule is a Germanic 12 day festival of lights starting at the Solstice. The 12th day marked the new year. Pagans used a lunar calendar. The 12 days helped make up the missing time of the year. It basically became the 12 days of Christmas. Although most other cultures had their own festival of lights at that time as well.
Imbolc is a Celtic mating/lambing Festival around February 1/2. It's primary symbol is the sheep or ewe. Catholics renamed it St Bridget's Day.
Ostara (named after Eostre) is a Germanic/Slavic festival around the Spring Equinox in March. It uses the eggs and rabbits as fertility symbols. Christians appropriated the customs and name for Easter, after they came in contact with the Germanic people.
Samhain or Halloween is a time to commemorate the dead. It is a Celtic tradition. Many other cultures had something similar. To combat this holiday the Catholics created All Saints day.
Beltaine is a Celtic life/birth/rebirth Festival in May. Although many cultures have their own May Day event. I see some of that tradition in the Ascention/Pentecost.
Lughnasaigh is a feast to commemorate the death of Lugh's mother in August. It's a Celtic tradition. The Catholic Assumption of Mary happens at that time. Lammas, which is a Germanic Festival of the First Harvest. happens at this time as well.
I'm sure if you went through all of the Pagan traditions of the world and all of the Catholic Saints days you'd find a strong correlation.