';The true meaning of christmas';, Christians a question?

I here the above term thrown around alot by christians this time of year when everyone is focused on food, presents and decorations.





So, christians is your own words what is the true meaning of christmas?';The true meaning of christmas';, Christians a question?
To get the true meaning one would have to start with Matthew 1:21-23, ';And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins. Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, ';Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,'; which translated means, ';God with us.';





God gave us the greatest gift of all in His Son, Jesus Christ. ';For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16





God's gift was for all seasons. And, every time we share that gift, it's Christmas! ';Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!'; 2 Cor 9:15';The true meaning of christmas';, Christians a question?
A festival designed to cover up existing Pagan festivals and take the goodies for themselves. :) 99% of all ';Christmas'; traditions came from pre-Christian Pagan festivals.





';Explain WHY it is important that other things were allegedly celebrated on 12/25 before Christ was born. It is irrelevant -- what is celebrated NOW is the birth of Christ, and it has been celebrated on that day since the late 300s.';


Because the only reason your holiday is still celebrated more than the earlier ones is due to your religion's hostile takeover of the ancient world. Most did not convert willingly, and the addition of violence makes any ';borrowing'; of their traditions ';theft.'; See here: http://www.ysee.gr/index-eng.php?type=en鈥?/a>





You really need to do some research. The old religions did not ';die out,'; and they are being practiced again today. :) We still celebrate the ancient festivals and we know where the traditions %26amp; symbols really came from. We don't care what you celebrate or when, but be honest about the fact that Christians don't ';own'; or ';control'; much of anything that is currently associated with their holiday. At any right, calling us ';irrelevant'; is arrogant and rude.





';Plus, cite your original source material that shows any of the holidays you mentioned being celebrated on 12/25.';


Again, some research please. One, there have been several calendar changes throughout history, and many religions used lunar calendars which means the exact dates would change from year to year, much like Easter (another originally Pagan festival) changes it's date every year. Two, most of the Solstice festivals Christmas took its symbols from were anywhere from a week to a month in length, and so they definitely encompass the current Dec. 25th. Some even go all the way to January 6th! :)
Well, let's at least have the facts first.





The holiday celebrated on December 25 was being celebrated long before the Roman Catholic Church decided to make December 25 the day to celebrate the birth of their half god-half human deity. It was the Roman Saturnalia. It was the Roman Festival of Sol Invictus (the Undefeated Sun God). It was the Pagan festival called Yule ( as in Yuletide and bringing evergreen trees into the house to decorate).





The earliest Christians believed that Jesus was born on May 20, or possibly March 25. It wasn't until about 378 CE that Catholics decided Dec. 25 would be the ';birthday'; of Jesus.





So much for that. Now, as far as I am concerned, if Christians want to celebrate the pagan feasts of the solstice, the Festival of Sol Invictus, the Yule or the Saturnalia and PRETEND it is the day that their half god-half man was born, it's okay with me.





But I really think they should at least be aware of THE TRUTH behind their ';birthday celebration';.





Edit for Scotgirl60: There's tons of source material regarding the different pagan holidays surrounding and predating the Roman Catholic adoption and usurpation of that date. Here's a general article for starters. Please note especially the History and Pre-Christian section.





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_d鈥?/a>





In terms of theology and understanding, if a person allegedly has one divine parent and one human parent, that makes them half-god/half-human. No? Kinda like the mythical Hercules, son of Zeus and a human woman. The obfuscation committed by the Nicaean Council regarding the ';fully god and fully human'; at the same time has zero evidence to back it up.





Again, I dont care what you celebrate as long as you know the TRUTH. Religion historically has gotten away with far too much deception.
The true meaning of Christmas is to love God, love the Virgin Mary, and love one's neighbor. One can accomplish all of these by praying the rosary regularly. See the following promises.





The rosary is explained here:


http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/Prayers/鈥?/a>





The fifteen promises of Mary to Christians who recite the rosary:


1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.


2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.


3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against Hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.


4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.


5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.


6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God and become worthy of eternal life.


7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.


8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death, they shall participate in the merits of the saints in Paradise.


9. I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.


10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.


11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.


12. All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.


13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire Celestial Court during their life and at the hour of death.


14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son, Jesus Christ.


15. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.





God bless!


Dave
Sail to America, bring slaves, mistreat them in every way imaginable, conduct genocide against the people who just happen to inconveniently live there, rape the land, plunder, foul the streams, rivers, and lakes.... Have I got the spirit of christians about right?
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.


And the government will be upon his shoulder,


and his name will be called Wonderful-Counselor,


The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father,


The Prince of Peace.





_________


CJ: Explain WHY it is important that other things were allegedly celebrated on 12/25 before Christ was born. It is irrelevant -- what is celebrated NOW is the birth of Christ, and it has been celebrated on that day since the late 300s.





But WE certainly don't mind if you want to continue celebrating anything else on that day.





Plus, cite your original source material that shows any of the holidays you mentioned being celebrated on 12/25. :-)





____


As I expected, CJ couldn't explain why. Plus, he shows a distinct lack of understanding regarding basic theology. Jesus wasn't 1/2 God and 1/2 man. Jesus was fully God and fully man.
To follow the two great commandments. Love God and love your fellow man. To remember how our Savior asked us to live our lives.
Hey Charlie Brown, Christmas is a time.................oh zhit im just to lazy to explain....do some research
PRESENTS!...i mean family
Peace on earth and good will towards men .. God gave His only Son a gift to us.