The Rights And Wrongs Of Christmas – Part 2 Series

THE RIGHTS AND WRONGS OF CHRISTMAS – PART 2

In this Part 2 we will end with two more WRONGS of Christmas and then do the RIGHTS of Christmas.

[7]. PRESENTS AND GIFT GIVING

This is a very, very vexed problem because the practice has become so entrenched, that if Christians refuse to participate in it then there is ostracism from family members and the public and friends who will call you mean. At the heart of this are the children and loved ones. Very problematic to decide.

I will not dictate to you what you must feel free to do. All I can do is share the origin of gift giving and leave this with you. Of course the outside world is ignorant of a Christian lifestyle and scorn Christians more and more in these days.

So, what is the origin of giving gifts, especially on the Christmas date? I will provide two quotes but these are not especially selected to drive home a particular point. What is said is well attested to in history.

[[ “The idea of giving presents at Christmas originated from ancient traditions, particularly the Roman festival of Saturnalia, and became associated with the Christian celebration of Jesus's birth around the 4th century AD. The practice was further popularized by the story of the Three Wise Men giving gifts to Jesus and later influenced by figures like Saint Nicholas.” ]] (Internet summary).

[[ “The celebration lasted for seven days through the 17th to the 23rd of December. The gift giving ceremonies were seen as a way of gaining fortune for the next year. People initially gave simple gifts like candles, cheap wines, fruits, nuts and the like. It was part of a celebration offered to the Roman god Saturn who was viewed to be the god of agriculture who gave vegetation and fruitfulness all year round.

This celebration went on until the fourth century, which was also the time that Christmas started taking over as the highlight of the season. Some Christians have found it quite disturbing, given that the origins of the tradition are pagan in nature, and choose not to celebrate by giving gifts.” ]] (From Christian Today).

These quotes above are not some bias from a couple of cranks. The facts these quotes contain, is well attested. It comes down as to whether Christians want to continue what was a pagan practice. As I said, I will not dictate to you. I know the difficulty with children and popularized belief.

What does upset me is the commercial push to buy and give gifts which are wrapped in Santa paper and reindeer and all these false Christian images. The pressure is enormous to buy gifts and give gifts (always at high retailers’ prices) and what is behind it, is greed and materialism.

[8]. THE MAGI – THE THREE WISE MEN

This association of the Magi with Christ's birth is wrong because these men did not come from the east to the manger. {{Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews for we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him?”}}

These men travelled a long distance, and it is assumed they came from as far away as Persia – Iran - or from the Chaldean territory. It is believed they arrived some 18 months after Jesus’ birth (even up to 2 years). They were guided to where Jesus was which was a house not a manger – {{Matthew 2:11 “and THEY CAME INTO THE HOUSE and saw the Child with Mary His mother and they fell down and worshipped Him and opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.”}}

The 18 months journey comes from the men relaying to Herod the times of the original star until the time Herod slaughtered the infants. {{Matthew 2:16 “Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi.”}}

Just because there were 3 gifts mentioned does not mean there were only 3 men either! I do no more on the Magi as it does not pertain to Christmas. It is wrong to associate it with the First Advent.

[9]. THE CONCLUDING REMARKS ON ALL THIS

I know I will be called a kill joy and negative by some, but I love to get to the truth of a matter. In all I have done here, we can see quite easily that Christmas – December 25 – is of pagan origin. The trimmings of Christmas are pagan as well.