The Origins of Christ-Mass: Catholic-Paganism part 3
Gary
Catholic-Paganism
Page 3 of 5
ORIGINALLY BABYLONIAN
Alexander Hislop, in his monumental Two Babylons, goes even further
back--
"The Christmas tree, now so common among us, was equally
common in pagan Rome and pagan Egypt...The festivals of the
Roman Church are innumerable, but five of the most important may
be singled out for elucidation, viz:
CHRISTMAS, Lady-day, Easter, the Nativity of St.
John, and the Feast of the Assumption. Each and all of
these can be proved to be Babylonian.
"It is admitted by the most learned and candid writers of all
parties
that, within the Christian Church, no such festival as Christmas
was
ever heard of till the third century, and that not till the fourth
century
was far advanced did it gain much observance...
"This tendency on the part of Christians to meet Paganism half way
was very early developed. We find Tertullian, even in his day,
about
the year 230, bitterly lamenting the inconsistency of the disciples
of
Christ in this respect, and contrasting it with the strict fidelity
of the
pagans to their own superstitions. 'By us', he says, 'the feasts of
January, the Brumalia, and the Matronalia are now frequented, gifts
are carried to and fro, and sports and banquets are celebrated with
uproar. Oh, how much more faithful are the heathen to their
religion,
who take special care to adopt no solemnity from the Christians.'
"Upright men (continues Hislop) strove to stem the tide, but in
spite of
all their efforts the Apostacy went on till the Church, with the
exception of a small remnant, was submerged under pagan
superstition...THAT CHRISTMAS WAS ORIGINALLY A
PAGAN FESTIVAL IS BEYOND ALL DOUBT."
SATURNALIA: CLIMAX OF ROME'S YEAR
This period of the year was one of great festivity for the pagan Romans.
First came
the celebrated Saturnalia, beginning Dec. 17. This feast of the god
Saturn, the
Roman deity of seed and sowing, finds much mention in all commentaries
on
Christ-Mass. One says--
"The Roman Saturnalia was characterized by processions, singing,
lighting candles, adorning houses with laurels and green trees,
giving
presents."
Again from the Religious Encyclopedia--
"The Saturnalia provided the model for most of the merry customs of
Christmas. The time was one of general mirth. All classes exchanged
gifts, the commonest being candles and dolls. Christmas inherited
the
general merriment: games, giving of gifts, abundance of sweetmeats,
and--as to the more ceremonious elements--the burning of candles."
The Encyclopedia Britannica relates similarly--
"Christmas customs are an evolution from times that long antedated
the Christian period: a descent from seasonal, pagan, religious,
and
national practices ... The god Saturn's great festival was the
Saturnalia. Business, public and private, was at a standstill,
schools
closed, presents were exchanged, the traditional ones being candles
and dolls."
Likewise the Encyclopedia Americana--
"At the commencement of this festival, a great number of candles
were lighted in the temple of Saturn... no business was transacted,
schools kept holiday, law courts were closed. Jests and freedom
everywhere prevailed, and all ceased from their various
occupations."
Campbell, in The Story of Christmas, further says--
"The Romans adopted from earlier folk-customs the rituals which
appear in their Saturnalia which have been CARRIED OVER INTO
THE OBSERVANCE OF MODERN CHRISTMAS. There was
giving of presents, feasting, drinking, and decorating with
evergreens."
Auld says again, in his Christmas Traditions--
"Much of the spirit of this old Roman festival of the Saturnalia
passed
into Christmas celebration. The early Puritans, witnessing the
jolly
antics of grotesque fools (the 'Lords of Merry Disport'), never had
any doubt in the matter... That transient [that is, shallow and
passing]
feeling which blossoms at Christmastime OWES AS MUCH TO
THE KIND GOD SATURN as to the loving Son of Man... This is
the Christmas which--mixed with a LITTLE, sentimental Christianity,
lies so pleansantly in the genial pages of Dickens."
BUFFOONERY AND BLASPHEMY
A major feature of the pagan Saturnalia festival was the reversal of all
order and
dignities: a mock turning everything upsidedown. This was carried to
great lengths
at Christmastime in the Church in the Middle Ages. In England it was
customary to
appoint a "Lord of Mirule" or "Abbot of Unreason" who presided over the
blasphemous foolery. The Encyclopedia Britannica says--
"Merrymaking came to have a share in Christmas observance,
evenwhile emphasis was on the religious phase... A Lord of Misrule
and his jester directed the revels, and kept them uproarious."
The Schaff-Heroz Religious Encyclopedia adds this--
"In England an 'Abbot of Misrule' was chosen in every large
household; in Scotland, and 'Abbot of Unreason'. During the term of
the festival he was the master of the house."
We discover, with shock and surprise, that it was quite customary for
even the
clergy to let down all barriers of restraint within the Church itself at
the Christmas
season. Crippen relates (which seems almost unbelievable)--
"At Vesters [the evening prayers], at the end of the Magnificat
[hymn
of praise to God], the whole service was turned into burlesque.
Dice
were cast, and black puddings [blood sausage] were eaten, on the
alter, ludicrous songs were sung, and old leather was burned as
mock
incense. In some places an ass was led into the Church, in whose
honor a mock hymn was chanted, with a bray for a refrain."
The Encyclopedia Americana confirms this, saying--
"On St. Nicholas' Day, a 'Boy Bishop' was elected, who exercised a
burlesque episcopal jurisdiction, and parodied ecclesiastical
functions
and ceremonies."
Such is the height and stability and value of a religion grounded on
sentiment and
superstition. Auld adds--
"All through the Middle Ages the two rivers of RIOT and RELIGION
flowed together."
SIGALLARIA AND BRUMALIA
Following the Saturnalia in Rome was the Sigallaria, or Doll Festival,
another
obvious link with modern Christmas. Then on the great day, December 25th
itself,
came the Brumalia (from bruma: "shortest day")--the religious observance
of the
sun-worshipers. This was known also as Natalis Solus Invicti: the "Birth
of the
Unconquerable Sun"--the date when the day began again to lengthen. It is
significant that the Catholic Encyclopedia itself says--
"The well known solar feast of Natalis Invicti, celebrated on Dec.
25,
has a strong claim for the responsibility of our Christmas date."
On this point, the Encyclopedia Americana says--
"In the fifth century the Western Church ordered Christmas to be
celebrated forever on the day of the old Roman feast of the birth
of
Sol."
And Everyman's Encyclopedia declares--
"The observance which especially influenced the Christian Church
was probably the Roman festival of the Winter Solstice, celebrated
on
Dec. 25."
Then came the Kalends of January, and finally the Juvenalia (Children's
Festival),
both of which have contributed their share to the modern Christ-mass.
With very
odd logic, but typical of the thinking of the flesh, Crippen remarks--
"Surely it was well that all these should be COMBINED IN ONE
GREAT CHRISTIAN FEAST, and their ancient significance
transferred in the light of the Gospel. Many customs obtained a new
lease of life.
"In Egypt, as in Rome, the new festival would coincide with the
birthday of the Sun-God. And the northern barbarians would find it
practically coincident with their own Yule. It seems to have been
the
festival of the god Thor."
Again from Auld--
"After the barbarians were Christianized, all the customs and
SUPERSTITIONS which had belonged from time immemorable to
their own Yuletide began to CLUSTER ABOUT CHRISTMAS.
When the season calls up in the mind crackling fires on the hearth,
lighted candles, rooms adorned with evergreens, bright berries and
flowers, feast and frolic--these are the GENUINE PAGAN
ELEMENTS."
Previous Page
Next Page
"When The Catholics Invented Christmas"
"How the Early Christians Felt"
TOP | HOME | BACK TO BOOKS PAGE | SITE MAP | EMAIL
http://www.antipas.org | email: j...@antipas.org
-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----
Brian S.
"Gary" <scho...@vcn.com> wrote in message news:3FD7AFF8...@vcn.com...