LETTERS: HOLIDAY MYTHS HAVE PAGAN ORIGINS

To the editor:

In China he is called Christmas Old Man. In the United Kingdom he is known as Father Christmas. People in Russia use the name Grandfather Frost. And in the United States he is dubbed Santa Claus.

Many view this jolly old man who sports a large belly and snow-white beard as the very personification of Christmas. But it is also common knowledge that Santa Claus is a myth.

Customs and traditions have always exerted a powerful influence on celebrations, and Christmas is no different. While some people claim that Christmas customs are based on events recorded in the Bible, in reality most of these customs have pagan sources -- the Christmas tree, for example. The New Encyclopedia Britannica tells us tree worship was common among the pagan Europeans and survived their conversion to Christianity. Making wreaths of holly or other evergreens is another popular Christmas tradition. This too is deeply rooted in pagan worship.

The Christian custom of kissing under a sprig of mistletoe may seem romantic to some, but it is a throwback to the Middle Ages. The druids of ancient Britain believed the mistletoe held magical powers, and it was used as protection against demons, spells and other kinds of evil. In time, the superstition arose that kissing underneath the mistletoe would lead to marriage. This practice is still popular around Christmastime in some countries.

These are but a few of the modern Christmas traditions that have been influenced by or that have descended outright from pagan teachings. You may wonder, though, how did a holiday that professes to honor the birth of Christ become so entangled with non-Christian customs?

From its beginning in the fourth century, Christmas has been surrounded with controversy. For example, there was the question of Jesus' birthday. Since the Bible doesn't specify either the day or the month of Christ's birth, a variety of dates have been suggested. By the 18th century, Jesus' birth had been associated with every month of the year.

Most scholars agree that Dec. 25 was assigned by the Catholic church as Jesus' birthday. Why? The encyclopedia says, "Most probably the reason is that early Christians wished the date to coincide with the pagan Roman festival marking the birthday of the unconquered sun." But why would Christians who were persecuted by pagans for over two and a half centuries all of a sudden yield to their persecutors?

In the first century, the Apostle Paul warned that "wicked men and impostors" would slip into the Christian congregation and mislead many (II Timothy 3:13). This began after the death of the apostles (Acts 20:29-30). Following the so-called conversion of Constantine in the fourth century, vast numbers of pagans flocked to the form of Christianity that then prevailed. With what result? The book "Early Christianity and Paganism" states, "The comparatively little body of really earnest believers was lost in the great multitude of professed Christians." It was as if genuine Christianity were being gobbled up by pagan corruption. And nowhere was this contamination more apparent than in the celebration of holidays.

As the predominant form of Christianity spread across Europe, Christmas expanded with it. The Catholic church adopted the viewpoint that it was fitting to perpetuate a joyous festival in honor of Jesus' birthday, although in reality it was a pagan holiday. By the time Europeans began settling the New World, Christmas was a well-known holiday. Still, it did not find favor in the colonies and was banned in Massachusetts between 1659 and 1681.

Millions of people today celebrate Christmas in honor of Jesus' birth. They may attend special church services or offer prayers of thanks to Jesus himself. But how does God view the matter? Through the pages of the Bible he has made it clear that he hates all forms of deception. In view of this, is it not ironic that so many features associated with Christmas smack of falsehood? For instance, think of the fairy tale about Santa Claus. Have you ever tried to explain to a child why Santa prefers entering through a chimney instead of a door? And how does Santa visit to many millions of homes in just one night? What about flying reindeer and the one with a spotlight for a nose? When a child learns that he has been deceived about believing Santa is a real person, does it not undermine his trust in his parents?

The Catholic Encyclopedia plainly states, "Pagan customs gravitated to Christmas." Then why do the Catholic church and other churches of Christendom continue to perpetuate a holiday the customs of which are not of Christian origin? Does that not indicate a condoning of pagan teachings?

Clearly, the facts about modern Christmas are not very flattering. It is largely a manufactured holiday with much evidence pointing to a degraded past.

John 8:32 says, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." If we know the truth, should we not avoid any false religious celebration that dishonors the living and true God?

GLADYS WOODS

Burfordville