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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| christmas |
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| amatullah |
| 12/25/03 at 13:48:46 |
| Dear Family members and Freinds, Assalamu Alaikum, Please find attached two articles i.e, Christmas celebrations and Christmas Tree. The first one is prepared by me where as the second one was forwarded to me from my teacher Bro. Sayed Ali from Texas, whom I had introduced to you all. It is of vital importance to know what role we Muslims have to play in such Non-Muslim Celebrations. I have done my level best to do justice to the topic touching upon various aspests from the Quran, Sunnah and the Bible. I have come across many articles on this subject, but most of them are of criticising nature. We Muslims should make this oppurtunity to discuss issues calmly with the Christian so as to set his mind thinking instead of finding fault and criticising their celebrations. Just tell them that you would be the first person to join them in their celebrations if only they could substntiate the Christmas celebrations with authentic records from their scripture. Always use a positive approach to them. If we could do this and make the Christian think, then Insha Allah then the help of Allah (SWT) would be there. If there are any queries or comments on this topic , you all may feel free to respond. Whatever is good in this is from Allah (SWT) alone, and whatever went wrong in this is from me and the shaitan. May Allah (SWT) guide us all and give us the strength tocarry the message of his Deen to everyone till our last breath. Ameen. With Best Wishes and Regards, Abdul Hameed. |
| Re: christmas |
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| amatullah |
| 12/25/03 at 13:49:18 |
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS WHAT IS CHRISTMAS? The word “Christmas” is derived from the combination of two words “Christ” and “Mass”. “Christ” denotes Jesus Christ. “Mass” means “Celebrations” or “Feast” (In Arabic “Eid”). “Christmas” therefore means “Christ’s Feast” (not birthday). Anyway, it is meant to be the feast of the birthday of Jesus Christ (Pbuh). In the Oxford Dictionary we find the meaning of Christmas as: “Yearly celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, 25 December.” In the Abingdon Dictionary of Living Religions (USA 1981) the meaning is: “The festival commemorating the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem, observed on December 22 (except by Armenians).” IT’S ORIGIN OR HISTORY: The word Christmas is not found anywhere in any Bible (any version) nor is there any authentic record in the Christian sources to show that 25th December was the birthday of Jesus Christ (Pbuh) and no one is recorded to have celebrated or kept a feast or held a great banquet on his birthday. It is only sinners like Pharaoh and Herod, who make great rejoicing over the day in which they were born in to the world. 1. In the Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911 Edition, published by the Roman Catholic Church under the heading “Christmas” it says: “Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church….The first evidence of the feast is from Egypt….Pagan customs centering around the January calends (the 1st day of the ancient Roman month) gravitated to Christmas.” In the same encyclopedia under the caption “Natal Day”, we find that the early Catholic Father, Origen acknowledged this truth. 2. The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1946 Edition, has this to report: “Christmas (the mass of Christ) was not among the earliest festivals of the Church.” It was not instituted by Christ or the apostles or by Bible authority, but from paganism. 3. The Encyclopedia Americana 1944 Edition says: “Christmas according to many authorities was not celebrated in the first centuries of the Christian Church, as the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons than their birth.” It further states: “A feast was established in memory of this event (Christ’s birth) in the fourth century. In the fifth century, the western church ordered it to be celebrated forever, on the day of the Old Roman Feast of the birth of Sol, as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ’s birth existed.” “Sol” means, “Sun” not “Son.” 4. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge explains: “How much the date of the festival depended upon the pagan Brumalia (Dec 25), following the Saturnalia (Dec 17-24), and celebrating the shortest day of the year and the ‘New Sun’ …cannot be accurately determined. The pagan Saturnalia and Brumalia were too deeply entrenched in popular custom to be set aside by Christian influences….The pagan festival with it’s riot and merrymaking was so popular that Christians were glad of an excuse to continue it’s celebration with little change in spirit and manner.” These recognized authorities show very clearly that Christmas was not observed by the Original Christians for the first three hundred years, a period longer than the entire history of United States as a nation! The historical records indicate that Christmas was originally a pagan and heathen celebration, later introduced in to Christianity. It had nothing to do with any Semitic religion. Of the major Christian festivals, Christmas is the most recent in origin. The name Christmas did not come in to use until the Middle Ages. In it’s early history, the Church had an annual observance of honor on the death of Christ and many other early Martyrs. A festival on December 25th was established by Emperor Aurelian in the 3rd century A.C. In the pre-Christian days, various mid-winter festivals were held through out the Roman Empire in conjunction with the winter solstice, when the day becomes the shortest. The pagans had the superstitious belief that the sun would go down, with the day becoming shorter and shorter, and would never come back if something ritualistic was not done. So they had the worshipping of the ‘Sun god’ or the feast of unconquerable sun, and celebrated the beginning of the return of the sun. They had added the Persian god Mithras to the celebration, since he was said to have been born on 25th December. When Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire, the Church could not suppress or stamp out the performance of these pagan festivals. As it is said, ‘If you cannot beat them, join them.’ They started joining the pagan and heathen celebrations in to Christianity. By the year 336 A.C, the festival was christianised by calling it as the birthday of ‘the Son of Righteousness.’ Thus, the ‘festival of the sun’ became the ‘festival of the Son.’ The Roman date fell with a season of rejoicing initiated with Saturnalia on December 17th, and the same merrymaking continued to characterize the Christian feast. It got in to the Western or Roman Church by the 4th century A.C, and the practice spread widely, so that most part of the Christian world observed the new festival by the end of the 4th century. It was adopted in Alexandria by about 430 A.C. In Jerusalem, it was still unknown in the 5th century A.C; but by that time the December feast had been already adopted elsewhere in the east. Some Christian preachers of the west and near east protested against the unseemly frivolity with which Christ’s birthday was celebrated, while Christians of Mesopotamia accused their western brethren of ‘idolatry and sun worship’, for adopting this pagan festival as Christian. English Puritans (the reformist groups discontented with the religious settlement of the Church of England), sought to curtail Christmas festivity by an act of parliament in 1644, but the feast again became popular and remained so to the present. WAS JESUS CHRIST REALLY BORN ON DECEMBER 25TH? As mentioned earlier there is no evidence in the Bible or any authoritative Christian source to establish 25th December as the birthday of Jesus Christ (Pbuh). Earlier the nativity was celebrated by the Eastern Church on January 6, often united to the celebration of Jesus Baptism. The Armenian Church celebrates the festival of the birth and baptism on January 6th. The Dictionary of Living Religions reports: “Speculation on the birth date of Jesus is as old as Clement of Alexandria…he suggested May 20. But the actual date remains unknown.” There are evidences in the Holy Quran as well as the New Testament, which enables us to derive that Jesus Christ (Pbuh) was born in the Summer and not in the Winter. HOLY QURAN (19:25): æóåõÒøöí Åöáóíúßö ÈöÌöÐúÚö ÇáäøóÎúáóÉö ÊõÓóÇÞöØú Úóáóíúßö ÑõØóÈÇð ÌóäöíøÇð Ýóßõáöí æóÇÔúÑóÈöí æóÞóÑøöí ÚóíúäÇð “And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.” “So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye.” Here Allah (SWT), tells Mary (Pbuh), close to the time of her delivering Jesus Christ (Pbuh), to have the ripe dates as food and we all know very well that ripe dates would be available on palm trees only in Summer and not in Winter. Similarly in the New Testament in the book of Luke (2:8-11): And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Shepherds would not spend the nights in the open watching their sheep in the winter in an area like Palestine were Winter is too cold, so it has to be in Summer. The WyCliffe Bible Commentary had this to say about the birth of Jesus Christ: “The exact date of Jesus birth is unknown; the legendry (mythical) date of December 25 cannot be tracked back further than the fourth century.” HOW ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS TREE THEN? When Christianity spread northward in to Europe, the pagans had their great ‘Yule festival’. The pagan custom of the tree decorations were absorbed in to Christianity once again. In the Bible, in Jeremiah (10:1-4): Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it, move not. The above verses from the Christian Bible clearly indicates that the Christmas tree was earlier a pagan and heathen practice, later on accommodated in to Christianity. There are so many pagan stories and beliefs connected with this Christmas tree, and Santa Claus, which I do not want to elaborate here. You may find it in detail in the 2nd article named Christmas tree. WHAT ABOUT SANTA CLAUS AND HIS LOVELY GIFTS? Here we have a character, who is believed to have come from the North pole and in one night he is able to personally distribute gifts to children all over the world. Children are informed by the Parents, that if they behave good, Santa Claus would reward them with a gift. How can Santa Claus know which child is good and which is bad. The quality of Almighty God is attributed to him- the Knowledge of the unseen. Only Almighty God know what is in people’s heart and mind. Hence this is clean SHIRK. Secondly Parents are lying to children by saying that the reward for being good is from Santa Claus and not from Almighty God. Children are taught to fear a fictious man instead of God. WHAT IS THE HUKUM OR SHARIA ON CHRISTMAS? - THE MUSLIM VIEW: The Muslims do not deny the right of Christians to have a festival. As the Prophet (Pbuh) said: “Every people has it’s festival, and this is our festival”. Further he said; “Allah has given you something better instead of them; Yawm al-Duhaa and Yawm al-Fitr.” (Reported by Abu Dawood). However the Muslims have every right and reason to ask some simple questions to this. 1. How can you choose any day and celebrate as a ‘religious’ festival, if: - the date of Jesus’ birth itself is not known? - - there is no evidence in the Bible for the practice of celebrating a birthday? - - There is no evidence in the Bible that the celebration has any relation with Jesus? - If you believe that the Bible is the word of God and guidance from Him, then bring the evidence from this book, and prove that whatever you are doing has a sound basis or record. 2. Why do you celebrate Christmas when paganism or polytheism lies at the very root of Christmas? It is a well established fact that a popular feast of pagans, heathens, and polytheists was adopted and absorbed in Christianity. Some Christians may say: Is there anything wrong with giving gifts, or with good will, pleasant feelings, cheerfulness, and enjoyment of a nice family holiday and talk about Jesus Christ at Christmas? It is worth to quote Mr. Joseph W. Tkach, the Editor-in-Chief of a world renowned Christian Magazine “The Plain Truth”(in the Nov/Dec 1991 issue), who says that apparently there is nothing wrong in it, but as he writes: “A pagan festival and the worship of the true God do not mix. The prophets constantly warned ancient Israel against polytheistic practices and for good reason. God is the sovereign and supreme Lord of all creation. The gods of the nations were not. To mix polytheistic practices with the worship of God is the highest disrespect and dishonor to Him. Why? Because it lowers God to the level of the weak, worthless and false.” “Some say, ‘Let’s get Christ back in to Christmas.’ I understand their point and definitely respect their motives. Yet shouldn’t we rather be saying: ‘Let’s get Christ out of Christmas’?” “Would any of us choose a pagan temple as the ideal place to worship god? Yet we have chosen to worship Christ on the very day and festival the pagans worshipped some of their gods. It was originally chosen because so many pagans were worshipping their gods on it- and the pagan trimmings persist to this day. It is time that Christians seriously reconsider the yearly practice that taints the worship of Christ with the pagan birthday of the ‘invincible sun.’” He concludes with verses from the Bible to defend his argument: 2Corinthians(6:14-17): Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, In the Islamic concept, any deficiency in the pure monotheistic attitude is called SHIRK, and it is the greatest and unpardonable sin. So Muslims can never join paganism, and therefore to take part in such celebration is completely unacceptable and forbidden (HARAM) in Islam as we are commemorating and joining hands with them in committing Shirk when we congratulate them, greet them, or take part in their celebrations. Therefore congratulating (greeting) them for Christmas or any other religious occasion is considered by all Muslim Scholars to be HARAM (unlawful and sinful) because it is a sign of approval and acceptance of their belief and practice which is nothing but KUFR AND SHIRK. As a true Muslim you would not do what displeases Allah (SWT), and would not approve of Shirk or Kufr or give any sign of approval for any of it’s practices. Hence a Muslim should not congratulate Christians on Christmas or any of their religious occasions. Muslims should refrain from facilitating or selling any goods or services intended for such use. ALLAH (SWT) says in the HOLY QURAN; HOLY QURAN (39:7): Åöä ÊóßúÝõÑõæÇ ÝóÅöäøó Çááøóåó Ûóäöíøñ Úóäßõãú æóáóÇ íóÑúÖóì áöÚöÈóÇÏöåö ÇáúßõÝúÑó æóÅöä ÊóÔúßõÑõæÇ íóÑúÖóåõ áóßõãú “If you blaspheme (reject or deny Allah), truly Allah hath no need of you; but He liketh not ingratitude from his servants: If ye are grateful, He is pleased with you. HOLY QURAN (5:2) æóÊóÚóÇæóäõæÇú Úóáóì ÇáúÈÑøö æóÇáÊøóÞúæóì æóáÇó ÊóÚóÇæóäõæÇú Úóáóì ÇáÅöËúãö æóÇáúÚõÏúæóÇäö æóÇÊøóÞõæÇú Çááøåó Åöäøó Çááøåó ÔóÏöíÏõ ÇáúÚöÞóÇÈö “Cooperate with one another in righteous and piety (in what is good and pious), but cooperate ye not in sin and rancour (in what is sinful and wicked).” Moreover Umar ibn al-Khattab said: “Avoid the enemies of Allah on their festivals. Do not enter upoun their churches or take part in their celebrations on their feast days, for the WRATH of ALLAH is descending on them.” It was also reported with a saheeh isnad from Abu Usaamah: Awn told us from Abdullah ibn- Amr; “Whoever lives in the land of non-Arabs and celebrates their New Year and festivals, and imitates them until he dies in that state, will be gathered with them on the Day of Resurrection.” Some Christians may say that this celebration is nothing but an expression of devotion and love for Jesus. They may be reminded of what Jesus himself is reported to have explained about the meaning of ‘belief in him’ and ‘love for him.’ THE MEANING OF ‘BELIEF IN JESUS’: John (14:12): Verily, Verily, I say unto you, he that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also. THE MEANING OF ‘LOVE FOR JESUS’: John (14:21): He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me; and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him. …. John (15:10): If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide by my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. JESUS’ MESSAGE TO THE CHRISTIANS: Mathew (7:21-23): Not everyone who says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work inequity. WHAT IS WRONG THEN IN EATING THOSE LOVELY DELICIOUS CAKES AT LEAST? ALLAH (SWT) says in the Holy Quran (5:3): ÍõÑøöãóÊú Úóáóíúßõãõ ÇáúãóíúÊóÉõ æóÇáúÏøóãõ æóáóÍúãõ ÇáúÎöäúÒöíÑö æóãóÇ Ãõåöáøó áöÛóíúÑö Çááøåö “Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which any other names besides Allah hath been invoked.” In the above verse Allah has forbidden to us in food; dead meat, blood, flesh of swine and any food on which any other names besides Allah is invoked. Here the delicious Christmas cake falls on the fourth category which is forbidden in higher level than the rest three, meaning that it is worse than having dead meat, blood and flesh of swine. May Allah(SWT) guide us all on the straight path. Amen. |
| Re: christmas |
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| amatullah |
| 12/25/03 at 13:50:39 |
| 1. CHRISTMAS TREE One of the most popular and cherished Christmas customs is the "Christmas Tree", earlier known as the "Christ Tree". It is decorated with lights and ornaments, and set upright in houses. It is considered a symbol and reminder of salvation and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. In 1882, the world's first electrically lighted Christmas tree was decorated in the New York City home of Edward Johnson, a colleague of Thomas Edison. Today, it is estimated that more than 72 million trees are trimmed each Christmas season, 35 million of which are real trees and 37 million artificial. But when, where, and how did this custom begin? What is the origin of the Christmas tree? Ancient Celebrations: Trees have played an important role from ancient times in pagan religions, and were even worshipped. In pagan mythology, the evergreen tree was a symbol of the essence of life. Norsemen (ancient Scandinavians), Celts (early people of British Isles) and Saxons used trees to ward off witches, evil spirits, and ghosts. Yggdrasil was the Great Tree of Life in the Norse mythology. In the North European countries, many would lose family members in the severe and harsh winters. All trees would die except the fir tree. It therefore represented life. As a result many people placed the fir tree in their homes as a symbol of life, with the hope that having it inside their homes would bring their families life, health and wealth. In Northern Europe, the winter festivities were considered to be a Feast of the Dead, focusing on the Norse god, Odin, and his night riders, with ceremonies full of spirits and devils. One particular solstice festival was "Jol" (Yule), celebrated throughout Northern Europe in honor of Jolnir, another name for Odin. Since Odin was the god of intoxicating drink and ecstasy, as well as the god of death, Yule customs varied greatly from region to region. In the earlier pagan customs, an evergreen tree was decorated in honor of their god Adonis, who after beinc slain was brought to life by the serpent Aesculapius . The representation of the slain Adonis was a dead stump of a tree. In Babylon, the evergreen tree came to represent the rebirth or reincarnation of Nimrod as his new son (Sun), Tammuz. In Egypt this god was worshiped in a palm tree as Baal-Tamar. In Rome the fir tree was worshiped as the same new-born god, named Baal-Berith, who was restored to life by the same serpent. In Mesopotamia (area between Tigris and Euphrates), the winter solstice had been the climax of a 12 day festival (Saturnalia) for centuries. This would traditionally be the night when there was a mock battle between the mythical sun king and the forces of darkness, where good would win and trees would be decorated then burned in honor. Ancient Greeks celebrated Saturnalia, when houses were adorned with evergreen tree boughs etc. Heathen people in the land of Canaan (vaguely the present day Palestine area) worshiped tree, calling it the Asherah – a tree with its branches cut off and carved into a phallic symbol. The same Yule Log was used for all 12 days to keep the fire lit or to re-light it. It was the shadow and type of a burning lust of a man to fuel the fires of sexual potency to reproduce fertility. The lit Yule Log was also regarded as a phallic symbol in fertility worship, representing a good omen for heightened sexuality for the coming year (fir trees being considered the very spirit of fertility since they were constantly green and undying). Christian Celebration: Historically, the custom of decorating Christmas Tree can only be traced as far back as the 16th century, and there are various legends concerning its origin. Some think that Martin Luther introduced the Christmas tree. It is said that while coming home one dark winter's night near Christmas, he was struck with the beauty of the starlight shining through the branches of a small fir tree outside his home. He duplicated the starlight by using candles attached to the branches of his indoor Christmas tree. Some reports attribute the origin of Christmas tree is to Wilfred of Crediton, an 8th Century missionary who worked to save souls in pagan Germany. It is said that he felled an oak which was sacred to Odin and used for human sacrifice. A small fir tree sprang from the ground nearby and this pure plant was declared by Wilfred to be the emblem of the New Faith. However, there is general scholarly consensus that the Christmas tree originated in Germany. The earliest record of an evergreen tree being used and decorated (but without lights) for Christmas dates 1521 in the German region of Alsace. It was probably derived from the so-called "paradise tree" that symbolized the Garden of Eden portrayed in German mystery plays in the 16th century. As far as we know, the first Christmas trees did not have lights; the first mention of lights (candles) on a Christmas tree is in the 17th century; these trees were decorated with paper roses, apples, Communion wafers, gold, foil, sweets, and dolls. The Christmas Tree slowly grew in popularity and use from the mid-seventeenth century onward. However, it was not until the beginning of the 19th century that the use of the Christmas tree grew considerably. In America, the Christmas tree was probably first used about 1700 when the first wave of German immigration settled in western Pennsylvania. The Christmas tree was first introduced into France in 1837 when Princess Helen of Mecklenburg brought it to Paris after her marriage to the Duke of Orleans. The year 1841 was a significant year in the Christmas celebration in England. Prince Albert, the German husband of British Queen Victoria, brought the first Christmas tree in England to the royal castle of Windsor. And just a year later, America too was to discover the Christmas tree. In 1842, Dr. Charles Frederick Minnegerode, professor of Greek at the College of William and Mary, brought the first Christmas tree to Williamsburg, Virginia, America. For many years the Christian church had banned the use of evergreens in the Christmas celebrations because of their history with paganism. In the Old Testament, Jeremiah warned the people who decorated the trees: Hear ye the word which the Lord speaks unto you, O house of Israel: thus says the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. (Jeremiah 10:1-4). 2. CHRISTMAS EVE & YULE LOG Another custom in the Christmas celebration among some Christian groups is that on the Eve of Christmas, i.e., when the sun goes down and darkness appears on 24th of December, the entire family would pull in a large central trunk of a tree (– the Yule log) into the house; it would then be placed in the fireplace and burnt. Long before the advent of Christianity, the heathen Anglo-Saxons called the 25th of December "Yule day". "Yule" is a Chaldean (ancient Babylonian) word meaning "infant." So the "Yule day" means "infant day" or "child's day". The night before "Yule day" was called "Mother night". This corresponds to the "Christmas Eve" of today. In the Babylonian mythology, Nimrod's wife, Semiramis, was the inspiration for "Mother night". "Child's day" was the supposed birthday of her son Tammuz. the log placed in the fireplace represented the dead Nimrod, and the tree which appeared the next morning was Nimrod alive again – reincarnated in his new son (the sun-god), Tammuz. In Scandinavia, the pagan sex-and-fertility god, Jule, was honored in a twelve-day celebration in December. A large, single log was kept with a fire against it for twelve days, and each day for twelve days a different sacrifice was offered. This corresponds to twelve days period between Christmas and Epiphany. According to some, Yule refers to wheel, and the Yule day to the day of the wheel, or revolution of the sun. On this annual celebration of the birth of the sun it was usual for people to deck their temples and houses with the first-fruits of the earth, and to make it an occasion for offering glory to their god, Thor – the god of thunder, weather, and crops. The ancient Celts used the Yule log as a sacred log in their religious festivals during the winter solstice; the fire provided promises of good luck and long life. People in Spain believed the log would drive away evil spirits. In Yugoslavia, the Yule Log was cut just before dawn on Christmas Eve and carried into the house at twilight. The wood itself was decorated with flowers, colored silks and gold, and then doused with wine and an offering of grain. In an area of France known as Provencal, families would go together to cut the Yule Log, singing as they went along. These songs asked for blessings to be bestowed upon their crops and their flocks. The people of Provencal called their Yule Log the "trefoire" and, with great ceremony, they carried the log around the house three times and christened it with wine before it was set afire. Only in 1577 did it become a public ceremony in England and spread through Europe. The log became superstitious among some. It would not be bought, but be selected in the forest on Christmas Eve by the family using it. They said it must take one match to light it or your house would have a bad spell. Others say you must light the fire with coals and ashes from the year before to ensure safety in the house. Some traditions were that people would dress the log in flowers and needles. Then it became the evergreen tree, taken into the house and decorated. The most common "Yule log" today is the Yule Log cake which is made to look like a traditional log. 3. CANDLES Another custom in the celebrations is to light a large candle on Christmas Eve, called the "Christmas light", symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. This tradition started sometime in the Middle Ages. In earlier days a candle was burnt at the same time as the Yule log. In western Germany, many smaller candles were set upon a wooden pyramid and lit. Besides the candles, other objects such as glass balls, tinsel, and the "star of Bethlehem" were placed on its top. The Christmas candles which are kept burning from early dawn to the close of Christmas day are believed to ward off evil during the ensuing year. The tiny colored candles on the Christmas tree also have the same meaning, or probably these lights are simply a commercial idea invented and marketed by Edward Johnson in 1882 with his friend Thomas Edison. Then there were egg size globes of red, white and blue, and don't really have any Christian significance. 4. SANTA CLAUS The significance of Santa Clause is also notable in the Christmas celebration – the best-loved of all Christmas gift-givers. According to popular belief, Santa Clause brings gifts and toys to all on this very day. Santa Claus or "Father Christmas" is a plump white-bearded and red-suited jolly old man who delivers presents to good children at Christmas time. The term, Santa, is another spelling for saint, and Claus was a Dutch pronunciation of the last part of his name, Cholas. Over the years, these interwoven legends of "Santa Cholas" were handed down from one European generation to another. Santa Claus is a corruption of the Dutch Sinter Klaas, or Sint Nikolaas. Santa Claus was also known as "Kriss Kringle," a corruption of the German "Christ Kindl" – Christ Child. Most cultures believe Santa Claus to be a benevolent, fat and jolly character, often elvish in origin. In 16th century Holland, Dutch children would place their wooden shoes by the hearth in hopes that they would be filled with a treat. In 1822, Clement C. Moore composed his famous poem, "A Visit from St. Nick," which was later published as "The Night Before Christmas." Moore is credited with creating the modern image of Santa Claus as a jolly fat man in a red suit. The red suit comes from the fact that Catholic bishops and cardinals in Italy wear red. Dutch immigrants to America brought their custom of celebrating St. Nicholas Day on December 6th, and especially on St. Nicholas eve, when gifts were given to children. British settlers to America later incorporated the tradition as part of their Christmas Eve celebration. It is reported that the historical Nicholas was the bishop of Myra (a coastal town of Lycia, now in Turkey), who was orphaned in his youth by the sudden death of his wealthy Christian parents, but eventually rose to become bishop. He was legendary for his generosity and giving of gifts, especially to children. He was not heavyset or overbearing, but rather a thin, austere man, who loved children. As the story goes, Saint Nicholas once helped a man's daughter with her dowry by anonymously dropping a bag of gold down the chimney. After helping the man's second and third daughters in similar manner, he was caught in the act. In recognition of his generosity, the practice of dropping gifts down the chimney was established. With the passing of time, St. Nicholas became Santa Claus – an important figure for the Christians. Some Christians believe that the Santa Claus concept came from the pagan Egyptian god, Bes, a rotund, gnome-like personage who was the patron of little children. Bes was said to live at the North Pole, working year-round to produce toys for children who had been good and obedient to their parents. The association of Santa Claus with snow, reindeer, and the North Pole suggests Scandinavian or Norse traditions of the Yuletide season. Some are of the opinion that the name Santa Claus originated way back in the time of Nimrod of Babylon. In Babylonia also the stag (reindeer) was a symbol of the mighty one, Nimrod. The symbolism of antlers worn on the head of a noble leader would demonstrate his prowess as a hunter, and thereby, influence people to follow him. In some ancient drawings, he is shown wearing a long beard, carrying a spotted fawn or deer, and holding a fir tree in his hand (all symbols now employed in one way or another with Christmas and Santa Claus today). Regardless of which origin of the name Santa Claus one chooses to believe, the concept of Santa Claus on a whole has been a subject of criticism in some Christian quarters. They regard him a counterfeit persona, becoming the undisputed spirit, symbol, and centerpiece of Christmas, which diverts attention away from the real central figure of Christmas – Christ. To tell children that Santa Claus is a man that lives in the north pole, rides a sled pulled by reindeer (one of which is called Rudolph who is known for his red nose), and that Santa is responsible for bringing all the presents that are received on Christmas day, being untrue. They say that when parents lie to their children about Santa Claus, they are taking the attention of their children away from God and causing them to focus on a fat man in a red suit with god-like qualities. All of this teaches the child to believe that, just like Santa, God can be pleased with "good works," done in order to earn His favor. Also, they teach that no matter how bad the child has been, he will still be rewarded by God – just as Santa never failed to bring gifts. Even in homes of professing Christians, Santa Claus seems to have displaced Jesus in the awareness and affections of children. 5. MISTLETOE AND HOLLY Christmas is incomplete to many unless it involves “kissing under the mistletoe.” It is believed that the blood-red berries symbolize Christ's bleeding death and his crown of thorns. The mistletoe symbolized the reconciliation between God and man. And since a ‘kiss’ is the well known symbol of reconciliation, that is how "kissing under the mistletoe" became a custom – both were tokens of reconciliation. The early church banned the use of mistletoe in Christmas celebrations because of its pagan origins. Instead, church fathers suggested the use of holly as an appropriate substitute for Christmas greenery. The Encyclopedia Americana states, “The holly, the mistletoe, the Yule log…are relics of pre-Christian time.” Witches and other pagans regarded the red holly as a symbol of the menstrual blood of the queen of heaven, also known as Diana. The holly wood was used by witches to make wands. The custom of hanging Holly and Ivy was to pay homage to the spirits that would bring life and fertility into the home. The red berries on the holly was for man’s sexuality (the hanging of round balls on a tree represented the same), the ivy for a woman around him. The green leaves represented the man’s potency and the berries the life. In combination with the female ivy, it promised new life and fertility to the entire household for the year to come. Two hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Druids (a cult of pagan Celtic priests who were considered magicians and wizards) used mistletoe (an evergreen plant that is parasitic upon other trees) to celebrate the coming of winter. They would gather this and used it to decorate their homes. They believed the plant had special healing powers for everything from female infertility to poison ingestion. Druids considered mistletoe to be a divine branch that had dropped from heaven and grew upon a tree on earth (– compare with the Christian concept concerning Christ, "the Man the Branch," coming from heaven). The mistletoe, being a sacred plant and a symbol of fertility, was also believed to contain certain magical powers, having been brought to earth from heaven by a mistle thrush carrying it in its toes (hence the name). It was once known as the "plant of peace," and in ancient Scandinavia, enemies were reconciled under it (yet another reason why people came to "kiss under the mistletoe"). It was supposed to bring "good luck" and fertility, and even to protect from witchcraft the house in which it hung. The white berries of mistletoe were believed by pagans to represent droplets of the semen of the sun god. Both holly and mistletoe were hung in doorways of temples and homes to invoke powers of fertility in those who stood beneath and kissed, causing the spirits of the god and goddess to enter them. If a husband and wife wanted a child, they would go under it and it was supposed to bring holiness and fertility. These customs transcended the borders of Rome and Germany to the far reaches of the known world. Scandinavians also thought of mistletoe as a plant of peace and harmony. They associated mistletoe with their goddess of love, Frigga. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe probably derived from this belief. |
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