Mistakes commonly made in telling the story of birth of ChristOrigin of Jewish/Christian holy days: Old Testament, Christmas, Easter, Halloween
See also: Mistakes commonly made in telling the story of birth of Christ
I. Origin of Jewish Holy Days from Moses in the Old testament:
A. Jewish, Hebrew calendar of feast days & holy days: (Adapted from New Bible Dictionary, p 158)
|
Mth # |
Pre-Exilic Name |
Post-Exilic Name |
Modern Calendar |
Season |
Festivals |
|
1 |
Abib Ex 13:4, 23:15, 34:18, Dt 16:1 |
Nisan Esth 3:7 Neh 2:1 |
March - April |
Spring Latter rains |
|
|
2 |
Ziv 1 Ki 6:1, 37 |
Iyyar |
April - May |
Dry season begins |
|
|
3 |
- |
Sivan Esth 6:9 |
May - June |
Early figs ripen |
|
|
4 |
- |
Tammuz |
June-July |
Grape harvest |
- |
|
5 |
- |
Ab |
July - Aug |
Olive harvest |
- |
|
6 |
- |
Elul Neh 6:15 |
Aug - Sept |
Dates & summer figs |
- |
|
7 |
Ethanim 1 Ki 8:2 |
Tishri |
Sept - Oct |
Early rains |
|
|
8 |
Bul 1 Ki 6:38 |
Marchesyan |
Oct - Nov |
Ploughing Winter figs |
- |
|
9 |
- |
Chisley Neh 1:1 |
Nov - Dec |
Sowing |
|
|
10 |
- |
Tebeth Esth 2:16 |
Dec - Jan |
Rains with snow on high ground |
- |
|
11 |
- |
Sebat Zech 1:7 |
Jan - Feb |
Almond blossom |
- |
|
12 |
- |
Adar Esth 3:7 |
Feb - March |
Citrus fruit harvest |
- |
B. Observance of OT holy days not required today: Gal 4:10-11; Col 2:16-17
|
Name |
Date |
Bible verses |
|
SABBATH |
weekly |
Lev 23:3; Ex 20:8-11; Deut 5:12-15 |
|
PASSOVER |
1/14 |
Lev 23:5; Num 28:16; Deut 16:1,2 |
|
UNLEAVENED BREAD |
1/15-21 |
Lev 23:6-8; Nun 28:17-25; Deut 16:3-8 |
|
FIRSTFRUITS |
1/16 |
Lev 23:9-14; Ex 23:16; Nun 28:26-31 |
|
PENTECOST |
3/6 |
Lev 23:15-22; Ex 34:22; Deut 16:9-12 |
|
TRUMPETS |
7/1 |
Lev 23:23-25; Nun 29:1-6 |
|
DAY OF ATONEMENT |
7/10 |
Lev 23:26-32; Lev 16; Num 29:7-11 |
|
TABERNACLES |
7/15-21 |
Lev 23:33-44; Num 29:12-40; Deut 16:13-15 |
|
SABBATIAL YEAR |
7th yr |
Lev 25:1-7; Ex 23:10-11 |
|
JUBILEE |
50th yr |
Lev 25:8-55 |
II. New Testament Holy Days:
A. Today we have four basic type* of holy days:
1. Those of divine origin:
a. every Sunday: 1 Cor 16:2; Acts 20:7
b. Sunday is not called a holy day but is the day Christians assemble
c. There are no other holy days revealed in the NT for us to keep.
2. Those whose origin in from the OT: Sabbath day, Pentecost
3. Origin is manmade but based upon NT meanings: Palm Sunday, Trinity Sunday
4. Origin is a combination of man-made Christian ideas & pagan sources:
a. Christmas, Easter, Halloween
B. So called "Christian" holy days fall into 2 categories: Immovable which always occur on the same date and movable which occur on different days each year. None of these "Christian" holy days are found in Bible but all are of human origin.
1. Immovable:
a. EPIPHANY: Jan 6. -Little Christmas- day Jesus revealed to wise men.
b. ALL SAINTS DAY: Nov 1, prayers offered for all souls in Purgatory -preceded by "Holy Evening- or Halloween Oct 31
c. CHRISTMAS DAY: Dec 25, Birthday of Christ
2. Movable:
a. EASTER: lst Sunday after lst full moon of spring. March 22 - April 25 (celebrates Jesus resurrection)
b. ASH WED: lst day of Lent, 7th Wed before Easter: ashes on head- repentance
c. PALM SUNDAY: Sunday before Easter: Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem
d. MAUNDY THURSDAY: night Jesus broke bread with disciples before death
e. GOOD FRIDAY: Friday before Easter: Day Jesus died
f. ASCENSION DAY: Thursday, 40 days after Easter: Lord’s ascension
g. WHITSUNDAY or PENTECOST: Sunday, 50 days after Easter: birthday of church
h. TRINITY SUNDAY: Sunday after Pentecost: dedicated to the "Trinity7
III. Origin of Christmas:
A. The word "Christmas" comes from "Christ + Mass"
1. from the Catholic "mass"
2. term first used in 1038 AD
B. Date of Christ’s birthday is unknown: best guess is spring of 6BC
1. year: between 4-7BC
a. Dionysius, a Roman monk, invented a calendar in 526AD
b. A year later it was discovered he made a mistake of several years
2. Month: during wars month (late spring-early fall), certainly not December
a. The shepherds were out in their fields at night
b. December too cold. Shepherds didn’t leave flocks in field but corralled them
3. Day: We have absolutely no idea
a. Dec 25 was birthday of Mithra, Iranian "GOD OF LIGHT"
b. Liberius, Bishop of Rome, ordered adoption of Dec 25 in 354 AD
c. Jesus birthday was celebrated as the "LIGHT OF THE WORLD"
d. He felt this would turn the pagan feast into a "Christian" feast
4. In the year AD 274, when the winter solstice fell on December 25, the pagan Roman emperor Aurelian proclaimed December 25 as Natalis Solis Invicti, the festival of the birth of the invincible sun. In AD 354, Philocalus wrote a Christian martyrology that dates the nativity of Jesus Christ on December 25, and cites an earlier work as backup. From this we can deduce that Christmas was celebrated on the present date as early as AD 335 in Rome. It may be that Christmas was set on this day to supplant the pagan feast, or it may simply be a coincidence. Hippolytus and Tertullian, two early church fathers who lived before the Nicene Council set up our present method of determining the date of Easter, used March 25 as the date of Easter. If this is also the origin of considering March 25 to be the date of His conception, then it is possible that December 25 was calculated from March 25 (instead of the other way around) so that Christmas might be older than the Natilis Solis Invicti. However, there is no evidence dating earlier than AD 335 that Christmas was even celebrated, let alone on December 25.
5. Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol VI Pg 945; Vol 7 Pg 202: "The myth of Mithra formed the origin of the cult of Mithraism, which flourished in the Roman Empire and was for a time the chief rival of Christianity.... One of be most well known festivals of ancient Rome was the saturnalia, a winter festival celebrated from December 17-24. Because it was a time of wild merry making and domestic celebra6ons, businesses, schools, and law Courts were closed so that the public could feast, dance, gamble, and generally enjoy itself to the fullest. December 25, the birthday of Mithra, the Iranian god of light and the contract and the day devoted to the invincible sun, as well as the day after the Saturnalia, was adopted by the church as Christmas, the nativity of Christ, to counteract the effects of these festivals."
C. Origin of various "Christmas" customs:
1. Mistletoe: The Druids considered it sacred, stand under ... right to kiss
2. Christmas tree: Jer 10:1-6; Scandinavians worshipped trees. When they became Christians, they introduced the practice to Christmas
3. Tree decorations: The Germans originated; candles represent stare
4. Yule log: The Norse burned huge log once year to Thor, god of thunder.
a. When they became Christians they burned it to Christ
b. Yule-time greetings means "Christmas-time"; Note mix of paganism
5. Exchanging gifts: Christ was given gifts because he was "King of Jews"
a. The people of the east never approach a king without a gift in hand
b. Gifts had nothing to do with His birthday, it was weeks after born.
6. Santa Claus: legend of St Nicolas, Bishop of Myra in Lycia; 300AD a. the belief that he enters house through chimney originated with Norse legend who believed the goddess, Hertha appeared in the fireplace and brought good luck to the house.
7. Nativity scene: In 1223AD, St. Frances of Assisi, filled a church chancel (front part behind railing) with hay, added an ox, an ass and a young mother to sit with her baby.
D. The birth of Jesus according to the Bible:
1. Jesus born: Mt 1:25; Lk 2:1-7
2. Visit of shepherd same night: Lk 2:8-20
3. Jesus’ circumcision at 8 days old: Lk 2:21
4. Jesus presented in temple after days of purification (40 days): Lk 2:22-38
5. Visit of wise men: Mt 2:1-12
6. Flight to Egypt: Mt 2:13-15
7. Male children killed: Mt 2:16-18
8. Return to Nazareth: Lk 2:39; Mt 2:19-23
E. Mistakes commonly made in telling the story of birth of Christ: Click here for more details
1. 3 wise men? Bible says three gifts: gold, frankincense & myrrh: 2 or 10 man could give these gifts
2. Wise men came to Jesus in a house not a manger: Mt 2:11
3. Wise men came when Jesus was at last 40 days old, perhaps 2 years:
a. Jesus was circumcised the 8th day: Lk 2:21
b. Mary completed the 40 days of purification: Lk 2:22 + Lev 12:2-6
c. Jesus taken to Egypt when wise men departed: Nt 2:13
d. Herod questioned them when star first appeared then slaughtered all children 2 years and younger in Bethlehem: Xt 2:7,16
e. Wise men started 100-400 mile 3ourney when they saw star-Jesus born
4. The star first appeared when Jesus was born but didn’t shine over house until wise son arrived
a. Mt 2:9 The star went on before then and stood over house
b. The star didn’t shine over inn’s manger as usually pictured
IV. Origin of Easter:
A. Origin of word, "Easter": Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring: "Eostre"
1. In her honor sacrifices were offered at the vernal equinox or spring
2. By 8th century church leaders applied "Eostre" to Christ’s resurrection
3. In Acts 12:4, "Passover" in mistranslated "Easter" is in some Bibles
B. Origin of symbols of Easter:
1. Easter Egg:
a. Eggs represented new life that returns to nature about Easter
b. Ancient Egyptians & Persians dyed eggs in spring colors & gave to friends
c. Eggs symbolize the now life found in the resurrected Christ
2. Easter bunny: In ancient Egypt, rabbits, like eggs symbolized new life
IV. Origin of Halloween:
A. Halloween literally means, "Holy Evening"
1. Significance of Oct 31:
a. Autumn festival called, "Sanhain" marked the end of summer
b. It marked the now year for ancient Celtics & Anglo Saxons
2. Catholics named "Holy Evening" because it preceded "All Saints Day"
a. All Saints Day: prayers offered for all souls in Purgatory
3. Old pagan customs were combined with Catholic tradition to create Halloween.
B. The dead were believed to visit their homes on Oct 31:
1. Ghosts, witches, goblins, black cats roamed around all night.
2. Jack-o-lantern might be derived from -night watchman- (for spirits)
3. It was considered the best day to:
a. make deviations for marriage, health, luck, death etc.
b. pacify supernatural powers which controlled the processes of nature.
c. It was the only day the help of the devil was used for such purposes.
V. Conclusion
A. 2 Jn 9 It is sin to promote & bind anything religious not found in the
Bible like Christmas, Palm Sunday or Easter upon others. Church shouldn’t promote
B. Rom 14:5,6 If an individual places special religious significance upon a certain day and doesn’t bind it on any others, that’s acceptable
1. Church shouldn’t promote publicly that which God has not commanded
C. We need to examine ourselves in these matters:
1. In some areas we can conform: 1 Cor 9:19-23
2. In others we cannot: 2 Cor 6:14-16
Steve Rudd
