Answer # 45

Not only did most American colonists reject the pagan customs of observing Christmas and New Year's, but so did the king of England!

During the 16th century Henry VIII of England abolished the observance of Christmas with its attendant revelry. In 1542, the licentious customs of paganism were still firmly welded to December 25. After criticism over the disorders during the Christmas season, Henry proscribed the festival for 12 years. It was restored in 1554, after Mary, Queen of Scots, a zealous Roman Catholic, took control.

In his book Survivals of Roman Religion, Gordon Laing reports: "Apparently the compromise made by the early church in adapting the customs of Saturnalia [Roman solar festival] to Christian practice had little or no effect in checking the license of the festival. This continued through the whole Christmas season and sometimes lasted till the day of Epiphany [January 6]" (page 65).

To escape religious oppression and persecution, many people were forced to escape England and settle in the new world. Francis X. Weiser comments, "In the colonies of New England, however, the unfortunate and misdirected zeal of the Puritans against Christmas persisted far into the 19th century" (Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs, page 65).

Then how did Christmas become the biggest, most expensive holiday in the world?

Weiser puts his finger on the source of Christmas customs in the new world: "It was not until immigrants from Ireland and from continental Europe arrived in large numbers toward the middle of the last century that Christmas in America began to flourish. The Germans brought the Christmas tree" (page 67).

The Roman Catholics of southern Ireland and German Protestants and Catholics finally overbalanced objections to Christmas and New Year's observance by the Puritans and others.

Today, many professing Christians openly acknowledge the pagan origin of these seasonal festivals. But most people think it doesn't make any difference where Christmas or New Year's came from.

Don't you make that tragic mistake!

God long ago warned His true people not to appropriate pagan customs to use in worshiping Him: "Do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.' You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way" (Deuteronomy 12:30-31).

Of man's false festivals such as Christmas, God thunders, "Your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them" (Isaiah 1:14).