What is the real meaning of Christmas?

I am not happy with the commercialisation of Christmas, the two are so intertwined and bound up with each other these days it could be suggested that it may be hard for some people to separate them.

I bought a small present for a loved one and it was not right for them even though it had religious sentiments.

Then I saw a coffee bar and it suggested that eating their overpriced as I find pastries could make someone have the Christmas feeling inside.

I don't want to despair.

but what is the real meaning of Christmas?

I hope it has not been lost!

Well, to start off, Christmas started as a Pagan holiday, but Christians took it over to celebrate Jesus' birthday.

From a reliable source, have this:

"Roman pagans first introduced the holiday of Saturnalia, a week long period of lawlessness celebrated between December 17-25. During this period, Roman courts were closed, and Roman law dictated that no one could be punished for damaging property or injuring people during the week long celebration. The festival began when Roman authorities chose “an enemy of the Roman people” to represent the “Lord of Misrule.” Each Roman community selected a victim whom they forced to indulge in food and other physical pleasures throughout the week. At the festival’s conclusion, December 25th, Roman authorities believed they were destroying the forces of darkness by brutally murdering this innocent man or woman."

Source: http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/Christmas_TheRealStory.htm (Scroll down to part 2)

Global Moderators : Erase word count or something, please?

Since you are posting in the Christian forums, you are probably looking for a religious answer. In very short, I believe it was meant for the birth of Jesus, a time to celebrate the coming of the savior.

If you are wondering in general, not just the religious aspect, I do believe Christmas, like any holiday, is what you make of it. Christmas could be about spending time with loved ones, especially ones you do not see so often due to the rush that is life. Some may feel Christmas is only about presents, others may feel it is simply about good will (such as volunteer work or donating gifts).

The "real" meaning of Christmas is very subjective unless you clarify in what sense you mean it. Even asking in the religious sense can give you different meaning; I have read that Pagans started using it as a holiday first, but I honestly do not know how authentic the site really is (was a Tripod site, heh).

Now if you are sick of the commercialization of Christmas, then simply do not buy into it. My one side of the family no longer exchanges gifts, but instead simply gets together on Christmas Eve, bringing various foods and just having a good time catching up with each other. If we had any little ones, I am sure we would still offer them presents, but we are all adults now (youngest is 22). Kids will usually find Christmas as present time though, but maybe getting them something small or even just a giftcard should be nice.

Totts I know I've warned you about this.

Your question reminds me of a Christmas song that I somehow just found. It's called "This is Christmas" and it's sang by Kutless. I highly recommend listening to it. I do see that it is very...commercial anymore, but I also see that even the unbelievers haven't completely forgotten. Not as a whole, anyway. Just a few days ago, I was delighted to walk into my local wal-mart and hear nothing but songs about Jesus for a solid 20 minutes. That said, yes we have lost a lot of the meaning of Christmas, but don't despair, as there are many who still remember.

I don't think she was looking for a technical answer of the history of Christmas.

"I am not happy with the commercialisation of Christmas, the two are so intertwined and bound up with each other these days it could be suggested that it may be hard for some people to separate them."

It seems that wasn't read, instead some people are just seeing "what is the real meaning of Christmas" :/

Christmas to me as a Christian is a time of reflection on the birth of Christ and the relationship I have with him as a Savior and a friend.

It is true that the meaning of Christmas has pagan roots, yada yada, but I don't think that was the point of this thread. There is truth in what she saying about the commercialism of Christmas - Santa Claus is coming.... and the Easter bunny is around the corner.

For me personally, Christmas is time to thank God for the sacrifice of His son Jesus.   I thank God every day for Christ's birth and resurrection, but this seems to be the only time of the year that Christ gets wide attention from many places.  He's the 'reason for the season', and yet many do not consider that Christ's sacrifice does not only affect us one month out of the year.

Still, it's hard not to put more focus on my relationship with God when Christmas time comes around and I'm spending time with my family.  I reflect on how my relationship with Christ has either wavered or strengthened during the past year, and I strive for a plan to improve it for the upcoming year.

It is sad indeed, that Christmas is more about material possessions and economical gain, but I'm glad that many people spend it close to their earthly families, at least.

Singelli : Yes I agree with you. It is sad that people now days think its about santa clause a made-up guy who rides in a magical carriage flying rain deer powered, Which by the way people made it up off of this guy named Saint Nicholas who went around giving presents to. The REAL meaning is what you said! Its about the birth of Christ Jesus!

The darkest day and hour of the year is 22. day of december. An old pagan holiday of many countries. Before the life kinda fades away, after that each day is less dark. Christmas was planted on it like most old churches were, on something pagan so it would seem the old timey pagans would celebrate something christian.

Does it matter? No matter the day, corporations will exploit what they can. The reason it happens is people go along with it and buy all this crap. I think the non capitalist side of its ridiculous any way. Is it that hard to be nice and spend time with your family throughout the year? Really?
Its all that I take from it, I certainly dont bother with any religious aspects.
So long as your family agrees you can enact christmas however you see fit. If you feel society has it wrong just dont go along with it.

Can I say, please before another topic gets closed that having an oppinion is not having a personal agenda anymore than having a personal belief. Its extremely unfair to close topics especially when no discussion has even really started.

And no this does not have anythingto do with...

I mean cant you see, isnt that what christmas is really all about? Not the presents, not the coca cola... Not the santa claus....

There are many points in the bible that support the theory Christians should have nothing to do with Christmas.

- Jesus was not born on December 25th, according to the bible it was sometime in October.
- 90% of what a typical family would do on Christmas comes from how Pagans celebrated the Winter Solstice. (Putting up a tree, exchanging gifts etc)
- Nowhere in the bible does it say to worship Jesus on his birthday or how to celebrate his birth.
- Saint Nicolas aka Santa Claus is the patron saint of those who stand on the street corner and take clients into seedy hotels for exchanges. No it's not drugs.

But it truly is up to the individual whether or not they wish to celebrate this holiday. If you truly want to know the meaning of Christmas I can't  think of a better reference to go from than the grinch who stole Christmas. It infuriated me to see people actually taking their gifts back for spending money which seems to have become the norm. If your concerned with gifts don't buy any next year, when your family points it out simply state I'm not asking for anything, I came here to celebrate a holiday with my family or make the suggestions of secret Santa which will save you a lot of grief and make it more fun.

Well what is the real meaning of Christmas is simple it is Lying to our kids and encouraging them to be superficial and consumer driven then covering it with a Christian pretence oh please why do we pretend it is anything else

No Jesus wasn't born December 25th just as he didn't die on Easter  the Roman Catholics just said hey we need this pagan lot to become Christian how do we do that I know tell them what they are doing is really Christian I mean over here in Australia it is summer so YULE is pointless.

As for the it's a personal decision oh how I wish it was as a parent teachers and other parents assume that because you are Christian it's ok to write letters to Santa make Christmas trees and give out presents so I do not have a choice.

There has been of late a lot of fuss about how PAGAN Halloween is but chistmas is just accepted I do not understand the logic at all

However I do think that it is a good time to talk about Jesus and his teachings it is just a shame it is in such a secular almost anti Christian way

OK vent over god bless

Disregard me, I'm a douchebag.