Damn sorry *Pagan.

Christmas trees aren't the only Christian symbols with pagan roots. The Easter egg, lamb, and bunny, for example, are also pagan in origin (symbols of pagan gods, such as the Egyptian Osiris, rising from the dead). Even the date of Christmas coincides with the winter solstice, the date associated with the birth of the pagan sun deity. The cross was an ancient form of carrying out the death penalty by pagans, and yet it's the most recognized Christian symbol out there.

There are so many pagan roots in Christianity. It's really quite interesting.

Yeh i know it's quite cool - even though i'm not religious i like learning about religion! I was just wondering because after looking on a few of these pics i noticed that some people take the bible at it's word completely, so i was wondering how many people decorate trees when the bible tells them not to.

Sorry, this is a little off topic, but the lamb isn't really pagan is it. It's symbolism because Jesus was teh perfect lamb that got sacrificed, well sacrificed himself...

But look at the way you said that: "Jesus was the perfect lamb that got sacrificed". Sacrificing lambs was a part of pagan religions. Even the metaphors we use can be related back to paganism. It's the interpretation of pagan symbols that make them Christian. Even something as basic as the "light of God" can be viewed as pagan, since in ancient religions, the sun (or light) was viewed and worshipped as good (the sun gods), and the dark was viewed as bad. So yes, the lamb is a metaphor for Jesus, but it stems from pagan beliefs.

Not that I'm saying that Christianity is basically a pagan religion with a slight twist. I'm just saying that's it's really cool how all these aspects of our faith have deep-rooted historical backgrounds.

To be fair, sacrificing lambs was also part of the Hebrew tradition as well.

I think the majority of Christians will decorate a Christmas tree. I doubt you'll find many who say they don't.

This is a link here about how this particular Christian interprets the passage. I'm NOT saying it is right, i just found his point of view interesting.link

And the cross was a death penalty used by the Romans, of whom killed Jesus.

My family puts up a Christmas tree and all that jazz because it's tradition/culture/whatever.

I can't remember which book it is in, but I'm sure that the Bible states that Jesus' birth was "at the coldest time of the year", so that could range anywhere from December to February

"http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/tree.ht­m&q­uot­;
Woah, that dude takes Christmas traditions waaaaay to seriously.

^^ haha yeh i know right!

Haha! "Santa Claus = Satan Lucifer"

He obviously doesn't know anything about the etymology of St Nicolas's modern name.

From etymonline.com:

SANTA CLAUS
1773 (as St. A Claus, in "New York Gazette"), Amer.Eng., from dialectal Du. Sante Klaas, from M.Du. Sinter Niklaas "Saint Nicholas," bishop of Asia Minor who became a patron saint for children. Now a worldwide phenomenon (e.g. Japanese santakurosu).

Well, I'm a Christian and my family always decorates a tree. We still use the Christmas season to celebrate the birth of Christ, but decorating the tree is a fun way to bring the family together and make the house look pretty, haha. And for the record, the Bible never says anything about not decorating Christmas trees :)

*Edit* I just read that article, and it's bullcrap. People decorate Christmas trees because it's fun. I don't know anyone, Christian or pagan that views them as a phallic symbol, lol. Please don't think the majority of Christians feel that way :D

"Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, o house of Israel. Thus saith the Lord, learn not the ways 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 ax. They deck it with silver and with gold: they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are "upright" as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good."

For the people who haven't clicked on the link lol!

Yeh i know the guy on the link isn't how most Christians are - he sounds abit crazy to be honest!

thats..pretty weird. in a coolio way, though. im not even christian and i decorate a frickin tree every christmas!! just cause it looks pretty, though.

Actually decorating a christmas tree is not really a tradition its like really optional but people got used to it, thats not really the point of christmas, its about love.

I love decorating the tree.. it's more of a family tradition at Christmas, but not really a religious event at my house. :)

The history of the Christmas tree is quite intersting.

Historically speaking, Christians hijacked December 25th to become a holy alternative to a pagan festival. Christmas is the day we celebrate and COMMEMORATE Christ's birth, but it's not His actual birthday. The same applies to the trees.

Many faithful historians and theologians think that Our Lord was a spring baby. The shepherds kept their flocks _by night_. In Isreal, that's spring time, because it's too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.

The Christmas tree has a lot of Christian symbolism as well. The lights are God as a light in the darkness, the star or item on top is the Star of Bethlehem, the evergreen leaves is that God is everlasting, ect.

I do, but I do not do it to follow paganisum, I do it to celebrate the birth of my Lord!

^Same

My family does, but it is a small tree (not to mention artificial) because we believe that Christmas is NOT all about the trees, but about love.

I did before my dad said that it was pagan but to be honest you can't truly blame Christians for buying a trees and decorating it like the earlier pagans used to. Blame the Christians who made a holiday the same day as a pagan holiday. imo

Hey, as long as you know the true reason for the season, there's no harm in taking part in some festivities. Plus, the Christmas tree can be made into a symbol of the trinity (three points), made beautiful with ornaments, gifts, and a star. Evergreen=everlasting life, lights=light of God, star/angel=proclamation of our savior's birth.