Do You Think The Holidays are too Commercialized?
By Alice Henry
@IreneVincent (15962)
United States
July 20, 2016 4:21pm CST
It’s the end of July and I’m already seeing in the stores, cards and decorations for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Is that true where you live?
Have your children been brought up to believe in Santa Claus or in Jesus Christ? Will they be disillusioned when the Santa Claus myth is exposed to them?
Did you know that it was not until the fourth century A.D. that there is any record of the observation of a “Christmas” festival? By that time the Catholic Church had gained great power under Emperor Constantine. Sun worship was particularly strong then in Rome. So, the Catholic Church “adopted” the PAGAN holiday that honored the sun-god Mithra, which was celebrated on December 25th as the “birthday of the invincible sun.”
The Roman church’s adoption of that date, was mainly for the purpose of introducing a so-called “Christian” festival that would be readily accepted by the worshippers of the sun-god who were already celebrating that day. It was the absorbing of a pagan (false religion) ritual into a celebration in pretended honor of God and Christ.
Almost all the “Christmas” traditions, such as gift-giving, tree decorating, merriment among other things were also adopted from the pagan worship of a false God. This information is available in any encyclopedia, including the Catholic encyclopedia. They admit that it was a PAGAN holiday.
The church then proceeded to change the name of the holiday to “Christmas,” or Christ’s Mass. Does that matter to you?
Do you think that church leaders have the authority from God to “adopt” a PAGAN holiday and call it Christian? Jeremiah 10:3-15
The day of Jesus birth is not recorded in the Bible. He was, according to what is known of his birth, written in the Bible, more likely born in October, when flocks were still out in the fields at night. It would be too cold in December for that.
Jesus never asked us to celebrate his birthday. But, he did ask us to commemorate his death, which is to be done each year on the same date as the Jewish Passover, according to what Jesus said at Luke 22:1, 14-20 Jesus said: “Keep doing THIS in remembrance of me.” It was actually a command from Jesus.
At that point in time, when Jesus died, his death fulfilled the LAW and the Passover was replaced by the Lord’s Evening Meal. Do you observe that every year?
And as one final note everyone should consider. Did you know that when all false religion, named in the Book of Revelation as “Babylon the Great” is destroyed, that “the traveling merchants of the earth” will be “weeping and mourning over her because there is no one to buy their full stock” of merchandise anymore. “The traveling merchants …who became rich from her (Babylon the Great) will stand at a distance…and will weep and mourn…saying Too bad, too bad…” Revelation 18:11-17
“Babylon the Great” is so called because any religion that has adopted all forms of worship that is based on Babylonian beliefs and traditions are included. They will ALL be destroyed and only TRUE WORSHIP of God will survive.
This may not agree with what others believe, but being a Bible reader, and after researching encyclopedias and other books about Christmas and other holidays, I am convinced that true Christianity should not include PAGAN holidays, no matter what church leaders decided in the fourth century.
What do you think?
Picture by Pixabay
9 people like this
11 responses
@dianadee (1778)
• South Africa
20 Jul 16
@Bellatricks What a great idea. Love homemade cards too!
3 people like this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
23 Jul 16
Yes, we are free to give gifts when we like, and can afford it.. 
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
23 Jul 16
Hello, it is so very nice to "meet" you. I live in Virginia USA. I've been a witness for many years. My mother was baptized in 1945. Yes, @Buenavida and I have been chatting on myLot for awhile now.
Do you know of other witnesses on myLot? I know @Felixthe1
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
23 Jul 16
@buenavida Hello, how are you doing today? It's VERY HOT here now in Virginia. The Heat Index is 105 F I'm staying in the house with the A/C and the ceiling fans blowing in every room.
2 people like this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
21 Jul 16
I stopped celebrating the pagan holidays in the beginning of 1960s and am feeling a lot happier without them.. 
2 people like this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
21 Jul 16
I don't celebrate any of the pagan holidays either, and I don't miss them one bit.
2 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
20 Jul 16
Everything seems to be commercialized cause we live in a commercialized society, everybody is in a hurry to make a buck but it does not mean it cannot be fun. Even the Internet we are all in right now is commercialized
2 people like this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
21 Jul 16
Many things are commercialized but our worship of God and our adherence to what Jesus taught definitely should NOT be commercialized in any way, in my humble opinion.
Remember that Jesus threw the "money-changers" and "those who were selling cattle and sheep and doves,"out of the temple and told them. "Take these things away from here! Stop making the house of my Father a house of merchandise!" John 2:13-16
2 people like this
@FourWalls (62632)
• United States
21 Jul 16
It isn't just "Christmas" that's paganized, it's also the weekly Sabbath that was removed in favor of "the venerable day of the sun god" and "Easter," which is named after Ishtar, the goddess of fertility. The thing I find so funny -- in a very sad way -- about all of this is if you bring this up to Christians they say things like, "It doesn't matter," or "I worship God every day," but if you mention that you keep the Biblical feasts you're a "legalist." You just can't win when it comes to accepting the laws of God in favor of the traditions of man with those who prefer the traditions of man.
2 people like this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
21 Jul 16
You are correct about Easter being named after Ishtar, the goddess of fertility. Easter, like other pagan holidays have become traditions of men and Jesus said about some of the scribes and Pharisees and it could certainly apply to some people today. He called them "hypocrites" and said about their worship of God: "This people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep worshipping me, because they teach as doctrines commands of men. Letting go the commandment of God, you hold fast the tradition of men."
"Further, he went on to say to them: "Adroitly you set aside the commandment of God in order to retain your tradition...and thus you make the word of God invalid by your tradition..." Mark chapter 7. Jesus was not specifically talking about Pagan holidays but he was talking about traditions of men and that's what these holidays have become, so what he said about traditions fits.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
20 Jul 16
i'll not get into the rights 'r wrongs' f how schtuff's been twisted to suit the fancy'f others through the centuries. but, i'll say that the bringin' out all this schtuff so early's most disheartenin' - 'long with the constant tellin' 'f folks to buy, buy, buy. the true meanin' lost'n a sea 'f unwanted/needed schtuff. jest so's they can 've bigger sales...
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
21 Jul 16
@IreneVincent if'n the stores sold their goods 't a reasonable price year round i wonder if'n they'd not fair better?? 'n that 'pressure' taken off the consumer... we've 'come a world 'f 'xcess, whilst others're homeless 'n dunno when they might get a next decent meal.
2 people like this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
21 Jul 16
The money that is spent on various holiday decorations, cards and gifts is really quite outrageous. Department stores depend on the holidays to stay in business. Billions of dollars are spent each year on "holiday" paraphernalia and gifts. I've heard that most department stores in the USA operate at a deficit or "IN THE RED" until Thanksgiving. That's why the Friday after Thanksgiving is called "Black Friday." Because at that point, the department stores start showing a profit, or begin to operate "in the black." Those are bookkeeping terms.
I like to give gifts. There is nothing wrong with giving a gift, but I don't think that a person should feel obligated to give a gift simply because of a worldly holiday. Some people go into debt buying gifts and it becomes a BURDEN to keep up with the tradition of exchanging gifts.
And YES, many gifts are "unwanted' and not needed, as you said. I've seen on TV where kids in particular, are angry when they get a "gift" they don't want or like and throw a tantrum. What is this teaching children?
And some adults take some of their gifts that they don't want and REGIFT them. That is, give them to someone else on another occasion. It's become quite a popular thing to do.
Jesus said: "If you remain in my word, your are really my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." Free from all the pagan holidays and traditions of men. John 8:32
2 people like this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
21 Jul 16
@crazyhorseladycx I think you have a very GOOD point there. Prices are definitely inflated. I purchase most of my clothes at the Goodwill. I'm selective, but I'm very satisfied. I also find other nice things at the Goodwill and other Thrift Stores.
Recently I DID purchase a pair of Hagar slacks for my grandson for $32. A week later I found a similar pair of Hagar slacks for him at the Goodwill for $3.50. I purchased them also. I also found four dress shirts for him at the Goodwill that looked new. They were only $2 each at 1/2 price. I washed them up and he has been wearing them.
2 people like this
@marsha32 (6631)
• United States
23 Jul 16
I've been well aware of Christmas originating from a Pagan holiday for many years...as well as the fact that by the Bible there is no way that he was born in that stable in December.
Everyone can hold their own opinions. For me I still celebrate Christ among all of the festivities and family time at Christmas (and also Easter)
We do a lot of Christian activities with the children during the holiday time.
All holidays are way too commercialized for the sake of making money and it seems every year each holidays merchandise starts showing up in the stores earlier and earlier.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
24 Jul 16
As I said, each person has to decide what they do about the holidays after carefully considering all the information,
@moonchild117 (1987)
• Philippines
21 Jul 16
From where I live, Christmas starts in September and ends mid-January. Holidays like that are always big events, and those times are ideal for sellers to peddle their products because of high demand from consumers who, in turn, give these to their loved ones as gifts.
1 person likes this
@moonchild117 (1987)
• Philippines
22 Jul 16
@IreneVincent I read that the Roman Catholic church did that for the purpose of converting people to the religion. With regards to celebrating these holidays, it's been a custom that's been passed on from generation to generation. It depends on the person if he/she wants to still observe them or not anymore. As you said, to each his own.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
23 Jul 16
@moonchild117 The problem was that the Roman Catholic church did not CONVERT the Pagan people, the Catholic Church converted their own beliefs. Convert means to CHANGE. But it was the Roman Catholic church that changed, not the Pagans.
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
21 Jul 16
It's true that some people start buying for Christmas in July and then others wait until the last minute. Many people put things on lay-away and pay on it each month. A few stores still have that option.
In light of what I've read and researched, I choose not to celebrate ANY of the holidays, but each person has to make their own choice about it.
1 person likes this
@supervalon (1208)
• North Las Vegas, Nevada
20 Jul 16
Well, since people do that for living, we can't complain much, everything does something to survive in this damn world. 
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
21 Jul 16
Each person has to decide for himself what to do about the holidays. I made up my own mind NOT to celebrate the holidays but, I don't complain about what other people decide to do. The only thing that I would complain about is how crowded the stores get with all the pushing and shoving to buy a certain toy or to see people actually FIGHT over a certain item in the store. That to me, is ridiculous.
