Who Invented Christmas & Why Are We Buying Presents?
Who invented Christmas as more information comes to light within the public arena. Is there more to this festive season than meets the eye. There are many interpretations about this time of year one of the most famous is religious. Known as the birth of Jesus, but as more people from all backgrounds, start to question their religion and what they have been told. What do we know outside of the religious aspect surrouding this day, which is celebrated world wide by many cultures.
By Natalie Mantle - Meditation For Freedom
The Christmas celebrations are here again, 12 months have passed so quickly don’t you think? But what is the whole Christmas thing about, most would say its about religion and the birth of Christ. But then if this is the case, then why are we buying presents and why has Christmas become one of the biggest money making events of the calendar year. Leaving an unspeakable amount of people in debt and worry?
If its truly about the birth of Christ and being with your family, then why are we as a society made to feel like scrooge. Or even an outcast if we do not participate in the money making season ritual or giving lavish presents, most people get into debt for to afford?
Christmas The Pressure To Participate
Everyone Loves Christmas Right ?
Tis the season to be jolly, that is what you hear people saying allot this time of year. But for allot of people, it a time of stress and hardship. Many find themselves working long hours in order to pay for the festive season and keep up with whats expected of them. Whilst others suffer from massive deppression this time of year, due to many different factors. Just to name a few would be :
- Death of a loved one
- Pressure of having to buy gifts, regardless if they have a job or not
- Isolation and loneliness, where they do not have family or someone to share the festive season with.
- Separation, were as they are not able to be with children and family due to restrictions and many other factors.
There are many more examples, but they are the most common. Christmas puts allot of pressure on people from all walks of life and when you have a family to provide for. The pressure is enormous and all this just for one day? So you have to ask the question why are we realy doing this and whats it all about really?
Below I will start with the most common which is the religious take on this historicial event.
Who Invented Christmas Birth of Christ
The Birth of Christ Celebrated By Many People Around the World
Christmas 25th December, a time where billions of people are engaging in festivities. One of the most well known reasons in this day and age, that we celebrate Christmas comes from a religion.
The birth of Christ was brought to life in the new testement of the bible, however there are many accounts. Documents state that the gospel of Matthew and Luke where used to compile the written story of the birth of Christ. However in the gospels at no point, was any date written down. This date was created much later, 4th century AD to be exact, by Pope Julius. As an attempt to Christianise the Pagan celebrations that took place during that time of year.
It is now known that there are 2 versions of the Bible, one which is very confusing to man and written in code. The other is a map to ones true self and enlightenment, but requires allot of training to understand and see past the words. The Zohar used this terms as the cloak, for that is what the untrained eye sees, it cannot see a deeper meaning.
The Story As It Is Told In Religion
Jesus was born to a woman called Mary who was engaged to Joseph, a carpenter. The Holy Gospels state, that Mary was a virgin when she became pregnant.
In Luke’s account Mary was visited by an angel who brought the message that she would give birth to God’s son. However according to Matthew’s account, Joseph was visited by an angel who persuaded him to marry Mary.
Matthew tells us about some wise men who followed a star that which directed them to Jesus’ birthplace and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. In the gospel of Luke, Luke tells us how shepherds were led to Bethlehem by an angel.
It is taught that, Joseph and Mary travelled to Bethlehem shortly before Jesus’ birth. This was because all Jewish people had to be accounted for as power had now changed hand. This was so the Roman Empire could determine how much revenue to collect from them in taxes. Those who had moved away from their family homes, like Joseph, had to return to have their names entered in the Roman records.
Immaculate Conception Birth of Jesus
When Joseph ad Mary arrived in Bethlehem, the local inn was already full with people returning for the registration under the new power the Roman Empire. The innkeeper let them stay in the rock cave below his house which was used as a stable for his animals.
It was here, that Mary is said to have gave birth to her son baby Jesus the son God.
As the date of Jesus birth is not in the Gospels, it was thought that Christmas was too strongly linked to the Pagan Roman festival. Oppossing to all celebration of it, in particular the lively, boozy celebrations. Which are all inherited from Saturnalia.
An interesting fact, in 1644 all Christmas activities were banned in England United Kingdom. This included decorating houses with the evergreen trees and the baking and eating of mince pies.
Freemasonry Solstice & The Chistmas Tree
Death & Rebirth St John’s Day
St. John’s Day was created early on, when the Catholic Church expanded and absorbed pagan religions and holidays. As before many of these pre-Christian belief systems, the sun and the moon were key to understand the world.
Which included the duality of death and rebirth, not of man but of the sun. To Christians they know this a Jesus the birth of Christ. This period in time became so significant that to remember, they created John the Evangelist’s day of recognition to be hidden behind the cloak for those with the knowledge.
This then became the celebration known as the winter solstice. As time went on, this day remained on December 27th and became less of winter solstice day and more of a day, of it’s own, solidified on the 27th.
Early Freemasons became attracted to it because of it’s proximity to the new year and thus became a key point in the Masonic calendar.
Let's Explain The Death & Rebirth of The Sun A Little More
THE SYMBOLIC DEATH OF THE SUN
“Chiram is termed ‘dead’ because in the average individual the cosmic creative forces are limited in their manifestation to purely physical–and correspondingly materialistic–expression.
As the solar light symbolically is said to die as it approaches the winter solstice, so the physical world may be termed the winter solstice of the spirit. Reaching the winter solstice, the sun apparently stands still for three days (entombed) and then, rolling away the stone of winter, begins its triumphant march north (birth of the son/sun on Dec. 25th) towards the summer solstice.
Ignorance For Those Who Do Not See
The condition of ignorance may be likened to the winter solstice; spiritual understanding to the summer solstice. From this point of view, initiation into the mysteries becomes the vernal equinox of the spirit, at which time the Chiram in man crosses from the realm of mortality into that of eternal life. (This is represented in the physical world as the christmas tree when lit, it represents an illuminated consciousness within man gnosis)
The autumnal equinox is analogous to the mythological ‘fall’ of man, at which time the human spirit descended into the realms of Hades by being immersed in the illusion terrestrial existence.” – The Secret Teachings of All Ages
Gnosis From Darkness To Light
A time of energy absorbsion and rituals, one could look at this experience during the solstice, as coming from darkness to light. An awakening of the human consciousness and soul if harnessed correctly. This is why its important to remain in a positive vibration this way one can manifest more into the coming year.
When we stay in a stressed low vibration, which usually happens for mose people celebrating at this time of year. It sets us up for a stressful start to the coming year, this is why its important to not get caught up in the lie of Christmas and presents. As it keeps you trapped and in stagnation of stress and low vibration.
Looking at some of the other symbolic connections, the Evangelist is said to relate to the alchemical symbol of the up pointed triangle which represents fire, gnosis. The link to light and knowledge.
When we combine the alchemical sign of the Baptist with that of the Evangelist, we create the star of solomon, and the duality of fire and water.
The hidden message is to apply thy self for you are the creator of your own reality. You do this by practicing the 7 higher virtues of man, as the temple is within. He who looks outside the temple for answers will become prey to another mans wishes and remain in bondage.
Who Invented Christmas & Where Did Santa Come From?
Is Santa Claus Taking All The Credit For Your Hard Work?
Who decided Santa could take all the credit for your hard earned cash and efforts? That is a very good question, which comes with a little story. My daughter said to me the other week ” If Santa is real, then why do you hear people saying that they are stressed and do not really like Christmas” Shouldnt everyone like Christmas as they get lots of presents?
It was at that moment I thought this is true what she is saying. If Santa was really real we would all love Christmas. Nobody would be stressed out working round the clock getting themselves in debt surely?
Which then puts the question to you the reader or listener? Do you think its right that a made up character gets all the credit for your blood sweat and tears, to pull off the perfect Christmas for your kids? Or do you think, they should know that it is you the parent or parents footing the bill.
So lets look into this Santa business, which is what it has become.
Santa Claus
Santa Claus otherwise known as Saint Nicholas, has embedded hiself into Christmas traditions world wide. Looked upon as the jolly man in red who brings toys to children on Christmas Eve. Information of this story stretches all the way back to the 3rd century, when a monk now known as Nicholas walked the earth andwhom later became the patron saint of children.
It is said and documented that Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. He was admired for his piety and kindness, Saint Nicholas became the subject of many legends throughout history.
Selfless
A selfless man, it is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick. One of the best-known St. Nicholas stories is the time he saved three poor sisters from being sold into slavery by their father, by providing them with a dowry so that they could be married. Over the course of many years, Nicholas’s popularity spread and he became known as the protector of children and sailors.
His feast day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, December 6th. This is the day we get the arrival of Krampus!
Krampus
In Central European folklore, Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure described as “half-goat, half-demon”, who, during the Christmas season, punishes children who have misbehaved. Punishes naughty children by beating them with a birch stick, or putting them into his sack, to be hauled off to his lair.
Krampus leaves the good children alone. Arriving on Krampusnacht (or Krampus Night) which is on December 6th. This contrasts with Saint Nicholas, who rewards the well-behaved with gifts.
In Lienz’ an annual Krampus Parade, also known as Perchtenlauf or Klaubaufe, resurrects a centuries-old tradition: Young men in town dress up as the mythical creature and parade through the streets in an ancient pagan ritual meant to disperse winter’s ghosts. They march dressed in fur suits and carved wooden masks and carrying cowbells. The tradition, also known as the Krampuslauf, or Krampus Run, is having a resurgence throughout Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary and the Czech Republic, and has gained recognition in the United States. It is yet to reach the UK and Ireland.
The Rebranding of Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas underwent a transformation from his Green and white clothing, dark skin and red beard. To red and white attire with white skin and a white beard.
Coca-Cola commissioned Michigan-born illustrator Haddon Sundblom to develop advertising images using Santa Claus. Sundblom’s Santa debuted in 1931 in Coke ads in The Saturday Evening Post and appeared regularly in magazines, newspapers.
From 1931 to 1964, Coca-Cola advertising showed Santa delivering toys (and playing with them!), pausing to read a letter and enjoy a Coke, visiting with the children who stayed up to greet him, and raiding the refrigerators at a number of homes. The original oil paintings Sundblom created were adapted for Coca-Cola advertising in magazines and on store displays, billboards, posters, calendars and plush dolls.
This has now become one of the most iconic images of Santa and made Coca-Cola allot of money in the process!
Turning Christmas Into A Money Making Event
Its All About Making Money & Raising Debt
All about the money, Christmas has become big business with allot of companies planning as far as 6 months ahead. The festive season is all about getting you to spend money, on yourself and others. Offfice parties, social events and family gatherings.
It is no longer about Christianity or family, but more about gifts and gestures. We are constantly being bombarded with ads and promotions on what the perfect gift should be. When really all we need is to take a step back, go back to our foundations and make Christmas what ever you want it to be. This way you avoid the pressure and the need to go overboard, your life is for living and everyday can be Christmas if you take the materialism out of it.