Holidays Information that all christian should know

2 Cor. 5:17 (A new creature in Christ.)

2 Cor. 6:16-17 (What agreement can there be between the temple of God and idols? Leave idolatry and heathen worship; touch not any unclean thing

  Eph. 4:25         (Reject all falsity.)
    1 Thess. 1:9     (Ye turned from idols to God.)
    1 John 5:21      (Keep yourself from idols.)

SCRIPTURE ABOUT SO-CALLED CHRISTIAN HOLIDAYS

Certain holidays got into the Christian church by way of the Catholic Church. To keep the country united, Roman emperors began to give Christian meaning to

APPARENTLY HARMLESS HOLIDAYS
Some holidays do not appear to have any evil practices that are contrary to the Word of God. They are Columbus Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving.

Good Friday is kept on the anniversary of the crucifixion. Encyclopedia Britannica says that the origin is somewhat obscure. Jesus could not have died on Friday and risen on Sunday in three days.

Common Hebrew holidays include Passover, Rosh Hashannah, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah. These are apparently harmless holidays taken from the Old Testament practices.

Most of the remaining holidays are American in Origin and celebrate birthdays or special events. They in- elude Lincoln's Birthday, Washington's Birthday Flag Day, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day Election Day and Veterans' Day. -

NEW YEAR'S DAY (Encyclopedia Britannica) Participation in New Year's Day observances as well as in the Saturnalia of December was from the first discourage by the church. Christians were expected spend the day in quiet meditation, reading Scripture: and performing acts of charity. In 567 A.D. this begin to change.

The Romans' god Janus (for January) was worshiped by exchanging gifts. Druid priests gave branches mistletoe which grew on their sacred oaks, to the people for charms.

ST. VALENTINE'S DAY (World Book Encyclopedia & The Two BabyIons)

In 296 B.C., there is found a record of Pan worship in Lupercal, a cave in the Palentin Hills. To purify themselves, priests sacrificed and ate goats and dogs, cut skins in strips for lashes, and used these to strike women.

Cupid is the Latin name of the god of sexual love, Eros Kamadira is Hindu for Cupid; the name was shortened to Kama. Cupid is also another name for Nimrod, Baal is another name for Nimrod, and so this is Baal worship.

Here we get erotic demons. Many children conceive in Christian homes are conceived in lust. So, lust and other sex spirits enter at conception.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY (Webster's Dictionary)
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. Patron saint a saint that is supposed to protect and promote the welfare of a particular person, community, state or situation.

Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord will provide (Gen. 22:14] Casting the whole of your care upon Him (I Peter 5:7] Don't worry, God knows what you need even before you ask (Luke 12:22-31).

So, St. Patrick is an idol you are depending on. We are told not to try to communicate with the dead! necromancy (Deut. 18:11).

ORTHODOX LENT (The Two BabyIons)
The forty days abstinence of Lent was directly borrowed from worshippers of the Babylonian goddess, Ishtar or Eastre. Such a fast is still observed in the Spring of the year by pagan Devil worshippers of Koor-distan. Pagan Mexicans, three days after the vernal equinox, begin a solemn fast of forty days in honor of the sun.

In 519 A.D. the council held at Aurelia in the time of Hormisdas, Bishop of Rome, decreed that Lent should be kept before Easter. Three days after the vernal equinox began, a solemn fast of forty days was held in honor of the sun. The sun god has many names: Adonis, Asiris, Bacchus, Liber and Tammuz.

Lent was brought into the church to keep the pagans from leaving it. The church said the fast was for Christ's crucifixion. In reality it had been in effect before Christ was born in the heathen spring festivals. Ash Wednesday is celebrated on the first day of Lent.

PALM SUNDAY (Realen Cyklops)
It was originally to commemorate Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Later on it was combined with pagan activities; today the palm and willow are blessed and carried in the procession. It is ascribed to a pagan holiday where olive and willow are blessed.

Powers attributed to the palm are exorcizing evil spirits, healing diseases, warding off devils, protecting homes from lightning and fire, and protecting fields against hail and storms. The olive has had healing powers attributed to it since antiquity.

EASTER SUNDAY (Babylon Mystery Religion & Encyclopedia Britannica)
I always thought it was strange that Easter came on a different day each year. If Christ arose on March 10, that would be the anniversary every year. But I found that Easter's date is established by astrology according to the vernal equinox. The spring festival of pagan worship of the sun and the renewed season was also set on the same date.

The Druids had a sacred symbol - an egg. The word Easter comes from the name of a pagan goddess - goddess of rising light of day and spring. Easter is the modern form of Eastre, Ostera, Astarte or lshtar. another name for Astarte is Diana of Euphrates. Easter in the King James Bible means pascha or Passover.

Astarte was hatched from a big egg which fell from heaven. Druids (Satan worshippers) in Europe used eggs as symbols of the goddess of spring. The rabbit is associated with the moon in ancient Egypt. It is a fertility symbol of sexual significance.

Hot cross buns are raisin cakes with a "T" or "X" on them baked for the queen of heaven (Jer. 7:18). This started hundreds of years before Mary, the mother of Jesus, was called the queen of heaven.

God talks about sun worship in Ezekiel Chapter 8. The sunrise service was a part of ancient sun worship. This is the source of our modern sunrise services. Baal was the sun god and still is today. Shinto pilgrims pray to the sun as they climb the mountain sides. Mithrists meet together at dawn and honor the sun god. At the time of the Old Testament, the Jews got into practices of picking up sticks and feathers to build fires, making raisin cakes, and crying for Tammuz (Josh. 23:7 and Eze. 8:14). Don't mix with these heathen practices; don't even mention the names of their gods!

MAY DAY
It is derived from Maia, Mother of Mercury, to whom the Romans sacrificed on the first day. From April 28 to May 2, a festival was held to Flora, goddess of flowers. The celebration was so widespread across England that the parliament suspended it in 1644 but restored it in 1661. Winding the May pole is part of the celebration.

HALLOWEEN (The Truth About Halloween)
Trick or treat comes to us by way of pagan cult, - worshippers of Satan. The earliest celebrations were held by Druids in honor of Shamhain, lord of the dead. They believed that Shamhain called together wicked spirits, fairies, witches and elves to harm people. To exorcise yourself of these ghosts, you set out a food treat. If you didn't, they would trick you. Druids might even ask for your child to sacrifice.

Jack-o-lantern is the ancient symbol of a dammed soul. Today Satan worshippers have, their highest sabbath mass on the eve of October 31st; it ends on November 1st. To obtain the greatest power, they perform the greatest sacrifice; humans are preferred above animals. This is the time to proclaim powers for control and leadership of the satanic realm of world systems.

Haunted houses are good places to get demons of fear, rebellion and unclean spirits. Orange, black and red are considered to be the Devil's colors. Children get demons and so do you when you surrender to Satan and partake of his worship!

To mask is to obscure the true identity of the reveler so that he/she can commit sin in secret. In 800 A.D., All Saints Day was established on November 1 to honor all dead saints; pretty clever of Satan! If we pray to dead saints we are into necromancy which God forbids us to do.

MARDI GRAS
This is a reign of evil: Baal, Bacchus and Saturn worship.

ST. JOHN'S EVE (The Two Babylons)
This is the custom of lighting fires at night. Very evil activities go on at this time. The pagans had a festival to Oannes (Tammuz or Nimrod). The Papacy using John the Baptist (Joannes) for Oannes adapted mid summer's day to St. John's Fires. Fragments from the fires were used for casting spells. Druids made blazing fires to Baal on June 24.

CHRISTMAS (Babylon Mystery Religion & Christmas Almanac)
Christmas means a mass for Christ. Does Christ need a mass? Mass is the celebration of the Eucharist. In the doctrine of transubstantiation, the Catholic priest says that the bread and wine do not remain but the entire substance of the bread and wine is changed into the body of Christ and into his actual blood respectively. How can this be when He is seated besides the Father in Heaven?

In ancient times there was already a celebration in December. From December 17 until January 6 was Saturnalia. The first day public ceremonies were held honoring Saturn or Baal. The second day, pigs were offered by families. Trees, fires, cedars and oaks were worshipped.

Jesus Christ is truth (John 14:6)! Almost everything associated with Christmas is a lie. It is not a mass for Christ. Santa Claus does not exist. The date of December 25 as Christ's birth date is most likely a lie. The brotherly love at Christmas is fake. Some can hardly wait for it to end.

The tree was worshipped and decorated by many ancient pagan groups. In the Bible, at least ten times, the green tree is associated with idolatry and false worship and is forbidden. Druids used holly and mistletoe in their ceremonies. They worshipped the oak tree. Gilded nuts and balls or ornaments symbolize the sun.

The yule log is the dead stock of Nimrod, deified as the sun god, but cut down by his enemies. The Christmas tree is Nimrod come to life again. Nimrod was so evil, that at his death, the leaders cut his body in twelve pieces and sent them around the world so that his body could not be recovered and worshipped!

For the customs and ordinances of the people are false, empty and futile: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck the idol with silver and with gold: they fasten it with nays and with hammer that it move not (Jer. 10:3-4). These customs show how good and evil became mixed, and worship of the true God became polluted.

Missionaries in the sixth century were sent to the pagans in the Roman forts. Finding June 24 very popular, they sought to Christianize this day by calling it John the Baptist's birthday. Jesus' name was easily fitted into this holiday six months later on December 24. Romans exchanged presents for Saturnalia in pagan Rome.

If God wanted us to celebrate Jesus' birthday, I believe He could have given us the date and told us how to do it. We are only told to commemorate His death and resurrection with the Lord's Supper until He comes. The early Christians did this at every meeting. God gave exact instructions to the people for every feast, celebration or sacrifice; that includes dates and activities.

God really got specific in Exodus and Leviticus. He came down hard on all occult practices. He even said to kill those that practiced them.

America was later in recovering from its Puritan influence than England. Christmas was outlawed in New England until the mid-nineteenth century: In 1856 Bostonians were required to be at work or they were dismissed. School classes were held until 1870.

SCRIPTURE ABOUT IDOL WORSHIP - Read the whole chapter of Ezekiel 8. Ezekiel in a vision of God at Jerusalem is shown the image of jealousy, the chambers of imagery, the mourners for Tammuz, the worshippers towards the sun and God's wrath for their idolatry. 'Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eyes shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them" (vs. 18).

SCRIPTURE ABOUT SO-CALLED CHRISTIAN HOLIDAYS - Certain holidays got into the Christian church by way of the Catholic Church. To keep the country united, Roman emperors began to give Christian meaning to pagan rituals.

SCRIPTURE ABOUT MURMURING - To Murmur (in anger): imagine, mourn, mutter, roar, take away. See Strong's Concordance for murmur, murmured, Murmurers, murmuring and murmurings.

PREFACE - One of the purposes of the Lord Jesus coming to earth was to establish His Church. We all know that he was successful and we also remember record of how the early church walked full of boldness and power, having their words confirmed with signs and wonders. Today the majority of the church is a far cry from the church the Lord Jesus started, both in life-style and power.

Shortly after Jesus' death, persecutions of the believers began as Satan began his plan to pollute what God had begun. Years later the Devil began a religious system that he hoped would replace the true church.

The persecutions were temporarily stopped, and a deal was offered to both the Christians and pagans. It went something like this: let's stop fighting over our religious differences and just Christianize the pagan gods and holidays. Both sides gave a little so they could all live in peace. By doing that, the Christian commitment and dedication to Jesus Christ only would have been seriously damaged. I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God that you approach this material with a heart and mind seeking the truth, and that you will prayerfully consider the facts contained within these pages. Remember that after the big compromise, the true believers didn't accept the new system, but chose to go into hiding rather than deny their Lord and Savior.

Most people say that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus' birthday, even though more non-Christians participate than Christians. Jesus told us that those who were like Him, Christians, would be hated by all nations for His name's sake (Matt. 10:22, 24:9; Mk. 13:13 & Lu. 21:17). Please note that Jesus said that His followers would be hated by the world because of Him. If they hate us becauseof Him. Why do they celebrate His birthday?

Let's look at what it means to celebrate one's birthday. The word celebrate means to perform (a sacrament of solemn ceremony) publicly and with appropriate rites, to honor by solemn ceremonies or by refraining from ordinary business, to demonstrate satisfaction In festivities or by other deviation from routine. Could we say then, that in order to celebrate someone's birthday, we should participate in activities that reflect the person's life? Could we, at least, say that in commemorating one's birthday our activities should be restricted to such things that the honoree would be pleased with?

A large majority of the activities employed by people involved in the supposed celebration of Jesus' birthday are public, yes; but neither appropriate nor solemn. So much of it is outright sin; how can sin satisfy Jesus Christ who is the opposite of sin?

IS DECEMBER 25TH JESUS' BIRTHDAY? - There are many arguments concerning the date of Jesus' birth. I personally believe that God purposefully did not give us the day and date. Let's examine the few clues we do have, in the Word of God, and see if we can determine the season.

In Palestine, December 25th is during the coldest time of the year. "In Palestine winter includes part of autumn and the seasons of seedtime and cold, extending from the beginning of September to the beginning of March. The cold of winter is not usually severe, though the north winds are very penetrating from the middle of December to the middle of February. Snow and hail during most winters fall on the hills." The weather during the Hebrew month Tebeth (Decem-ber-January) is "...coldest month; rain, hail and snow on higher hills, and occasionally at Jerusalem" (Un-gers Bible Dictionary, p. 1170).

What the weather was like during this time of the year is important in order to answer two questions. Did Caesar Augustus have everybody to return to his home town for a census during the coldest time of the year? Tithing time was harvest time according to the law of Moses (Ex. 23:14-19, Luke 23:1-10 & Deut. 16:16-17). Some say that tax time was harvest time throughout the Roman Empire. It does seem logical that the Roman governor would collect taxes at the time of harvest (Luke 2:1-7). More importantly, with the weather being as it was during that time of year, would the shepherd be in the field at night as recorded in Luke 2:8? We know that they were in the field on the night of Jesus' birth, but was that night during the middle of December? The Jews built special places to house their flocks during the cold and winter storms (Isa. 24:3, Nu. 32:16,24 & 36). "It was an ancient custom among Jews of those days to send out their sheep to fields and deserts about Passover (early spring), and bring them home at commencement of the first rain,' says the Adam Clarke Commentary (Vol. 5, p. 370).

These important facts cast shadows of doubt over the traditional teaching concerning the time of Jesus' birth in the light of the Biblical account of the events that took place during that time.

There are those who say that they know that Jesus wasn't born on December 25th, but they set that day aside to celebrate the birth of their Savior. They also say that they don't celebrate it with sinful activities, but with things that would please the Lord as an expression of their love for Him. Please don't get caught up in your personal feelings, let's remain honest, open and objective about this position as we test the Scripture.

There is absolutely no Scripture in the entire Word of God to support celebrating Jesus' birthday at any time. However, we are told in the Word to keep the commandments that the Lord has given us and not to add anything to them nor take anything from them (De. 12:28-32, Mt.5:17-19). If Christmas is being celebrated because of real love for Jesus, why are His commandments not being kept (John. 14:2,1, 23 & 24)? John 13:34 commands us to love',one another, as He loved us. We are to love each other the same way: black, white, rich or poor. He commanded us to make miracle workers out of others and to teach them to guard His words from loss or injury (Matt. 28:18-20). Check out the word 'observe' found in Matt.28:20 in the Greek. He also commanded us to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out devils - for free (Matt. 10:5-8).

If the motive for celebrating Christmas stands on real love for the Master, then according to His own words, that same love will motivate you to keep His sayings. He gave us specific instructions of what to do to remember Him by (Luke. 22:19). Most people begin preparing for Christmas months in advance with unparalleled zeal and enthusiasm. I wonder if they get half as excited when it's time to take communion or if they even know when the next time communion will be given at their place of fellowship?

The point is obvious. The excitement and enthusiasm manifested during the Christmas season is not an ex-pression of love or gratitude directed towards Jesus Christ. If it were true love and gratitude to Him, you would be just as enthused about doing the Word. Obedience is better than sacrifice (I Sam. 15:22-23).

Another very important point we must explore is the fact that those who celebrate Christmas didn't set December 25th aside as the date to celebrate Jesus' birth. This date was chosen about 1700 years ago. The sad part about this is that billions of people are following this tradition with very little, and in most cases no, knowledge as to why and how Christmas came about.

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY PEOPLE GIVE PRESENTS AT CHRISTMAS? WHAT ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND LIGHTS ON TREES AND HOUSES? HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHERE THEY CAME FROM? - Is it because the wise men brought gifts to Jesus? If this is the case and you are following their examples, then why do you give gifts to each other?

Jesus is the Light of the World. His light never dims or loses its glow. It is not like the lights we put up at Christmas in worship to the sun. In the clear light of day they have no beauty.

Let us continue our search for the roots of this celebration the world calls Jesus' birthday. The Encyclopedia Brittanica says: "December 25th in Rome is the date of a pagan festival chosen as the birthday of the unconquered Sun (natalis solis invicts) which at the winter solstice begins again to show an increase of light. At some point before A.D. 336, the church at Rome established the commemoration of the birthday of Christ, the 'SUN' of righteousness on this date." The evidence is contained in the chronography of A.D. 354 (an almanac for the use of Christians). The same encyclopedia says that, 'The traditional customs connected with Christmas have been derived from several sources as a result of the 'coincidence' of the feast of the Nativity of Christ and the pagan agricultural and solar observances at mid-winter." In the Roman world, the Saturnalia was a time of merry-making and exchange of presents. Christmas festivities were indirectly' influenced by these customs.

The fact that Christmas was celebrated on the birthday of the unconquered sun gave the season a solar background connected with the (kalends) of January when houses were decorated with greenery and lights, and presents were given to children and the poor. To these solstitial observances were added the Germanic-Celtic yule rites when the Teutonic tribes penetrated into Gaul, Britain and Central Europe. Yuletide brought its own tradition of feasting and mortuary customs to combine wi.th Roman solstitial and traditional New Year rites. Special foods and good fellowship, the yule log and yule cakes, greenery and fir trees, wassailing, gifts and greetings all commemorated different aspects of this festive season. Fires and lights, symbols of warmth and lasting life, have always been associated with the winter festival, both pagan and Christian. Evergreens, as symbols of survival, have long association with Christmas festivities, probably dating from the eighth century when St. Boniface completed the Christianization of Germany and dedicated the fir tree to the Holy Child to replace the sacred oak of Odin.

The Encyclopedia Americana says, "The reasons for establishing December 25th as Christmas are somewhat obscure, but it is usually held that the day chosen was to correspond to pagan festivals that took place around the time of the winter Solstice, when the days begin to lengthen, to celebrate the rebirth of the sun." Northern European tribes celebrated their chief festival of Yule at the winter solstice to commemorate the rebirth of the sun as the giver of light and warmth. The Roman Saturnalia (a festival dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture, and to the renewed power of the sun) also took place at this time. And some Christian customs are thought to be rooted in this pagan celebration. It is held by some scholars that the birth of Christ as "Light of the World" was made analogous to the rebirth of the sun in order to make Christianity more meaningful to pagan converts.

The Christmas Almanac, 1944 edition, says, "Saturnalia and the Kalends were celebrations most familiar to early Christians, December 17-24 and January 1-3. But the tradition of celebrating December 25th as Christ's birthday came to the Romans from Persia., Mithra, the Persian god of light and sacred contacts, was born out of a rock on December 25th. Rome was famous for its flirtations with strange gods and cults, and in the third century Aurelian established the festival of Dies Invicti Solis, The Day of the Invincible Sun, on December 25th. Mithra was an embodiment of the sun, so this period of rebirth was a major day in Mithraism, which had become Rome's latest official religion with the patronage of Aurelian. It is believed that the emperor Constantine adhered to Mithraism up to the time of his conversion to Christianity. He was probably instrumental in seeing that the major feast of his old religion was carried over to his new faith."

As you have just read, we got the celebration of Christmas from the Church of Rome, or as it is called today, the Roman Catholic Church. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has received many abominable customs from the Catholic Church. After Constantine's makeshift conversion from sun god worship to his form of Christianity, the mixture began. Before that time, Christians were being severely persecuted. Constantine Christianized his entire army with one motion and stopped the persecutions. Instead of doing away with the old pagan customs, the names were changed to make them attractive to the real Christians. The Christians who did not conform to the new state religion were persecuted as pagans, and in later years as heretics. See Foxe's Book of Martyrs.

This is a brief history of the birth of the Catholic Church. Now let's see what the Catholic Church has to say concerning the birth of Christmas.

In The Catholic Encyclopedia under the heading of Christmas, "According to the hypothesis suggested by H. Userner developed by B. Potte (Les Origines) and accepted by most scholars today, the birth of Christ was assigned the date of the winter solstice (December 25th in the Julian calendar; January 6th in the Egyptian), because on this day, as the sun began its return to the northern skies, the pagan devotees of Mithra celebrated the Dies Natalis Solic Invite (birthday of the invincible sun). On December 25th, 274 A.D., Aurelian had proclaimed the sun god principle patron of the empire and dedicated a temple to him in the Campus Martius.

Christmas originated at a time when the cult of the sun was particularly strong at Rome. This theory finds support in some of the church fathers comparing the birthday of Christ and the winter solstice. Indeed, from the beginning of the Third Century 'Sun of Justice' appears as a title of Christ (Botte, Les Or-gines, p. 63). Though the substitution of Christmas for the pagan festival cannot be proven with certainty, it remains the most plausible explanation for the dating of Christmas."

The festival celebrated throughout the known world was called Saturnalia before the name was changed to Christmas. The name underwent several changes before finally becoming Christmas, which means Mass of Christ. As a matter of fact before being Christmas, the festival was called Christ.Mass. Let's take an his-torical look at this festival, Saturnalia, and see if it is in any way similar to what is traditionally celebrated today as the birthday of Jesus Christ.

The Encyclopedia Americana says, "The great festival, the Saturnalia, became the most popular of Roman festivals, and its influence is still felt throughout the western world. Originally on December 17th, it was extended first to three and eventually seven days. The date has been connected with the winter sowing season, which in modern Italy varies from October-January, remarkably like the Greek Kronia (see Cron-nus), it was the gayest festival of the year. All work and business was suspended.

Slaves were given temporary freedom to say and do what they liked, and certain moral restrictions were eased. The streets were infected with a Mardi Gras madness, a mock king was chosen (Saturnalia pin-ceos). The seasonal greeting 'I O Saturnalia' was heard everywhere. Presents were freely exchanged, principally wax candles and little clay' dolls (sigillaria).

The cult statue of Saturn himself, traditionally bound at the feet with woolen bands, was untied, presumably to come out and enjoy the fun. The influence of the Saturnalia upon Christmas and the New Year has been direct.

DID YOU RECOGNIZE THE SIMILARITIES?

1. All work and business was suspended.
2. Slaves (employees) were given temporary freedom.
3. Moral restrictions eased; alcohol consumption even by children.
4. Sexual favors were given as presents.
5. The mock king (Good Ole Santa) is set up. His chair is elevated in department stores.
6. 'I O Saturnalia" was heard everywhere. Merry Christmas is heard everywhere.
7. Evergreens were used for decorations (symbols of rebirth and fertility).
8. The boar (male pig) was killed and eaten (symbol of Frey, god of regeneration). Is pig the main meat on our Christmas table?
9. Yule log also was symbol of continuing life.
I0. Lights used to dispel the growing darkness of the winter solstice.

The Christmas Almanac also says about the boar's head that, "The association of the boar's head with Christmas probably dates back to pagan times when the Germanic god Frey, who cared for the fertility of the herds, was symbolized by a boar. Therefore, at mid-winter to ensure new calves and lambs in the Spring, a boar would be sacrificed to the god. The sacrifice was carried over into Christmas tradition as a non-religious custom."

Notice how similar Father Christmas of today is to the god Saturn of the Roman Saturnalia. He is also very similar to our Santa Claus. The Christmas Almanac says, Although he is the English equivalent of Santa Claus, Father Christmas is rather different from our jolly elf and even further removed from the original ascetic and holy St. Nicholas. Father Christmas developed from several pagan predecessors. The Roman Saturnalia celebrated the brief return each year of the Golden Age when the god Saturn returned to rule over Italy. Saturn was a giant who came bearing good food and wine, joy and revelry, and equality of all people. When carried into the northern regions of Europe, Saturn probably combined with the wild figure of Odin and his raging host of spirits who swept across the land during the winter. Thus, Father Christmas was never a christian religious figure, but symbolized rather, the arrival of those secular pleasures which came from elsewhere than the Christian tradition. He was always portrayed as a giant, wearing a scarlet or green robe lined with fur; crowned with holly, ivy or mistletoe; and carrying the Yule log and a bowl of Christmas punch.

There is nothing Christian about Christmas. Sure, religion has tried to make it appear Christian, but anything like Christ must line up with the Word of God and Christmas doesn't. It is full of lies and hypocrisy, from Santa to the giving of gifts to the nativity scene. The most popular scene at Christmas, the nativity scene, says that when the wise men presented gifts to Jesus, He was in a stable. The Bible says He was in a house (Matt.2:11) and could have been as much as two years old (Matt. 2:7-16). Why do you think Herod had babies killed from two years old down? Most of the gift giving is only to get something in return and the small portion that is given to the poor is not motivated out of real love; for if it was, the people would give to the poor in the same manner all year long.

Did you know it was against the law to celebrate Christmas in the United States for many years? The truth has been hidden from us throughout the years but our forefathers knew of its roots and who actually receives the worship during this celebration.

The Christmas Almanac says, "America was later in recovering from the Puritan influence than England. Christmas was outlawed in New England until the middle of the nineteenth century. In 1856, Christmas Day was still an ordinary work day in Boston and failure to report to a job was grounds for dismissal, Classes were held in Boston public schools as late as 1870. It was probably the influence of immigrants from Germany and Ireland that finally convinced the Yankees that Christmas could be a harmless, pleasant, and even religious festivity. The first state to declare Christmas a legal holiday was Alabama in 1836. The last was Oklahoma in 1890."

In Christmas written by Allen, page 108, "In 17th century England when Puritans were in power, Christmas was illegal. Markets were ordered to stay open and even the baking of fancy pies and plum pudding were banned. On December 25th all church doors were locked

In 1659 a New England law barred all Christmas observances. Many Yankees did not accept popular Christmas festivities until well into the 19th century.

The Puritans objected to Christmas on these grounds: (1) it detracted from the significance of the Sabbath, (2) they objected to the fact that many of the customs associated with Christmas had heathen origins and (3) many people became riotous and drunken.

Year Book of Customs by Allen, page 174, "Mistletoe was especially connected with the winter solstice rites in pre-Christian times, so much so that it is one evergreen never allowed in the church. Yule log was used in Scandinavia to honor the god, Thor.

Star in the East, by Holzer, page 36: the fact remains that the use of any form of greens in the Christmas service is entirely pre-Christian and has nothing to do with the nativity. The Druids sang chants to create a harmonious atmosphere among the celebrants. The chants entered into Christmas tradition and became caroling. Also, on page 38, Bringing the tree inside the house and dressing it in lights and other glitter really stems from pre-Christian times. The tree ceremony is Scandinavian rather than Celtic.

I know that many Christians say that they disassociate themselves from all of the lies and paganism of Christmas, but that, my friend, you can't do. If you take the lies and paganism out of Christmas, you'll have no Christmas, for that's what it is made of. Remember (Deut. 12:28-32), you have no right to add to the commandments that the Lord has given; you only have the right to obey them.

Please forgive us for leading our children in idolatrous worship. Forgive us for idol worship that is false and heathen in Your sight, for bringing curses on ourselves and our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren. The Bible says that You are a jealous God concerning our worship. Forgive us for provoking You by following the most ancient false religion started by Nimrod, Semi-ramus and Tammuz. Forgive us for rebelling against the whole Word of God and causing ourselves to be an abomination to You. Forgive us for following pagan rituals and blind traditions, for not being able to break worldly habits, for our pride, ego and vanity.

1. Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language, unabridged, Second Edition, 1970. The unabridged dictionary is the best type of dictionary to use to study spiritual origins of words and practices.

2. The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments in the authorized King James version along with "Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible" with Greek and Hebrew Dictionary.

3. The Encyclopedia Britannica Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature and General Information, Eleventh Edition, 1910 The best type of encyclopedia to study spiritual origins is the older ones. The newer encyclopedias leave out more and more about spiritual things.

4. The World Book Encyclopedia and The New Family Encyclopedia.

5. This lesson was adapted with his permission from Christmas - Pagan Holiday or Christian? written by Walley Naylor, Jackson, Mississippi. It also includes portions from lessons by Gene and Earline Moody.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH VALENTINE'S DAY?

(Exodus 20, Joshua 23 and Deuteronomy 28)

SCRIPTURE

Ex. 20:3 You shall have no other gods before or besides me. You shall not make yourself any graven image (cupids are graven images)--to worship it--, or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down yourself to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.

Ex. 20:6 But showing mercy and steadfast love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Rom. 11:22     Parallels Ex. 20:5-6
John 14:15      Proof of real love is keeping command-ments.
John 15:12     Two commandments.
Ex. 20:3-6        Love God.
Ex. 20:7-17      Love fellowman.
Matt. 18:5-6    Speaks of dangerous relationship we have to God if we offend one of His children.

Valentine's Day came about this way. As far back as 296 B.C. according to World Book Encyclopedia, there was worship of the god Pan, also called Faunus and Lupercus. The rites were centered at Lupercal, a cave in the Palatine Hill. Priests sacrificed goats and cut their skins into strips for lashes. Then they ran around the Palatine Hill striking all the women they met. These ceremonies also involved purification through sacrifice of a dog. (Aren't Christians purified by the blood of Jesus?) In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius changed this ceremonial rite from February 15 to February 14 and called it St. Valentine's Day instead. After the spread of Christianity churchmen tried to give Christian meaning to the pagan festival.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910 Edition, reports that in 296 B.C. a bronze she-wolf was placed in the cave of Lupercus. The festival was to honor Lupricus - identified with Faunus. Its rights were under the supervision of priests called, Luprici, whose institution is attributed either to Arcadian Evander or to Romulus and Remus. The festival began with a sacrifice of goats and a dog by the Luperic priest . After the sacrifice, two priests were led to the altar and their foreheads were touched with a bloody knife. The blood was wiped off with wool dipped in milk. Then the ritual required that two young men should laugh. (I wonder at what--perhaps God?) The smearing of blood on the forehead probably refers to human sacrifice originally practiced at the festival. The sacrificial feast followed; after which the Luperic cut thongs from the skins of the victims and ran in two bands around the walls of the old Palatine City striking people who were near. The thongs were called februa, the festival Februatio, the day Fabruare to purify. The festival survived until 496 A.D. when it was Changed by Pope Gelasius into the Feast of Purification.

World Book Encyclopedia says Cupid (cupido --desire) is the Latin name for the god of sexual love (Eros).

Encyclopedia Britannica says Kamadeva in Hindu mythology is the god of love. He is variously stated to have been the child of Brahma or Dharma. Later, Kama simply became the Hindu Cupid. While attempting to lure Siva to sin, he was destroyed by a fiery glance of the goddess' third eye. Kama's wife Rati (voluptuousness) mourned him so greatly that Siva relented and he was reborn as the child of Krishna and Rukmini. The babe was called Pradyumma (Cupid). He is represented armed with a bow of sugar cane strung with bees. Its five arrows are tipped with flowers which overcome the five senses. A fish adorns his flag and he rides a parrot or sparrow--emblematic of lubricity (lasciviousness, lewdness, lechery, instability and trickiness).

Britannica says Eros or Cupid is the god of sexual passion, son of Aphrodite and Zeus. Chief gods associated with Eros and Pathos are Himeros (longing and desire), and Peitho (persuasion). Athenians changed him from goat man to fat youth with bow and arrow.

World Book in Pan-Greek mythology says Cupid is the son of Hermes and one of the daughters of Dryaps (Oak Man), or of Zeus and the nymph Callisto, god of shepherds, flocks and forests. He is said to be bori with horns, a goat's beard, feet and tail, and covered completely with hair. Hermes took him to Olympus where he became a favorite of Dionysus. His appearance struck terror in hearts of men, hence the expression "panic fear". Associated with Panisci are a number of male and female forest imps, his wives and children who send evil dreams and apparitions to terrify mankind.

His original home was Arcadia. His cult was introduced into Athens, at the time of the Battle 0f Marathon, when he promised his assistance against the Persians if the Athenians would worship him.

The story of the pilot Thamus, who was sailing near the island of Paxi in the time of Tiberius, was commanded by a mighty voice to proclaim that "Pan is dead" is found in Plutarch.

This story coincides with the birth (or crucifixion) of Christ. Reinach suggests that the words uttered by the voice was 'Tammuz, Tammuz the all-great, is dead' and that it was merely a lament for the "great Tammuz or Adonis".

Deut 32:16-17, I Cor.10:18-21 Compare these two scriptures and notice that God has not changed at all in His opinion of what constitutes devil worship.

Ezekiel 8:14 Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the Lord's house, and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. (According to Ezekiel, the Spirit of God called this an abomination to God. He also called Tammuz an idol.)

Jer. 7:16-18 God told Jeremiah not to pray for people of Judah because the children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire,and the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods; they provoke me to anger!

According to 'The Two Babylons, page 5, Semiramis is the mother of gods; page 21, mother of Tammuz; and pages 62-63, Tammuz is Nimrod (see Gen. 10:8-11).

When traced back, Valentine's Day is the worship of Semiramis and Tammuz-Nimrod. Can you as a Christian promote this day or bring children under its curses?

II Cor. 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked up with unbelievers - do not make mismatched alliances with them, or come under a different yoke with them (inconsistent with your faith). For what partnership hath right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light fellowship with darkness?

II Cor. 6:15 What agreement (can there be between) a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as He said, I will dwell in and with and among them, and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people (see Ex. 25:8; 29:45; Lev. 26:12; Ezek. 37:27 & Jer.31:1).

II Cor. 6:17 So come out from among them (unbelievers), and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not (any) unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor (see Isa. 52:11).

II Cor. 6:18 And I will be a father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters says the Lord Almighty (see Hos. 1:10 and Isa. 43:6)

God showed me some years back that to serve a god meant to work and plan for him. That everytime I spent time and money on this day, I worshipped these gods and denied Jesus.

How could I ask God to bless me when I had just risen up from idol worship (see Joshua 23:6-16 and 24:20)? I'd like to propose a few questions to you:

Since Nimrod worship is Baal worship, and Baal worship required child sacrifice, could it be possible that by serving gods like Lupercus, Baal and Saturn, we have brought the Biblical curses upon our families and our nation such as abortion, child abuse, homosexuality, unprovoked murders, financial loss, etc?

It seems that God really got upset at the Jews for worshipping other gods. Why would He not do the same with us? How can we as Christians encourage our children in Satan worship with Valentine's Day activities? Could it be that we focus our children's minds on erotic ideas in the guise of sweetheart day? Then we wonder why they are promiscuous?

It would seem to me that we are double minded (James 1:4-8). What can we expect to get from God? For those who say we can use old idol worship days, etc. and be all right with God, how do you explain Matt. 9:17, Mark 2:22 and Luke 5:37? Break curses of idol worship, conception in lust, and those who call good evil and evil good.

Ruler spirits are Rejection, Rebellion and Bitterness.

Excerpts from the Deliverance Manual.