24
votes
Accepted
Is Xmas a secular name for Christmas?
Word origin
As stated in previous answers, the "X" in "Xmas" comes from the Greek word for Christ, Χριστός. However, since precision is important, I want to clarify when the ...
- 7,743
19
votes
Is Xmas a secular name for Christmas?
Great Britain monks used "X" for "Christ" nearly a thousand years ago. They used "X" for "Christ" while transcribing manuscripts in Old English. They did so because the Greek word for Christ, ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ,...
- 3,906
17
votes
Accepted
What is the earliest historical testimony of the celebration of the nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Attitudes on birthdays
In the early church, birthdays (in general) were not seen as something to celebrate. For example, in Origen's 8th homily on Leviticus he writes:
But the saints not only do not ...
- 7,743
11
votes
Accepted
Are the Sorrowful Mysteries recited when Christmas is on a Friday?
Keep in mind that there is no “official” or “correct” way to pray the Rosary. The Rosary is just a devotion, and if someone prays it, he should do so in the way that is most helpful to him.
However, ...
- 13.2k
8
votes
Why Jeremiah 10:5 was changed from palm trees to scarecrows
I generally agree with another answer and comments that “modern translations are better”, but I will elaborate a bit on how the variant translations came about. The Hebrew of interest:
כְּתֹ֨מֶר ...
- 4,322
8
votes
Given many questions as to whether Jesus was born on 25 December or not, I ask if the ambiguity in scripture is meant to teach us something?
Does the ambiguity in the NT regarding the date of Jesus's birth and the lack of explicit command to celebrate it every year (compared to explicit instruction to memorialize the Lord's supper) in ...
- 22.2k
8
votes
What is the Mass obligation for Catholics when Christmas is on a Monday?
This year, the last Sunday of Advent is a Sunday. All Sundays are holy days of obligation. Monday, December 25, 2023, is another holy day of obligation where a different Mass is said (that of ...
- 38.6k
8
votes
What is the Mass obligation for Catholics when Christmas is on a Monday?
What is the Mass obligation for Catholics when Christmas is on a Monday?
The short answer: 2 obligations = 2 Masses. No two for one with this scenario!
Catholics are obligated to go to mass twice: ...
- 67.9k
7
votes
Where did the "theology" behind the Cherry tree carol come from?
The Cherry Tree Carol is thought to date to the 16th or 17th century. The history of its development is murky, but it may be traced to a 15th century Coventry play1 and beyond that to the Gospel of ...
- 42.3k
7
votes
Accepted
Do Mormons celebrate Christmas on/or around the 25th of December?
Yes, Mormons generally celebrate the birth of Christ on the traditional day of Christmas, December 25. They never said there was scriptural basis for this date; the specific day of the year is not ...
- 11.7k
7
votes
Given many questions as to whether Jesus was born on 25 December or not, I ask if the ambiguity in scripture is meant to teach us something?
The feasts (Yom Kippur, tabernacles etc) are all well documented as to month and day.
If the birth of Jesus Christ were to be so memorialised, it would be so documented : and it is not.
What is to be ...
- 23.7k
6
votes
Is Xmas a secular name for Christmas?
The Greek letter Χ <"chi"> is the first letter in the word Χριστός < Christ >. It was often used in the past for easier transcription of scripture (from Greek to English).
There is nothing ...
6
votes
Do Mormons celebrate Christmas on/or around the 25th of December?
As an addition to Matt's correct answer, to see how LDS Church leaders talk about Christmas one can visit "Christmas" under the Gospel Topics on www.lds.org. The current Church President, Thomas S. ...
- 1,142
5
votes
Accepted
Did Charles Dickens play any role in renewing the spirit of Christmas in modern times?
Christmas was still an issue in 19th c. England, but it had come a long way from Cromwell's day, when gift-giving on Christmas was punished by a stiff fine, equivalent to $8000 in today's money. In ...
- 5,365
4
votes
What is the origin of the Christmas tree and is it accepted in all Christian traditions?
The History of Christmas Trees
The first documented use of a tree at Christmas and New Year celebrations is argued between the cities of Tallinn in Estonia and Riga in Latvia! Both claim that they ...
- 67.9k
4
votes
What is the biblical basis for commemorating the birth of Jesus?
John's Gospel Chapter 1 tells us that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (v1) and that this Word became flesh and dwelt among us (v14). So Christians ...
- 7,852
4
votes
Accepted
Feast of the Holy Innocents traditions?
Religious Customs in the Family: The Radiation of the Liturgy into Catholic Homes by Fr. Francis X. Weiser, S.J., mentions this regarding the Feast of the Holy Innocents (a.k.a "Childermas day"):
...
- 38.6k
4
votes
Could December 25 as the birthday of Jesus have come from Pagan influences?
The Bible gives no information on the birth date of Jesus. So we do not know if Jesus' birth date was December 25 and any date is speculation. However, the Bible is clear that Jesus was born and so it ...
- 882
4
votes
Accepted
Could December 25 as the birthday of Jesus have come from Pagan influences?
From the Bible, we can be pretty sure that Jesus was not born on December 25.
Late September or early October, perhaps even on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, is the most likely time.
...
- 8,302
4
votes
Accepted
Why don't priests give Holy Communion to everyone at Mass?
Why don't priests give bread to everyone at mass?
Priests are normally on their toes at all Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The reason is quite simply. Many non-Catholics show up and many ...
- 67.9k
4
votes
Did Oliver Cromwell ban Christmas or is this an unfounded rumour?
According to the Oliver Cromwell Society, he personally didn't ban Christmas:
There is no sign that Cromwell personally played a particularly large or prominent role in formulating or advancing the ...
- 8,302
4
votes
Accepted
Did Oliver Cromwell ban Christmas or is this an unfounded rumour?
Did Oliver Cromwell ban Christmas or is this an unfounded rumour?
The short answer is very possibly. He seemed to have a finger in the mix. After all he was the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of ...
- 67.9k
4
votes
Given many questions as to whether Jesus was born on 25 December or not, I ask if the ambiguity in scripture is meant to teach us something?
A "Why didn't God include a certain piece of information in Scripture?" question is most likely to generate only speculation (which is fine as long as it is identified as such). Here is ...
- 14.8k
3
votes
Is celebrating Christmas required of Catholics?
Christmas is a Holy Day of Obligation. As such, Catholics are expected to attend Mass on that day. (The vigil mass on Christmas Eve counts).
but are they obligated to celebrate Christmas in the ...
- 6,707
3
votes
Is celebrating Christmas required of Catholics?
As a Catholic, you are required to celebrate the "holy-day" of Christmas, as you mentioned, by going to Mass, receiving the Eucharist, giving honor and glory to God and celebrating Jesus' birth. ...
- 47
3
votes
When is the end of the Christmas season for Latin Rite Catholics?
The Christmas Season starts with Midnight Mass or the Christmas vigil (according to the new rite) and continues with a holy joy until the 2nd Vespers of the feast of the presentation of the Lord (...
- 67.9k
3
votes
Was Christmas a replacement of the feast of Hanukkah or of the 'Invincible Sun'?
The accusation that Christmas was usurped from Sol Invictus is probably a result of works of the puritans of the 17th Century England. It makes no logical sense whatsoever.
If we look at the outlook ...
- 31
3
votes
Why don't Mormons sing the second verse of, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"?
They don’t sing the second verse because the second verse confesses that Jesus is God.
“Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate deity”
- 31
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