I find it truly amusing that so many people around the world and especially in the U.S. celebrate Christmas without knowing where the holiday got it's origins. Most celebrate this tradition blindly, simply because it has been around them and been a part of their life each year. In a way it is very hard to avoid, every December it is blasted all over the T.V., Radio, and all over society in general. Though it has evolved into a cess-pool for commercial gain, it is still observed by dedicated Christians as symbolic of the birth of Christ.

On a side note, I find it very humorous how some people within the various denominations that make up Protestantism can talk down on Catholics. I have heard Protestants degrade Catholics and doom them to hell for their beliefs. Yet these same Protestants celebrate and uphold the traditions of Christmas, while not being aware of the fact that Christmas or "Christ-Mass",or "Mass of Christ" was created by the early Catholic Church. But that is neither here nor there. That is another argument for another day regarding the division of the church due to man-made labels and doctrine such as Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, and so on. I believe Christ instructed us to UNITE, but that is something we still need to work on, after all we are imperfect beings..

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with taking a day to observe the Birth of Messiah, as long as we don't forget what we are suppose to be doing...

Believe it or not, many of the traditions that we observe during the Christmas holiday season began way before the birth of Christ. Exchanging gifts, decorating trees, and the burning of the Yule log, and more were all pagan winter traditions that began before Christ was born, but were eventually converted and incorporated into the holiday that became known as Christmas, and became part of Christmas history.

The Church converted these traditions to reach the pagans and to covert them to Christianity..

Over 4000 years ago, the Mesopotamians celebrated each new year with a 12-day festival, called Zagmuth. The Mesopotamians, who believed in many gods, held this festival in support of their chief god, Marduk, because they believed that he battled the monsters of chaos at the beginning of each winter. It is from this festival that the 12 days of Christmas is believed to have originated.

The ancient Romans held a celebration each year in honor of their god Saturn. The festival, which they called Saturnalia, began in the middle of December and lasted until the first of January. The Romans decorated their homes with garlands, as well as trees upon which they hung candles. During the festival the citizens of Rome would visit each other’s homes and hold great feasts. How the tradition of the giving of Christmas gifts came about was from the Roman practice of exchanging gifts between family and neighbors during the festival of Saturnalia to promote good luck.

Nothing wrong with Christmas as long as your intent is right, just know where it comes from and how that could effect your views of this holiday as well as your personal beliefs.. After all, you will not find the term "Christmas" anywhere in the Bible, so that should raise an eyebrow to say the least..

Just give your respect and praises to the Messiah and not to the commercialized tradition of corruption. Also, enjoy each other, family and friends, you might even lend a hand to a needy stranger out of the kindness of your own heart...

However you conduct yourself during this time of year, do it safe and in love....

Honor be to Yeshua...