Christmas. Jewish-Hebraic concerns about this holiday

 

Christmas also has pagan roots, just like Easter does. It was a Winter Solstice holiday. During this season, the pagans celebrated Saturnalia and Sol Invictus. Aspects of these two festivals were merged and cleaned up somewhat by Christianity. You can read about these festivals on the internet.

The main problem with current Christmas, is that it has become super commercialized with billions of dollars worldwide going to the merchants; money is not always used for good in this world, but sometimes, it is. Unfortunately, it isn't a happy time for everyone due to poverty/debt, illness, isolation, work or family problems. However, there are many beautiful things about Christmas. 

 

It is hard to undo a cultural celebration with centuries of traditions built up around December 24-25th. Some Mormons do somehow recognize that Jesus/Yeshua was born on April 6th (see D&C 20). We would be interested in hearing how it is observed by those few, in April. 

 

There are different opinions about when Jesus - Yeshua was born. It was lambing season when he was born (which suggests Spring). Also, when Jesus went to the temple at Passover, he was twelve.  He met with the teachers and elders of the Law. This suggests something similar to a Bar Mitzvah type event. The Bar Mitzvah is typically on one's (Hebrew) birthdate or near that date. Maybe boys' Bar Mitzvahs were at age 12 back then. They were not lavish back then.

Some Hebraic minded people reject Christmas trees for this reason:

Jeremiah 10:1-5

1 Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

2 Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

 

What was Jeremiah, receiving through God, objecting to?  Was it the super commercialization which would come into Christmas?  The trees themselves are beautiful, and when the tree is real, the home smells wonderful and memories are made.  Even Hanukkah has become more commercialized in response to Christmas.

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People really love their celebrations.  It is hard when there are people "not on the same page" within one's own household.  It is important to not have celebrations destroy relationships, if that can helped.  Some compromise may be needed.  You decide.