CHRISTMAS TREE AND SANTA CLAUS
By Dr Muhammad Solaiman
After the death of Nimrod, Semiramis claimed that from a dead tree stump (symbolizing Nimrod) an evergreen tree sprang forth unto new life overnight (symbolizing Tammuz). She also claimed that on each anniversary of his birth, on December 25th, Nimrod would visit the evergreen tree and leave gifts upon it.
The palm tree was sacred to the ancient Egyptians who used to bring the evergreen palm leaves into their homes around the time of the winter solstice. The mother of the sun god Adonis was said to mystically have been changed into a tree and brought forth her divine dead son who was recognized as the Man branch. Also, during the Roman feast of Saturnalia, pagans decorated their houses with clippings of evergreen shrubs and they decorated the shrubs with bits of metal and replicas of their god Bacchus.
In the mid-500’s, Germans began to use evergreen trees as a symbol of hope for the coming of spring. This practice evolved from the previously mentioned pagan rituals and was merged with the celebration of Christmas. The Christmas tree was introduced to England in 1841 when Queen Victoria’s husband brought a Christmas tree over from Germany and put it in Windsor Castle.
The conduct of using evergreen trees in houses is forbidden in the Bible because it is a pagan practice.
“Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an ax by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move” (Jeremiah, 10:3-4).
Although some Christian reformers have condemned the pagan custom of the Christmas tree, it has been accepted by most Christians and even those who do not follow Christianity.
The myth of Santa Claus
Santa Claus, or Father Christmas, is a mythical figure who, in many Western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children on Christmas Eve.
Was Santa Claus St. Nicholas? The Catholic Church gave the custom of gift-giving by Santa Claus a Christian flavour by re-rooting it to the Asia Minor Saint Nicholas. However, in 1969, Pope Paul VI ordered the feast of Saint Nicholas to be dropped from the official Roman Catholic calendar because the saint’s life was unreliably documented.
What is the origin of Santa Claus? The tradition of gods or goddesses who gave gifts preceded Christianity by thousands of years. The Norsemen believed that the goddess Hertha appeared in their fireplaces and brought good luck to the homes. In pre-Christian Rome, the emperors compelled their citizens to bring offerings and gifts during the Saturnalia (in December). The pagan god Odin was also believed to leave special gifts under evergreen trees.
Santa Claus with his reindeer and sleigh is a mixed version of gods like Saturn, Thor, Odin and others. Therefore, because, in Holland’s mythology, Odin rode a white horse through the heaven, their Santa Claus is usually depicted riding a white horse instead of the more common reindeer and sleigh.
The Bible forbids the celebration of pagan festivals.
Christmas has been professionally commercialized to attract people to spend their money. It is a pagan celebration and it has nothing to do with what Jesus preached. It is forbidden in the Bible to celebrate pagan festivals.
“You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices”(Leviticus, 18:2-4).