The festivals of Rome are innumerable; but one of the most important may
be singled out for investigation -- Christmas. How is it that this festival
was connected with December 25th? There is no word in the Bible about the
precise day of Yeshua's birth. What is recorded in the Scriptures clearly
implies that whenever his birth was, it could not have been on December 25th.
Indeed, it is admitted by most scholars that the day of Yeshua's birth cannot
be determined, and that within the New Testament Church of YEHOVAH no such
festival was ever heard of until the third century when the influence of the
Roman Catholic Church overtook nominal Christians. In fact, it was not until
the latter part of the fourth century that Christmas gained wide acceptance.
How, then, did the Roman Catholic Church fix on December 25th as Christmas
day? Long before the fourth century -- and long before the Christian era itself
-- a festival was celebrated among the heathen -- at that precise time of
the year. This celebration was in honor of the birth of the son of the Babylonian
queen of heaven, and in order to conciliate the heathen and swell the ranks
of the nominal adherents of Christianity, this heathen festival was adopted
by the Catholic Church -- giving it only the name of the Messiah
Upright men tried to stem the tide, but in spite of their efforts the apostacy
went on until the Church, with the exception of a small remnant, was submerged
under this pagan superstition. That Christmas was originally a pagan custom,
is beyond all doubt. YEHOVAH God warns us in the Bible not to observe the
festivals of the heathen -- will you obey Him? -- JDK.