🎄 Christmas: From Past to Present to Promise - Part 1 Christmas, in its purest form, means Christ’s Mass — a day of worship celebrating the birth of Yeshua HaMashiach, the promised Messiah. Yet the day we now call Christmas has walked a long, winding road — from ancient traditions, to cultural transformation, to the enduring promise of Emmanuel: God with us. ⸻ 🕯️ From Saturnalia to the Season of Light Long before the first Christ’s Mass, ancient Rome celebrated Saturnalia each December: days of feasting, singing, greenery, candles, and gift-giving in honor of the god Saturn. A few days later came Dies Natalis Solis Invicti — “the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun.” Bonfires and torches symbolized the sun’s return after the winter solstice, and the city rejoiced with races, music, and shared meals. When the empire eventually turned toward Christianity, many of those outward customs — community feasts, decorations of evergreen, exchanging gifts, and lighting candles against the darkness — remained familiar expressions of seasonal joy. It’s vital to understand that a tradition is not automatically pagan because it once existed in a pagan culture. The question has always been who we honor, not how we celebrate. Fellowship, music, and light can glorify God when our focus is on the Creator, not the creation. ⸻ ⛪ The Birth of Christ’s Mass In the fourth century A.D., the Roman Catholic Church formally established December 25 as the day to commemorate the Messiah’s birth, calling it Christ’s Mass. The date did not come from Scripture but was chosen to redirect attention from the pagan “Birthday of the Sun” to the worship of the true Son of God. Over the centuries the observance spread throughout Europe and became deeply woven into Catholic tradition. 🎄CONTINUED IN COMMENTS ⬇️⬇️⬇️ #Christmas #History #Jesus #Bible