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Pure, utter bilge. Cr@p. Nonsense.

The feast of the dedication of the Temple of Jerusalem, which celebrated the dwelling of the Spirit of God on Earth in the Temple of The Living God took place on the 25th of the month of Chiselv (approximately December.) [1 Maccabees 4:49] Since Jesus was the indwelling of God on Earth, that date is a prophetic foretelling that is centuries older than Saturnalia. By the way, Saturnalia is Dec. 17-23rd, not Dec. 25th.

The reason Constantine gave was this: Jews, even before Christ, believed that Prophets died on the day they were conceived. Jesus is known to have died on March 25th, which is celebrated as the Feast of the Annunciation, the day the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived. Christians shared this belief. Today, Saints' feast days are held on the date of their death, which is also their "Heavenly feast day," since it is on that day that they are brought into the World of Heaven.

Eastern Orthodox calculated their Calendars differently, so they calculated the date of Good Friday differently. As such, Jesus was held to be born on January 6th.

If Saturnalia isn't a complete coincidence, it's relative approximation to the date of Christmas is simply divine providence, allowing Christians to prepare for Christmas without being conspicuous.

Why do people who call themselves Christians seem so fixated on negating Christian pieties? What is the motivation for spreading such ridiculous lies, Mr. Mulliner? Are you a fool, a patsy, or do you harbor resentment of Christian holidays?

By the way, The problem is there is nothing in Jeremiah 10 about decorating a tree. The passage does talk about cutting a tree, but then makes plain its purpose: It is to carved into an idol: "For the cult idols of the nation are nothing, wood cut from the forest, wrought by craftsman with the adze [an axlike tool with a curved blade at right angles to the handle, used for shaping wood]." (Jer 10:3)

Yes, the wooden statues are decorated, but with "silver an d gold, fastened with nails and hammers." (Jer 10:4a)

Still think they resemble a Christmas tree? "Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they." (Jer 10:5)

An idol, by the way, is a statue crafted in the likeness of a God, for the purpose of worshipping that God. Christmas trees, of course, are not in the likeness of a God, and are not worshipped. So how in anyone's right mind does that person make the leap "idol"="Christmas tree"?

Christmas trees' origin is Protestant, coming from Germany and Martin Luther.

Tammuz, the son of Nimrod and his queen, Semiramis, was identified with the Babylonian Sun God and worshipped following the winter solstice. As the days became shorter and shorter through the winter, they become the shortest at the winter solstice, about December 22-23. Tammuz was thought to have died during the winter solstice, and was memorialized by burning a log in the fireplace. (The Chaldean word for infant is yule. This is the origin of the "yule log.")

Wow, what a mess!

Tammuz (Dumuzi) was not a Babylonian prince, he was a Sumerian shepherd. He got deified after his death because Inanna (Ishtar) fell in love with him and retrieved him from the Underworld.

His death occurred in June, not December - which of course is why that month was renamed "Tammuz". It was his birth that supposedly happened in December.

In Sumer, his death continued to be commemorated in June, but in Babylonia the Tammuz log was burned on the winter solstice itself, 21 December, and is called yala, which is Babylonian, not Chaldean, and which means "son", not "infant".

The Yule log comes from Old English geola, which is derived from Old Norse jol, and means "festive season". Originally the entire winter season, from 1 December to 1 February; later just the Twelve Days. The "yule log" has been a part of Christian celebration since the 4th century; the practice was brought to England by the Normans in the 12th century.

Christmas

"The Word became Flesh and made His dwelling among us, and we have seen His glory: The glory of an only Son coming from the Father, filled with enduring love." (John 1:14)

The actual date of Christ’s birth is unknown. The Gospels do not record it and there is not any early tradition to identify it. Scholars identify the approximate year as sometime between 8 - 5 BC and the season as probably early spring. The feast day was placed where it was, in all likelihood, to supplant the practice of the winter solstice festival among pagan converts by pointing to Christ as the true light who comes into the world. The Western Church emphasizes the celebration of the Nativity or Birth of Jesus on December 25, while the Eastern Church celebrates His manifestation to the Magi on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6.

The word Christmas was derived from the Old English Cristes Maesse or "Mass of Christmas." Over the centuries it has become a comprehensive word including both the religious traditions and the secular traditions.

In North America, the early immigrants brought their different Christmas traditions. The Germans brought the Christmas tree, the Irish contributed the lights in windows of homes, Catholic immigrants brought Midnight Mass and everyone had their own Christmas carols.

The Lights of Christmas

The most obvious symbol of Christmas are lights – Christmas candles, window lights, luminaries, lights on the Advent Wreath and Christmas tree. All signifying that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world.

Christmas Candle

The Christmas candle is an ancient tradition. It is usually placed in the center of the Advent Wreath to complete the removal of darkness and sin by the Coming of Christ.

Window Lights

Lights placed inside window sills depict a beacon to light the way for Mary, Joseph, and the coming of the Christ Child.

Christmas Tree

Christmas trees can be found almost anywhere, any size. For many people, the Christmas tree is only a seasonal decoration. To Christians it symbolizes the green of hope at a time of dying, the burning light of Christ at a time of spiritual darkness and the fruits of paradise. Its origin as a Christian symbol may trace to an historical event. When St. Boniface evangelized the Germanic tribes he chopped down their sacred oak to prove the impotence of their god. Just as Patrick used the shamrock as a symbol of the Trinity, Boniface used the evergreen as a symbol of the eternity of the true God. The Church provides a blessing ceremony in its Book of Blessings for use in the absence of a priest.

Holly

The appearance of holly is representative of the burning bush of Moses and Mary’s burning love of for God. The red berries and prickly points are symbolic of the crown of thorns and the bloody death that the Christ Child would eventually suffer.

Poinsettia

Poinsettias are associated with Christmas as the lily is with Easter. In Mexico it blooms at Christmas time and is called the "Flower of the Holy Night." Its name is from the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Dr. Joel Poinsett.