It seems that every year certain writers make it a point to claim that Christmas is in fact a pagan holiday with no roots in Christianity or Judaism.
As many of you may know the Handofzara is a wealth of useless, or perhaps useful, information.
So please sit back, have a sip of coffee and let the House of Zarah be heard upon the matter.
To have a fuller explanation and understanding of Jesus and the Gospels, I humbly submit for your consideration that Jesus of Nazareth was the Heir to the Maccabeen claim to the throne of Israel.
Who were the Maccabee's?
First let us travel back in time to Jerusalem in 178 BC. In those days, Antiochus IV of the Seleucid Empire ruled over Jerusalem. Antiochus waged war upon the Jewish religion by outlawing its practice and forcing the Hellenization of the Jewish people. The Temple in Jerusalem was desecrated with pagan offerings.
While many succumbed to this process, one man and his sons refused: Judah Maccabee.
Judah Maccabee and his followers waged war upon the Greeks eventually driving the Seleucid Empire from Jerusalem.
The Temple in Jerusalem had to be rededicated after being desecrated by the pagan worship of the Greeks.
For over two thousand years the Jewish people celebrate the Feast of the Dedication more commonly known as
Hanukkah. For more information on the Miracle of Hanukkah please read: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah
Judah Maccabee established an independent kingdom centered in Jerusalem called the Hasmonean dynasty. The Hasmonean dynasty of the Maccabees ruled independently until 63 BC when Rome intervened in a civil war making the kingdom a client state.
In 37 BC, Rome declared Herod the Great to be "King of the Jews". Unfortunately, Herod was not of the Tribe of Judah but rather an Edomite (being a descendant of Essau, Jacob's brother).
Jesus of Nazareth, on the other hand was a Maccabee.
So why do we celebrate Christmas in the winter?
We get a clue in the Book of John 10:22-24.
22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
Did you catch that in verse 22?
"the feast of the dedication, and it was WINTER!"
The Feast of the Dedication is Hanukah!
So what about the calendar?
What many do not realize is that the Jewish Calendar is based upon the movements of the moon whereas the Roman calendar is based upon the movements of the Sun.
But were you aware that the Church outside of the Roman Empire actually followed the Jewish Calendar for centuries?
That is correct, outside of the Empire, the Church, being a very very "Jewish" religion, followed the Hebrew based moon calendar.
Where is your proof of this calendar stuff?
The Synod of Whitby stands as an historical event.
Christianity in the British Isles existed for centuries in two forms the Celtic and the Latin. The Celtic Church derived its origins from the tradition of Glastonbury and centered upon the Isle of Iona.
See: Legend of Glastonbury: https://www.britainexpress.com/Myths/Glastonbury.htm
See: Synod of Whitby: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synod_of_Whitby
The Synod of Whitby was held, in 644 AD, in an attempt to reconcile the dates of Easter. The Celtic Church celebrated Easter on the same day as Passover according to the Jewish calendar, whereas the Latin church celebrated according to the Roman calendar. (Interesting that the same writers who claim Christmas is a pagan holiday also claim the same thing about Easter).
So let us compare Christmas and Hanukkah:
Hanukkah involves:
A Maccabbee (Judah)
Family Celebration
Lights
Giving gifts and
A Miracle of God
Christmas involves:
A Maccabbee (Jesus)
Family Celebration
Lights
Giving Gifts and
A Miracle of God
And when does Hanukkah Begin according to the Jewish Calendar?
Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev!
And when do we celebrate Christmas?
The 25th day of December!
Selah.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!