In his infamous booklet The Plain Truth About Christmas, Herbert Armstrong wrote about Nimrod: "From many ancient writings, considerable is learned of this man, who started the great organized worldly apostacy from God that has dominated this world until now. Nimrod was so evil, it is said he married his own mother, whose name was Semiramis. After Nimrod's untimely death, his so-called mother-wife, Semiramis, propagated the evil doctrine of the survival of Nimrod as a spirit being. She claimed a full-grown evergreen tree sprang overnight from a dead tree stump, which symbolized the springing forth unto new life of the dead Nimrod. On each anniversary of his birth, she claimed, Nimrod would visit the evergreen tree and leave gifts upon it. December 25th was the birthday of Nimrod. This is the real origin of the Christmas tree." see The Plain Truth About Christmas
Is this true? Did two of the most important "secular" symbols of our modern observance of the Christmas holiday originate in the ancient and pagan religious system created by Nimrod and Semiramis? What does history tell us about the origins of these symbols?
While it is true that many ancient pagans associated evergreen trees with the supernatural and decorated their homes with cuttings from them, it is also clear that the association of evergreen trees with the Christmas holiday is a development of the Christian era. According to History.com, "Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles." see History of Christmas Trees
From The Christian Index, in their article Martin Luther's influence on Christmas traditions, we read: "The Christmas tree, special carols, and presents on December 24th: these much-loved traditions are all linked to Martin Luther. Start with the tree. While walking through snowy woods under a bright starlit sky, the beauty of the scene so moved Luther that he wanted to recreate it at home. So, he cut down a fresh tree, brought it inside, and decorated it with real candles. Or so the story goes. What is known is that The Great Reformer composed the Christmas carol still sung today: “From Heaven above to earth I come, To bear good news to every home.” He also moved the date gifts were given from Saint Nicholas’ Day, December 6th, to Christmas Eve, December 24th."
As for Santa Claus, there is a broad consensus among historical scholars that this character can be traced to a Christian bishop who lived during the Fourth Century. In their article on Saint Nicholas of Myra, New Advent's Catholic Encyclopedia states that "The following places honour him as patron: Greece, Russia, the Kingdom of Naples, Sicily, Lorraine, the Diocese of Liège; many cities in Italy, Germany, Austria, and Belgium; Campen in the Netherlands; Corfu in Greece; Freiburg in Switzerland; and Moscow in Russia. He is patron of mariners, merchants, bakers, travellers, children, etc. His representations in art are as various as his alleged miracles. In Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, they have the custom of making him the secret purveyor of gifts to children on 6 December, the day on which the Church celebrates his feast; in the United States and some other countries St. Nicholas has become identified with Santa Claus who distributes gifts to children on Christmas eve."
History.com informs us that this Saint Nicholas was transformed into our modern notion of Santa Claus over many years. In Nate Barksdale's article Who was St. Nicholas?, we read: "By the Middle Ages, Nicholas’ fame had spread to much of Europe, thanks in large part to the dissemination of parts of his skeleton to churches in Italy, where they were venerated as relics. St. Nicholas’ popularity eventually spread to northern Europe, where stories of the monk mingled with Teutonic folktales of elves and sky-chariots. In the Netherlands, St. Nicholas took on the Dutch-friendly spelling Sinterklaas. He was depicted as a tall, white-bearded man in red clerical robes who arrived every December 6 on a boat to leave gifts or coal-lumps at children’s homes. Stories of Sinterklaas were likely brought to the New World by Dutch settlers in the Hudson River valley. In his satirical 1809 “History of New-York,” Washington Irving portrayed St. Nicholas as a portly Dutchman who flew the skies in a wagon, dropping gifts down chimneys. In 1823 another New Yorker, Clement Clarke Moore, penned the poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas”, which traded the wagon for a sleigh drawn by “eight tiny reindeer.” Beginning during the Civil War, cartoonist Thomas Nast published the first of a series of popular depictions of a rotund and jolly St. Nicholas. In 1879 Nast was the first to suggest that St. Nicholas lived not in Turkey, Spain or Holland but at the North Pole."
Hence, while the origins of the Chistmas tree and Santa Claus stretch back into antiquity, they clearly belong to the Christian era and are associated with real people who were Christians. Thus, the narrative that Nimrod and Semiramis were the sources for our modern notions of these Christmas symbols is not supported by the historical evidence. The rejection of the Christmas tree as pagan because of the beliefs that the ancients associated with evergreen trees is tantamount to refusing to plant or appreciate them because of their former associations with pagan religious practices. In other words, the tree itself can't be tainted because of what some folks who lived a long time ago believed about it. Likewise, Saint Nicholas may not have climbed down any chimneys or road around in a sleigh, but he was held in high esteem by ancient Christians and has inspired many generations of Christians down through the centuries since his death. Nimrod and Nicholas were separated by many centuries and completely different ideologies. We can point out similarities and compare ancient beliefs to our own, but saying something is PAGAN does not necessarily make it so!
So, was jesus born Dec 25?
ReplyDeleteAlthough that has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas trees and Santa Claus, we don't know for sure when he was born. However, the birthday of kings and queens is very often celebrated on a day other than the day they were born. There is a school of thought that Jesus was very likely born at the time of the fall festivals - one of which could symbolize the announcement of his coming (first and second)? It's fun to speculate about such things, but we simply don't know for certain.
DeleteThis is St Nck speaking on my day, the 5th of december.
ReplyDeleteI second the entirety of Miller Jones posting. I am not mad about this full blown attempt to blow my cover.
My cousin Wodan riding his white horse Skeypnir across the skyes says hi and would have enjoyed an accolade. But hey, he understands the old gods are burried and only awakened for tge purpose of war and destruction. He had his fun in his days he says, and hopes todays little children benefit from the presents distributed on the 5th of december as the most western part of europes postal system is about to collapse.
I mean St Nck cant have his little black helpers deliver presents anymore.
People think they are black but wodan says they were demons/valkyrie, St Nck wisely keeps his mouth shut since he knows they are 16th century moorish figures, so we retell the narrative that they are sooted because the presents are brought through the chimney.
Mayby St Nck will reconsider rehiring some of his former friends and employees. But he'd rather pay for presents than anti discrimination lawsuits.
A story of an ever changing narrative.
Nck
Woden gets his due when Christmas falls on his day!
DeleteMiller
ReplyDeleteI once met Woden.
On a visit to Berlin, bored with modernity, I decided to have a look at the remains of an old pagan shrine at the isle of Rugen.
On a walk through the dense forest along the wild chalkcoast the WIND HOWLED WITH tremendous sound and FORCE through the woods. It was like a continuous whistling sound with awesome but comforting power. It is there that Woden presented himself to me.
After all Woden isnt that synonimous with the German Wute or Anger and destruction, what better expression of power is there but Wind, the Germanic version of Ruach so to say. And the Ruach moved over the face of the barren earth.
The benign st nck songs about "hear the wind blow through the treetops, friends stop your wild noise" to me was for sure a far echo of something the ancient gods had left but remains burried only until the soul of man would feel the need to enleash that power in times of desperation.
I know it's not going to happen but I also know those forces are there.
When Enola Gay unleashed her load, they quoted from the mahabaratha "I am the destructor and creator of worlds."
Humanity better make sure their layer of civility, spirituality or global consciousness is real and thicker than a layer of veneer.
But the old gods have no haste to return. They are content, they hsd their fun.
Nck
I love the story of your meeting with Woden. We should all rejoice over the remnants of ages past - being able to share a few of the things and feelings that our ancestors experienced. For me, it is counterintuitive (and frankly obscene) to denigrate or dismiss what came before us.
DeleteYes.
ReplyDeleteBut I do get some destructive practices of those preachermen from Lindisfaerne, preaching to a crowd of tatooed Hells Angels, resting a bit on their battle axes, picking their noses, all the way trying to make a point about a powerful God Jesus.
"So........ he died?"
Personally I cannot imagine a single speech to convince those tribal Saxon leaders.
Great speech st nck, here have a drink.....
I'm sorry what's this?
Oh well, thats the skull of Thomas of Iona, boy he was boring about the skirt lenght of Helga here, slap slap, spank spank......and all kinds of rules about carrying weapons to church, I mean chop of our arm if you want that.
We didn't like him.
Heroes, all!
Nck
Something tells me that Columba wasn't as anal and self-righteous as some of our more modern preachers. He must have been quite an engaging and charming person to have persuaded those very stubborn Scots and Picts that an obscure Jew who was crucified by the Romans could have been of any use to them. I guess people have always liked spiritual leaders who have actually practiced what they preached.
DeleteI think Columba's advantage was being a Caledonian amongst and unto the Caledonians.
DeleteI made a point about the christianization of the northern european tribes by the british monestaries. Since the common misconception is this came from Rome..... NOT.
But I guess they got some attention coming as Saxons to the Saxons, but being more advanced.
Kinda like American radio preachers to post war Europe.
Combined with cultural and military power it is like the dawning of a new age.
Nck
It must have been hope filled too.
DeleteI love my image of the crowd of raping Hells Angels with battle axes listening to a sermon about the new God, coming to the conclusion.........
"So,........he died???"
Of course the most ineffective speech ever never happened or lies buried in the woods of northern germany.
Nck
Hi Miller.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to give you a feel to your comments on the germans, the meaning and symbolism of the forest to the German people of the "Heim", the unadulterated purity of the original abode, the garden of eden, and the habit of taking part of the "Heim" into the modern home by taking the forrest INTO the house. This combined with the symbolism of light, rebirth, honor, new life.
As a former military man you might apreciate how this all comes together when the German Army performs or awards the highest honor the armed forces can give to a civilian.
In the enclosed video the army accolades the departing secretary of defense and coming president of the European Commission.
https://youtu.be/5S3xnCqc7Js
I searched for a most clear example, where you can see the enactment of the darkness of the forest, the breaking of the darkness with the christian light and the theme of renewal.
I think your senses can handle this example. If you search for Zapfenstreich karl zu guttenberg, you will even get more of a sense of christian values and ancient german tradition and if you keep a clear focus on what I said you will hear birds in the forest and even more etc etc
Nck
The saxophone and trumpet solos were great. Although some folks would dispute the Martin Luther story, it is clear that our modern Christmas tree has its origins in German tradition - not in Babylonian or Roman practices. In Western Christendom, the Germans were clearly the first to bring an evergreen tree from the dark forest and hang lights in its boughs. The Nimrod narrative may fit nicely into Armstrong's larger narrative of the Babylonian Mystery Religion, but it does not reflect historical reality.
DeleteMiller
ReplyDeleteYou sound unphased. I hand you a teutonic Wachbatallion wielding their ancient sorcery and you respond like Indy shooting the Arab swordman. :-) :-) :-)
I don't know much about Babylon and trees. I have seen temples decked with woodpaneling and gold in Syria.
I love my Gilgamesh though going to the dense forest where Humbaba lives. Obviously Turkey high plateau or Lebanon. Perhaps though signalling a route across the waters folowing the Danube into the vast woodlands of Europe. They had their explorers I'm sure.
If you ever get the chance visit the Babylonian procession road and the "Seat of Satan" in the Berlin Pergamom museum triangle. I did that around Ishtar, whoops sorry Easter.
I'm not always subtle, but I didn't intend to come across as Indiana Jones. I understand and appreciate the point you're making about the ancient Teutonic underpinnings of the Christmas tree's origins. I was attempting to make the point that the acceptance of your thesis doesn't negate the fact that those origins do NOT run through Babylon, Egypt, Greece and Rome. Moreover, even if we allow these ancient Teutonic inspirations, we would still be forced to conclude that they aren't anymore tainted by paganism than is the modern ceremony that you provided a link for or the names of our days of the week. If we are going to characterize these ancient influences on the present as evil, then we will have to do away with a lot more than Christmas trees to be logically and morally consistent. And, finally, if we're going to appeal to the historical record to help explain the present, it is incumbent upon us to get that narrative right. Perverting and shaping that narrative to "prove" our notions about something (like Christmas) is the secular equivalent of twisting and misusing scripture to support a particular theology. Does that make sense?
DeleteAbsolutely!
DeleteI don't like labels like "pagans." Most "pagans" survive in environments where I would perish in 36 hours without gear.
WCG was revolutionary. The central thesis was that indeed we would get new days of the week, months, different words, vegetarian lions from Isaja. Umwertung aller werte indeed.
The French Revolutionaries did ecactly that to "create a differrent society."
I have often referred to WCG as a revolutionary movement rather than a church.
Narratives have served humanity to organize and renew. I study them all, the only correct narrative resides with ME, but it is woefully particular. :-)
Nck