Unmasking Paganism: The Pagan Origins of Christian Holidays

Introduction

It may come as a surprise, but many of the holidays celebrated by Christians today have origins rooted in pagan traditions. From Halloween to Easter, these festivities often trace back to ancient rituals honoring gods, nature cycles, and seasonal changes. To Israelite biblical fundamentalists—those who adhere strictly to the commandments of the Most High and reject all practices not found in Scripture—these holidays are clear violations of God's law, veiled under layers of tradition and church doctrine. In this post, we'll explore the pagan histories behind widely celebrated holidays and how these practices contradict the Word of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Halloween

Originally known as Samhain, this ancient Celtic festival marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. Celts believed that on October 31, the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest. Bonfires were lit, and food offerings were left out to appease roaming spirits. When Christianity spread to Celtic lands, this festival was "Christianized" into All Hallows' Eve, now known as Halloween.

All Saints' Day

Celebrated on November 1, this Christian observance is said to honor all saints. But its placement directly after Samhain is no coincidence. The Church repackaged pagan ancestor worship under a Christian veneer. Many Halloween customs actually stem from rituals performed on this day to honor the dead, aligning more with paganism than biblical teachings.

Christmas

Despite its celebration of Jesus' birth, Christmas is deeply rooted in Roman paganism. December 25th aligns with Saturnalia, a Roman festival of merrymaking and gift-giving in honor of Saturn, the god of time. The date also aligns with the birthday of Sol Invictus, the sun god. Yule logs, mistletoe, and decorated evergreen trees all stem from Germanic and Norse traditions honoring nature deities and the winter solstice.

Advent

Advent, the lead-up to Christmas, is a candle-lighting ritual that originated in Germanic solstice practices. The use of wreaths, candles, and the theme of "anticipating light" reflect older ceremonies meant to welcome back the sun during the darkest part of the year—not the Messiah.

Easter

Easter, supposedly the celebration of Christ's resurrection, has fertility-based pagan roots. The name itself comes from Eostre or Ishtar, goddesses of fertility and rebirth. Symbols like eggs and rabbits were pagan emblems of new life. These customs stem from Babylonian and Anglo-Saxon spring festivals—not the Bible.

Lent

The 40-day fasting period of Lent mirrors ancient fertility rites and springtime rituals. The Celts celebrated the changing of seasons with fasting, feasting, and fertility games. The ashes used on Ash Wednesday also stem from Greek and Roman purification rites.

Ash Wednesday

The use of ashes as a sign of mourning and penance predates Christianity. Ancient Greeks, Hindus, and even Native Americans used ash to symbolize humility and purification. The Church absorbed these rituals, applying them to pre-Easter fasting periods.

Pentecost

Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit, yet it also overlaps with ancient harvest festivals found in cultures across the world. Rituals honoring gods like Dionysus, Osiris, and Demeter included trances, feasting, and offerings. The timing and celebratory style bear striking resemblance to these fertility and agricultural rites.

Palm Sunday

This marks Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, with celebrants waving palm branches. Yet this too has pagan ritual roots. Palms were symbols of victory and resurrection in Egyptian, Greek, and Roman festivals. Ancient cultures used them to honor deities like Osiris and Apollo during celebratory processions.

New Year’s Day

January 1st is named after Janus, the Roman god of doors, transitions, and beginnings. Honored with resolutions and feasts, Janus was depicted with two faces—one looking back, one looking forward. Biblically, the new year begins in spring (Exodus 12:2), making the Gregorian New Year a clear pagan carryover.

Valentine's Day

This holiday stems from Lupercalia, a Roman festival of fertility celebrated in mid-February. It involved animal sacrifice and matchmaking lotteries. When the Church sought to suppress it, they replaced it with a feast day for "St. Valentine"—a Christian martyr. Today’s traditions of romantic love and chocolate hearts echo ancient fertility rites.

Mother's Day and Father's Day

Though seemingly harmless, these days stem from goddess and god worship. The Romans celebrated Cybele, the Great Mother, and the Greeks honored Rhea. Honoring earthly parents on designated festival days—especially with ritual—mirrors idolatrous practices, not the daily reverence Scripture teaches.

Sunday Worship

Early believers kept the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday), as commanded in Scripture. However, the Council of Laodicea (4th century AD) officially moved worship to Sunday, the day of the sun god. Constantine’s empire-wide edict honored Sol Invictus while forcibly suppressing Sabbath-keeping, institutionalizing pagan sun worship.

Epiphany (Three Kings’ Day)

Celebrated on January 6, this holiday supposedly marks the visit of the magi. However, this date aligns with pagan festivals celebrating divine revelation and rebirth following the winter solstice. The Bible never mentions three kings, nor does it provide an exact date for their visit.

Mardi Gras / Carnival

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, directly traces back to Bacchanalia, the Roman festivals of Bacchus, the god of wine and revelry. These events included drunkenness, masked parades, and moral looseness—all later “allowed” by the Church before the penitence of Lent.

St. John’s Day

Held on June 24, this holiday celebrates John the Baptist’s birth but coincides with Midsummer solstice festivals involving bonfires, dancing, and sun worship. These rituals honored nature spirits and the return of daylight—elements inconsistent with biblical reverence for the Creator.

Michaelmas

Observed on September 29, Michaelmas honors the archangel Michael but overlays autumn equinox festivals. These older traditions celebrated divine warfare and seasonal transition, often through harvest feasts and rituals invoking spiritual protection.

Conclusion: Return to Biblical Foundations

Many of the most beloved and widely accepted Christian holidays are deeply steeped in pagan tradition. They were incorporated into Christianity not by divine revelation but by imperial compromise, missionary strategy, and gradual syncretism. For those seeking to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in spirit and truth, it is essential to return to the holy days outlined in Scripture—such as Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Feast of Tabernacles—and reject the customs of the heathen (Jeremiah 10:2).

Understanding the truth behind these holidays is the first step toward spiritual renewal and reclaiming pure worship, free from the defilement of pagan traditions masked as holy days.

"Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins" – Revelation 18:4