The Annual War over Christmas -- by christians

The term, Christmas, i.e. Christ-mass, literally implicates Eucharist or the Lord's supper/communion of the breaking of the bread and drinking the wine etc, commemorating the death of Jesus. How does that equate to the birth of Jesus???The timing of it has pagan origins. Nevertheless, I agree that some aspects of it can be applied to Christianity. I don't make a judgment call on that.The apostle Paul, in Colossians 2:16, said:
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Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day:

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The Roman Emperor Constantine professed Christianity in the year 312? or so after he won a battle, before which he had an unusual revelation. I don't remember the specifics. He became the first pontifix maximus (pope), declaring that there should be only one religion. Thus he became ruler of both the only lawful church and the state/empire.So as to keep the peace in the empire he mingled some paganism into Christianity. For example, in 325, at the Council of Nicaea he persuaded those present that Easter should be celebrated by all as a holiday (holy day). This would suffice to placate both Christians and pagans since spring time was significant to some of the pagan gods as noted in the link.The link also explains why the sabbath was changed from the 7th day to Sunday, i.e. Sun-day, significant to sun worshipers. I've cited this to say that the precedence was early established in the RCC to adopt some paganism into Christianity.Again, however, as per Colossians 2:16 above, we are not to judge one another regarding which day is kept or whether any day is kept, on that count .The cut and decorated tree is referenced in the OT ancient times by the prophet, Jeremiah in chapter 10. It applied to pagan worship by pagans in the nations.In the 14th or 15th century it first began to be related to the RCC and later, gradually by protestants.Jeremiah 10:1-5

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Hear what the Lord says to you, O house of Israel. [2] This is what the Lord says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. [3] For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. [4] They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. [5] Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good."

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My family has celebrated Christmas as a tradition. All of my relatives and my boys still do. I don't judge others on this count, as there are some aspects of it that can be applicable to Biblical doctrines.My wife and I have not had a tree for quite a few years now. For ourselves, we see it as something that God is not please with, as per the Jeremiah text.However, when we visit the boys or anyone else, we never bring it up or make an issue of it, unless it is something that is mutually discussed. We do exchange gifts and celebrate it, relating it to the birth of Jesus, though tis not really the season of his birth.I agree with Sun Deist and others who see it as related to paganism, more-so than Christianity. The same goes with Sun-day, and Easter, etc. All of our holiday (holy day) celebrations are pagan in origin, for that matter.Those who participated in the Cavediver vs Buzsaw Freeforall thread may have noticed that my final message was a season/Christmas message, in which I wished all Christians a blessed Christmas and to all a happy holiday season. (I extend the same greeting here to those who did not see it. ) Admittedly, the fact remains, that the timing of it relates more to paganism than to Christianity.To summarize, holiday/holy day more accurately applies to both pagans and Christians, in that it can be regarded by either as a holy day.

He summoned together the bishops of the empire to Rome, presiding over the First Council of Nicea. This was the first conclave of Rome which centralized the bishopric, over which Constantine presided.This council established the creeds and doctrines which were to be the offical positon if the ecumenical bishric. Easter was to be established as a holiday/holy day. Two dissenters of some creeds imposed were banished.Pontifix Maximus as per the Wiki encyclopedia was the chief of the college of bishops or the chief of the bishops. Some websites depict him as the first pope. Others do not. Nevertheless he served as the first centralized chief of the bishops of the empire.
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Thanks, Jar. I stand corrected on all, except the last. As I understand, the First Council of Nicaea was the first of any event, calling all of the bishops from the nations of the Roman Empire to one assembly, essentially setting a precedent for the establishment of one empirical universal church which the RCC began to be.Constantine, a pre-Christian pagan, despised the Jews and rejected their 7th day sabbath. He was a sun worshiper. Sun-day was their holy day. This and Easter, etc are examples of how he corrupted the bishoprics with paganism. Thus, to this day, Christianity, to lesser and greater degrees, has been corrupted, particularly the RCC.