Overview

No one knows what day Jesus was born, his birthday was not celebrated in the First Century, Christmas is not mentioned in the Bible, and the holiday was banned by English and American Christians in the 1600s. Why then do we observe His birthday on December 25? A clue comes from the early Church Fathers, who declared that ""Christianity has always existed and was practiced by Pagans long prior to the birth of Jesus."" Thus, according to the highest Church authorities, Christianity, and in turn Christmas, predated Christ. How is this possible? Award-winning Christian author, Bible scholar, and Southern historian Colonel Lochlainn Seabrook provides the answer in his fascinating and exhaustively researched book Christmas Before Christianity. The spiritual truths which form the basis of Christianity were already well known to prehistoric peoples, who held a special reverence for our neighborhood star, the Sun, which they variously called Krs, Crs, Hrs, Krst, Karas, Karast, Kris, Krish, Krist, and Chris. During the Graeco-Roman period, these words, along with the many religious beliefs and myths that accompanied them, were absorbed as Chrestos or Christos, which became ""Christ"" in modern English, assimilating the prehistoric Sun-God into the ancient Son-God. Ten years in the making, Christmas Before Christianity is a fast-reading but in-depth 300-page work based on comparative religion and comparative mythology (as well as archaeology, social anthropology, and etymology), that explores the vast pre-Christian foundations of humanity's most popular holiday, including the many Pagan gods, goddesses, myths, rituals, legends, ceremonies, customs, and beliefs that contributed to its creation and development. Every facet of Christmas is examined, from the religious views of prehistoric vegetation cults with their emphasis on astrology and a female supreme being, to the astronomical origins of the Nativity story and Santa Claus; from the practice of decorating Christmas trees, hanging stockings, lighting candles, burning the Yule log, singing carols, and exchanging gifts, to the traditions of displaying holly, wreaths, and mistletoe, eating plum pudding, candies, turkey, and mince pie, drinking cider and eggnog, performing pantomime, and giving out Christmas cards. Though Colonel Seabrook examines the origins of Christmas traditions of countries and societies all over the world, special emphasis is laid on ancient Egypt, where a majority of our modern ""Christmas traditions"" can be traced. Christmas Before Christianity: How the Birthday of the ""Sun"" Became the Birthday of the ""Son,"" is a sensational work that will not only provoke discussion, but will also inspire a renewed appreciation for both the religion of our Lord and for the sacred annual celebration of His birth. Available in paperback and hardcover. ""Southern Conservatives, U.S. President Thomas Jefferson and Confederate General Albert Pike, both who were appalled by the Paganization of the historical Jesus, would have heartily endorsed this book."" - THE PUBLISHER Acclaimed neo-Victorian author and historian Lochlainn Seabrook is one of the most prolific and popular writers in the world today, with literary works ranging from astronomy to zoology. Known by literary critics as the ""Southern Joseph Campbell,"" the ""American Robert Graves,"" and the ""new Shelby Foote,"" the Sons of Confederate Veterans member is a Kentucky Colonel, a recipient of the prestigious Jefferson Davis Historical Gold Medal, and the author and editor of nearly 100 scholarly books (currently). Described by his readers as ""game changers"" and ""life-altering,"" his voluminous writings have introduced hundreds of thousands to vital facts that have been left out of our mainstream books.

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9781943737611

Table of Contents

Reviews

FROM SMALL PRESS REVIEWS : In Christmas Before Christianity: How the Birthday of the 'Sun' Became the Birthday of the 'Son', Colonel Lochlainn Seabrook presents a thoroughly researched examination of the ingredients that have, over centuries and millennia, contributed to our contemporary understanding of what many, right or wrong, consider the holiest day of the year. Early on, Colonel Seabrook discusses the paucity of historical evidence surrounding the figure of Jesus in order to subsequently demonstrate the ways in which the relative blank slate of his biography allowed early Christians to incorporate a myriad of other belief systems into what eventually came to be accepted as canon. Chief among these other systems, as the book's subtitle suggests, was a firm belief that the sun was the center of all life. Indeed, the author points out that, in his words, Jesus' birth on December 25 specifically was not mentioned by any writer, scholar, or historian during the time in which Jesus lived; what's more, the date traditionally associated with the birth of Christ was not established until the year 534, not because Jesus was born on that date, but rather because the Christian masses overwhelmingly identified Jesus with the Pagan Roman sun-god Mithras, as well as with other pre-Christian solar deities, all whose birthdays fell on December 25. In addition to investigating the ways in which pre-Christian mythology fed into the story of the birth of Christ, Seabrook also examines the origins of the season's accoutrements including the Christmas tree (a pagan fertility symbol originating in Egypt), the tale of the three wise men (an allusion to ancient astrology and the three stars that comprise Orion's belt), and Santa Claus (an amalgam of Odin, Thor, and various maritime deities). Other topics Seabrook explores include the evolution of Christmas cards, plum pudding, Christmas wreaths, mistletoe, holly, and pantomime from their ancient forms to the ways in which we employ and enjoy them today. Altogether, a fascinating and meticulously detailed read for anyone curious about the origins of Christmas - or, for that matter, about the ways in which myths and legends evolve over time. - MARC SCHUSTER.AMAZON REVIEW, FIVE STARS: There's a ton of stuff powerpacked into Colonel Lochlainn Seabrook's book Christmas Before Christianity: How the Birthday of the 'Sun' Became the Birthday of the 'Son'. This comprehensive but concise volume is a wonderful go-to for those interested in the Christianization of pagan religious culture. It's no secret, except perhaps among the ignorant (both willfully so and otherwise), that Judeo-Christian traditions did what religions do. It evolved, growing from pagan roots and, even after having established its own identity as a stream of religious culture, continued to appropriate from surrounding and established pagan belief systems. Many aspects of Christianity, including what is now one of its major holidays, were retoolings of extant pagan deities and concepts. From every major facet of the Nativity to the decor and traditions of Christmas celebrations, paganism permeates the Christian tradition and its messianic birthday celebration. Even Santa Claus and his alleged historical analog (St. Nicholas) were Christianizations of pagan ideas. Southern religious scholar Seabrook reveals to the reader aspects of the conversion even the initiated might have overlooked. He even discloses pagan rooted celebrations practiced around the globe today. For a primer and reference volume pertaining to this fascinating evolution in religious thought and culture, Christmas Before Christianity is one of Seabrook's several fascinating books on Christianity's oft overlooked foundations. - KRISTOFER UPJOHN.

FROM SMALL PRESS REVIEWS : In Christmas Before Christianity: How the Birthday of the 'Sun' Became the Birthday of the 'Son', Colonel Lochlainn Seabrook presents a thoroughly researched examination of the ingredients that have, over centuries and millennia, contributed to our contemporary understanding of what many, right or wrong, consider the holiest day of the year. Early on, Colonel Seabrook discusses the paucity of historical evidence surrounding the figure of Jesus in order to subsequently demonstrate the ways in which the relative blank slate of his biography allowed early Christians to incorporate a myriad of other belief systems into what eventually came to be accepted as canon. Chief among these other systems, as the book's subtitle suggests, was a firm belief that the sun was the center of all life. Indeed, the author points out that, in his words, Jesus' birth on December 25 specifically was not mentioned by any writer, scholar, or historian during the time in which Jesus lived; what's more, the date traditionally associated with the birth of Christ was not established until the year 534, not because Jesus was born on that date, but rather because the Christian masses overwhelmingly identified Jesus with the Pagan Roman sun-god Mithras, as well as with other pre-Christian solar deities, all whose birthdays fell on December 25. In addition to investigating the ways in which pre-Christian mythology fed into the story of the birth of Christ, Seabrook also examines the origins of the season's accoutrements including the Christmas tree (a pagan fertility symbol originating in Egypt), the tale of the three wise men (an allusion to ancient astrology and the three stars that comprise Orion's belt), and Santa Claus (an amalgam of Odin, Thor, and various maritime deities). Other topics Seabrook explores include the evolution of Christmas cards, plum pudding, Christmas wreaths, mistletoe, holly, and pantomime from their ancient forms to the ways in which we employ and enjoy them today. Altogether, a fascinating and meticulously detailed read for anyone curious about the origins of Christmas - or, for that matter, about the ways in which myths and legends evolve over time. - MARC SCHUSTER. AMAZON REVIEW, FIVE STARS: There's a ton of stuff powerpacked into Colonel Lochlainn Seabrook's book Christmas Before Christianity: How the Birthday of the 'Sun' Became the Birthday of the 'Son'. This comprehensive but concise volume is a wonderful go-to for those interested in the Christianization of pagan religious culture. It's no secret, except perhaps among the ignorant (both willfully so and otherwise), that Judeo-Christian traditions did what religions do. It evolved, growing from pagan roots and, even after having established its own identity as a stream of religious culture, continued to appropriate from surrounding and established pagan belief systems. Many aspects of Christianity, including what is now one of its major holidays, were retoolings of extant pagan deities and concepts. From every major facet of the Nativity to the decor and traditions of Christmas celebrations, paganism permeates the Christian tradition and its messianic birthday celebration. Even Santa Claus and his alleged historical analog (St. Nicholas) were Christianizations of pagan ideas. Southern religious scholar Seabrook reveals to the reader aspects of the conversion even the initiated might have overlooked. He even discloses pagan rooted celebrations practiced around the globe today. For a primer and reference volume pertaining to this fascinating evolution in religious thought and culture, Christmas Before Christianity is one of Seabrook's several fascinating books on Christianity's oft overlooked foundations. - KRISTOFER UPJOHN.

Author Information

Acclaimed neo-Victorian author and historian Lochlainn Seabrook, a cousin of King James (who translated the Bible into English) and a descendant of both the Grail King Merovech (Frankish founder of the Merovingian dynasty) and Tiberius Caesar (Roman emperor during the time of Jesus), is one of the most prolific and popular writers in the world today, with literary works ranging from astronomy to zoology. Known by literary critics as the ""Southern Joseph Campbell,"" the ""American Robert Graves,"" and the ""new Shelby Foote,"" the Sons of Confederate Veterans member is a Kentucky Colonel, a recipient of the prestigious Jefferson Davis Historical Gold Medal, and the author and editor of nearly 100 scholarly books (currently). Described by his readers as ""game changers"" and ""life-altering,"" his voluminous writings have introduced hundreds of thousands to vital facts that have been left out of our mainstream books. Col. Seabrook has a 45-year background in American and Southern history, as well as religious studies, and is the author of the bestselling book Seabrook's Bible Dictionary of Traditional and Mystical Christian Doctrines. For more information or to purchase Colonel Seabrook's books, visit our Webstore: www.SeaRavenPress.com

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