I was told that April fool's day was the pagan new year, is this true?
442727
I think Beltane or May Day is the Pagan New Year or Halloween.\n Per All Knowing Wikipedia.org:\n"The origin of this custom has been much disputed, and many theories have been suggested, e.g. that it is a farcical commemoration of Christ being sent from Annas to Caiaphas, from Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, and from Herod back again to Pilate, the crucifixion having taken place about the 1st of April.\n\nWhat seems certain is that it is in some way or other a relic of those once universal festivities held at the vernal equinox, which, beginning on old New Year's day, the 25th of March, ended on the 1st of April.\n\nIt has been suggested that Europe derived its April-fooling from the French [1]. They were the first nation to adopt the reformed Gregorian calendar, Charles IX in 1564 decreeing that the year should begin with the 1st of January. Thus the New Year's gifts and visits of felicitation which had been the feature of the 1st of April became associated with the first day of January, and those who disliked or did not hear about the change were fair game for those wits who amused themselves by sending mock presents and paying calls of pretended ceremony on the 1st of April. However, it is unlikely that this explanation of April Fool's Day’s origin is correct. Well before 1582, when King Charles IX of France brought in the new Gregorian calendar, French and Dutch references from respectively 1508 and 1539 describe April Fool's Day jokes and the custom of making them on the first of April.\n\nThough the 1st of April appears to have been anciently observed in Great Britain as a general festival, it was apparently not until the beginning of the 18th century that the making of April-fools was a common custom. In Scotland the custom was known as "hunting the gowk," i.e. the cuckoo, and April-fools were "April-gowks," the cuckoo being there, as it is in most lands, a term of contempt. In France the person fooled is known as poisson d'avril. This has been explained from the association of ideas arising from the fact that in April the sun quits the zodiacal sign of the fish. A far more natural explanation would seem to be that the April fish would be a young fish and therefore easily caught.\n\nThe Dutch have their own reason. Back in 1572, the Netherlands were still ruled by Spain's King Phillip II. There were roaming Dutch rebels who called themselves Geuzen, after the French "gueux", meaning beggars. On April 1, 1572, they took a small coastal town called Den Briel. This event was also the start of the general civil rising against the Spanish in other cities in the Netherlands. General Alva of the Spanish army could not do much. Bril is the Dutch word for glasses, so on April 1, 1572, "Alva lost his glasses". Dutch people find this joke so hilarious they still commemorate the first of April."
699008
thats funny really. up until 2days ago, i would ask the same question. Hogmanay, as far as i can remember, is the Scottish New Year Festival that lasts for 3 days, 30th, 31st and New Years Day.  This is where everyone gets hammered on the city streets and celebrates New Years.\nYou cant jus say, 'its a New Years party in Scotland', it would all its cultural value. Hogmanay, is very culture related.\nHowever, the French derive this word and give it a similar semantic meaning.\nHope this was a little helpful.\nId say search the term in google, or wikipedia.  :)
936883
Christmas is about Jesus, however most of the "traditions" is paganistic. When I used to be a witch, I celebrated winter solstice-which falls almost on the same day. To celebrate with a tree, wrapped presents, and food is the same way a pagan  or wiccan celebrates winter solstice.So if someone who isn't christian is celebrating, maybe they are giving thanks to mother nature for winter. By the way, as a christian now, I celebrate christmas without the wreaths, tree, etc because it says in the bible not to entwine the paganistic traditions with God. Give thanks to God that He allowed His son to be born to save our souls!!
670790
Well I would say April Fool's day but I don't want to get the Atheists mad at me! :o)\n\nPsalms 14:1  The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
734660
Maybe because it's a Pagan holiday? Don't say it's stupid before asking him the details of why. I personally don't like how commercialized the holiday has become. It's not about spending money, it's about spending time with your loved ones. It's Jesus' birthday, not ours, so exchanging material is so very trife.
23950
The church had nothing to do with it. A roman emperor in the 4th century A.D. wanted to make everybody happy. There was a pagan celebration called Saturnalia. The emperor set the Christian's holiday at the same time as Saturnalia so pagans and Christians could be celebrating at the same time. Is everybody happy?  \n\nSee link for the history.
341138
Pagan is a prechristian religion.  It's mainly based on understanding the cycles of nature and living with th earth.  It makes much more sense to me than modern religions like Christianity.
718291
:) Isn't it great to see how much Christianity is Pagan?\n\nDon't forget the Holy Water (Water), Candles (Fire), Incense (Air), and Eucharist (Earth) used at Catholic Masses. Oh, lookie there, all the Alchemical Elements that have always been used by Pagans!\n\nAlso, the entire Rainbow means God's keeping a promise... Hera had a Winged Goddess go across the sky with a bowl and dump out the contents -- a rainbow -- whenever the Gods kept a promise with the people.\n\nDon't forget Osiris, who came back from the dead.\n\nHell was named after Hel, the Norse Goddess of the Underworld.\n\nSatan was created based on how Pan was supposed to look.\n\nJesus was "born" on December 25th... around the time of Yule/Saturnalia, thus making it easier for Pagans to convert. However, based on Astrology, they said Jesus would be an Aries, meaning he was born sometime in April... around the middle.\n\n"Easter". Funny, spelt just like Ester, the Goddess whom is celebrated on Ostara, about March 23rd. Which is about when EASTER is celebrated.\n\n:3 Heehee. Silly Christians. Your stories are for Pagans!\n\nNote: Paganism first came about in 10000 BCE, and Zoroastrianism (first monotheistic religion) came about in 5000 BCE.\n\nTo davlynark: Your Jehovah wasn't even around at that time. Pick up a history book. You learn about the people from the Ice Age. They were Pagan. You keep learning about Pagans, too, for such a long time. Think for a change, won't you?\n\n- 16 yo Pagan
297522
Read the info at this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fool's_Day \nThere's too much to put here.
264860
That darn Easter. Can it never make up its mind? What is a silly wabbit to do? It is always on a Sunday, so like Thanksgiving it is on different days in different years.
624107
It amuses me at how many people will justify celebrating a pagan holiday and still claim to be christian.\n\nThe Easter egg has nothing to do with the death of Jesus but was a fertility symbol.\n\nJesus was not born in December but end of September start of October.\n\nEven the stories that the churches teach regarding the birth of Jesus are not accurate. The wise man did not turn up on the night Jesus was born but some time after.\n\nA true christian would not celebrate anything to do with false religion.
371752
Christians believe that, 3 days after he was crucified, Jesus rose from the grave to sit by God's side.  Easter is the celebration of this resurrection.\n\n"Pagan" generally refers to rites and rituals that were performed by ancient tribes, before modern religions were established.  Some people believe that "Pagan" and "Satanic" mean the same thing.  However, "Pagan" rituals were generally being done for thousands of years before "Satanism" came to be.  In addition, most modern religious rituals have basis in Paganism.  Much of this is because the early adopters of these religions were Pagans before they adopted the new religion, and it was a way to make the new holidays more acceptable to them.
734191
i was born on the fools day. people laugh when i tell them my birthdate or when i have to show my id, well but its my parents fault ,i didnt gave application to be born on 1st of april , but i like it . its unique.
957133
That's not a question. If this is about it being pagan then stop worrying since Halloween is just as much inspired by All Saints Day Eve, a Christian holiday, as it is by Samhein. No that's not coincedence it's the same story as Yule and Christmas, Christianity's attempt to overshadow other religion's holidays. I celebrate both since it's basically multiple religions that try to out do each other until only secularity overcomes both.
988588
Yes.  It's common knowledge though the Christians either deny it or find a "rational" reason for it.  We took Christmas which was the pagean celebration for the sun, and Easter which was the spring fertility rites.  There may even be more, but those are the biggest two.
405411
Easier to follow than the truth.  As you stated, Christmas is one that is a pagan holiday that has come in through tradition.  The Catholic church has adopted many traditions that the rest of the churches as a whole has also adopted as well.  One is the first day as being the day of worship.  I have seen the writings of all the major religious leaders of all the churches that state the Sabbath of the Bible is the seventh day, not the first, and that they know the Catholic church is the one that did the change and yet they follow the sunday worship anyway, the first day of the week, a pagan holiday.  The venerable day of the Sun, when the pagans worshipped the sun god and the whole world follows the pagan tradition.  Those that say they are Christians and do not follow traditions best do some studying into what they are believing.  I would offer $50,000 cash to anyone that can show me from the bible alone that Sunday, the first day of the week is sanctioned by God to be observed as His worship day.  Look it up on the net and you will find there is no command like that, it is only the tradition from the Catholic church.  Easier to follow the crowd than to lead the crowd.
928294
WoW! It's unbelievable how some get so angry over this question.! I don't actually care what it's called; winterval or otherwise. I know it's not popular, but...here goes anyway.....\nDecember 25th, according to the Bible, (which is the ultimate and true word, on this subject and all others,) This date, has Pagan origins, and was declared to be Christ's birthday, by humans. The truth, which as Christians, we should be seeking, is that Christ was actually born in the Fall of the year, (Feast of Trumpets and Feast of Tabernacles Holy Days, are the time of the year when Christ was actually born.) Dec. 25th is the date that Mary was Immaculately conceived, BTW)\nMost people dont want to hear this; it's too hard to change some beliefs. BUT God does tell us to worship in Spirit and in Truth...soooo.... I guess it will be offensive to some! That's the way the Christmas cookie crumbles!\nThese facts about Jesus' real birthday have absolutely nothing to do with being politically correct...They were Biblical and true, before all this nonsense about stuff like that. \nAnyone who seeks the truth about Jesus' birthday, can read it in the Bible; those of us who know that December 25th is not His birthday, have already proved it to ourselves, and find comfort in knowing the truth that Christ has allowed us to know. \nIt's not about taking away a "religious" holiday....It's fine with me if people celebrate Dec 25th, no matter what it's called...but....in reality, since it's not Christ's birthday, it's just a tradition, a fun one perhaps, once you get thru all the hassles involved with shopping, the greed of the merchants, the expectations of what you're going to receive, the stress, not to mention the bills and the cookies that didn't turn out, and the commercialism! \nSo...call it anything...doesn't matter anyway...and I hate to be a party pooper..but Christ doesn't belong in it to begin with...\nWhy not just call it a WinterFest, and be done with it ? That's all it is, anyway!!!